The land that would become the town of Heath was permanently settled by people of European descent in the mid-18th century. It was originally part of the town of Charlemont. In 1744 an outpost called Fort Shirley was erected in what is now Heath. It was then a frontier area during a period of ongoing conflict between settlers of English and Scots-Irish descent and the French and Native peoples who wanted to halt the continued settlement. Eventually Fort Shirley fell into disrepair and was abandoned. Hugh Maxwell, an early settler and soldier, became involved in the process of town organization and represented the town in negotiations with the Massachusetts legislature. Heath was incorporated in 1785 and named for General William Heath (1737-1814), Maxwell’s close friend and his commanding officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Heath experienced its greatest growth in the early 19th century, as dairying supported the local economy and a variety of small mills were established. Palm leaf hat making developed into an important industry, with production reportedly reaching 30,000 hats in 1837. In 1830 the town’s population peaked at 1,199 residents. Difficulty farming the steep terrain and limited access to markets eventually caused many residents to migrate elsewhere. In 2002 Heath’s population was 805.