Episode 10: Naming the Towns of Western Massachusetts

Western Massachusetts is comprised of 101 cities and towns, which were incorporated between 1636 and 1894. Some of these are fairly self-explanatory, but others are a little more unusual. Ever wonder why there is a Florida in Massachusetts? Or Peru? Belchertown? Ware? And what happened to Murrayfield, Gagetown, Norwich, and Partridgefield? This episode explores the history and politics of municipal nomenclature in Western Massachusetts, looking at how - and why - the towns got their names.

For more information, check out these resources:

Historical Atlas of Massachusetts

An Essay on the Origin of the Names of the Towns in Massachusetts

Cover image from New Map of Massachusetts by Nathaniel Dearborn (1840)