Berkshire County, Massachusetts

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For the Royal County of Berkshire in the United Kingdom, see Berkshire

Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County Courthouse
Seal
Motto: Firmus et Paratus (Latin "Steadfast and Ready")
Location in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location in the U.S.
Founded	April 24, 1761
Seat	Pittsfield
Largest city	Pittsfield
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	946 sq mi (2,450 km²) 927 sq mi (2,401 km²) 20 sq mi (52 km²), 2.1%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	129,026 139.2/sq mi (54/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Bash Bish Falls, in the Taconic Range, Appalachian Mountains

The Berkshire Hills, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in winter

Berkshire County (pronounced /ˈbɜːrkʃər/) is a county on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2020 census, the population was 129,026. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield. The county was founded in 1761.

The Berkshire Hills are centered on Berkshire County. Residents are known as Berkshirites. It exists today only as a historical geographic region, and has no county government, with the exception of the retirement board for former county workers, and certain offices such as the sheriff and registry of deeds.

Law and government

Of the fourteen Massachusetts counties, Berkshire County is one of eight that exists today only as a historical geographic region; it has limited county government. Berkshire County government was abolished effective July 1, 2000. Most former county functions were assumed by state agencies, and there is no county council or commission. The sheriff became a Commonwealth employee, but remains locally elected to perform duties within the county region and retains administrative and operational control over the Berkshire Sheriff's Office, an independent state agency created after the county government was abolished. The Berkshire Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and house of correction.

Local communities were granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services, and the towns of Berkshire County have formed such a regional compact known as the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Berkshire County has three Registry of Deeds Districts, one for each district.

• Berkshire Northern District in Adams contains records for the city of North Adams and the towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Savoy, Williamstown, and Windsor.
• Berkshire Middle District in Pittsfield contains records for the city of Pittsfield and the towns of Becket, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Peru, Richmond, Stockbridge, Tyringham and Washington.
• Berkshire Southern District in Great Barrington contains records for the towns of Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Sandisfield, Sheffield and West Stockbridge.

County government: Berkshire County

Clerk of Courts:	Deborah S. Capeless
District Attorney:	Andrea Harrington
Register of Deeds:	Maria T. Ziemba (Northern District at Adams) Patsy Harris (Middle District at Pittsfield) Michelle Laramee-Jenny (Southern District at Great Barrington)
Register of Probate:	Francis B. Marinaro
County Sheriff:	Thomas Bowler
State government
State Representative(s):	4 Representatives: [1] John Barrett III (D), First Berkshire Paul Mark (D), Second Berkshire Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D), Third Berkshire William Smitty Pignatelli (D), Fourth Berkshire
State Senator(s):	1 Senator: [2] Adam Hinds (D)
Governor's Councilor(s):	Mary Hurley (D) - District 8
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s):	Richard Neal (D-1st District)
U.S. Senators:	Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D)

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of August 22, 2020
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px |	Democratic	31,614	34.82%
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px |	Republican	7,759	8.55%
style="background-color:#FFCC00;" width=10px |	Libertarian	446	0.49%
style="background-color:Template:Green Party of the United States/meta/color;" width=10px |	Green-Rainbow	146	0.16%
	Unenrolled	50,256	55.35%
Total		90,801	100%

Berkshire County is in the Massachusetts's 1st congressional district, a primarily rural district that makes up most of Western Massachusetts.

Berkshire County has four districts and elected Representatives in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

• First Berkshire. – Consisting of the towns of Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown, all in the county of Berkshire; and the towns of Charlemont, Hawley, Heath, Monroe and Rowe, all in the county of Franklin. John Barrett III(D) is the current Representative.
• Second Berkshire. – Consisting of the towns of Becket, Cheshire, Dalton, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Peru, Richmond, Washington and Windsor, and precinct B of ward 1, of the city of Pittsfield, all in the county of Berkshire; the towns of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Colrain, Leyden, Northfield and Shelburne, all in the county of Franklin; and the towns of Cummington, Middlefield and Plainfield, all in the county of Hampshire. Paul Mark (D) is the current Representative.
• Third Berkshire. – Consisting of precinct A of ward 1, all precincts of wards 2, 3, 4, precinct A of ward 5, and all precincts of wards 6 and 7, of the city of Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire. Christopher N. Speranzo (D) was the Representative, but has left for another position. A special election to fill his unexpired term has Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D) as the current representative.
• Fourth Berkshire. – Consisting of the towns of Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, precinct 5B of the city of Pittsfield, the towns of Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge, all in the county of Berkshire; and the towns of Blandford, Chester and Tolland, all in the county of Hampden. William Smitty Pignatelli (D) is the current Representative.

Berkshire County comprises only part of one district for the Massachusetts Senate due to its low population. The district consist of all of Berkshire County and the following cities: Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington, in the county of Hampshire; and Ashfield, Charlemont, Conway, Hawley, Heath, Monroe and Rowe, in the county of Franklin. Adam Hinds (D) is the current Senator.

The Massachusetts Governor's Council, also known as the Executive Council, is composed of eight individuals elected from districts, and the Lt. Governor who serves ex officio. The eight councillors are elected from their respective districts every two years. Berkshire County is part of the 8th District.

The Council generally meets at noon on Wednesdays in its State House Chamber, next to the Governor's Office, to act on issues such as payments from the state treasury, criminal pardons and commutations, and approval of gubernatorial appointments such as judges, notaries and justices of the peace.

See also the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts former page on counties (more detailed and with map) and its current page on counties (also useful).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 946 square miles (2,450 km²) of which 927 square miles (2,400 km²) is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) (2.1%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Massachusetts by land area. The highest natural point in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock at 3,492 feet (1,064 m), is in Berkshire County.

Berkshire County is one of two Massachusetts counties that borders three neighboring states (Vermont, New York and Connecticut); the other is Worcester County. The two counties are also the only ones to touch both the northern and southern state lines.

Running north-south through the county are the Hoosac Range of the Berkshire Hills in the eastern part of the county and the Taconic Mountains in the western part of the county. Due to their elevation, the Berkshires attract tourists and summer residents eager to escape the heat of the lowlands.

Adjacent counties

• Bennington County, Vermont (north)
• Franklin County (northeast)
• Hampshire County (east)
• Hampden County (southeast)
• Litchfield County, Connecticut (south)
• Dutchess County, New York (southwest)
• Columbia County, New York (west)
• Rensselaer County, New York (northwest)

Template:Massachusetts rivers

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	30,263		—
1800	33,885		12.0%
1810	35,907		6.0%
1820	35,720		−0.5%
1830	37,835		5.9%
1840	41,745		10.3%
1850	49,591		18.8%
1860	55,120		11.1%
1870	64,827		17.6%
1880	69,032		6.5%
1890	81,108		17.5%
1900	95,667		18.0%
1910	105,259		10.0%
1920	113,033		7.4%
1930	120,700		6.8%
1940	122,273		1.3%
1950	132,966		8.7%
1960	142,135		6.9%
1970	149,402		5.1%
1980	145,110		−2.9%
1990	139,352		−4.0%
2000	134,953		−3.2%
2010	131,219		−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 134,953 people, 56,006 households, and 35,115 families in the county. The population density was 145 people per square mile (56/km²). There were 66,301 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The county's racial makeup was 95.02% White, 1.99% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 1.69%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.5% were of Italian, 16.4% Irish, 10.8% French, 10.3% English, 8.0% Polish, 7.1% German, 5.8% American and 5.1% French Canadian ancestry, 94.1% spoke English, 1.6% Spanish and 1.1% French as their first language.

Of the 56,006 households 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.00% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.30% were non-families. 31.60% of households were one person and 13.90% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 22.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The county's median household income was $39,047, and the median family income was $50,162. Males had a median income of $36,692 versus $26,504 for females. The county's per capita income was $21,807. About 6.50% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 131,219 people, 56,091 households, and 33,618 families in the county. The population density was 141.6 inhabitants per square mile (54.7 /km²). There were 68,508 housing units at an average density of 73.9 per square mile (28.5 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% white, 2.7% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:

• 23.5% Irish
• 16.9% Italian
• 16.1% French
• 14.3% English
• 12.1% German
• 9.6% Polish
• 4.9% French Canadian
• 3.7% Scottish
• 3.0% American
• 2.0% Scotch-Irish
• 2.0% Russian
• 2.0% Dutch
• 1.5% Swedish
• 1.3% Portuguese
• 1.1% Puerto Rican

Of the 56,091 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.1% were non-families, and 33.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 44.7 years.

The median household income was $48,907 and the median family income was $64,783. Males had a median income of $47,401 versus $35,964 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,300. About 7.9% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

The ranking of unincorporated communities included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Rank	Town		Per capita income	Median household income	Median family income	Population	Number of households
1	Tyringham	Town	$55,836	$94,375	$126,875	358	149
2	Richmond	Town	$51,808	$88,125	$94,423	1,671	702
3	Alford	Town	$49,272	$85,833	$102,750	501	232
4	Otis	Town	$44,085	$63,672	$70,547	1,248	571
5	Mount Washington	Town	$40,073	$68,750	$69,688	150	64
6	Williamstown	Town	$39,451	$72,743	$97,060	7,828	2,859
7	Egremont	Town	$39,236	$50,848	$66,500	1,043	529
8	Becket	Town	$37,233	$41,852	$62,823	1,775	790
	Lenox	CDP	$37,192	$48,158	$62,569	1,349	782
9	Sheffield	Town	$36,640	$52,181	$75,000	3,255	1,464
10	New Ashford	Town	$35,676	$63,854	$75,750	225	109
11	West Stockbridge	Town	$35,092	$75,543	$97,784	1,573	640
12	Great Barrington	Town	$34,585	$48,561	$73,369	7,131	2,792
13	Cheshire	Town	$34,413	$56,597	$74,250	3,245	1,408
14	Lenox	Town	$33,405	$54,622	$74,844	5,013	2,084
	Housatonic	CDP	$33,281	$28,837	$27,448	1,024	556
15	Windsor	Town	$33,234	$74,866	$99,091	902	321
16	Lanesborough	Town	$33,058	$66,071	$82,400	3,074	1,240
17	Washington	Town	$32,501	$69,286	$71,250	583	240
18	New Marlborough	Town	$32,451	$67,528	$68,750	1,499	591
19	Monterey	Town	$32,404	$42,083	$47,625	793	302
20	Stockbridge	Town	$31,821	$53,698	$69,038	1,755	765
	Williamstown	CDP	$31,808	$46,622	$100,833	3,652	1,312
21	Sandisfield	Town	$31,746	$60,104	$69,706	985	381
22	Hinsdale	Town	$30,753	$62,596	$71,442	2,136	860
23	Hancock	Town	$29,851	$78,571	$79,911	713	254
	Berkshire County	County	$29,387	$48,705	$64,393	131,221	55,793
	Great Barrington	CDP	$28,282	$40,393	$66,500	2,464	1,021
24	Lee	Town	$28,270	$51,835	$67,407	5,932	2,486
25	Peru	Town	$28,080	$68,523	$72,344	863	337
26	Savoy	Town	$27,725	$58,068	$58,452	706	293
	Lee	CDP	$27,549	$43,750	$70,417	1,843	874
27	Dalton	Town	$26,854	$52,285	$61,739	6,753	2,663
28	Pittsfield	City	$26,767	$44,513	$57,673	44,691	19,966
29	Florida	Town	$25,666	$46,458	$58,281	719	337
	Adams	CDP	$25,096	$38,256	$46,554	5,367	2,508
30	Clarksburg	Town	$25,013	$54,095	$61,836	1,702	727
31	Adams	Town	$24,423	$39,080	$46,021	8,494	3,770
32	North Adams	City	$20,330	$36,424	$51,028	13,763	5,867
	Cheshire	CDP	$14,088	$47,361	$56,125	610	209

Politics

In the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections, Berkshire County was Massachusetts's third-bluest county behind Suffolk County, which consists primarily of Boston, and Dukes County, home to Martha's Vineyard. In 2020, the county voted for Joe Biden by a 47.1% margin over Donald Trump, 72.4% to 25.3%.

United States presidential election results for Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	18,064	25.31%	51,705	72.44%	1,606	2.25%
2016	16,839	25.66%	43,714	66.62%	5,064	7.72%
2012	14,252	22.10%	48,843	75.74%	1,391	2.16%
2008	14,876	22.50%	49,558	74.94%	1,696	2.56%
2004	16,806	25.74%	47,743	73.12%	742	1.14%
2000	15,805	26.60%	37,934	63.85%	5,672	9.55%
1996	13,055	21.48%	39,338	64.73%	8,381	13.79%
1992	14,726	21.74%	36,857	54.40%	16,163	23.86%
1988	24,125	38.38%	38,208	60.78%	526	0.84%
1984	33,712	52.85%	29,745	46.63%	328	0.51%
1980	27,063	39.78%	29,458	43.30%	11,510	16.92%
1976	27,462	39.87%	39,337	57.12%	2,072	3.01%
1972	30,380	45.83%	35,391	53.39%	513	0.77%
1968	23,078	35.80%	38,497	59.72%	2,890	4.48%
1964	15,160	23.57%	48,839	75.92%	332	0.52%
1960	27,335	39.83%	41,132	59.93%	162	0.24%
1956	41,355	61.75%	25,361	37.87%	257	0.38%
1952	38,413	56.13%	29,785	43.52%	243	0.36%
1948	27,482	46.37%	30,668	51.75%	1,117	1.88%
1944	24,830	44.16%	31,212	55.51%	185	0.33%
1940	25,973	44.11%	32,620	55.40%	287	0.49%
1936	22,607	42.20%	29,087	54.30%	1,874	3.50%
1932	23,186	48.08%	23,252	48.22%	1,782	3.70%
1928	23,855	49.52%	24,075	49.98%	244	0.51%
1924	21,106	61.05%	9,712	28.09%	3,753	10.86%
1920	20,138	63.11%	10,956	34.33%	816	2.56%
1916	9,787	52.09%	8,357	44.48%	645	3.43%
1912	6,397	37.19%	6,211	36.10%	4,595	26.71%
1908	9,137	57.17%	5,903	36.94%	941	5.89%
1904	9,310	58.85%	5,800	36.66%	711	4.49%
1900	8,980	60.28%	5,461	36.66%	455	3.05%
1896	9,710	67.91%	3,913	27.37%	676	4.73%
1892	7,336	50.60%	6,697	46.19%	465	3.21%
1888	6,826	51.33%	6,070	45.64%	403	3.03%
1884	5,901	49.73%	5,519	46.51%	445	3.75%
1880	6,386	55.70%	5,034	43.91%	44	0.38%
1876	6,015	52.32%	5,478	47.65%	4	0.03%

History

The Mahican (Muh-he-ka-neew) Native American tribe lived in the area that now makes up Berkshire County until the early 18th century, when the first English settlers and frontiersmen appeared and began setting up farms and homesteads. On April 25, 1724, “The English finally paid the Indians 460 pounds, 3 barrels of cider, and 30 quarts of rum for what is today Berkshire County.” This deal did not include modern Sheffield, Stockbridge, Richmond, and Lenox, which were added later. Berkshire County remained part of Hampshire County until 1760.

In the 19th century, Berkshire County became popular with the American elite, which built what they called "cottages" throughout the countryside. The Gilded Age ended in the early 20th century with the income tax, World War I, and the Great Depression. In the 20th, century some of these cottages were torn or burned down, while others became prep schools, historic sites, or bed-and-breakfast inns.

Today Berkshire is known throughout the East Coast and the country as the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It includes attractions such as Tanglewood, Berkshire Museum, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass MOCA, and Hancock Shaker Village.

Communities

Map of Berkshire County

Cities

• North Adams
• Pittsfield (county seat)

Towns

• Adams
• Alford
• Becket
• Cheshire
• Clarksburg
• Dalton
• Egremont
• Florida
• Great Barrington
• Hancock
• Hinsdale
• Lanesborough
• Lee
• Lenox
• Monterey
• Mount Washington
• New Ashford
• New Marlborough
• Otis
• Peru
• Richmond
• Sandisfield
• Savoy
• Sheffield
• Stockbridge
• Tyringham
• Washington
• West Stockbridge
• Williamstown
• Windsor

Census-designated places

• Adams
• Cheshire
• Great Barrington
• Housatonic
• Lee
• Lenox
• Williamstown

Transportation

County-wide bus service is provided by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. Amtrak train service and Peter Pan intercity bus service is provided at Pittsfield.

Airports

• Harriman-and-West Airport
• Pittsfield Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)
• Walter J. Koladza Airport

Major Highways

• I-90
• US 7
• US 20
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Notable residents

• Scholar and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, MA. His birthplace and other sites of interest are part of the Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail.
• Folk singer Arlo Guthrie resides in Berkshire County.
• Author Nathaniel Hawthorne resided at the "Little Red House" in Lenox, MA near the grounds of the Tanglewood Music Festival, where he wrote The House of Seven Gables and other novels.
• Author Herman Melville resided at Arrowhead in Pittsfield, MA, where he wrote the novel Moby Dick.
• Artist Norman Rockwell resided in Stockbridge, MA.
• Singer-songwriter and guitarist James Taylor resides in Berkshire County.
• Author Edith Wharton kept a home in Lenox, MA.
• Actor Mark Wahlberg often spends time Berkshire County has a residence in Pittsfield, MA.
• Actress Elizabeth Banks is from Pittsfield, MA. and often comes back and visits.
• Actress Karen Allen lives in Monterey.
• Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has a home in Tyringham.

See also

• Registry of Deeds (Massachusetts)
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
• USS Berkshire County (LST-288)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Berkshire County, Massachusetts

• Berkshires.org (Berkshires vacation site)
• iBerkshires.com (news web site)\
• Wall & Gray. 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. Map of Massachusetts. USA. New England. Counties – Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex and Norfolk, Boston – Suffolk, Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable and Dukes (Cape Cod). Cities – Springfield, Worcester, Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Newburyport, Salem, Lynn, Taunton, Fall River. New Bedford. These 1871 maps of the Counties and Cities are useful to see the roads and rail lines.
• Beers, D.G. 1872 Atlas of Essex County Map of Massachusetts Plate 5. Click on the map for a large image. Also see detailed map of 1872 Essex County Plate 7.
• Berkshire County Sheriff's Office

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