List of Current Counties
| County |
FIPS code |
County seat |
Established |
Origin |
Etymology |
Population |
Area |
Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | 001 | Barnstable | 1685 | One of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony | After its county seat of Barnstable, which is named after the English town of Barnstaple | 7005215888000000000215,888 | 7002396000000000000396 sq mi (70031026000000000001,026 km2) |
|
| Berkshire County | 003 | Pittsfield | 1761 | From part of Hampshire County. Government abolished in 2000. | For the English county of Berkshire | 7005131219000000000131,219 | 7002931000000000000931 sq mi (70032411000000000002,411 km2) |
|
| Bristol County | 005 | Taunton | 1685 | One of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony | For its original county seat of Bristol, Massachusetts, which is named for the English port city of Bristol - when the Town of Bristol joined Rhode Island, the name of the county was kept | 7005548285000000000548,285 | 7002556000000000000556 sq mi (70031440000000000001,440 km2) |
|
| Dukes County | 007 | Edgartown | 1695 | From Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, which had been part of Dukes County, New York until Massachusetts gained it in 1691 | Formerly a part of Dukes County, New York until 1691, the land at one time was literally the possession of the Duke of York | 700416535000000000016,535 | 7002104000000000000104 sq mi (7002269000000000000269 km2) |
|
| Essex County | 009 | Salem and Lawrence | 1643 | One of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished in 1999. | For the English county of Essex | 7005743159000000000743,159 | 7002498000000000000498 sq mi (70031290000000000001,290 km2) |
|
| Franklin County | 011 | Greenfield | 1811 | From part of Hampshire County. Government abolished in 1997. | For Benjamin Franklin, early American scientist, diplomat, and politician | 700471372000000000071,372 | 7002702000000000000702 sq mi (70031818000000000001,818 km2) |
|
| Hampden County | 013 | Springfield | 1812 | From part of Hampshire County. Government abolished in 1998. | John Hampden, the famous 17th century English parliamentarian | 7005463490000000000463,490 | 7002618000000000000618 sq mi (70031601000000000001,601 km2) |
|
| Hampshire County | 015 | Northampton | 1662 | From unorganized territory in the western part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished 1999. | For the English county of Hampshire | 7005158080000000000158,080 | 7002529000000000000529 sq mi (70031370000000000001,370 km2) |
|
| Middlesex County | 017 | Cambridge and Lowell | 1643 | One of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished in 1997. | For the English county of Middlesex | 70061503085000000001,503,085 | 7002824000000000000824 sq mi (70032134000000000002,134 km2) |
|
| Nantucket County | 019 | Nantucket | 1695 | From Nantucket Island which had been part of Dukes County, New York until Massachusetts gained it in 1691. | The Town of Nantucket, itself derived from a Wampanoag word meaning "place of peace" | 700410172000000000010,172 | 700148000000000000048 sq mi (7002124000000000000124 km2) |
|
| Norfolk County | 021 | Dedham | 1793 | From part of Suffolk County. | For the English county of Norfolk | 7005670850000000000670,850 | 7002400000000000000400 sq mi (70031036000000000001,036 km2) |
|
| Plymouth County | 023 | Plymouth and Brockton | 1685 | One of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony. | For its seat of Plymouth, which is named for the English port city of Plymouth | 7005494919000000000494,919 | 7002661000000000000661 sq mi (70031712000000000001,712 km2) |
|
| Suffolk County | 025 | Boston | 1643 | One of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished in 1999. | For the English county of Suffolk | 7005722023000000000722,023 | 700158000000000000058 sq mi (7002150000000000000150 km2) |
|
| Worcester County | 027 | Worcester | 1731 | From parts of Hampshire County, Middlesex County and Suffolk County. Government abolished in 1998. | For its county seat of Worcester, which is named in honor of the English city of Worcester and the English Civil War Battle of Worcester in 1651, a Parliamentarian victory | 7005798552000000000798,552 | 70031513000000000001,513 sq mi (70033919000000000003,919 km2) |
Read more about this topic: List Of Counties In Massachusetts
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