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The 1st Congressional District—spanning Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester and Middlesex Counties—is the largest congressional district in Massachusetts. It is framed by Connecticut to the South, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north. Primarily a rural district, the 1st District geographically constitutes close to 40% of the state, yet represents only one-tenth of Massachusetts' population.
The diverse 1st District includes everything from picturesque college towns to rural hamlets and mid-size industrial communities. Rich in history, the area was the frontier for the first colonists. Farming initially dominated the region's economy, but in the last century agriculture has given 
way to mill towns and larger industries.
As a tourist destination, the 1st District provides many attractions. The Berkshires are a major draw for vacationers, offering charming mountain landscapes and cultural treasures such as the summer retreat of the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow in Becket, the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. During the 19th Century, Edith Wharton, Herman Melville, Henry David Thoreau, and several other famous writers and artisans made their homes in these rolling hills.
The central part of the district, the Pioneer Valley, is western Massachusetts' primary corridor for living, working, traveling and enjoying the sites of rural New England. Among the numerous quaint cities and historic mill towns lies the sprawling Connecticut River, which was recently honored as an American Heritage River. The New England National Scenic Trail, a National Scenic Trail, is a 220-mile (350 km) route that passes directly through the Pioneer Valley and 39 communities in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Some of the many highlights savored by "Valley" residents include the Emily Dickinson Museum, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the National Yiddish Book Center, Historic Deerfield, the Shelburne Falls' Bridge of Flowers, and the museums of Holyoke.
The scenic Mohawk and Johnny Appleseed Trails follow State Route 2 through the northern part of the District and supply visitors with tourist attractions and picturesque countryside vistas. The North Quabbin area offers scenic traditional New England beauty in combination with extensive recreational opportunities in the North Quabbin Woods. To the east of the North Quabbin, the 1st District was recently designated as part of Freedom's Way National Heritage area, celebrating the important role the region played in the nation's development of freedom and democratic action. Key historic events that influenced the course of the early settlement of our country occurred in this area. Some of the sites focus on these historic events include: the Gardner Heritage Park and the Fitchburg Art Museum.
Another defining feature of the 1st District is its colleges and universities. The 1st District is home to 8 of Massachusetts' 30 state college campuses—the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Fitchburg State, Westfield State, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and community colleges in Berkshire, Greenfield, Holyoke, and Mount Wachusett. The 1st District also includes several small, private colleges such as Williams College, Amherst College, and Simons Rock College in Great Barrington. A notable concentration of colleges known as the five-college area (three of which are in the 1st District) consist of Amherst College, Smith College, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire College.
While the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts is notable for its rich history and scenery, the large presence of colleges and universities ensures that the region will continue to be one of the most unique in the country.
Map of the 1st Congressional District
Statewide Congressional District Map with delegation contact information
View the latest Census Information for the First Congressional District