Monterey, Massachusetts Facts for Kids

Prior to official settlement, the area of Monterey was inhabited by Mahicans, the local Native American tribe. Monterey was first settled by colonists in 1739 as a part of Housatonic Township Number One. The township had two villages, along Hop Brook to the north (modern Tyringham) and Konkapot River in the south (modern Monterey). The town was officially incorporated as Tyringham in 1767. In the earliest days of 1776, General Henry Knox passed through the town, bringing cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to aid in ending the Siege of Boston. Today, the path he took is known as the Henry Knox Trail. However, the long divide between the two towns led to their separation in 1847. Previously called Green Woods or South Tyringham, the local people voted to name the new town Monterey to commemorate the Battle of Monterey that took place a year earlier in the Mexican–American War. Palo Alto and Buena Vista were also considered, but thought to be "too foreign sounding". The town was mostly known for its sawmills, but today it is a rural community, known more for its recreational areas in the state forests and along Lake Garfield.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²), of which 26.4 square miles (68.5 km²) is land and 0.97 square miles (2.5 km²), or 3.53%, is water. Monterey is bordered by Tyringham to the north, Otis to the east, Sandisfield to the southeast, New Marlborough to the south, and Great Barrington to the west. Monterey lies 21 miles (34 km) south-southeast of Pittsfield, 37 miles (60 km) west of Springfield, and 124 miles (200 km) west of Boston.

Monterey lies in the southern end of the Berkshires, at the headwaters of the Konkapot River. The river rises from Lake Garfield, which is surrounded by several hills, and Lake Buel, which lies along the New Marlborough town line. Much of the northwest corner of town is dominated by Mount Wilcox and the lower portion of Beartown State Forest. The state forest is crossed by the Appalachian Trail, which crosses from Great Barrington, below the peak of the mountain and on to Sky Hill in Tyringham.

Monterey lies along Massachusetts Route 23, the main east-west route through town. Near the Great Barrington line, Route 57 begins and heads eastward, passing Lake Buel before heading into New Marlborough. Route 57 also carries Route 183, which is combined with Route 23 west of the junction, southward towards Connecticut. There are also several non-state highways which connect the town to its other neighbors. Most of the population is centered around Route 23, especially near Lake Garfield.

The nearest interstate, Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike), passes through neighboring Otis, and its nearest exit is at U.S. Route 20 in Lee. The nearest regional rail and bus service is at Great Barrington, which is at the end of a weekend service line to New York City via the MTA rail line (note: this refers to a discontinued connecting bus service to GB from the MTA's Wassaic, NY station). Amtrak service can also be found in Pittsfield, along the east-west Lake Shore Limited. There is a small regional airport in Great Barrington, with the nearest national air service at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	761	—
1860	758	−0.4%
1870	653	−13.9%
1880	635	−2.8%
1890	495	−22.0%
1900	455	−8.1%
1910	388	−14.7%
1920	282	−27.3%
1930	321	+13.8%
1940	320	−0.3%
1950	367	+14.7%
1960	480	+30.8%
1970	600	+25.0%
1980	818	+36.3%
1990	805	−1.6%
2000	934	+16.0%
2010	961	+2.9%
2020	1,095	+13.9%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

As of the census of 2000, there were 934 people, 387 households, and 239 families residing in the town. By population, the town ranks 21st out of the 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County, and 325th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density was 35.2 people per square mile (13.6/km²), which ranks it 20th in the county and 325th in the Commonwealth. There were 830 housing units at an average density of 31.3 per square mile (12.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.90% White, 0.54% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.

There were 387 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,750, and the median income for a family was $59,643. Males had a median income of $37,692 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,992. About 3.4% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

Bidwell House Museum

Education

Monterey School

Monterey is part of the Mount Everett Regional School District along with Alford, Egremont, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, and Sheffield. Students in Monterey attend the Monterey School for kindergarten and first grades, with second through sixth grades attending the Undermountain Elementary School in Sheffield, and Mount Everett Regional High School in Sheffield for grades 7–12. There are private schools in Great Barrington and other nearby towns.

The nearest community college is the South County Center of Berkshire Community College in Great Barrington. The nearest state college is Westfield State University, and the nearest state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The nearest private college is Bard College at Simon's Rock.

Notable people

Karen Allen, actress
Edwin N. Chapin (1823–1896), postmaster and newspaper publisher

Monterey, Massachusetts facts for kids

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Sites of interest

Education

Notable people

See also