Editing Mount Washington, Massachusetts

{{distinguish|Washington, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            =
|name= Mount Washington, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = The Town Among the Clouds
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Church of Christ and Town Hall, Mount Washington, MA.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = The town church and town hall
|image_seal               = Seal of Mount Washington, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = Flag of Mount Washington, Massachusetts.png
|image_map                = Berkshire County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Mount Washington highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]] and [[Massachusetts]].
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1692
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1779
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 57.9
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 57.5
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.4
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 160
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_m              = 497
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_ft             = 1631
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|05|00|N|73|27|00|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|website                  = {{URL|mountwashington-ma.gov}}
|postal_code_type         = ZIP code
|postal_code              = 01258
|area_code                = [[Area code 413|413]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-43300
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618271
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Mount Washington''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. It is part of the [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], [[Massachusetts]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It lies at the very southwestern corner of Massachusetts, bordering [[New York State]] and [[Salisbury, Connecticut]].

The population was 160 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2500343300| title=Census - Geography Profile: Mount Washington town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> making it the least populous town in Berkshire County and, after [[Gosnold, Massachusetts|Gosnold]] and [[Monroe, Massachusetts|Monroe]], the third least populous in Massachusetts. The name of the town is a tribute to [[George Washington]], who at the time of incorporation was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

==History==

Mount Washington was first settled by Europeans in 1692 and was officially incorporated in 1779.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|57.9|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|57.5|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqkm|disp=flip}}, or 0.67%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500343300| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212152914/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500343300| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Mount Washington town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=December 16, 2013}}</ref>

Mount Washington is the westernmost and southwesternmost town in Massachusetts. The district of [[Boston Corner, New York|Boston Corner]], to the southwest of Mount Washington, was formerly the southwesternmost location in Massachusetts, but it was ceded to [[New York (state)|New York]] in 1855 due to its geographical inaccessibility from the rest of Massachusetts.

The town is bordered on the west by [[Columbia County, New York]], on a half-mile portion of its southern border by [[Dutchess County, New York]], and on the rest of the southern border by [[Litchfield County, Connecticut]]. It is bordered on the north by [[Egremont, Massachusetts|Egremont]], on the east by [[Sheffield, Massachusetts|Sheffield]], on the south by [[Salisbury, Connecticut]], on the southwest by the Whitehouse Crossing section of [[North East, New York]], and on the west by [[Ancram, New York|Ancram]] and [[Copake, New York]]. Mount Washington is {{convert|33|mi}} south-southwest of [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], {{convert|58|mi}} west of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], and {{convert|148|mi}} west-southwest of [[Boston]].

Mount Washington is located on a plateau in the [[Taconic Mountains]]. To the east, [[Mount Everett]], the highest point in town and the highest point in the southern Taconic Mountains, rises {{convert|2602|ft|m}} near the town's eastern border. To the north, several mountains and hills lie along the Egremont town line. [[Alander Mountain]] and the western escarpment of the southern Taconic Mountains lie along the western border of Mount Washington at the Columbia County, New York line. To the south, along the Connecticut border, stands another series of peaks including [[Mount Frissell]]. Although the summit of this mountain rests within the town of Mount Washington, its southern slope is located in Connecticut and is that state's highest elevation. Many brooks lie within the town, most of which feed into Roeliff Jansen Kill in Copake, New York. [[Mount Washington State Forest]] makes up a large portion of the town, as does [[Mount Everett State Reservation]]. The town is also home to [[Bash Bish Falls State Park]], which is centered around its eponymous falls. The [[Appalachian Trail]] enters Massachusetts in Mount Washington, coming from [[Bear Mountain (Connecticut)|Bear Mountain]], then turning east before following near the eastern town border, over [[Mount Race]] and Mount Everett, before heading into Egremont.

Mount Washington is remote, with only four roads that lead out of the town, and only one, East Street, connected to the rest of Massachusetts via Egremont. There are no state roads within the town, with only [[New York State Route 344]] entering the town, primarily as access to [[Bash Bish Falls]] from [[New York State Route 22|Route 22]]. The nearest state route in Massachusetts accessible to the town is [[Massachusetts Route 23|Route 23]] in Egremont. The nearest interstate, [[Interstate 90]] (the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]]), is several miles north of the town, with the nearest exit, the "turn-around" exit 1, being in [[West Stockbridge, Massachusetts|West Stockbridge]]. The nearest rail, bus and small airplane service are in [[Great Barrington, Massachusetts|Great Barrington]], and the nearest national air service is at [[Bradley International Airport]] in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]].

==Demographics==

{{Historical populations | type=USA
 | 1850|351
 | 1860|321
 | 1870|256
 | 1880|205
 | 1890|418
 | 1900|122
 | 1910|110
 | 1920|73
 | 1930|60
 | 1940|57
 | 1950|34
 | 1960|34
 | 1970|52
 | 1980|93
 | 1990|135
 | 2000|130
 | 2010|167
 | 2020|160
 | 2022*|157
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 25, 2023 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 130 people, 64 households, and 36 families residing in the town.  The town is the smallest town of the 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County, and the third-smallest of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts (only [[Monroe, Massachusetts|Monroe]] and [[Gosnold, Massachusetts|Gosnold]] are smaller). The [[population density]] was 5.8 people per square mile (2.3/km{{sup|2}}), the most sparsely populated town in the county and Commonwealth.  There were 128 housing units at an average density of 5.8 per square mile (2.2/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]].

There were 64 households, out of which 15.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 43.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,125, and the median income for a family was $55,750. Males had a median income of $40,417 versus $31,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $50,149. the highest in [[Berkshire County]] and the highest of any town in the four counties that make up [[Western Massachusetts]]. There were 4.5% of families and 8.2% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

==Government==
[[File:Town Hall, Mount Washington MA.jpg|thumb|Town hall]]
Mount Washington employs the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is led by a [[board of selectmen]] and administrative assistant. The town has no post office (it is served by the Egremont post office). The town has a small library which is connected to the regional library system.

On the state level, Mount Washington is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] by the Fourth Berkshire district, which covers southern Berkshire County, as well as the westernmost towns in Hampden County. In the [[Massachusetts Senate]], the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin Counties.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm |title=Senators and Representatives by City and Town |access-date=March 8, 2008 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115141/http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town is patrolled by Troop B (B-1 Lee) of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+B&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_b_msp_field_troop_b_station_b1&csid=Eeops Station B-1, SP Lee]</ref>

On the national level, Mount Washington is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives]] as part of [[Massachusetts's 1st congressional district]], and has been represented by [[Richard Neal]] of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] since January 2013. Massachusetts is currently represented in the [[United States Senate]] by senior Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] and junior senator [[Ed Markey]].

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Mount Washington presidential election results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1970/year_to:1970/|title=Election Results}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third parties]]
! Total Votes
! Margin
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''81.60%''' ''102''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|12.80% ''16''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.60% ''7''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|125
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|68.80%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''71.70%''' ''76''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.92% ''19''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.38% ''11''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|106
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|53.77%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''76.85%''' ''83''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.59% ''19''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.56% ''6''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|108
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|59.26%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''77.78%''' ''91''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|17.95% ''21''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.27% ''5''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|117
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|59.83%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''71.03%''' ''76''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|23.36% ''25''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.61% ''6''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|107
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.66%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''68.67%''' ''57''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|22.89% ''19''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|8.43% ''7''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|83
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.78%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.42%''' ''39''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.77% ''21''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|17.81% ''13''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|73
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|24.66%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.73%''' ''42''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.27% ''24''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|25.00% ''22''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|88
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|20.45%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.33% ''23''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.70%''' ''40''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.97% ''4''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|67
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.37%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|22.58% ''14''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''75.81%''' ''47''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.61% ''1''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|62
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|53.23%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|12.73% ''7''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.00%''' ''33''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|27.27% ''15''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|55
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.27%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|27.59% ''16''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''72.41%''' ''42''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|58
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.83%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|23.40% ''11''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''76.60%''' ''36''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|53.19%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|12.90% ''4''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.52%''' ''20''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|22.58% ''7''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|51.61%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.61%''' ''20''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.39% ''13''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|21.21%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.29% ''12''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.71%''' ''23''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.43%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|15.38% ''4''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''84.62%''' ''22''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|26
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|69.23%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1952 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1952]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|17.65% ''6''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''82.35%''' ''28''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|64.71%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1948 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1948]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|26.32% ''10''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.68%''' ''28''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.37%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1944 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1944]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|21.62% ''8''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''78.38%''' ''29''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|56.76%
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1940 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1940]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|23.81% ''10''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''76.19%''' ''32''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|52.38%
|}

==Education==

Mount Washington has its own non-operating school district although its children are educated in the Mount Everett Regional School District consisting of [[Alford, Massachusetts|Alford]], [[Egremont, Massachusetts|Egremont]], [[Monterey, Massachusetts|Monterey]], [[New Marlborough, Massachusetts|New Marlborough]], and [[Sheffield, Massachusetts|Sheffield]]. Students in Alford, Egremont and Mount Washington attend the Appalachian School for kindergarten and first grades, with second through sixth grades attending the Undermountain Elementary School in [[Sheffield, Massachusetts|Sheffield]], and [[Mount Everett Regional High School]] in Sheffield for grades 7–12. Additionally, there are private schools in Sheffield, Great Barrington and Salisbury, Connecticut.

The nearest [[community college]] is the South County Center of [[Berkshire Community College]] in Great Barrington. The nearest state college is [[Westfield State University]]. The nearest private college is [[Bard College at Simon's Rock]] in Great Barrington.
<ref>Mount Washington Select Board</ref>

==Notable events==

An ongoing tradition taking place in Mount Washington for more than eighty-five years is its annual Church Fair.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home {{!}} Church of Christ Mount Washington MA|url=https://www.mtwashingtonchurch.com/|access-date=July 25, 2020|website=Mt Washington Church|language=en}}</ref> On the first Saturday in August, the townspeople of Mount Washington have come together for decades to work as a community to raise money for charity.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}}
*[https://mountwashington-ma.gov/ Town of Mount Washington official website]

{{Berkshire County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mount Washington, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Berkshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Taconic Mountains]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]