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Detailed pages on related topics: Pittsfield colleges • Pittsfield travel • Pittsfield mortgage and property.
Introduction to Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in Berkshire county, is 29 miles SE of Albany, New York (center to center) and 111 miles W of Boston, Massachusetts. It's situated at the fork of the west and east branches of the Housatonic River and is bordered by the Berkshire Hills and the Taconic Range. The city is regarded as one of the primary population centers located in Western Massachusetts. In 2005 Farmers Insurance ranked the city as the 20th "Most Secure Place to Live" in the nation for towns with a population under 150,000. GE Advanced Materials, Chemex Corporation, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Laurin Publishing and General Systems are some of the major employers.
Pittsfield History
The area was settled in 1752 and incorporated in 1761. It was named in tribute to William Pitt, a British nobleman and politician. Pittsfield was primarily an agricultural community, however there were a large number of mills due to the area's numerous streams.
Pittsfield became a major center for producing wool after the arrival of Merino sheep from Spain in 1807. The wool industry became the city's primary employer. In 1891 the Electric Manufacturing Company created the first electric transformer. The company was the forerunner of the well known General Electric. The population had enormous growth due to the success of GE.
Pittsfield Attractions
Pittsfield Activities
The Pittsfield State Forest offers cross-country skiing and hiking trails, a swimming area and is available for camping. Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area is nearby. Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary includes fields, wooded areas and wetlands. The Bousquet Ski Area and Summer Resort offers skiing, go-karts, water slides and a variety of activities. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is popular with hikers. The area offers numerous trails for hiking enthusiasts including the Brickhouse Mountain, Cheshire Harbor, Taconic Skyline, Turner and the Wild Cat trails.
The Konkapot Brook, Farmington River - West Branch, the Westfield River and the Fall River provides opportunities for whitewater paddling. Onota Lake is utilized for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Ski Butternut, Catamount and Jiminy Peak are some of the available skiing areas. Pontoosuc Lake Country Club, Cranwell Resort & Golf Club and the Wahconah Country Club are popular with golfing enthusiasts.
Pittsfield Transportation
Air travel is available at the Albany International Airport.
Pittsfield Higher Education
Berkshire Community College is situated in Pittsfield. The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Westfield State College are located in the region.
Pittsfield strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Massachusetts):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Short Commute Times (vs. State) | Top 3% | ![]() ![]() |
| Affordability of Rents (vs. State) | Top 7% | ![]() |
| Low Property Crime (vs. Peers) | Top 8% | ![]() |
| Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. State) | Top 16% | ![]() |
Comparing Pittsfield to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Massachusetts (State):
Ratings range from
(lowest) to
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Citizens | ![]() | ![]() |
| Age of the Population | ![]() | ![]() |
| Female Share of the Population | ![]() | ![]() |
| Well-Paid Single Men | ![]() | ![]() |
| Children Under 5 Years Old | ![]() | ![]() |
| Male Share of the Population | ![]() | ![]() |
| Racial Diversity | ![]() | ![]() |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Portion of People Married | ![]() | ![]() |
| Average Household Size | ![]() | ![]() |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People in Middle Class or Better | ![]() | ![]() |
| People Above Poverty | ![]() | ![]() |
| College Educated Adults | ![]() | ![]() |
| Median Family Income | ![]() | ![]() |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Short Commute Times | ![]() | ![]() |
| Walking and Biking to Work | ![]() | ![]() |
| Public Transportation Use | ![]() | ![]() |
| Working at Home | ![]() | ![]() |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | ![]() | ![]() |
| People Living Alone | ![]() | ![]() |
| Affordability of Rents | ![]() | ![]() |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | ![]() | ![]() |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | ![]() | ![]() |
| Housing Recently Built | ![]() | ![]() |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Property Crime | ![]() | ![]() |
| Low Violent Crime | ![]() | ![]() |
Detailed pages on related topics: Pittsfield colleges • Pittsfield travel • Pittsfield mortgage and property.
![]() | Pittsfield Careers Pittsfield career and employment information. |
![]() | Pittsfield Colleges Pittsfield colleges and trade schools. |
![]() | Pittsfield Hotels & Travel Pittsfield hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
![]() | Pittsfield Mortgage Pittsfield property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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Select a photo to view (Source):
House of Mercy c1906.
Elm Knoll (Longfellow House) between 1905 and 1915
Hotel Wendell c1906.
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