Washington, Massachusetts Facts for Kids

Washington was first settled in 1760. It officially became a town in 1777. The town had a few different names before. These included Greenoch, Watsontown, and Hartville. In 1784, it was renamed for George Washington, a very important figure in American history.

Washington has always been a rural area. This means it has mostly farms and open land. It did not have many big industries. Instead, it was known for being on the main road to Pittsfield. Later, a train line also passed through the town.

Geography and Nature

Washington is located in the middle of Berkshire County. It is near the border of Hampshire County. The town covers about 100.5 square kilometers (38.8 square miles). Most of this area is land. About 2.1 square kilometers (0.8 square miles) is water.

The town is surrounded by other towns. These include Pittsfield to the northwest and Dalton to the north. To the east is Middlefield. Becket is to the southeast. Lee is to the southwest, and Lenox is to the west. Washington is about 39 miles (63 km) northwest of Springfield. It is also about 123 miles (198 km) west of Boston.

Mountains and Rivers

Washington is in the Berkshire Hills. A big part of its landscape is Washington Mountain. This mountain is in the western part of town. The October Mountain State Forest surrounds the mountain. The mountain rises above the Housatonic River. It slopes down towards the east. Here, you can find Depot Brook and a branch of the Westfield River. The town also has several small lakes and reservoirs.

Trails and Recreation

The famous Appalachian Trail goes through Washington. This trail is a long path for hiking. The town is also home to the Bucksteep Manor Cross Country Ski Area. This is a great place for winter sports.

Transportation Routes

Massachusetts Route 8 is the main state road in Washington. It connects Becket to Hinsdale. The closest major highway is Interstate 90. This highway is also known as the Massachusetts Turnpike. You can get on it in nearby Lee.

A train line, the CSX Berkshire Subdivision, runs through town. It is used by CSX and Amtrak. The highest point of the Berkshires on this train line is in Washington. For air travel, the nearest small airport is Pittsfield Municipal Airport. For bigger flights, Bradley International Airport in Connecticut is the closest option.

Population and People

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	953	—
1860	948	−0.5%
1870	694	−26.8%
1880	493	−29.0%
1890	434	−12.0%
1900	377	−13.1%
1910	277	−26.5%
1920	240	−13.4%
1930	222	−7.5%
1940	267	+20.3%
1950	281	+5.2%
1960	290	+3.2%
1970	406	+40.0%
1980	587	+44.6%
1990	615	+4.8%
2000	544	−11.5%
2010	538	−1.1%
2020	494	−8.2%
2022*	497	+0.6%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

In 2000, there were 544 people living in Washington. There were 203 households, and 163 families. The town is one of the smallest in Berkshire County by population. It also has one of the lowest population densities in the state. This means there are not many people living in each square mile.

Most of the people in Washington are White. A small number are African American or from two or more races. About 0.74% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Age

About 36.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (67.0%) were married couples. About 14.8% of households were single individuals. Some people aged 65 or older lived alone. The average household had 2.68 people. The average family had 2.96 people.

The population's age was spread out. About 26.5% were under 18. About 32.7% were between 45 and 64 years old. About 9.9% were 65 or older. The average age in town was 41 years.

Income Information

In 2000, the average income for a household in Washington was $54,583. For families, the average income was $55,357. The average income per person was $23,610. A small number of families (4.8%) and people (6.9%) lived below the poverty line. This included 12.5% of those under 18.

Education for Students

Washington is part of the Central Berkshire Regional School District. This is the largest school district in Massachusetts by land area. Students from Washington go to Beckett-Washington Elementary School. This school is in the nearby town of Becket.

For middle school, all students in the district go to Nessacus Regional Middle School. This school is in Dalton. For high school, students attend Wahconah Regional High School, also in Dalton. There are no private schools in Washington itself. The closest private schools are in the Pittsfield area.

Higher Education Options

For college, the closest community college is Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. State colleges nearby include Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams and Westfield State University in Westfield. The main state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Famous People

Some well-known people have lived in Washington:

Arlo Guthrie, a famous folk singer.
James Taylor, a popular singer-songwriter.

Washington, Massachusetts facts for kids

Contents

History of Washington