Geography of Massachusetts - Overview

Overview

In Eastern Massachusetts, Boston is located at the innermost point of Massachusetts Bay, at the mouth of the Charles River. The Charles River is longest river located entirely within Massachusetts; however the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts is the Commonwealth's longest river. Most of the population of the Boston metropolitan area (approximately 4.4 million) lives outside of the city proper. In general, Eastern Massachusetts, including and surrounding Boston, is densely populated. Boston's suburbs stretch as far west as the City of Worcester in Central Massachusetts.

Central Massachusetts encompasses Worcester County. It features the large city of Worcester, and the smaller cities of Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and Southbridge. Central Massachusetts also includes many rural hill towns, forests, and small farms. The Quabbin Reservoir borders the western side of the county; it is the main water supply for Greater Boston.

West of the Central Massachusetts hill towns, the Pioneer Valley along the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts features the Commonwealth's richest soil. The major city of Springfield sits beside the Connecticut River amidst a broad valley, a mere five miles (8 km) north of the Connecticut border and only 24 miles (39 km) from Connecticut's capital city, Hartford. The densely populated Springfield-Hartford region, called the Knowledge Corridor, is the second most populous region in New England (approximately 1.9 million.) As in Eastern Massachusetts, most residents live outside of the region's two principal cities, (i.e. Springfield and Hartford.) Other cities in the Massachusetts portion of the Knowledge Corridor include Chicopee, Agawam, West Springfield, Westfield, Holyoke, and the college towns of Northampton and Amherst.

West of the Knowledge Corridor is mountainous, including the hilltowns immediately to the west of the Valley. Further west rises a range of rolling, purple mountains known as the Berkshires. Near the New York border, the Taconic and Hoosac Ranges cross into Massachusetts; however, in general, the area is known as The Berkshires. The region was populated by aborigines until the 18th century when Scotch-Irish settlers arrived, after having found the fertile lowlands along the Connecticut River settled. On reaching the Berkshires, settlers found poor soil for farming, but discovered numerous fast-moving rivers for industry. Pittsfield and North Adams grew into small, prosperous cities. A number of smaller mill towns exist along the Westfield and Housatonic Rivers, interspersed among wealthy vacation resort towns.

The National Park Service administers a number of natural and historical sites in Massachusetts. Along with twelve national historic sites, areas, and corridors, the National Park Service also manages the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation maintains a number of parks, trails, and beaches throughout the commonwealth.