Editing Alford, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|29.9|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|29.8|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|disp=flip|2}}, or 0.35%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500300975| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212154631/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500300975| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alford town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=December 18, 2013}}</ref> Alford lies along the western border of Berkshire County and Massachusetts, east of [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. The town, which is roughly shaped like an arrowhead, is bordered by [[West Stockbridge, Massachusetts|West Stockbridge]] to the northeast, [[Great Barrington, Massachusetts|Great Barrington]] to the southeast, [[Egremont, Massachusetts|Egremont]] to the south, and [[Hillsdale, New York|Hillsdale]] and [[Austerlitz, New York]], to the west. Alford is located {{convert|19|mi}} south-southwest of [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], {{convert|50|mi}} west-northwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], {{convert|138|mi}} west of [[Boston]], and {{convert|44|mi}} southeast of [[Albany, New York]].

Alford is surrounded by hills and mountains of the [[Taconic Range]]. The Green River, a tributary of the [[Housatonic River]], flows through the southwest corner of town, and Alford Brook flows through the central part of town, eventually flowing into the Green River in neighboring Great Barrington. Several other brooks flow into these two waterways. To the northeast of town, Tom Ball Mountain peaks just over the town line in West Stockbridge, with its western face being somewhat marshy.

Alford is home to the western terminus of [[Massachusetts Route 71]], a short continuation of [[New York State Route 71]]. The Knox Trail follows this route into the state, and the road heads southeastward into Egremont before ending in Great Barrington.  There are no other state routes in the town, with few local roads crossing through town. The nearest interstate, [[Interstate 90]] (the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]]), passes through neighboring West Stockbridge, with its "turn-around" Exit 1 being {{convert|8|mi|0}} north of Alford. The nearest rail service is at the [[Amtrak]] station in [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], with service to [[Boston]], [[Chicago]] and [[New York City]] via a connection at Albany. Bus service is available in Pittsfield as well as in [[Great Barrington, Massachusetts|Great Barrington]], provided by [[Peter Pan Bus Lines]]. There are general aviation airports in Great Barrington and Pittsfield, but the nearest airport for commercial flights is [[Albany International Airport]] in New York.