Hancock, MA
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Description of Hancock, Massachusetts

Settled Circa 1762, Hancock is a quiet, peaceful town about twenty miles long and three miles wide, bordered on the east by the famous Berkshire Hills and on the west by the rugged Taconic Range. Hancock is the longest and narrowest town in Berkshire County. To the east, 6,600 acres of land comprise the major part of a state forest; in the north end, Audubon wildlife sanctuary exists on an estimated 500 acres.

Hancock is very rural with no industry and is primarily a tourist-centered community with a population of approximately 800. Established in 1790, Hancock Shaker Village displays a living history non-profit museum of Shaker life, crafts and farming. Hancock is also the home of a one-of-a-kind barn museum, a campground, a nudist camp, as well as the largest ski area in Massachusetts. Hancock can boast of many fine inns, one dating back to 1767. Contributing to Hancock's uniqueness is the fact that there are twenty-four known and catalogued cemeteries in town, with the earliest recorded burial in 1772. All of these cemeteries are lovingly maintained by volunteers as is the small library and the fire department.

Hancock is fortunate to offer one of the finest educational systems in the country thanks to the dedication of interested parents and a devoted School Committee. Hancock's elementary school presently offers a unique academic atmosphere without grading that is personalized for each and every child. Farming is still practiced in the valley providing many attractive vistas along Route 43 and bringing agricultural awards for excellence to some of the town's farms.

Northwestern Massachusetts, bordered by Williamstown on the north; New Ashford, Lanesborough, and Pittsfield on the east; Richmond on the south; and New Lebanon, Stephentown, and Berlin, New York, on the west. Hancock is 14 miles east of Pittsfield, 59 miles west of Greenfield, and 149 miles northwest of Boston.

Narrative compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).



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