MAMassachusetts Fun Facts

Massachusetts fun facts

• The first public school (Boston Latin, 1635) and first university (Harvard, 1636) in the US were both founded here.
• Basketball was invented in Springfield, MA by James Naismith in 1891 — using a soccer ball and two peach baskets.
• Boston's "Big Dig" was the most expensive highway project in US history ($24 billion when finished in 2007).
• Cape Cod's lobster rolls, Boston cream pie, and Fluffernutter sandwiches all originated here.

Quick stats

• Population: 5 to 10 million
• Area rank: #44 of 50
• Admitted: 1788
• Capital: Boston
• Largest city: Boston
• Time zone: Eastern

Bordering states

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