Quabbin–Swift River Valley

[citation needed] The name Quabbin has also been adopted by regional partnerships bordering the reservoir but not including the entire valley.

For example, the Central Quabbin Area Tourism Association consists[citation needed] of Petersham and Hardwick on the reservoir's eastern side, as well as Barre, Hubbardston, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, and Rutland, further east.

The North Quabbin Community Coalition includes[citation needed] Petersham and New Salem bordering the reservoir, and the adjoining towns of Athol, Orange, Erving, Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick and Wendell.

The north Qubbin Chamber of Commerce includes 11 towns: Athol, Barre, Erving, Hardwick, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick and Wendell[1] Upon the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir, four towns in the valley were officially disincorporated, their area absorbed by surrounding municipalities.

Many people living in those towns fought unsuccessfully to prevent construction of the reservoir, arguing that it was unfair to move the Swift River Valley inhabitants to provide drinking water for Boston residents, and the movement has become a part of Western Massachusetts folklore.