Heath, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Heath, Massachusetts
Town
Dell Dam in autumn
Seal
Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Franklin
Settled	1765
Incorporated	1785
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	24.9 sq mi (64.5 km2)
• Land	24.9 sq mi (64.5 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	1,729 ft (527 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	723
• Density	29.04/sq mi (11.209/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	01346
Area code(s)	413
FIPS code	25-29650
GNIS feature ID	0618167

Heath is a small town located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 723 people lived there. Heath is part of the larger Springfield, Massachusetts area.

Heath's Early History

Burnt Hill Stone Circle, an ancient site in Heath

Heath was first settled by people in 1765. At that time, it was part of a nearby town called Charlemont.

In 1785, Heath became its own official town, just a few days after its neighbor, Rowe, did the same. The town was named after William Heath. He was a very important Major General from Massachusetts and a Brigadier General in the national army during the American Revolution.

Naming the Town of Heath

General Heath was a leader and friend to Colonel Hugh Maxwell, a local citizen. Colonel Maxwell suggested naming the town after General Heath. In 1784, Colonel Maxwell, who was hurt during the Battle of Bunker Hill, was chosen to represent Heath. He went to the General Court in Boston to ask for Heath to become a separate town from Charlemont. The new town was officially created on February 14, 1785.

Heath's Role in the Underground Railroad

The family of Colonel Maxwell, the Leavitt family, played a special role in history. They helped people who were escaping slavery through the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes. Some members of the Leavitt family in Heath and Charlemont even sheltered people like Basil Dorsey who were fleeing the Southern United States.

Past Industries and the Heath Fair

In the 1800s, Heath had some farms and small businesses. Today, most of these are gone, and Heath is mostly a rural area. One unique business was making straw hats. Women and children would weave palm fronds, which were brought in from places like the Carolinas, during their free time.

Every year, the Heath Agricultural Society hosts the Heath Fair. This is a small fair focused on farming. It takes place two weekends before Labor Day.

Geography and Location

Heath Union Church

Heath covers about 24.9 square miles (64.5 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny bit is water. The town is located right along the border with Vermont. It sits between Franklin County in Massachusetts and Windham County in Vermont.

Neighboring Towns and Natural Features

Heath is surrounded by several towns. To the north are Whitingham and Halifax, Vermont. To the east is Colrain. Charlemont is to the south and southwest, and Rowe is to the west.

Heath is in the northeastern part of the Berkshires, which are beautiful mountains. The highest point in town is Burnt Hill. The West Branch of the North River flows through Heath. There's also a large community around Papoose Lake. This lake drains into Taylor Brook and then into the North River.

Getting Around Heath

Massachusetts Route 8A is the main road that connects Heath to Charlemont. In Charlemont, Route 8A meets Massachusetts Route 2, also known as the Mohawk Trail. This road helps people travel to other parts of the region.

The closest major highway, Interstate 91, can be reached in Greenfield. Heath does not have its own train, bus, or airport services. You can find bus and small plane services in nearby Greenfield and Turners Falls. The closest train service is in Greenfield, and the nearest major airport is Albany International Airport in New York.

Population and Community

In 2000, Heath had 805 people living there. This makes it one of the smaller towns in Franklin County. The population density was about 32 people per square mile.

Many families moved to Heath during the 1970s and 1980s. These families came from states like New York, Connecticut, and Maine.

Education in Heath

Heath is part of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District. This district serves students from six towns for elementary school. It covers most of western Franklin County for older students.

Heath Elementary School teaches students from pre-kindergarten up to sixth grade. Students in grades 7 through 12 go to Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Buckland. There is also a private school nearby, the Academy at Charlemont, in Charlemont.

For higher education, Greenfield Community College is in Greenfield. The nearest state college is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. The largest state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A private college called Williams College is in Williamstown.

Notable People from Heath

Many interesting people have lived in or had connections to Heath:

• Elsa Bakalar, a talented garden designer.
• Robert McAfee Brown, a Presbyterian minister, theologian, and activist who spent his summers in Heath.
• Felix Frankfurter, a famous Supreme Court Justice who also had a summer home in Heath.
• Jonathan Leavitt, the first minister of Charlemont, who lived in Heath for a long time.
• Alastair Maitland, a diplomat and consul-general who retired in Heath.
• Reinhold Niebuhr, a well-known theologian. He spent his summers in Heath and first shared the famous Serenity Prayer there in 1934.
• Jackson Temple, a Justice of the California Supreme Court, was born in Heath.

See also

In Spanish: Heath (Massachusetts) para niños