What Was Massachusetts Before It Became A State?

Massachussetts already had a substantial Native American population when the first European settlers arrived; in fact the name of the state is derived from one tribe, the Massachussett, who were themselves named after the largest mountain in the area. The original inhabitants were often farmers and fishermen, so the settlers found a cultivated and inhabited land when they arrived.

You can find a detailed history of the state and its inhabitants if you follow the links at masshome.com.