Western Massachusetts

42°20′N 72°50′W / 42.333°N 72.833°W / 42.333; -72.833

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Western Massachusetts, known colloquially as "western Mass," is a region in Massachusetts, one of the six U.S. states that make up the New England region of the United States. Western Massachusetts has diverse topography; 22 colleges and universities including UMass in Amherst, MA, with approximately 100,000 students;^[1] and such institutions as Tanglewood, the Springfield Armory, and Jacob's Pillow.

The western part of western Massachusetts includes the Berkshire Mountains, where there are several vacation resorts. The eastern part of the region includes the Connecticut River Valley, which has a number of university towns, the major city Springfield, and numerous agricultural hamlets.^[2] In the eastern part of the area, the Quabbin region is a place of outdoor recreation.^[3]