ABOUT THE AREA
Williamstown
Williamstown is a charming, yet sophisticated, town that captures your heart. Patricia Schultz in her book 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. and Canada Before You Die praised Williamstown saying the town rises to its self-appointed moniker of The Village Beautiful. Williamstown is endowed with spectacular natural beauty and world-renowned cultural and recreational attractions. It is the quintessential New England college town, home to
Williams College, and a place where you can find four seasons of fun for all ages.
Location/Geography Surrounded by the Berkshire, Hoosac, and Taconic mountain ranges, Williamstown is located at the foothills of Mount Greylock, the states highest peak. Nestled in the beauty of the Northern Berkshire Hills, Williamstown is located in the northwest corner of Massachusetts and borders New York and Vermont. Williamstown is easily accessible from Albany, Boston, Hartford, New York City, and Providence and within an hours drive of Saratoga, NY, and Manchester and Bennington, VT. The town covers 46.86 square miles with a population of approximately 8,000, including 2,000 Williams College undergraduates.
Every turn in the road offers scenic delights. Breathtaking vistas and views abound. A random sampling includes the bucolic views of the meandering Green River along Route 43 with several parks to enjoy along its banks; on Route 7, opposite the Mount Greylock Regional High School, the spectacular view across the Green River Valley to Mount Greylocks Hopper and the Hoosac Mountains; the Clark Art Institutes Stone Hills trails offering wide panoramas and connected to additional walking tails which offer other scenic vistas; or the beautiful view from the Petersburg Pass on the Taconic Trail (Route 2) to name just a few scenic options.
Culture
Williamstown is home to an extraordinary variety of world-class cultural offerings and seasonal celebrations which attract visitors worldwide. The Chamber invites you to experience the
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute,
Williamstown Theatre Festival,
Williams College Museum of Art,
Images Cinema, and annual celebrations including the
Williamstown Jazz Festival in April, the
Williamstown Film Festival in the fall, and the Chambers
Holiday Walk Weekend in December. Tanglewood and
The Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate & Gardens, both in Lenox, the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, and
MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Adams, are easily accessible from Williamstown.
Williamstown hosts a fine selection of award-winning restaurants and lodgings, quality antique and art galleries, and unique clothing and gift boutiques. Something for everyones taste and interest. For a complete listing of the Chambers Cultural Attractions, please
click here or visit the
Local Calendars webpage or the
Visitors Newsletter. For a complete listing of the Chambers Businesses and Services, please
click here.
Recreation
Boston Magazine's New England Travel & Life named Williamstown the Best Sporty Town in Massachusetts for 2006. Authors Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville have singled out Williamstown in their book, 101 Best Outdoor Towns. Author Patricia Schultz, in her book 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. and Canada Before You Die, cited Williamstown as the gateway to a plethora of outdoor activities. Surrounded by the Berkshire, Hoosac, and Taconic mountain ranges, Williamstown is located at the foothills of Mount Greylock, Massachusetts highest peak at 3,491 feet and part of the world-famous Appalachian Trail. On a clear day, visitors can view five states from the summit. (Please note: The auto roads to the summit are closed until 2009 for repair, but hiking trails and the Visitors Center in Lanesborough are open.)
Some of Williamstowns many outdoor recreational offerings include numerous hiking, walking, cross-country ski, and snowshoeing trails (the Appalachian Trail,
Mount Greylock State Reservation,
Hopkins Memorial Forest,
Mountain Meadow Preserve,
Field Farm, the
Williamstown Rural Land Foundation’s Sheep Hill, and the
Clark Art Institute’s Stone Hill; an ideal location for touring and mountain biking; two 18-hole golf courses; tennis; swimming; horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hunting, and parks and playgrounds for everyones enjoyment. Located 15 minutes south of Williamstown,
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort offers over 40 trails for downhill skiing and snowboarding as well as Mountain Adventure Park, with an Alpine Super Slide, Mountain Coaster and other fun activities for the warmer months. For a complete listing of recreational opportunities, please
click here.
Business
The Williamstown business community continues its strong tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Williams College is the largest employer in the town. The majority of Williamstowns businesses belong to the small business sector. Williamstowns businesses have strong representation in the tourism and service industries. The business community proudly goes above and beyond to provide exceptional personal service. For a complete listing of the Chambers Businesses and Services, please
click here.
History
Williamstown was settled in 1753 as West Hoosuck. It was incorporated in 1765 as Williamstown to comply with the terms of the will of Colonel Ephriam Williams, who left a bequest to found a free school, provided the town's name was changed to Williamstown. Colonel Williams was commander of the four forts which extended into the northwest portion of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The
Williamstown House of Local History is located in the David and Joyce Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street (intersection of Routes 2 and 7), 413-458-2160. The displays are open to the public during library hours. The collection documents Williamstowns history from earliest days to present times and features the diverse people and buildings, associations and businesses, institutions and events which formed the towns history. An orientation exhibit traces the forces that have shaped town growth and change, and smaller rotating exhibits focus on specific topics. Other resources include an archive for research, and a Children's Discovery Room.
Public Buildings
Town Hall, 31 North Street (Town Clerk): 413-458-9341
Post Office, 56 Spring Street: 413-458-3707
David and Joyce Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street: 413-458-5369
Internet Resourceshttp://www.williamstown.net
http://www.williamstown.net/valuations_and_levy.htm
http://www.williamstown.net/Tax_Rates.htm
http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=3213
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamstown,_Massachusetts
http://www.city-data.com/city/Williamstown-Massachusetts.html
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2localgovccpage&L=1&L0=home&L1=Resident&sid=massgov2&selectCity=Williamstown
