Massachusetts is a place.
Massachusetts [ mæsəˈtʃuːsᵻts ] or [ ˌmæsəˈtʃuːzᵻts ] ; officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , is the most populous state in the New England region of the northeastern United States . The capital of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England is Boston . Originally dependent on agriculture , fishing and trade , Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution . Modern Massachusetts is a global leader in biotechnology , engineering , higher education , finance , and maritime trade . In 2004 , Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legally recognize same-sex marriage as a result of the decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court .