The Town of Colrain abuts the Vermont state line several miles northwest of Greenfield, the northern terminus of the Connecticut River Valley, and just north of the Mohawk Trail.  It was settled by Scots-Irish immigrants in the mid-17th century who named their settlement after Lord Coleraine of northern Ireland. Once known for its apples, and its sheep and dairy farms, Colrain, like all the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts, has seen the decline of its agricultural base. 

Today, a half-dozen dairy farms, two commercial orchards and several specialty or niche farms (raising llamas, angora goats and organic produce) are the only ones remaining. However, despite the widespread loss of manufacturing jobs throughout the Commonwealth, a cotton bleachery and a cotton products factory provide employment for many townspeople. Many craftspeople and artists, attracted by the fact that the town offers privacy but also access to nearby college communities for marketing and supplies, have built or purchased homes and studios in Colrain.

Revitalization of the town's major center at the junction of two tourist routes to Vermont is being actively pursued by the newly formed Colrain Business Association, which also sponsors the annual Coleraine Village Fair in September.  Two of the town center's churches are currently being restored, one as a community cultural center, the other as a retail and studio shop. A substantial portion of the town's current budget of $1.7 million is used to fund three school districts. There are 85 miles of road, of which about half are paved.