Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley. Most commonly, the region is considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. Some definitions include several towns in northern Worcester County, Athol, Petersham and Royalston; and exclude several towns in eastern Hampden county, Brimfield, Wales and Holland . Some residents of the Berkshires assume that Western Massachusetts means the Berkshires.
Western Massachusetts can be divided into approximately four zones running from north to south across the region. There are 103 towns and 11 cities in Wester Massachusetts. There are also 4 counties in Western Massachusetts which are Hampden, Franklin, Hampshire, and Berkshire.
