About

Welcome to Hinsdale, Massachusetts

Hinsdale is located in the Berkshire Hills, with most of its population located in a valley along the east branch of the Housatonic river, whose headwaters are just south of the town line. Much of the land around the river south of the town center is part of the Hinsdale Flats Wildlife Management reserve. There are four reservoirs within the town (belmont, Plunkett, cleveland brook and a portion of the Windsor reservoir), as well as part of Muddy Pond in the south and most of Ashmere Lake along the Peru town line. Ashmere Lake and Plunkett reservoir are very popular water bodies for fishing and other forms of outdoor recreation. The town, which contains the peak of Tully Mountain along the western border, is traversed by a portion of the Appalachian Trail, which crosses the mountain.

Originally part of Northern berkshire Township Number 2 and including all of Peru and parts of Middlefield and Dalton, the town was first settled in 1763 and officially incorporated as “Partridgefield” in 1771. Named for Oliver Partridge, one of the three purchasers of the town (along with Governor Francis bernard), the Western Parish officially broke away from its eastern half and incorporated in 1804, renaming itself for the family of rev. Theodore Hinsdale.

The estimated population in Hinsdale in 2020 was 1,816 residents, according to the U.S. census. The 2000 census estimated that Hinsdale had 739 households and 509 families residing in the town. by population, the town ranks 13th of the 32 cities and towns in berkshire county, and 290 of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density is roughly 95 people per square mile (21.7 square miles).

The town had a roughly $5.6 million operating budget (inclusive of schools) in Fiscal Year 2020, and offers a wide range of municipal services, including police, fire, highway, and water and sewer departments. Hinsdale shares its zip code and post office with neighboring Peru. Hinsdale has its own transfer station as well as offering many of its residents public water and sewer.

Hinsdale employs the open town meeting form of government and has a three-member Select board. On the state level, Hinsdale is represented in the Massachusetts House of representatives as part of the Second berkshire District, which covers central berkshire county, and is represented by Paul Mark (D). In the Massachusetts Senate, the town is part of the berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin District, which includes all of berkshire county, and is represented by Adam Hinds (D). On the federal level, Hinsdale is represented in the United States House of representatives as part of Massachusetts’ 1st District by richard Neal (D). Massachusetts is currently represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator elizabeth Warren (D) and junior Senator ed Markey (D). republican charlie baker is the current Governor.

Hinsdale is one of the seven towns in the central berkshire regional School District. Students in Hinsdale attend the Kittredge elementary School in the town for elementary school, along with students from Peru. All students in the district travel to Dalton to attend Nessacus regional Middle School for grades 6-8 and Wahconah regional High School for grades 9-12. There are no private schools in Hinsdale, but there is an option to attend Mccann Technical School and Smith Vocational School as school choice.