Massachusetts

Massachusetts (officially, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts) is a state in the New England region of the United States of America. Its nickname is the Bay State. Other nicknames are the Old Colony State, and less commonly the Puritan state and the Baked Bean state. On December 18, 1990, the Legislature decided that the people of the Commonwealth would be designated as Bay Staters.

Massachusetts cities, towns and counties

(See also List of Massachusetts counties, List of cities in Massachusetts, List of towns in Massachusetts)

Related Topics:
List of Massachusetts counties - List of cities in Massachusetts - List of towns in Massachusetts

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Massachusetts shares with the five other New England states, plus New York and New Jersey, a governmental structure known as the "New England town."

Related Topics:
New England - New York - New Jersey

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The incorporation of land

In many other states, a town is a compact incorporated area. Between the towns are unincorporated areas, usually quite large, that do not belong to any town. Instead, the state is completely apportioned into counties. County governments have significant importance, particularly to those living outside towns, and often perform major functions such as operating airports.

Related Topics:
Town - Counties

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In contrast, all of the land in Massachusetts is divided up among the cities and towns and there are no "unincorporated" areas or population centers. This complicates comparisons with other states, as most residents identify strongly with the town or city in which they reside, and not with the "populated places" as defined and used in the U.S. Census Bureau, which in most data products considers towns to be minor civil divisions, equivalent to townships in other states (usually with much weaker forms of government). However, many Massachusetts residents also identify with neighborhoods, villages, or other districts of their towns.

Related Topics:
U.S. Census Bureau - Minor civil division - Townships

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The city/town distinction

Massachusetts law maintains a distinction between "cities" and "towns." The largest town in population is Framingham. Politically, the only difference between a town and a city is that a town is governed under the Town Meeting or Representative Town Meeting form of government, whereas a city has a city council (and may or may not have a mayor, a city manager, or both). This distinction dates to the 1820s; prior to that, all municipalities were governed by Town Meeting. Out of fifty cities in the Commonwealth, there are now eleven that are legally cities and have city councils, but retained "Town of?" in their names. These cities are: Agawam, Amesbury, Barnstable, Easthampton, Franklin, Greenfield, Methuen, Southbridge, Watertown, West Springfield, and Weymouth. They are legally styled "the City Known as the Town of X."

Related Topics:
Framingham - Town Meeting - Representative Town Meeting - 1820s - Agawam - Amesbury - Barnstable - Easthampton - Franklin - Greenfield - Methuen - Southbridge - Watertown - West Springfield - Weymouth

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Limits to municipal government

Massachusetts has a very limited home rule mechanism? to exercise jurisdiction outside of these bounds, a municipality must petition the General Court for special legislation giving it that authority.

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Massachusetts municipalities are subject to a budgetary law known as "Proposition 2½", by which they may not increase expenditures by more than 2½% per annum without the approval of the voters in a plebiscite.

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The growing abolition of counties

By the 1990s, most functions of county governments (including operation of courts and road maintenance) had been taken over by the state, and most county governments were seen as inefficient and outmoded. The government of Suffolk County was substantially integrated with the city government of Boston more than one hundred years ago, to the extent that the members of the Boston city council are ex officio the Suffolk County Commissioners, and Boston's treasurer and auditor fulfill the same offices for the county. Thus, residents of the other three Suffolk County communities do not have a voice on the county commission, but all the county expenses are paid by the city of Boston.

Related Topics:
Suffolk County - Boston - City council

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The government of Nantucket County, which is geographically coterminous with the Town of Nantucket, is operated along similar lines? the town selectmen (executive branch) act as the county commissioners.

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Mismanagement of Middlesex County's public hospital in the mid 1990s left that county on the brink of insolvency, and in 1997 the Massachusetts legislature stepped in by assuming all assets and obligations of the county. The government of Middlesex County was officially abolished on July 11, 1997. Later that year, the Franklin County Commission voted itself out of existence. The law abolishing Middlesex County also provided for the elimination of Hampden County and Worcester County on July 1, 1998. This law was later amended to abolish Hampshire County on January 1, 1999; Essex County on July 1 of that same year; and Berkshire County on July 1 2000. Chapter 34B of the Massachusetts General Laws allows other counties either to abolish themselves, or to reorganize as a "regional council of governments", as Hampshire and Franklin Counties have done. The governments of Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk Counties remain substantially unchanged. Barnstable and Dukes Counties have adopted modern county charters, enabling them to act as efficient regional governments.

Related Topics:
Middlesex County - July 11 - 1997 - Franklin County - Hampden County - Worcester County - July 1 - 1998 - Hampshire County - January 1 - 1999 - Essex County - Berkshire County - 2000 - Bristol - Plymouth - Norfolk - Barnstable - Dukes

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Prominent cities and towns

There are 50 cities and 301 towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, grouped into 14 counties. Municipalities of historical or cultural prominence include:

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• Amherst
• Andover
• Boston
• Brockton
• Cambridge
• Concord
• Fall River

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• Gloucester
• Lexington
• Lowell
• Lynn
• Nantucket
• New Bedford
• Northampton

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• Plymouth
• Provincetown
• Revere
• Salem
• Springfield
• Taunton
• Worcester

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