Ashfield is a 40 square mile town in the Berkshire foothills in the southwestern corner of Franklin County. The town was originally named Huntstown in 1736 as a land grant plantation, but was incorporated under its present name in 1765 under the auspices of Lord Thurlow of Ashfield, England.
Bernardston is a rural commercial center abutting the Vermont border and located on the primary corridor between Greenfield and Vermont. The town is known for its mountain peaks and its black slate quarries which supplied local gravestone carvers in the early 19th century.
The Town of Buckland is a small rural predominately farming community with a population of less than 2,000 people. It is a member of a regional school district comprised of nine towns. There is some light manufacturing, and its downtown business district, known as Shelburne Falls, is a shared...
Charlemont is a highland town with peaks like Pocumtuck Mountain as high as 1872 feet. The town is on the Mohawk Trail, the primary Indian route between the Hudson River Valley and the Connecticut River Valley, and was the site of forts built in 1744 as part of the line of defense to protect...
The Town of Colrain abuts the Vermont state line several miles northwest of Greenfield, the northern terminus of the Connecticut River Valley, and just north of the Mohawk Trail. It was settled by Scots-Irish immigrants in the mid-17th century who named their settlement after Lord Coleraine of...
Home of one of the few remaining covered bridges in Massachusetts, Conway was first settled in 1760 and incorporated in 1767. The town is a small rural community which was named in honor of General Henry Conway, who supported the repeal of the Stamp Act in Parliament.
The Town of Deerfield is an historic rural suburban center on the primary corridor between Northampton and Greenfield in the Connecticut River Valley. It was the earliest community settled in Franklin County. Because of its strategic location, the town was subjected to repeated attacks from French...
The Town of Erving is a highland industrial town on the primary corridor between Boston and Greenfield. The land that constitutes the town was purchased by John Erving in 1752 and was consequently named after him. The community has been the home of the Erving Paper mills since 1905 and the factory...
The Town of Gill offers education, recreation and quiet, peaceful living opportunities within its 15 square miles. The rural character of the town has been preserved, even though the last 50 years has seen a transition from a farming community to a bedroom community. The fewer than 1600 inhabitants...
The Town of Greenfield is a residential community located at the cross roads of Interstate 91, Route 2 and the famous Mohawk Trail in Western Massachusetts, 98 miles from Boston. There are airports nearby and travel to New York City, Springfield, Brattleboro, Vt., Keene, New Hampshire and Montreal,...
Heath is a Massachusetts hill town midway between the Connecticut River and the New York state line, along the Vermont Border. From any direction it is a climb to reach Heath's town center, which consists of the Heath Union Church, the Community Center, some town offices in the old Grange building,...
Quietly nestled in the Pioneer Valley, slightly to one side of the major highways, Leverett enjoys country living in comfortable proximity to town and city life.
Diversity is reflected in Leverett road names. Amherst, Montague and Shutesbury Roads lead to those neighboring towns, Long Plain Road...
The Town of Leyden is one of the northernmost towns in Massachusetts and abuts Vermont. It is an isolated rural hill town on the suburban corridor from Greenfield to Vermont and residents are proud of its lofty location in the southern highlands of the Green Mountains. The town was named for a...
The Town of Monroe is the smallest town in Franklin County, covering about 12 square miles and named for President James Monroe. It is an isolated town within the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts with rugged uplands and an overall terrain that was not enticing to early settlers.
The motto on Montague's town seal says, "Five fingers on one hand". The five fingers are Montague's five separate villages, namely, Turners Falls, Millers Falls, Lake Pleasant, Montague City and Montague Center. Each has a very distinct character and personality and has developed...
New Salem is a small town that borders the Quabbin Reservoir and boasts one of the most beautiful, traditional town commons in the state, residents feel. New Salem, which itself is listed with the National Register of Historic Places, also houses the largest private collection of artifacts from the...
The Town of Northfield was an early attraction for colonial settlers due to its rich and fertile plains along the Connecticut River, and Europeans had begun farming there in 1673. However, its history was bumpy and the town was twice abandoned before a permanent settlement was achieved in...
The Town of Orange is an industrial and population center on the eastern boundary of Franklin County. The town was established in 1810, but settlers had been using the water power of the Millers River for manufacturing since the damming of the river in 1790. The community is made up of sections of...
Rowe is a small hilltown in northwestern Massachusetts, with a population of 347. The town is one of scenic beauty, with wooded mountains, clear brooks, and the Deerfield River on its border. Rowe is close to ski areas and enjoys great hiking, fishing, hunting and canoeing. Rowe has its own...
Graced by the beautiful Deerfield River, Shelburne is located just off the famous Mohawk trail and is minutes from I-91. It is like stepping back in time to visit this living example of a nineteenth century New England village. Shelburne is a community dedicated to preserving the purity and...
The Town of Shutesbury has carried some of its past history forward. Once known as a lumbering town, Shutesbury still retains some lumbering interests. Named for Governor Samuel Shute, the town was established in 1761 and its plentiful mineral springs resulted in a healthy bottling business...
The Town of Sunderland is a rural-residential community in the southeast corner of Franklin County. Sunderland has a long history of agricultural operations, many of which continue today, including several active dairy farms, tobacco farms, produce farms and maple sugaring businesses.
Established in 1763, the Town of Warwick owes its beginnings to land given to descendants of 39 soldiers from Roxbury who distinguished themselves in the Canadian campaign. The hilly land was originally settled in the 1740's and residents have achieved some local fame for their longevity. This...
Wendell is a unique community that combines traditional and alternative lifestyles. It is a small rural town where the spirit of volunteerism and a helping hand sense of community prevail. The town's land area is comprised of approximately 50% state forest or conservation trust acres, resulting in...
The Town of Whately is the southernmost town in Franklin County and was named for a friend of Governor Hutchinson, Thomas Whately.
Established in 1771, the town's economy was at first completely agricultural but an abundance of water power allowed the development of industries in the 18th and 19th...