The land that would become Conway, Massachusetts, was added to the Deerfield, Massachusetts, settlement in 1712 and was called the South West District. In 1762, the district was finally divided into 140 lots, one for each of Deerfield’s residents. In 1767, residents of the district petitioned the General Court, asking to be set aside as a separate township. Their wish was granted and the South West District became Conway, named after British officer General Henry Conway. At one time Conway had sixteen neighborhoods, each with a descriptive name such as Broomshire and Cricket Hill. Many industries that used waterpower and railway transportation thrived in Conway from the mid-19th century through the turn of the 20th century.