In 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau, Massachusetts recorded a population of about 6,547, 629 people. The census of 1790 indicated a population of 378,787. This means the rate of growth for the state is about 17.5 times the 1790 population numbers. For more detailed information about the "absolute population growth" of the state of Massachusetts from 1790 to 2000, see the chart below.
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| Resident Population and Apportionment U.S. House of Representatives http://www.census.gov/dmd/www/resapport/states/massachusetts.pdf |
Since Massachusetts is one of the sites of the first European settlers in the new world, the population of the entire state is based on immigration. Most immigrants came from Europe until the beginning of the 20th century.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the immigrant or "foreign born" population of Massachusetts was 10% in 1990, 12% in 2000, and about 15% in 2011 with just under 1,000,000 immigrants. This includes what are referred to as "recent immigrants" and "established immigrants" (the latter having lived in Massachusetts at least 10 years). Not all of these immigrants come from outside the U.S. to Massachusetts. A large number of immigrants that came to Massachusetts between 2010 and 2011 came from other states to Massachusetts. At the same time, an almost equal number left Massachusetts for other states.
Consumption Patterns
While it is difficult to find what percentage of food, energy and natural resources are consumed by the state of Massachusetts, it is easy to see that the area and the non-fertile soils indicate that they consume much more than they produce. The area of Massachusetts is 10, 554 square miles. (For comparison, the area of California is over 160,000square miles). According to the following website http://www.joe.org/joe/2008october/a7.php the local consumption versus production of food for Massachusetts is 4%. While Massachusetts does produce some fruit crops in higher percentage, it is a state that is very dependent on food production from other parts of the U.S. and the world.
Massachusetts is making headway in the reduction of energy consumption and the use of clean energy; however, the state is still very dependent on natural gas and imported coal to produce the majority of it's energy. About 75% of the energy used comes from these two sources. Only about 6 percent comes from renewable sources of energy.
Carrying Capacity
The "carrying capacity" of Massachusetts is very poor because of the person to area ratio and the fact that Massachusetts produces so little food and uses expensive, non renewable forms of energy. Tourism also plays a big role in the carrying capacity of this state because the population and consumption increases significantly during the fall foliage period (Berkshires) and the summer months (Cape Cod and the islands). According to www.cityofboston.gov, over 12,000,000 visit the city of Boston alone every year.
Quincy Markets, Faneuil Hall, Boston Massachusetts
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