Lee, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 Town Hall | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: Wildcats | |
| Motto: "Gateway to the Berkshires" | |
 Location inBerkshire County andMassachusetts. | |
| Coordinates:42°18′15″N73°14′55″W / 42.30417°N 73.24861°W /42.30417; -73.24861 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Berkshire |
| Settled | 1760; 265 years ago (1760) |
| Incorporated | October 21, 1777; 248 years ago (October 21, 1777) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open Town Meeting |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.0 sq mi (70.0 km2) |
| • Land | 26.1 sq mi (67.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.89 sq mi (2.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,001 ft (305 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,788 |
| • Density | 221/sq mi (85.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code | 413 |
| FIPS code | 25-34655 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618268 |
| Website | www |
Lee is atown inBerkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of thePittsfield, Massachusetts,metropolitan statistical area. The population was 5,788 at the2020 census.[1] Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee and thecensus-designated place ofLee, is part ofthe Berkshiresresort area.
Lee occupies land that was originally territory ofMahicanIndians. The first non-native settlement in the area was known as Dodgetown as early as 1760. Dodgetown was named after its founding settler, Asahel Dodge, who immigrated to the area fromCape Cod. Lee was incorporated in 1777 from parts ofGreat Barrington andWashington. It is named afterRevolutionary War GeneralCharles Lee.[2] Lee is a formermill town.
In the autumn of 1786 duringShays' Rebellion, about 250 followers ofDaniel Shays encountered state troops commanded by GeneralJohn Paterson near East Lee. The Shaysites paraded a fake cannon crafted from a yarn beam, and the troops fled.
Early industries included agriculture, lumbering, andlime making. Abundant streams and rivers provided water power for mills that produced textiles and wire.Papermaking became the principal industry in 1806 with the construction of the Willow Mill by Samuel Church in South Lee. The Columbia Mill in central Lee was established in 1827, and eventually became the first to supply 100% groundwoodnewsprint toThe New York Times. By 1857, there were 25 paper mills in Lee. The Smith Paper Company discovered how to manufacture paper solely from wood pulp in 1867, and through the 1870s was the country's largest producer of paper.[3] The mills previously owned by Smith Paper Company were closed in 2008.[4] Today, Lee has only a single papermaking facility.
The town'smarble is famous for its quality. The first quarry was established in 1852. In 1867, almost 500,000 cubic feet (14,000 m3) of marble was excavated and shipped on theHousatonic Railroad. Buildings constructed of Lee marble include a wing of theCapitol inWashington, 250 sculptures adorningPhiladelphia City Hall,[5] as well as theGeneral Grant National Memorial, andSt. Patrick's Cathedral (both in New York City).
The town's 19th-century prosperity is still evident in its architecture, including its town hall, library, several churches and private homes. South Lee includesa historic district listed on theNational Register.[6]
Lee has become a popular tourist destination, noted both for itsNew England charm and itsbed and breakfast establishments. It is known as the "Gateway toThe Berkshires" because it provides one of only two exits on theMassachusetts Turnpike that serve the county, and the only one going eastbound.[7]
Arlo Guthrie's court appearance before the blind judge and his seeing-eye dog for dumping garbage as described in the song "Alice's Restaurant" took place in the courtroom at the Lee Town Hall.[citation needed]
Lee was a filming location forBefore and After (1996) andThe Cider House Rules (1999).[citation needed]
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(October 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.0 square miles (70.0 km2), of which 26.1 sq mi (67.7 km2) is land and 0.89 sq mi (2.3 km2), or 3.22%, is water.[8] Lee is bordered byLenox to the northwest,Washington to the northeast,Becket to the east,Tyringham in the southeast,Great Barrington to the southwest, andStockbridge to the west. Lee is 10 miles (16 km) south ofPittsfield, 42 miles (68 km) west-northwest ofSpringfield, and 125 miles (201 km) west ofBoston.
Lee is in the southern section ofthe Berkshires, in a valley along theHousatonic River. It is west ofOctober Mountain State Forest, with two sections of the forest in Lee. In the southwestern corner of town lies a portion ofBeartown State Forest, where Burgoyne Pass crosses the northern end of the mountain. Hop Brook, a marshy brook which flows from Tyringham, flows into the Housatonic in the south; other bodies of water include Laurel Lake to the north and Goose Pond to the southeast. TheAppalachian Trail skirts the eastern part of town, passing through Tyringham, Becket and Washington.
Lee is onInterstate 90 (theMassachusetts Turnpike), and is home to Exit 10, the westernmost full exit on the turnpike (Exit 1, inWest Stockbridge, is only a turnaround exit) as well as the first service area along the Pike. Lee is also onU.S. Route 20, the "old Mass Pike", which was the main route to New York until the interstate. A small section ofU.S. Route 7 crosses through the northwestern corner of town before meeting Route 20 in Lenox.Massachusetts Route 102's eastern terminus is at Route 20, at the Exit 2 toll plaza.
Lee lies along theHousatonic Railroad line, which travels from Pittsfield to Great Barrington andSheffield, terminating nearNew Milford, Connecticut, nearDanbury. The line is still the area's primary rail link toNew York City's metropolitan area, Boston, andAlbany. As of 2013, negotiations are underway to restore rail commuter service between the Berkshires and New York City along this route. The town is covered by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) bus line, which runs between Pittsfield and Great Barrington. Regional bus services make regular daily stops and maintain year-round schedules through Lee. Peter Pan and Bonanza Bus Lines each make scheduled stops at Town Hall.
Regional air service can be reached atPittsfield Municipal Airport. The nearest national and international air services can be reached atAlbany International Airport in Albany, New York, about 55 miles (89 km) away.Bradley International Airport, nearHartford, Connecticut, approximately 70 miles (110 km) from Lee, is also a popular option.
Lee experiences ahumid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.
| Climate data for Lee, Massachusetts (01238) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 29 (−2) | 32 (0) | 41 (5) | 54 (12) | 65 (18) | 73 (23) | 78 (26) | 76 (24) | 68 (20) | 56 (13) | 45 (7) | 34 (1) | 54 (12) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13 (−11) | 15 (−9) | 22 (−6) | 34 (1) | 45 (7) | 54 (12) | 59 (15) | 57 (14) | 50 (10) | 38 (3) | 30 (−1) | 20 (−7) | 36 (2) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.91 (99) | 3.74 (95) | 4.31 (109) | 4.36 (111) | 4.50 (114) | 4.90 (124) | 4.75 (121) | 4.53 (115) | 4.36 (111) | 5.03 (128) | 4.50 (114) | 4.36 (111) | 53.25 (1,352) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[9] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,220 | — |
| 1860 | 4,420 | +37.3% |
| 1870 | 3,866 | −12.5% |
| 1880 | 3,939 | +1.9% |
| 1890 | 3,785 | −3.9% |
| 1900 | 3,596 | −5.0% |
| 1910 | 4,106 | +14.2% |
| 1920 | 4,085 | −0.5% |
| 1930 | 4,061 | −0.6% |
| 1940 | 4,222 | +4.0% |
| 1950 | 4,820 | +14.2% |
| 1960 | 5,271 | +9.4% |
| 1970 | 6,426 | +21.9% |
| 1980 | 6,247 | −2.8% |
| 1990 | 5,849 | −6.4% |
| 2000 | 5,985 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 5,943 | −0.7% |
| 2020 | 5,788 | −2.6% |
| 2022* | 5,707 | −1.4% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] | ||
As of thecensus[21] of 2000, there were 5,985 people, 2,442 households, and 1,606 families residing in the town. By population, Lee ranks seventh out of the 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County, and 227th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density was 226.7 inhabitants per square mile (87.5/km2), which ranks sixth in the county and 241st in the Commonwealth. There were 2,927 housing units at an average density of 110.9 per square mile (42.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.93%White, 0.62%Black orAfrican American, 0.15%Native American, 0.95%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.74% fromother races, and 0.60% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 2,492 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% weremarried couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,556, and the median income for a family was $49,630. Males had a median income of $35,565 versus $26,232 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $19,799. About 2.5% of families and 6.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
While Lee was the least populous municipality in Massachusetts not to use theopen town meeting form of government; and instead, it used therepresentative town meeting, led by aboard of selectmen and atown administrator. It recently switched toopen town meeting, and did away with the outdated representatives. Lee has its own police, fire and public works departments, and in 2027 will have constructed a new public safety building. Lee has a post office as well. The town's library is a member of the regional library networks.
On the state level, Lee is represented in theMassachusetts House of Representatives by the Fourth Berkshire district, which covers southern Berkshire County, as well as the westernmost towns in Hampden County. In theMassachusetts Senate, the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin counties.[22] The town is home to the First Station of Barracks "B" of theMassachusetts State Police.[23]
On the national level, Lee is part ofMassachusetts's 1st congressional district, represented byRichard Neal ofSpringfield, Massachusetts. Massachusetts is represented in theUnited States Senate by senior SenatorElizabeth Warren and junior SenatorEd Markey.
Lee operates its own school department, which also serves the town of Tyringham, and has an option to serveOtis andSandisfield. Lee Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, and theLee Middle and High School serves students from seventh through twelfth grades. Lee's athletics teams are nicknamed the Wildcats, and their colors are black and orange. Additionally, Lee is home to Saint Mary's School, aparochial school which serves students through eighth grade. Other private schools can be found in Great Barrington and other surrounding towns.
The nearestcommunity college is the South County Center ofBerkshire Community College in Great Barrington, and the nearest state university isMassachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The nearest private college isBard College at Simon's Rock.
Goose Pond and Laurel Lake are two significant bodies of water located in Lee, Massachusetts. Both are popular recreational areas, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming.
Goose Pond is a 263-acre enlarged Great Pond.[26] It is a glacially formed body of water that is long and narrow, stretching over two miles in length but only a quarter-mile at its widest point. The pond is known for its clear, clean water and is home to various species of fish. The pond's ability to carry trout from year to year has led to its designation as special brown trout water.[27]
The pond is divided into two parts: the lower, larger pond, surrounded by summer homes, and the upper pond, which maintains a more wilderness-like atmosphere. The upper pond lies in the 112-acre Goose Pond Reservation, where it intersects the Appalachian Trail and an Appalachian Mountain Club shelter for hikers is situated on its shore. Goose Pond Reservation is managed by the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations. The town of Tyringham maintains a boat ramp close by, which serves as the only public access point.[28]
In recent years, Goose Pond has been the site of several notable incidents. In July 2021, a woman drove her car into the pond after taking a wrong turn while following her GPS. The woman escaped unharmed, and the car was later towed from the water.[29] In another incident, a fugitive from Maine was found hiding in the hikers' shelter near Goose Pond after fleeing from a car accident on Route 90. The man was apprehended without incident after a multi-agency search.[30]
Laurel Lake is a 170-acre body of water that straddles the border between Lee and Lenox. The lake is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and swimming. It is stocked annually with trout by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.[31]
Laurel Lake has been facing challenges with invasive species, particularly Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Efforts to manage and control these invasive species have been ongoing. The Laurel Lake Association, in partnership with the Town of Lee, has been actively involved in the prevention and management of these invasive species. These efforts include the use of benthic barriers to smother the milfoil and prevent its growth, as well as public education, boat inspections, and boat washing, to prevent the spread of zebra mussels.[32][33]
Media related toLee, Massachusetts at Wikimedia CommonsMunicipalities and communities ofBerkshire County, Massachusetts,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
