Sheffield is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States.

The land was purchased on April 25, 1724, from Chief Konkapot and 20 other Stockbridge Mahican Native Americans.

The lower township of Housatonic (as Outhotonnook would be corrupted) was first settled by Matthew Noble of Westfield, who arrived in 1725.

But New York claimed the land west of the Housatonic River under the Westenhook Patent, dated July 11, 1705, and insisted that Massachusetts cease encroachment.

Indeed, one early settler was arrested and incarcerated at Albany as a trespasser on Westenhook land.

Located on the fertile floodplain of the Housatonic River valley, the principal industry was agriculture.

The extreme southern portion of Sheffield, on Route 41, is just under 100 miles (160 km) away from the northern edge of Central Park, New York City.

To the northeast, the peak of East Mountain lies just over the Great Barrington border, and the mountain's south slope and part of its state forest lie within town borders.

The Appalachian Trail crosses the northern third of town as it heads north from Mount Everett to East Mountain.

The southernmost section of Massachusetts Route 7A lies within the town, starting between the town center and Ashley Falls and extending over the Connecticut state border as an unnumbered road before reconnecting with the highway.

The population density was 67.2 inhabitants per square mile (25.9/km2), which ranks 17th in the county and 301st in the Commonwealth.

The town operates its own services, including police, fire and public works departments, as well as a senior center and animal control officers.

On the state level, Sheffield is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by the Fourth Berkshire district, which covers southern Berkshire County, as well as the westernmost towns in Hampden County.

[15] The town is patrolled by the First (Lee) Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police.