Cheshire is a small town located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It's part of the wider Pittsfield area. In 2020, about 3,258 people lived here.

History of Cheshire
Cheshire's Geography
- Natural Features
- Nearby Towns and Cities
Transportation in Cheshire
- Public Transport and Trails
Population of Cheshire
Education in Cheshire
- Local Schools
- Higher Education
Notable People from Cheshire
See also

History of Cheshire

Cheshire was first settled by people in 1766. It officially became a town in 1793.

Early Settlers

The town was founded by Baptists who came from Rhode Island. These settlers were different from the Puritan Church members who lived in the area. Many of them were descendants of people who had followed Roger Williams to Rhode Island. They wanted to practice their religion freely. One important leader was Colonel Joab Stafford. He built his home on Stafford Hill. He also led the men of Cheshire during the Revolutionary War.

The Mammoth Cheese

Cheshire became a town in 1793. Its residents were very involved in the early elections of the country. The election between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in 1800 was a big deal. Cheshire was the only town in Berkshire County that supported Jefferson. When he won, the town wanted to celebrate and honor their new president.

Since Cheshire was known for its dairy farms and making cheese, they decided to send a special gift. They made a huge cheese using milk from every farmer in town! This amazing cheese was 4 feet wide and 18 inches thick. It weighed 1,235 pounds! It was so big that it had to be moved on a sled pulled by six horses. The cheese was shipped to Washington, D.C. by water. President Jefferson was so impressed that he sent a personal thank-you letter.

Today, there are two monuments in Cheshire. One celebrates this famous cheese. The other honors the town's first settlers. The Pioneer Monument is on Stafford Hill. It looks like an old mill from Newport, Rhode Island.

Town Industries

In the early days, Cheshire had many businesses. There were places to make metal tools, sawmills for wood, grist mills for grinding grain, and tanneries for making leather. In 1812, the Cheshire Crown Glass Company opened. There was also a triphammer operation, which used a large hammer for shaping metal.

The Cheshire Glass Manufacturing company was in business around 1900. Records show that shares of the company were sold. R. V. Wood, a respected person in town, was the company's treasurer.

Later, Thomas J. Curtin owned and ran lime kilns in the Farnams area of Cheshire. His son, Thomas J. Curtin, Jr., owned a silica sand quarry and mill. This was located near Hoosac Lake, which used to be called the Cheshire Reservoir. Thomas Jr. was very active in town government for many years.

Modern Cheshire

Cheshire has always been known for its different churches. In 1885, even with only 1,537 people, there were four different churches.

Today, Cheshire is becoming a popular place for recreation and homes. There are 225 acres of open slopes and trails for skiers in Farnhams. In the 1940s, there was a long, straight ski run. The South Branch of the Hoosic River, which starts in Hoosac Lake, also offers good fishing.

Cheshire's Geography

A view of Mount Greylock from the northeast part of town

Cheshire covers about 71.3 square kilometers (27.5 square miles). Most of this area, about 69.4 square kilometers (26.8 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.8 square kilometers (0.7 square miles), is water.

Natural Features

Cheshire is located in the valley of the Hoosic River. There is a dammed reservoir on this river within the town. To the west, parts of the Mount Greylock State Reservation are in Cheshire. This includes a section of the auto road that goes up the mountain. To the southeast, North Mountain rises just outside the town's borders.

The famous Appalachian Trail crosses through the middle of Cheshire. It goes from North Mountain towards Mount Greylock. The southern hills of the Hoosac Range make up much of the eastern part of town. Many areas are part of the Chalet and Stafford Hill Wildlife Management Areas. Several small streams also flow into the Hoosic River.

Nearby Towns and Cities

Cheshire is surrounded by several other towns. These include New Ashford to the northwest and Adams to the north. Savoy is to the northeast, and Windsor is to the east. Dalton is to the southeast, and Lanesborough is to the south and west.

Cheshire's town center is about 10.5 miles northeast of Pittsfield. It is also about 53 miles northwest of Springfield. Boston, the state capital, is about 135 miles west-northwest. Interestingly, Cheshire is closer to Hartford, Connecticut, and Albany, New York, than it is to Boston.

Transportation in Cheshire

Massachusetts Route 8 is the main road that goes through Cheshire. It runs from south to north. This route was once part of a larger road called New England Interstate Route 8. Route 116 also passes through the northeast corner of town. From some parts of Route 116, you can see great views of Mount Greylock.

Public Transport and Trails

The town is on a bus route operated by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. You can find more regional transportation services in North Adams and Pittsfield. The closest airport with flights across the country is Albany International Airport.

Cheshire was once served by a railroad line. Most of this old line has been turned into the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. This trail is 11 miles long and 10 feet wide. It is a paved path that everyone can use. It connects the towns of Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Adams.

The trail runs next to Route 8. It goes through woods and marshlands, and alongside a lake and a river. You can see wooded hills and Mount Greylock in the background. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is very popular for biking, walking, and roller-blading. It offers great views and a chance to see wildlife.

Population of Cheshire

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	1,298	—
1860	1,533	+18.1%
1870	1,758	+14.7%
1880	1,537	−12.6%
1890	1,308	−14.9%
1900	1,221	−6.7%
1910	1,508	+23.5%
1920	1,476	−2.1%
1930	1,697	+15.0%
1940	1,708	+0.6%
1950	2,022	+18.4%
1960	2,472	+22.3%
1970	3,006	+21.6%
1980	3,124	+3.9%
1990	3,479	+11.4%
2000	3,401	−2.2%
2010	3,235	−4.9%
2020	3,258	+0.7%
2022*	3,215	−1.3%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

In 2000, there were 3,401 people living in Cheshire. There were 1,367 households, and 985 of these were families. The average household had about 2.49 people. The average family had about 2.92 people.

About 23.4% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age in the town was 41 years. This means half the people were younger than 41, and half were older.

Education in Cheshire

Cheshire is part of a regional school district. This district also includes the towns of Adams and Savoy.

Local Schools

Cheshire's elementary school students now go to Plunkett Elementary in Adams. The Cheshire Elementary School closed in 2017 because of budget cuts. Before, both towns sent their middle school students to Adams Memorial Middle School.

Now, students from sixth grade through twelfth grade attend Hoosac Valley High School. This is because the high school received a government grant. This grant helped to update and improve the school's learning facilities.

Higher Education

If you want to go to college nearby, the closest community college is Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. The nearest state college is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. The closest state university is Westfield State University.

Notable People from Cheshire

John Leland: An important Baptist pastor who came to Cheshire in 1792. He helped take the famous Cheshire Mammoth Cheese to President Jefferson in Washington.
Bernice Madigan: A supercentenarian, meaning she lived to be over 110 years old. She was one of the oldest verified people ever.
Guy H. Preston: A brigadier general in the US Army who grew up in Cheshire.
Horace Smith: An inventor and gunsmith. He was a co-founder of the well-known company Smith & Wesson. He was born in Cheshire.
David Dunnels White: He was nominated for the Medal of Honor. He captured Major General Custis Lee, who was the son of Robert E. Lee, during the Battle of Sailor's Creek in 1865. David Dunnels White was born in Cheshire in 1844.
E. B. Farnum: The first mayor of Deadwood, a famous town in the American West.

Cheshire, Massachusetts facts for kids

Contents