Massachusetts

Berkshire

129,026
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Berkshire

Berkshire, Massachusetts, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 30,291. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 129,026.

Its recorded population peaked at 149,402 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 14 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Raid on Fort Massachusetts 1746, King George's War – Raid on Fort Massachusetts 1746, Siege of Fort Massachusetts, and 183 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020129,026
2010131,219
2000134,953
1990139,352
1980145,110
1970149,402
1960142,135
1950132,966
1940122,273
1930120,700
1920113,033
1910105,259
190095,667
189081,108
188069,032
187064,827
186055,120
185049,591
184041,745
183037,835
182035,720
181035,907
180033,885
179030,291
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Berkshire

Military engagements that took place in Berkshire, Massachusetts.

Raid on Fort Massachusetts 1746
1746
King George's War – Raid on Fort Massachusetts 1746
1746
Siege of Fort Massachusetts
1747
Raid on Fort Massachusetts (1756)
1756
Battle of Sheffield (Shays' Rebellion)
1787

Historic places in Berkshire

National Register of Historic Places listings in Berkshire, Massachusetts.

Power, Charles Whittlesey, House
Pittsfield
Upper Historic District
Washington
Montville Baptist Church
Sandisfield
Williamstown Rail Yard and Station Historic District
Williamstown
Old Curtisville Historic District
Stockbridge
Kenmore
Richmond
South Egremont Village Historic District
South Egremont
Western Railroad Stone Arch Bridges and Chester Factory Village Depot
Becket
Mission House
Stockbridge
Lenox High School
Lenox
Daniel Chester French Home and Studio, "Chesterwood"
Stockbridge
Blackinton Historic District
North Adams
Wells House
North Adams
Monument Square-Eagle Street Historic District
North Adams
Monument Square-Eagle Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)
North Adams
Crowley House
North Adams
Summer Street Historic District
Adams
Hathaway Tenement
North Adams
Berkshire Life Insurance Company Building
Pittsfield
Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
Becket
Tyringham Cemetery
Tyringham
Shaker Farm
Richmond
Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio
Stockbridge
Hyde School
Lee
Browse all Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Other counties in Massachusetts

Explore census history and historic records for more Massachusetts counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Berkshire County, Massachusetts

This page charts the census history of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Berkshire

When does Berkshire first appear in the US census?
Berkshire, Massachusetts first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 30,291.
What is the population of Berkshire?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Berkshire had a recorded population of 129,026.
When did Berkshire's population peak?
Berkshire's recorded population peaked at 149,402 in 1970.
Were any battles fought in Berkshire?
5 documented military engagements took place in Berkshire, including Raid on Fort Massachusetts 1746, King George's War – Raid on Fort Massachusetts 1746, Siege of Fort Massachusetts.
How many historic places are in Berkshire?
183 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Berkshire, Massachusetts.
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