Narrative

The Town of Cummington is a small rural community located at the western end of Hampshire County in the heart of the Berkshire Mountains. It is a residential and farming community, which takes pride in maintaining its "old time" country New England flavor. The town boasts many historical properties of significance including the William Cullen Bryant Homestead, and Kingman Tavern, the town's Historical Museum, felt by residents to be one of the finest examples of a rural town historical museum in the state. Cummington is rich in cultural diversity. It is the location of a variety of craft and art shows throughout the year. The Hillside Agricultural Society holds its highly respected fair at the fairgrounds at the end of August each year. And, while their opinion is admittedly biased, the residents of Cummington make the claim of having the most spectacular fall foliage anywhere.

Geography

Location

Western Massachusetts, bordered by Plainfield on the north, Windsor on the west, Peru and Worthington on the southwest and south, Chesterfield on the southeast, Goshen on the east, and Ashfield on the northeast. Cummington is 24 miles east of Pittsfield, 32 miles southwest of Greenfield, and 114 miles west of Boston.
Total Area:23.06 sq. miles
Land Area: 23.06 sq. miles
Climate (National Climatic Data Center) (Cummington Hill Station)
Normal temperature in January.....19.9°F
Normal temperature in July........67.3°F
Normal annual precipitation.......46.0"
U.S.G.S. Topographical Plates Worthington, Goshen

Government

Municipal Offices
Main Number: (413) 634-5354

Form of Government
Board of Selectmen
Executive Secretary
Open Town Meeting
Year Incorporated As a town: 1779
Registered Voters (2022)
Total Registered 692
Democrats 168
Republicans 51
Other parties 0
Unenrolled Voters 462

Town Government

Cummington's town government is located at the Community House.
33 Main Street
Cummington, MA 01026
413-634-5354

The Town of Cummington was established in 1762 as Township #5 and incorporated on June 23, 1779. Cummington is 23.06 square miles in area with 49.2 miles of town roads and 9 miles of state highways. In 2001 there were 1016 people living in Cummington with 605 of them being registered voters.

Cummington's legislative body is the open Town Meeting requiring a quorum of 15 registered voters. Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for the first Friday in May at 7:00 p.m. A special Town Meeting is usually scheduled for the last business day of June to pay any final outstanding bills. Special Town Meetings may be scheduled from time to time by the Selectboard as the need arises.

Cummington's executive body is the Board of Selectmen consisting of 3 individuals elected to staggered 3-year terms. At the first meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the Selectboard appoints individuals to various committees, boards and positions

There are several elected boards and commissions consisting of members of the Town. These Town members are nominated at the annual Town Caucus in March and elected by ballot at the Annual Town Election which is held on 2nd Monday in May.

The Town's budget is determined by income from taxes on real and personal property, local receipts from licenses and fees, and from state revenue sharing as reported on the annual cherry sheets. The Finance Committee prepares a budget from these receipts in the spring and presents the budget to the voters of Cummington at the Annual Town Meeting for their approval.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population Characteristics

Population characteristics of the Town of Cummington according to the US 2020 Census are here 2020 Census Data

TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS

Major Highways
The principal highways are State Route 9, which runs roughly E-W across Massachusetts, and State Route 112, which runs N-S.
Rail
There is no passenger or freight rail service. Rail terminals are located in Northampton, MA, Springfield, MA, Pittsfield, MA, and Renselier, NY.
Bus
Cummington is a member of the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA). There is no fixed route service. FRTA provides paratransit services for the elderly and disabled through the Williamsburg Council on Aging.

CULTURE AND RECREATION

LIBRARIES
Bryant Free Library
455 Berkshire Trail
(413)634-0109
MUSEUMS
Kingman Tavern Historical Museum
Main Street
(413) 634-5527
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
Bryant Road
413) 643-2244

Recreational Facilities

Pettingill Memorial Field
Cummington Village

MISCELLANEOUS

HEALTH FACILITIES
Hospitals None
Long Term Care None
Hospices None
Rest Homes None

UTILITIES

Telephone Numbers for Public Utilities