The town's most famous resident was Josh Billings, born Henry Wheeler Shaw.

[4] Lanesborough is bordered by New Ashford to the north, Cheshire to the northeast, Dalton to the east, Pittsfield to the south, and Hancock to the west.

Rockwell Road, which leads to the Visitors' Center, ascends from Lanesborough through Cheshire to the summit in Adams.

Sperry Road, which branches off Rockwell, leads to a campground and picnic area.

Pittsfield State Forest also has a large section within town, with Balance Rock[5] being its main attraction.

While much of Jiminy Peak is located in the town of Hancock, recent aerial mapping determined that the summit is indeed in Lanesborough.

The very large Massachusetts Champion Elm stands on Summer Street, visible from Route 7.

This road was once New England Interstate Route 4, which connected Norwalk, Connecticut, with the Canada–US border.

The population density was 103.0 inhabitants per square mile (39.8/km2), ranking it 11th and 279th in the county and Commonwealth, respectively.

[18] Lanesborough employs the open town meeting form of government, and is led by a board of selectmen.

The town operates Pontoosuc Regional Elementary School for students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade along with New Ashford, with the upper grades attending Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown.

Additionally, there are private, parochial, charter and vocation schools in the nearby towns.