Berkshires towns homepages

The Berkshires town of Monterey is the site of some of the most splendid resources in all of Berkshire county, namely Lake Buel, Lake Garfield, the Mill River, and Beartwon State Forest. No wonder, then, that Monterey, Mass. has been attracting artists and urban refugees since the early 1800s. People say that entering the town’s commercial, political, and social hub – the Monterey General Store, is like a trip back to the 1780s. Update – The store closed in April 2011. (Photo credit:Wikipedia User:ToddC4176)

Monterey, MA history, information, demographics

“Monterey used to be called Green Woods, an appropriate name. When the southern part of Tyringham became a separate town during the Mexican War, patriotic selectmen wished to name it in commemoration of General Zachary Taylor’s battles in Mexico and Texas, but Palo Alto and Buena Vista were too foreigh-sounding. Monterey was musical and not too hard to pronounce, so Monterey it became.” (The Berkshire Hills, by Federal Writers’ Project, © 1939, Berkshire Hills Conference, Inc.)

Monterey, MA facts:

• Town Hall: Grange Bldg.,Main Rd.
• Phone: (413) 528-1443
• Population: 934
• Settled/Inc’d: 1739/1847
• Elevation: 1,200′
• Demographic data: state.ma.us/
• Town website: montereyma.gov.

The Berkshires town of Mount Washington is the site of Mount Everett State Reservation (2nd highest peak in the commonwealth) and the spectacular, legendary Bash Bish Falls State Park. Mt. Washington, Mass. was named for George Washington, not the highest peak in New Hampshire, and with a population of fewer than 150 souls, is the least populated town of Berkshire county. (Photo credit:Wikipedia User:ToddC4176)

Mt. Washington, MA facts:

• Town Hall: 118 East St
• Phone: (413) 528-2839
• Population: 130
• Settled/Inc’d: 1692/1779
• Named for: George Washington
• Elevation: 1670′
• Town website: townofmtwashington.com/
• Demographic data: state.ma.us/

How to get to the Berkshires

Here are inks for local and regional public transportation depots and stops, plus where to get Peter Pan bus and Amtrak train schedules and tickets: how to get to the Berkshires.

The Berkshires town of sits in a picturesque gorge between the giant foothills of Mount Greylock State Reservation and a spur of the Taconics. An 1889 tourist guide described the views in town as creating the effect of “the Switzerland of Berkshire.” Brodie Mountain Ski Resort was the town’s principal business until closing in 2002 (and being sold to an condo developer). (Photo credit:Wikipedia User:ToddC4176)

New Ashford, Mass. facts:

• Town Hall: Mallery Rd.
• Phone: (413) 458-5461
• Population: 247
• Settled/Inc’d: 1762
• Named for: Ashford, CT
• Elevation: 1350′
• Town website: newashford.info
• Demographic data: www.state.ma.us

Article updated May 12, 2018 by Dave Read

The Berkshires town of New Marlborough has a well preserved village center clustered around its central green. A residential and tourist community, it contains a part of scenic Lake Buel, Campbell’s Falls, where the Whiting River cascades down an 80′ drop, and Umpachene Falls. The Konkapot River, Umpachene River, and Whiting River, flow through New Marlborough, feeding into the Housatonic River. There are also several swamps and ponds, including Lake Buel on the Monterey line, and the Thousand Acre Swamp in the southeast corner. The swamp lies along the border of Campbells Falls State Park, named for the falls along the Whiting River. Parts of Sandisfield State Forest also lie in the town.

The Steepletop Reserve< /strong>, near New Marlboro, MA is the largest property of the Berkshire Natural Resource Council, comprising more than 1,200 acres.

New Marlborough, MA facts:

• Town Hall: PO Box 99
• Phone: (413) 229-8116
• Population: 1,494
• Settled/Inc’d: 1739
• Named for: Marlborough, MA
• Elevation: 720′
• Town website: new-marlborough.info
• Demographic data:state.ma.us/

The city of North Adams, Mass. has become an important cultural destination with the establishment of the world’s largest museum of contemporary art, MASS MoCA, which opened in 1999 at the site of the Sprague Electric Co., which had made the city an industrial and manufacturing center until closing in 1985. North Adams also is home to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (known as North Adams State College until 1997), where construction of a new Center for Science and Innovation has been approved by the state legislature. Find hotels in North Adams, MA.

transportation for North Adams: BRTA Rt. 1 North Adams Pittsfield map