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Copyright © 2008 - 2010 by Andrew J. Morris
A generation which ignores history has no past -- and no future.
Robert Heinlein
History of Berkshire County Massachusetts
Select a City, Town or Township:
- Adams -- Becket -- Dalton -- Great Barrington -- Hinsdale -- Lee -- Lenox -- New Marlborough -- North Adams -- Otis -- Pittsfield -- Richmond -- Sandisfield -- Savoy -- Sheffield -- Stockbridge -- Tyringham -- Washington -- West Stockbridge -- Williamstown -
Our database does not include an historic photo for Berkshire County Massachusetts, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!
Local History Notes:
The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:
BERKSHIRE, a county forming the W. extremity of Massachusetts, extending across the entire breadth of the state, has an area of about 1000 square miles. It is drained by the Housatonic, Deerfield, Farmington, and Hoosick rivers, and other smaller streams which furnish abundant water-power. The surface is uneven or hilly, and in some parts mountainous. Saddle mountain, in the N. part, is the highest elevation in Massachusetts. Berkshire is remarkable for its varied and picturesque scenery. The soil is generally fertile and well adapted to grazing. Indian corn, potatoes, and grass are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 240,899 bushels of corn; 369,642 of potatoes; 92,460 tons of hay; 1,060,807 pounds of butter, and 2,575,145 of cheese. There were 21 cotton and 14 woollen factories, 6 iron furnaces, 5 iron foundries, 1 glass works, 1 India-rubber manufactory, 7 machine shops, 15 grist, 18 paper, 1 powder, and 75 saw and planing mills, 1 calico-printing and 18 lime-burning establishments, 2 distilleries, 5 coach manufactories, 12 charcoal-burning establishments, and 22 tanneries. It contained 87 churches and 5 newspaper establishments. There were 10,213 pupils attending public schools, and 880 attending academies and other schools. Marble, iron ore, and limestone are abundant. The railroads connecting Boston with Albany, and Bridgeport with Albany, traverse this county, and two branch railroads are included within it. Organized in 1770, and named from Berkshire, a county in England. Capital, Lenox. Population, 49,591.
Local History and Genealogy Links:
Massachusetts Facts:
Tree: American elm
Bird: chickadee
Flower: mayflower (trailing arbutus)
Nickname: Bay State, Old Colony State
Motto: Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem (By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty)
Area (sq. mi.): 8,257
Capitol: Boston
Admitted: 6 Feb 1788
Berkshire County Facts:
Seat: PittsfieldEstablished: 1761
Formed from: Hampshire