Becket, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Becket, Massachusetts
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Becket Arts Center, 2005
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Location in Berkshire County and the state of Massachusetts.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Berkshire | |
| Settled | 1740 | |
| Incorporated | 1765 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 47.8 sq mi (123.8 km2) | |
| • Land | 46.1 sq mi (119.3 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4.5 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,200 ft (366 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,931 | |
| • Density | 40.398/sq mi (15.598/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
01223
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| Area code(s) | 413 | |
| FIPS code | 25-04545 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619416 | |
Becket is a small town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It's part of the Pittsfield area. In 2020, about 1,931 people lived here.
Contents
History of Becket
Becket was first settled by people in 1740. It officially became a town in 1765.
The town was named after "Beckett Hall" in England. This was an estate that belonged to Admiral Lord Barrington. He was also the namesake for the town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Sir Francis Bernard was the Royal Governor of Massachusetts in 1765. He was a friend of Lord Barrington. Governor Bernard enjoyed visiting Beckett in England. These happy memories led him to name Township Number Four "Becket" when it became a town.
In 1811, sixteen men from Becket traveled west. They founded the village of Windham, Ohio.
Early Becket was known for its churches. The town created its own church society. This meant citizens supported the church without using tax money. This was a new idea for frontier towns at the time.
For a long time, Becket was known for its lumber and stone quarries. Later, people also made dairy products, baskets, and silk. After a big flood in the early 1900s, most of these industries stopped. Today, Becket is mostly a resort town. It's also known for its art community, especially around the Jacob's Pillow Dance Company.
Geography of Becket
Becket covers about 123.8 square kilometers (47.8 square miles). Most of this is land, with a small part being water. The town is on the eastern edge of Berkshire County. It meets Hampshire County and Hampden County.
Becket is surrounded by other towns. These include Washington, Middlefield, Chester, Blandford, Otis, Tyringham, and Lee. It's about 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Pittsfield. It's also about 32 miles (51 km) northwest of Springfield. Boston is about 118 miles (190 km) to the west.
The town is in the southern Berkshire Mountains. It has many hills inside it. Becket Mountain and Walling Mountain are to the west. Mount Gobble is to the east. The Westfield River flows along part of the town's border. Many small streams and ponds are also found here. The Appalachian Trail, a famous hiking path, goes through the western part of Becket.
Interstate 90, also called the Massachusetts Turnpike, crosses through Becket. The main east-west road is U.S. Route 20. Massachusetts Route 8 also runs through the town for a while. Most people in Becket live around Robin Hood Lake. A train line also runs through the river valley. For travel, the closest train, bus, and small airport services are in Pittsfield. A larger airport is Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.
Population and People
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,223 | — |
| 1860 | 1,578 | +29.0% |
| 1870 | 1,346 | −14.7% |
| 1880 | 1,123 | −16.6% |
| 1890 | 946 | −15.8% |
| 1900 | 994 | +5.1% |
| 1910 | 959 | −3.5% |
| 1920 | 674 | −29.7% |
| 1930 | 672 | −0.3% |
| 1940 | 689 | +2.5% |
| 1950 | 755 | +9.6% |
| 1960 | 770 | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 929 | +20.6% |
| 1980 | 1,339 | +44.1% |
| 1990 | 1,481 | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 1,755 | +18.5% |
| 2010 | 1,779 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 1,931 | +8.5% |
| 2022* | 1,931 | +0.0% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2000, Becket had 1,755 people living there. This made it the fourteenth largest town in Berkshire County. The population has grown over the years, reaching 1,931 people in 2020.
About 23.6% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was 41 years. Most households were families, with many married couples living together.
Education in Becket
Becket is part of the Central Berkshire Regional School District. This is the largest school district in Massachusetts by land area. Younger students in Becket go to the Becket-Washington Elementary School.
For middle school (grades 6-8), students travel to Nessacus Regional Middle School in Dalton. High school students attend Wahconah Regional High School. Many Becket students also choose to go to Lee Elementary School and Lee Middle and High School. There are no private schools in Becket itself.
For higher education, the closest community college is Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. The nearest state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Places to Visit
- Becket Arts Center: An art center started by pianist Emanuel Levenson and painter Fay Kleinman.
- Becket Athenaeum: The town's library.
- Camp Greylock: A summer camp.
- Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: A famous dance festival.
- Camp Becket: Another summer camp.
Famous People from Becket
- Horace Chapman: A lawyer and politician from Wisconsin.
- Theodore S. Chapman: A lawyer and politician from Illinois.
- Ken Cheeseman: A theater and film actor.
- Wendell Corey: An actor, buried in North Cemetery.
- Hannah Tracy Cutler: A person who fought against slavery and for women's rights.
- Tully Filmus: A painter and one of the first directors of the Becket Arts Center.
- Norman Wait Harris: An American banker who founded what is now BMO Harris Bank.
- Fay Kleinman: A painter and co-founder of the Becket Arts Center.
- Michio and Aveline Kushi: Leaders of the worldwide macrobiotic movement.
- Emanuel Levenson: A pianist and opera director; co-founder of the Becket Arts Center.
- Peg Lynch: A radio and television personality, known for Ethel and Albert.
- Joseph Plumb Martin: A soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was born in Becket in 1760.
- Bishop Perkins: A politician and congressman from New York.
- Amanda Barnes Smith: An early Mormon pioneer.
- Eliza R. Snow: An early Mormon historian, poet, and women's leader.
Images for kids
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An old map of Becket from 1889, showing important places.
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A sign for westbound traffic in Becket, Massachusetts.
See also
In Spanish: Becket (Massachusetts) para niños
