Preamble
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is not just defined by Plymouth nor by Boston, but also by the numerous other cities and towns within the surrounding areas and beyond—as far west as the Berkshires, as far east as Cape Cod, and as far south as Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Introduction
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to fourteen (14) distinct counties, of which eight (8) of the county governments have been abolished. The other six remain in full force and are entirely located further south and east in the Commonwealth, including the counties of Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket.
Barnstable County
Home to Cape Cod, Barnstable County is most notable historically for containing the first landing site of the Mayflowers as well as the more recent tolerance of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as prominent and occasionally seasonal ferry services to Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island.
Nantucket County
Coextensive with the island of Nantucket, the Town and County of Nantucket is most notable for astronomer Maria Mitchell, an early figure in the movement of Women in STEM that can be remodeled for any other marginalized group. Deviating from traditional gender roles of the time, Maria Mitchell’s legacy has resulted in her name becoming attached to an aquarium, an observatory, an association, and select other tourist attractions within especially the central village area.
Dukes County
Martha’s Vineyard is also an island within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, though the island is located further west and nearer Buzzards Bay. While the island is similarly known for the whaling industry, as with Nantucket, the communities of Martha’s Vineyard are also known historically for ferry services and connections to the Boston Brahmins of much of the Elizabeth Islands and Town of Gosnold across the Vineyard Sound.
Bristol County
Within the SouthCoast region of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, perhaps the most prominent of historical characteristics and features include the whaling industry in New Bedford, the Portuguese community centered around Fall River, and the jewelry industry around Attleboro, just to name a few.
Plymouth County
Perhaps the most notable feature of Plymouth County, especially for tourists,8: the Town of Plymouth, established by the Pilgrims of the Mayflower and Mayflower Compact in 1620 for the New World. The National Monument to the Forefathers is located within the Town of Plymouth and is the most iconic part of the county; however, further north are the historic towns of Hingham and Hull, in which the Town of Hull is on a peninsula and is home to the historic Hull Life Saving Museum based on the significant context of the southern Massachusetts Bay.
Norfolk County
While Norfolk County may not contain nearly as much in terms of historical significance as surrounding counties, with more modern influence predominating the narrative, the most important portions of the county are the historic sites of John Adams and John Quincy Adams in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Suffolk County
Home to the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the regional hub for all of New England, Suffolk County is most notable for the attractions associated within. Boston is the principal city of the county; however, the Cities of Chelsea and Revere and the Town of Winthrop also play large roles in the regional values.
The most important of the historic sites, including Faneuil Hall, the Old South Meeting House, and the historical markers and areas along the Freedom Trail, are identified within the Boston National Historical Park of the National Park Service.
Middlesex County
Home to the oldest university in the United States of America, Harvard University, in Cambridge, Middlesex County is highly renowned for charming historical sites and the surrounding historical context. While the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Tufts University are situated in a more modern technical context, Middlesex is also home to the historic Lowell textile mills, as well as Minute Man of Lexington and Concord of the Revolutionary War and even the numerous historic urban layouts in the earliest suburbs of Boston, often tracing to the colonial era.
Essex County
While Essex County is perhaps most notable for the Salem Witch Trials of historic Salem, Peabody, and surrounding areas, the Town of Nahant is also notable for the historical context of the surrounding areas north of the Massachusetts Bay. Apart from the museums representing Salem history, Gloucester, on Cape Ann, also contains a historical context and associated museums and cultural sites at the northern end of the Massachusetts Bay along the significantly larger Gulf of Maine.
Worcester County
Largely determined by the Blackstone River, Worcester County is most notable for industrial working-class heritage, especially identifiable within the communities of Worcester, Leominster, and Fitchburg. While the Town of Winchendon is also of historic significance, the aforementioned communities of greater industrial heritage are nowadays identified as state university and art museum locations, specifically in Worcester and Fitchburg.
Hampden County
Perhaps the most significant historical events and figures of Hampden County, home to such communities as Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke, are Dr. Seuss and the inventions of volleyball and basketball within the county limits. Also associated with industrial heritage in the region, the communities are largely aligned along the spine of the Connecticut River.
Hampshire County
Within Hampshire County, the most important historical events have largely occurred in the City of Northampton, though many have been lost to history. In modern Northampton, the Hotel Northampton is perhaps the most iconic city feature that remains steadily in maintenance, while the community today is also home to all-female Smith College. Today, the county is most notable for the Five Colleges, though many more are within the Towns of Amherst and South Hadley.
Franklin County
Unlike the other thirteen counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Franklin County, home to the City of Greenfield, has largely been identified and associated with the industrial working class, without a significant developmental push in the area there nor in the Deerfield area. If the Westfield River is notable in Hampden County, then the Deerfield River is notable in Franklin County.
Berkshire County
While Berkshire County might be most notable for tourists associated with mountains and nature, historic events that have been associated with the county have included the birth of Susan B. Anthony in the north and the presence of W. E. B. Du Bois in the south.
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