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Berkshire County, Massachusetts facts for kids

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Berkshire County
County of Berkshire
Berkshire County Courthouse
Berkshire County Courthouse
Official seal of Berkshire County
Seal
Motto(s): 
Firmus et Paratus
(Latin "Steadfast and Ready")
Map of Massachusetts highlighting Berkshire County
Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Map of the United States highlighting Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Massachusetts
Founded April 24, 1761
Seat Pittsfield
Largest city Pittsfield
Area
 • Total 946 sq mi (2,450 km2)
 • Land 927 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Water 20 sq mi (50 km2)  2.1%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 129,026
 • Density 139.2/sq mi (53.7/km2)
Demonym(s) Berkshirite
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 1st
Berkshires in Winter
The Berkshire Hills, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in winter

Berkshire County (pronounced) 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.

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 located in Berkshire County.

Berkshire County is one of two Massachusetts counties that borders three different neighboring states; the other being 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. They are a source of pride for their beauty, and have marked the county's character. Due to their elevation, the Berkshires attract tourists and summer residents eager to escape the heat of the lowlands.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
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%
2020 129,026 −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2018

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:

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

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

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, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass MOCA, and Hancock Shaker Village.

Communities

BerkMap
Map of Berkshire County

Cities

Towns

Villages

Villages and census-designated places are unincorporated communities that have no separate legal existence from the towns they are in.

Census-designated places

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
  • Route 2
  • Route 7A
  • Route 8
  • Route 8A
  • Route 9
  • Route 23
  • Route 41
  • Route 43
  • Route 57
  • Route 71
  • Route 102
  • Route 116
  • Route 143
  • Route 183
  • Route 295

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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Berkshire para niños

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