The Hartford–Springfield region is known as the Knowledge Corridor because it hosts over 160,000 university students and over 32 universities and liberal arts colleges—the second-highest concentration of higher-learning institutions in the United States. Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change) Median Income: $39,432 (lowest) … The most pleasant months of the year for Springfield are June, August and September. [15] Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern Mill River. You will then travel to Springfield Massachusetts to see 5 museums in one, including The Dr. Seuss Museum! Prior to the 2014–15 season, Springfield was home to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, which began play in 2009 at the MassMutual Center. On the amateur level, the Junior A Springfield Olympics played for many years at the Olympia, while American International College's Yellow Jackets compete in NCAA Division I hockey. Springfield is home to five distinct museums at the Quadrangle, along with the ornate Springfield City Library—an architecturally significant example of the City Beautiful movement. Jazz and blues rival rock in popularity. Efforts to establish a public library began in the 1850s. The City of Springfield is located in western Massachusetts along the east bank of the Connecticut River. During summer, several times per month, on hot days afternoon thunderstorms will develop when unstable warm air collides with approaching cold fronts. Neighborhoods of Springfield, Massachusetts. [24] Springfield would play major roles in machine production, initially driven by the arms industry of the Armory, as well as from private companies such as Smith & Wesson, established by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson. The Springfield Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest established fire departments in the United States. Springfield, like all municipalities in Massachusetts, is subject to limited home rule municipal power. The Giants played at Pynchon Park by the Connecticut River until relocating after the 1965 season. It opens in mid-April and closes at the end of October. Drinking water flows to the West Parish Water Filtration Plant in Westfield, and is then pumped to holding tanks at the top of Provin Mountain in Agawam.[157]. On June 1, 2011, Springfield was directly struck by the second-largest tornado ever to hit Massachusetts. Massachusetts. The mayor representing the city's executive branch presents the budget, appoints commissioners and department heads, and in general runs the city. Combined statistical areas (CSAs) as defined by the US Census. Hospitals, Homeland Infrastructure Foundation. [148] It was completed in June 2017. The MassMutual Center during a basketball game in 2013; Places adjacent to Springfield, Massachusetts, ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties. The current city charter, in effect since 1959, uses a "strong mayor" government with most power concentrated in the mayor, as in Boston and elsewhere. Springfield Union Station, originally opened in 1926 and re-opened in 2017, is served by five Amtrak intercity routes: the Vermonter, which runs from Washington, D.C. to St. Albans, Vermont; the Lake Shore Limited, which runs from Chicago to Boston; the Hartford Line, which runs from Springfield to New Haven; the Valley Flyer, which runs from New Haven to Greenfield; and the Northeast Regional, which runs from Springfield to D.C./Virginia. The Falcons were then replaced by the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016. July is the hottest month for Springfield with an average high temperature of 83.2°, which ranks it as one of the hottest places in Massachusetts. passed a new neighborhood school program to improve schools and reduce the growing busing costs associated with the current plan. The primary argument for this has been that City Councilors live in only four of the city's wards. It feeds into the Cobble Mountain Reservoir (completed in 1931) located at the junction of the towns of Blandford, Granville and Russell. Other regional airports serving Springfield include: Taken in its entirety, Springfield has a moderate Walk Score of 59,[151] however walkability varies between neighborhoods. United States. Likewise, just 2 miles (3.2 km) below Springfield's southern city limit in Longmeadow is Bay Path University; both schools were once all-women but are now co-ed. The Hotel Kimball, (140 Chestnut Street), which hosted several U.S. Presidents as guests and once featured the United States' first commercial radio station (WBZ), has been converted into The Kimball Towers Condominiums. In the Club Quarter, centered on Stearns Square, nightly offerings include blues, college rock, jazz, indie, hip-hop, jam band, Latin, hard rock, pop, metal, karaoke, piano bars, and DJs. As of 2006, more than 60% of Hispanic Springfielders had arrived in the city since 1986. Springfield is a city located in Massachusetts.With a 2020 population of 152,160, it is the 3rd largest city in Massachusetts (after Boston and Worcester) and the 173rd largest city in the United States. Springfield was formerly wired with a "dual plant" cable system from 1980 until 2001, requiring an A/B switch for each home to watch programming and complicating VCR recordings. The City of Springfield is the economic center of Western Massachusetts. : Alphabetical Project Update List", "Springfield's monuments and memorials | masslive.com", "Springfield, Massachusetts Neighborhoods on Walk Score", "Weddings and Corporate Events at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate, Forest Park, Springfield, MA 01108", "Springfield Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick touts students' gains in academics, attendance, behavior |", "Towards a More Prosperous Springfield, Massachusetts: Project Introduction and Motivation", "Springfield, Mass. Share. Jose Tosado (D-Springfield) 86.3%. CTRail's Hartford Line started operating from Union Station in June 2018, with Springfield as the northern terminus. Headliners have included Springfield great Taj Mahal, the Average White Band, and Poncho Sanchez. An initiative to change the composition failed to pass the City Council twice. Springfield. [58], Data is from the 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Founded in 1636 as the first Springfield in the New World, during the American Revolution, George Washington designated it as the site of the Springfield Armory for its central location, subsequently the site of Shays' Rebellion. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is based in Springfield and uses Union Station as its Springfield hub, next to the Gothic arch that denotes the entrance to downtown Springfield. Kurt Russell, Dr. Seuss, and Chloe Sevigny were born in Springfield. Its universities and colleges include Western New England University; Springfield College, famous as the birthplace of the sport of basketball (1891) and the nation's first physical education class, (1912); American International College, founded to educate America's immigrant population, is notable as the inventor of the Model Congress program. Strategically Located, Springfield lies 90 miles west of Boston, 85 … The city of Springfield is one of just 28 cities to have population records going back to the first census in 1790. Title varies slightly Topics: Business enterprises--Massachusetts Springfield Directories Periodicals, Springfield... Springfield City Library. ... 2020 Massachusetts Electrical Code based on NFPA 70, 2020 edition with Massachusetts amendments; Other venues include The Student Prince Cafe, a long-running German restaurant at its downtown location since 1935, featured on Thrillist's 2014 Editor's Choice bars, and a wide array of long-running acclaimed Italian restaurants such as Frigo's (1950), The Red Rose (1963), and Leone's (1988) and pastry shops like La Fiorentina (1947). Computer and Internet … Now It's a Turnaround Success Story", "Western Massachusetts communities deal with cleanup costs in wake of October snowstorm", "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of February 1, 2017", "News—Where Were They on Election Day? For the metropolitan area, see. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield operated five Catholic elementary schools in the city, all of which were consolidated into a single entity, St. Michael's Academy, in the autumn of 2009. Fifteen miles north in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, there is an active independent and alternative rock scene. [103] For many years, the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic has been the semi-official start to the college basketball season, and the NCAA Division II championships are usually held in Springfield. Capital Assets: The Campanile", "This Small New England City Was on the Verge of Bankruptcy. Monarch Insurance: Founded in Springfield in 1901, filed for bankruptcy in 1991, soon after completing Springfield's tallest skyscraper, Note: Municipalities not listed have a town meeting form of government (see, This page was last edited on 7 April 2021, at 20:13. The 30,000-student University of Massachusetts Amherst is located 16 miles (26 km) north of Springfield. The PVTA's Springfield service area includes Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, West Springfield, Ludlow, Agawam, and East Longmeadow. It is also home to the world's largest producer of handguns, Smith & Wesson, founded in 1852. However, since then, the city and the school's population has shifted and many of the neighborhoods are more integrated, calling into question the need for busing at all. [156], Borden Brook Reservoir, located in the rural western Hampden County town of Blandford was completed in 1910. [155], The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (created in its current form in 1996) owns several reservoirs and aqueducts, as well as hydropower and sewage treatment stations. Population estimates, July 1, 2019, (V2019) 153,606. UMass Amherst relocated its urban design center graduate program to Court Square in Metro Center. While Springfield's architecture is attractive, much of its built-environment stems from the 19th and early 20th centuries when the city experienced a period of "intense and concentrated prosperity"—today, its Victorian architecture can be found in various states of rehabilitation and disrepair. Springfield has several nicknames—"The City of Firsts", due to the many innovations developed there, such as the first American dictionary, the first American gas-powered automobile, and the first machining lathe for interchangeable parts; "The City of Homes", due to its Victorian residential architecture; and "Hoop City", as basketball—one of the world's most popular sports[18]—was invented in Springfield in 1891 by James Naismith. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. [142] Springfield has Massachusetts' 2nd largest library circulation, behind Boston. Springfield employs a strong-mayor form of city government. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will play its championships in Springfield from 2012 to 2014. [36] With wind speeds exceeding 160 mph (257 km/h), the tornado left three dead, hundreds injured, and over 500 homeless in the city alone. In 2010, Springfield ranked 35th in the United States' City Crime Rankings—its second-lowest ranking in recent years, (in 2009, it ranked 51st). With transfers, it is possible to travel into PVTA's northern service area, which includes Northampton, Amherst, and Easthampton. In 2011, LGBT magazine The Advocate ranked Springfield No. Holyoke Community College, 8 miles (13 km) north of Springfield, offers more traditional community college programming in Greater Springfield, as well as instruction in the culinary arts. Tornado activity: Springfield-area historical tornado activity is above Massachusetts state average.It is 9% smaller than the overall U.S. average.. On 10/3/1979, a category F4 (max. Search Springfield obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. For many years before the Giants, Springfield was also a member of the Eastern League, between 1893 and 1943. It also serves as the headquarters of the professional American Hockey League, the NHL's minor league, Peter Pan Bus, and Big Y Supermarkets, among other businesses. 73.0% of the population were over 18 years old, and 10.9% were over 65 years old; the median age was 32.2 years. If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you. [73] Baystate Health is in the midst of a $300 million addition; nicknamed "The Hospital of the Future", it is the largest construction project in New England. As of 2019, the estimated population was 153,606, making it the third-largest city in Massachusetts, the fourth-most populous city in New England after Boston, Worcester, and Providence, and the 12th-most populous in the Northeastern United States. City of Springfield : map and description of voting precincts established in 1915 Family History Library. West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2011, Springfield Union Station started a $70 million renovation to become an intermodal transportation facility, allowing Peter Pan Bus, Greyhound Bus, and the PVTA to occupy a modern space next to the renovated Union Station. [34], Located in the fertile Connecticut River Valley (or Pioneer Valley if you are just talking about the part in Massachusetts), surrounded by mountains, bluffs, and rolling hills in all cardinal directions, Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River, near its confluence with two major tributary rivers—the western Westfield River, which flows into the Connecticut opposite Springfield's South End Bridge; and the eastern Chicopee River, which flows into the Connecticut less than 0.5 mi (0.8 km) north of Springfield, in the city of Chicopee (which constituted one of Springfield's most populous neighborhoods until it separated and became an independent municipality in 1852). The City of Springfield, Massachusetts is located about 90 miles West of Boston and 150 miles from New York City. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. The following companies maintain their headquarters in Springfield: With a history spanning nearly four centuries, Springfield has been home to a number of legacy companies that were household names, including: Within two miles (3 km) of Springfield are New England's largest and most popular amusement park, Six Flags New England, and its largest and most popular fair, The Big E. Six Flags New England, located across Springfield's South End Bridge in Agawam features Superman the Ride, a roller coaster that has ranked first or second every year since 2001 in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication by Amusement Today. Springfield is called the Crossroads of New England because it is the major shipping nexus from New York City, Boston, Montreal and the Great Lakes (via Albany, New York). [104] The New England Blizzard of the ABL played its first game in Springfield, and several minor pro men's and women's teams have called the city home, including the Springfield Fame of the United States Basketball League (the league's inaugural champion in 1985) and the Springfield Hall of Famers of the Eastern Professional Basketball League. Springfield City Library | 220 State Street, Springfield MA 01103 | 413.263.6828 Locals are credited with development of the Springfield Rifle, the 1895 Duryea motorcar, and basketball (thanks to Dr. James Naismith, in 1891. The listing of Springfield as a “sanctuary city” in the Boston Herald and elsewhere appears clearly erroneous. [111] Springfield features over 2,400 acres (10 km2) of parkland distributed among 35 urban parks, including the grand, 735 acres (297.4 ha) Forest Park. Springfield is primarily served by Bradley International Airport, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 12 miles (19 km) south of downtown. The City of Firsts; The City of Progress; Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts, 01101, 01103–01105, 01107–01109, 01118–01119, 01128–01129, 01151, For a more complete topographical description, see. All Rights Reserved. The main high schools in the city include the High School of Commerce, Springfield Central High School, Roger L Putnam Vocational-Technical High School, and the Springfield High School of Science and Technology, better known as Sci-Tech. Well-known parks include the following, among others: Thomas Petrolati (D-Ludlow) Watch later. The plan faces stiff opposition from parents and minority groups who claim that the schools are still unequal. [78][79], In recent decades the city has also become home to a number of cuisines not found elsewhere in the region, including Cajun restaurant Chef Wayne's Big Mamou,[80] Lebanese restaurant Nadim's Downtown,[81] local chain Puerto Rican Bakery,[82] and a host of other Greek, Jamaican, Mexican, and Vietnamese venues. Springfield shares borders with other well-heeled suburbs such as East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Ludlow and the de-industrializing city of Chicopee. The writer contacted Springfield and Hampden County law enforcement officials. City nicknamescan help in establishing a civic identity, helping outsiders recognize a community or attracting people to a community because of its nickname; promote civic pride; and build community unity. In the year 2010, 153,084 people lived in the city and 700,000 people live in Metropolitan Springfield. Westfield was the first university in America to admit students without regard to sex, race, or economic status.[137]. Number of employees at City of Springfield in year 2019 was 5818. Springfield is a city in the state of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. Although not unheard of, extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes occur infrequently in Springfield compared with other areas in the country. Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, lies 24 miles (39 km) south of Springfield, on the western bank of the Connecticut River. Springfield has had professional baseball in the past, and according to its current mayor, remains intent on pursuing it in the future. eye 2,969 favorite 0 comment 0 . The city is also known as "West Side", in reference to the fact that it is on the western side of the Connecticut River from Springfield, a fact which played a major part in the town's early history. The 1875 Ludlow Reservoir, also known as Springfield Reservoir, is maintained as an emergency water supply; it is located in Ludlow and fed via the Broad Brook Canal. [69][needs update], With 25 universities and colleges within a 15-mile (24 km) radius from Springfield, including several of America's most prestigious universities and liberal arts colleges, and more than six institutions within the city itself, the Hartford–Springfield metropolitan area has been dubbed the Knowledge Corridor by regional educators, civic authorities, and businessmen—touting its 32 universities and liberal arts colleges, numerous highly regarded hospitals, and nearly 120,000 students. The Knowledge Corridor boasts the second-largest concentration of higher learning institutions in the United States, with 32 universities and liberal arts colleges and over 160,000 university students in Greater Hartford–Springfield. Springfield's mayor is Domenic J. Sarno, who has been serving since 2008. Last but not least The Mark twain House and Museum. [48] Among its oldest institutions are Smith's Billiards, founded in 1902, which serves Theodore's Blues, Booze, & BBQ, a neighboring barbecue and music venue since 1979, recognized as the "Best Blues Club in the Country" in 2004 by the Blues Foundation. In June 2015, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced $3.2 million in grants to three underperforming middle schools in Springfield.[130]. [27] Among numerous other industries, during the first half of the 20th century Springfield also produced brass goods, chemicals, clothing and knit goods, paper goods, watches, boilers, engines, manufacturing machinery, silverware, jewelry, skates, carriages, buttons, needles, toys, and printed books and magazines. The daily average in July is around 74 °F (23 °C). Springfield's ethnic North End neighborhoods—Memorial Square and Brightwood—share a ward with Metro Center, Springfield's downtown. Springfield-MA.gov is the official website of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield is home to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' largest Fortune 100 company, MassMutual Financial Group. [83], Among the best known of Springfield's eateries outside the city is Friendly's, the East Coast restaurant chain whose first store was opened by the Blake brothers as "Friendly Ice Cream" in Springfield in 1935; their original location has since closed and today the chain maintains its headquarters in the neighboring town of Wilbraham.[84]. police, fire, public works, parks, public health, housing, economic development, and the Springfield Public School System, New England's 2nd largest public school system.[115]. In the past, efforts have been made to provide each of the city's eight wards a seat in the city council, instead of the current at-large format. Official records for Hartford kept at downtown from January 1905 to December 1948, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (. We tell local Springfield news & weather stories, and we do what we do to make Springfield & the rest of Massachusetts a better place to live. New constructions include the architecturally award-winning, $57 million Moshe Safdie-designed Federal Building on State Street.[110]. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Springfielders produced many innovations, including the first American-English dictionary (1805, Merriam-Webster); the first use of interchangeable parts and the assembly line in manufacturing (1819, Thomas Blanchard); the first American horseless car (1825, Thomas Blanchard); the mass production of vulcanized rubber (1844, Charles Goodyear); the first American gasoline-powered car (1893, Duryea Brothers); the first successful motorcycle company (1901, "Indian"); one of America's first commercial radio stations (1921, WBZ, broadcast from the Hotel Kimball); and most famously, the world's second-most-popular sport, basketball (1891, Dr. James Naismith). 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