Petersham /ˈpiːtərsæm/ is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States.

[1] Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the Quabbin Reservation, Harvard Forest, the Swift River Reservation, and Federated Women's Club State Forest.

[citation needed] The town's lands were expanded greatly by the building of the Quabbin Reservoir in 1938.

Its modern southwestern borders lie along the former East and Middle branches of the Swift River, and includes lands that were once part of Hampshire County.

A memorial was erected in the town in 1927 by the New England Society of Brooklyn, New York.

The memorial commemorates General Benjamin Lincoln, who raised 3,000 troops and routed the rebellion on February 4, 1787.

[citation needed] Several other parts of the town are also protected, including the Federated Women's Club State Forest, the Petersham State Forest, Harvard state Forest, the Popple Camp Wildlife Management Area, and the Phillipston Wildlife Management Area, the latter three extending into neighboring towns.

Petersham is bordered by Athol to the northwest, Phillipston to the northeast, Barre and Hardwick to the southeast, Ware to the south, and New Salem to the west.

The nearest national air service can be reached at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.

[citation needed] As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 1,180 people, 438 households, and 299 families residing in the town.

[17] The Nichewaug Inn and Petersham Center School were designed by the same firm, Stone, Carpenter & Willson.