North Adams

North Adams, a city of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, U.S.A., situated at the junction of the N. and S. branches of the Hoosac river, and the Boston & Maine (at the W. terminus of the Hoosac Tunnel) and the Boston & Albany railways, in the extreme N.W. part of the state. Pop. (1905) 22,150; (1910) 22,019. Area, 19.9 sq. m. In the city are the villages of North Adams, Greylock and Blackinton. Within the city limits are a natural bridge across Hudson Brook, 50-60 ft. high, and ruins of Fort Massachusetts, which was captured in 1746 by French and Indians under the command of Pierre Francois de Rigaud, Chevalier de Vaudreuil (1704-1772). North Adams is the seat of a state Normal School (1897). Among its manufactures are cotton (especially print) and woollen goods, and boots and shoes. In 1900 the factory products of the city were valued at $10,741,495, and in 1905 at $8,035,705. North Adams secured incorporation as an independent township in 1878. Township government was abandoned and city government was organized in 1895; in 1900 part of Williamstown was annexed.