List of Counties in Massachusetts - List of Current Counties

List of Current Counties

County
 FIPS code
 County seat
 Established
 Origin
 Etymology
 Population
 Area
 Map
Barnstable County 001 Barnstable 1685 One of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony After its county seat of Barnstable, which is named after the English town of Barnstaple 7005215888000000000215,888 7002396000000000000396 sq mi
(70031026000000000001,026 km2)
Berkshire County 003 Pittsfield 1761 From part of Hampshire County. Government abolished in 2000. For the English county of Berkshire 7005131219000000000131,219 7002931000000000000931 sq mi
(70032411000000000002,411 km2)
Bristol County 005 Taunton 1685 One of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony For its original county seat of Bristol, Massachusetts, which is named for the English port city of Bristol - when the Town of Bristol joined Rhode Island, the name of the county was kept 7005548285000000000548,285 7002556000000000000556 sq mi
(70031440000000000001,440 km2)
Dukes County 007 Edgartown 1695 From Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, which had been part of Dukes County, New York until Massachusetts gained it in 1691 Formerly a part of Dukes County, New York until 1691, the land at one time was literally the possession of the Duke of York 700416535000000000016,535 7002104000000000000104 sq mi
(7002269000000000000269 km2)
Essex County 009 Salem and Lawrence 1643 One of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished in 1999. For the English county of Essex 7005743159000000000743,159 7002498000000000000498 sq mi
(70031290000000000001,290 km2)
Franklin County 011 Greenfield 1811 From part of Hampshire County. Government abolished in 1997. For Benjamin Franklin, early American scientist, diplomat, and politician 700471372000000000071,372 7002702000000000000702 sq mi
(70031818000000000001,818 km2)
Hampden County 013 Springfield 1812 From part of Hampshire County. Government abolished in 1998. John Hampden, the famous 17th century English parliamentarian 7005463490000000000463,490 7002618000000000000618 sq mi
(70031601000000000001,601 km2)
Hampshire County 015 Northampton 1662 From unorganized territory in the western part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished 1999. For the English county of Hampshire 7005158080000000000158,080 7002529000000000000529 sq mi
(70031370000000000001,370 km2)
Middlesex County 017 Cambridge and Lowell 1643 One of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished in 1997. For the English county of Middlesex 70061503085000000001,503,085 7002824000000000000824 sq mi
(70032134000000000002,134 km2)
Nantucket County 019 Nantucket 1695 From Nantucket Island which had been part of Dukes County, New York until Massachusetts gained it in 1691. The Town of Nantucket, itself derived from a Wampanoag word meaning "place of peace" 700410172000000000010,172 700148000000000000048 sq mi
(7002124000000000000124 km2)
Norfolk County 021 Dedham 1793 From part of Suffolk County. For the English county of Norfolk 7005670850000000000670,850 7002400000000000000400 sq mi
(70031036000000000001,036 km2)
Plymouth County 023 Plymouth and Brockton 1685 One of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony. For its seat of Plymouth, which is named for the English port city of Plymouth 7005494919000000000494,919 7002661000000000000661 sq mi
(70031712000000000001,712 km2)
Suffolk County 025 Boston 1643 One of four original counties created in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Government abolished in 1999. For the English county of Suffolk 7005722023000000000722,023 700158000000000000058 sq mi
(7002150000000000000150 km2)
Worcester County 027 Worcester 1731 From parts of Hampshire County, Middlesex County and Suffolk County. Government abolished in 1998. For its county seat of Worcester, which is named in honor of the English city of Worcester and the English Civil War Battle of Worcester in 1651, a Parliamentarian victory 7005798552000000000798,552 70031513000000000001,513 sq mi
(70033919000000000003,919 km2)

Read more about this topic:  List Of Counties In Massachusetts

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