Towns-Lee

Profile

Lying in the Housatonic Valley, Lee was known as Dodgetown when it was first settled in 1760. It was incorporated in 1777 and renamed in honor of General Charles Lee, a Revolutionary War hero whose second in command to George Washington. Famous for its paper and marble. The first paper mill was set up here by Samuel Church in 1806. Lee was home to the Smith Paper Company, which first produced paper from wood pulp rather than cloth rags, and was once the largest paper producer in the world. Marble from Lee was used in the Capitol building in Washington.

In the summer of 1942, Queen Wilhelmina of Holland was in exile here. The first house built here in 1760 is still standing.

Population: 5,985

Area: 26.51 sq. miles

Density:225.76 persons/ sq. mile

Nearest Airport: Great Barrington , Pittsfield