Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts | ||
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City | ||
Nickname(s): | ||
Coordinates: 42°06′05″N 72°35′25″W / 42.10139°N 72.59028°W | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Massachusetts | |
County | Hampden | |
Region | New England | |
Historic countries | Kingdom of England Kingdom of Great Britain | |
Historic colonies |
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Settled (town) | May 14, 1636 | |
Incorporated (city) | May 25, 1852 | |
Founded by | FIPS code 25-67000 | |
GNIS feature ID | 0609092 | |
GDP | US$30 billion[13] | |
Website | www |
Springfield is the most populous city in and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.[14] 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. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 155,929, making it the 3rd most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the 4th most populous city in New England after Boston, Worcester, and Providence. Metropolitan Springfield, as one of two metropolitan areas[b] in Massachusetts (the other being Greater Boston), had a population of 699,162 in 2020.[10]
Springfield was founded in 1636, the first Springfield in the New World. In the late 1700s, during the American Revolution, Springfield was designated by George Washington as the site of the Springfield Armory because of its central location. Subsequently it was the site of Shays' Rebellion. The city would also play a pivotal role in the Civil War, as a stop on the Underground Railroad and home of abolitionist John Brown, widely known for his raid on Harpers Ferry,[15] and for the Armory's manufacture of the famed "Springfield rifles" used ubiquitously by Union troops. Closing during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, today the national park site features the largest collection of historic American firearms in the world.[16]
Today the city is the largest in western
History
Prehistory
Though the Springfield itself was founded by English Puritan settlers, the area was inhabited for tens of thousands of years prior to their arrival.
With the retreat of the North American continental ice sheet at the end of the last Ice Age, a large glacial lake known as Lake Hitchcock formed covering much of the present day Connecticut River Valley, including present day Springfield. This glacial lake drained around 11,000 years ago.[18] The first evidence of human habitation in the Connecticut River Valley begins around 10,000 years ago as evidenced by a number of Paleoindian archaeological sites in the Connecticut River Valley, most prominently the Dedic Paleoindian Site in Deerfield, Massachusetts.[18]
The area that would become Springfield continued to inhabited by indigenous people for the next 10,000 years, with documented middle archaic period sites, a ceramic workshop site from the Woodland period in south Springfield, and the contact period Long Hill site, excavated in 1895.[18]
At the time of European contact at settlement, the Springfield area was inhabited by Nonotuck and Agawam tribes.[19] The English founders of Springfield purchased the land for the settlement from the Agawam people.[19]
Colonial Period
Springfield was founded in 1636 by English Puritan
The original settlement—today's downtown Springfield—was located atop bluffs at the confluence of four rivers, at the nexus of trade routes to Boston, Albany, New York City, and Montreal, and with some of the northeastern United States' most fertile soil.[23]
Post-Colonial Period
In 1777, Springfield's location at numerous crossroads led
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Springfielders produced many innovations, including the first American-English dictionary (1805,
Springfield underwent a protracted decline during the second half of the 20th century, due largely to the decommissioning of the Springfield Armory in 1969; poor city planning decisions, such as the location of the elevated I-91 along the city's Connecticut River front; and overall decline of industry throughout the northeastern United States. During the 1980s and 1990s, Springfield developed a national reputation for crime, political corruption, and cronyism. During the early 21st century, Springfield saw long-term revitalization projects and several large projects, including the $1 billion New Haven–Hartford–Springfield intercity rail;[29] a $1 billion MGM casino.,[30][31] and the $95 million redevelopment of Springfield Union Station.[32][33] In December 2022, Springfield was designated by the National Park Service as an American World War II Heritage City,[34][35] the first in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one of only 18 communities in the country.[36]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.1 square miles (85.7 km2), of which 31.9 square miles (82.5 km2) are land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), or 3.65%, are water.[37] Once nicknamed "The City in a Forest", Springfield features over 4.0 square miles (10.4 km2) of urban parkland, 12% of its total land area.[38]
Located in the fertile
Springfield's densely urban Metro Center district surrounding Main Street is relatively flat, and follows the north–south trajectory of the Connecticut River; however, as one moves eastward, the city becomes increasingly hilly.
Aside from its rivers, Springfield's second most prominent topographical feature is the city's 735-acre (297 ha)
The City of Springfield also owns the Springfield Country Club, located in the autonomous city of West Springfield, which separated from Springfield in 1774.[39]
Climate
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Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Springfield, like other cities in southern New England, has a hot-summer
Springfield's summers are very warm and sometimes humid. During summer, several times per month, on hot days afternoon
On June 1, 2011, Springfield was directly struck by the second-largest tornado ever to hit Massachusetts.[40] With wind speeds exceeding 160 mph (257 km/h), the tornado left three dead, hundreds injured, and over 500 homeless in the city alone.[41][42] The tornado caused hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage to Springfield and wrought significant destruction in a 39-mile-long (63 km) path from Westfield to Charlton, Massachusetts.[40] It was the first deadly tornado to strike Massachusetts since May 29, 1995.
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
77 (25) |
89 (32) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
103 (39) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
91 (33) |
83 (28) |
76 (24) |
103 (39) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 57.0 (13.9) |
57.7 (14.3) |
68.2 (20.1) |
82.3 (27.9) |
90.4 (32.4) |
93.2 (34.0) |
95.9 (35.5) |
94.2 (34.6) |
89.6 (32.0) |
80.2 (26.8) |
70.6 (21.4) |
60.1 (15.6) |
97.7 (36.5) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.8 (2.1) |
38.5 (3.6) |
47.3 (8.5) |
60.5 (15.8) |
71.7 (22.1) |
79.9 (26.6) |
85.2 (29.6) |
83.3 (28.5) |
75.7 (24.3) |
63.5 (17.5) |
51.5 (10.8) |
40.6 (4.8) |
61.1 (16.2) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.1 (−2.7) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
37.8 (3.2) |
49.5 (9.7) |
60.0 (15.6) |
68.9 (20.5) |
74.3 (23.5) |
72.5 (22.5) |
64.8 (18.2) |
53.0 (11.7) |
42.3 (5.7) |
32.6 (0.3) |
51.0 (10.6) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.8 (−7.3) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
38.4 (3.6) |
48.4 (9.1) |
57.8 (14.3) |
63.4 (17.4) |
61.7 (16.5) |
53.8 (12.1) |
42.4 (5.8) |
33.0 (0.6) |
24.6 (−4.1) |
40.9 (4.9) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −0.9 (−18.3) |
1.9 (−16.7) |
11.4 (−11.4) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
34.7 (1.5) |
44.9 (7.2) |
53.0 (11.7) |
50.1 (10.1) |
38.5 (3.6) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
17.7 (−7.9) |
7.7 (−13.5) |
−3.4 (−19.7) |
Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−24 (−31) |
−6 (−21) |
9 (−13) |
28 (−2) |
37 (3) |
44 (7) |
36 (2) |
30 (−1) |
17 (−8) |
1 (−17) |
−18 (−28) |
−26 (−32) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.28 (83) |
3.13 (80) |
3.81 (97) |
3.88 (99) |
3.79 (96) |
4.28 (109) |
4.17 (106) |
4.21 (107) |
4.39 (112) |
4.52 (115) |
3.51 (89) |
4.08 (104) |
47.05 (1,195) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 14.2 (36) |
14.8 (38) |
9.4 (24) |
1.1 (2.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
1.4 (3.6) |
10.1 (26) |
51.7 (131) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.9 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 11.5 | 12.3 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 10.4 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 9.9 | 11.5 | 130.4 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.1 | 6.2 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 22.3 |
Average relative humidity (%)
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63.9 | 63.0 | 60.4 | 58.0 | 63.0 | 67.3 | 68.0 | 70.6 | 72.9 | 69.2 | 68.3 | 68.0 | 66.1 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 13.6 (−10.2) |
15.8 (−9.0) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
32.4 (0.2) |
45.0 (7.2) |
55.6 (13.1) |
61.0 (16.1) |
60.1 (15.6) |
53.1 (11.7) |
40.8 (4.9) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
19.8 (−6.8) |
37.7 (3.1) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 169.8 | 176.1 | 213.9 | 228.2 | 258.6 | 273.4 | 293.1 | 269.6 | 223.6 | 199.4 | 139.4 | 139.5 | 2,584.6 |
Percent possible sunshine | 58 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 57 | 60 | 64 | 63 | 60 | 58 | 47 | 49 | 58 |
Average ultraviolet index | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Source 1: | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[47] |
Neighborhoods
Springfield is divided into 17 distinct neighborhoods; in alphabetical order, they are:
- Bay: features Blunt Park. In terms of demographics, Bay is primarily African American.
- Boston Road: named for its proximity to the original Boston Post Road system, features the Eastfield Mall. Primarily commercial in character, it comprises several shopping plazas designed for automobile travel.
- East Forest Park: Primarily middle class residential in character. Borders East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
- East Springfield: features Smith & Wesson and the Performance Food Group. Residential and working-class in character.
- Forest Park and the Forest Park Heights Historic District, (established 1975).[50]Residential in character, featuring a commercial district at "The X" and an upper-class garden district surrounding Forest Park.
- Indian Orchard: features a well-defined Main Street and historic mill buildings that have become artists' spaces. Formerly a suburb of Springfield, Indian Orchard developed separately as a milltown on the Chicopee River before joining Springfield. Primarily residential in character, Indian Orchard features Lake Lorraine State Park, Hubbard Park, and weekly farmers markets.[51]
- Mercy Medical, and Shriner's Children's Hospital. Primarily residential and medical in character, it features a demographically diverse population. Liberty Heights includes eclectic districts like Hungry Hill and Atwater Park, and Springfield's 3rd largest park, Van Horn Park.
- Mason Square, named for African American philanthropist Primus P. Mason.
- Memorial Square: features the North End's commercial district.
- Metro Center: features nearly all major cultural venues in the region.[52] Commercial, cultural, civic, and increasingly residential in character. Features the Downtown Business District, The Club Quarter—with more than 60 clubs, restaurants, and bars—numerous festivals, cultural institutions, educational institutions, and significant historic sites.
- Interstate 91; Memorial Square, which is commercial in character; and Liberty Heights, which is medical and residential in character. In terms of demographics, the North End is predominantly Puerto Rican.
- Old Hill: features Springfield College. Residential in character. Bordering Lake Massasoit. Old Hill is primarily Latino.[53]
- Fortune 100company. Primarily middle-class and residential in character.
- Six Corners: features Mulberry Street in the Ridgewood Historic District (established 1977);[54] the Lower Maple Historic District (established 1977);[55] and the Maple Hill Historic District, (established 1977).[56] Urban and residential in character.
- Western New England University and SABIS International School. Suburban in character. Includes much of Springfield's post-World War IIsuburban architecture.
- Interstate 91.
- Upper Hill: features Wesson Park. Bordering Lake Massasoit. Residential in character. Located between Springfield College and American International College.
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1765 | 2,755 | — |
1790 | 1,574 | −42.9% |
1800 | 2,312 | +46.9% |
1810 | 2,767 | +19.7% |
1820 | 3,914 | +41.5% |
1830 | 6,784 | +73.3% |
1840 | 10,985 | +61.9% |
1850 | 11,766 | +7.1% |
1860 | 15,199 | +29.2% |
1870 | 26,703 | +75.7% |
1880 | 33,340 | +24.9% |
1890 | 44,179 | +32.5% |
1900 | 62,059 | +40.5% |
1910 | 88,926 | +43.3% |
1920 | 129,614 | +45.8% |
1930 | 149,900 | +15.7% |
1940 | 149,554 | −0.2% |
1950 | 162,399 | +8.6% |
1960 | 174,463 | +7.4% |
1970 | 163,905 | −6.1% |
1980 | 152,319 | −7.1% |
1990 | 156,983 | +3.1% |
2000 | 152,082 | −3.1% |
2010 | 153,060 | +0.6% |
2020 | 155,929 | +1.9% |
2022* | 154,064 | −1.2% |
*= population estimate. Source=1765;[57] 1790-1950;[58] 1960-1980;[59] 1990-2010;[60] 2020;[61] 2022.[62] |
According to the
According to the
In terms of race and ethnicity, Springfield is 51.8%
Racial composition | 2020[67] | 2010[65] | 1990[68] | 1970[68] | 1940[68] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
White
|
63.3% | 51.8% | 68.5% | 87% | 97.9% |
—Non-Hispanic | 31.2% | 36.7% | 63.6% | 84.1%[69] | − |
Black or African American
|
20.9% | 22.3% | 19.2% | 3.3% | 2.1% |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 45% | 38.8% | 16.9% | 3.3%[69] | − |
Asian
|
2.7% | 2.4% | 1% | 0.1% | − |
Income
Data is from the 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[70][71][72]
Rank | ZIP Code (ZCTA) | Per capita income |
Median household income |
Median family income |
Population | Number of households |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | $35,763 | $66,866 | $84,900 | 6,605,058 | 2,530,147 | |
1 | 01128 | $33,573 | $78,864 | $86,964 | 2,468 | 964 |
United States | $28,155 | $53,046 | $64,719 | 311,536,594 | 115,610,216 | |
2 | 01129 | $26,752 | $61,435 | $67,083 | 7,505 | 2,892 |
Hampden County | $25,817 | $49,094 | $61,474 | 465,144 | 177,990 | |
3 | 01119 | $21,261 | $46,055 | $58,458 | 13,962 | 4,831 |
4 | 01108 | $18,347 | $34,064 | $35,083 | 25,755 | 9,348 |
Springfield | $18,133 | $34,311 | $39,535 | 153,428 | 55,894 | |
5 | 01104 | $17,307 | $32,273 | $39,475 | 23,083 | 8,884 |
6 | 01103 | $17,095 | $14,133 | $17,457 | 2,556 | 1,553 |
7 | 01151 | $16,169 | $30,043 | $28,415 | 9,134 | 3,410 |
8 | 01109 | $13,938 | $33,376 | $36,737 | 31,429 | 9,555 |
9 | 01107 | $12,440 | $21,737 | $29,199 | 11,271 | 3,920 |
10 | 01105 | $12,137 | $18,402 | $21,345 | 12,360 | 4,836 |
Crime
In 2010, Springfield ranked 35th in the United States' City Crime Rankings—its second-lowest ranking in recent years, (in 2009, it ranked 51st). Springfield's 2010 crime rating of 142 is down approximately 50% from its heights in the late 1990s and 2000s.[73]
The Urban Land Institute stated in 2010 that "the perception of crime [in Springfield] appears to be worse than the reality".[74]
By another measure, crime and population data collected by the FBI, and indexed by NeighborhoodScout showed between 2010 and 2018 the violent crime rate for Springfield decreased by approximately 52.5%, whereas the property crime rate declined by 54%; both rates remain more than twice their respective state averages, as of 2018.[75][76]
Economy
Top Springfield companies for 2018 (ranked by revenues) with City and U.S. ranks Source: Fortune 500[78] | |||||||
Spfld. | Corporation | US | Revenue (in millions) | ||||
1 | MassMutual | 93 | $33,495.4 | ||||
2 | Eversource Energy | 364 | $7,752 | ||||
Top City Employers Source: MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development[79] | |||||||
Rank | Company/Organization | ||||||
1 | Baystate Medical Center
| ||||||
2 | Smith & Wesson | ||||||
3 | General Dynamics | ||||||
4 | MassMutual | ||||||
5 | Mercy Medical Center | ||||||
6 | U.S. Postal Service | ||||||
7 | Big Y Foods
| ||||||
8 | Massachusetts Trial Court | ||||||
9 | Springfield Republican
| ||||||
10 | Springfield College |
Springfield's vicinity to both Boston and New York City lends it a location well suited for distribution, and in the past this has played a significant role in its economy. For this reason in the early 20th century it was the largest producer in New England of commercially produced cakes and pastries, and among the largest in bread—with one 1926 estimate of 1.4 million loaves of bread and 14 million breakfast rolls produced in the city on a weekly basis.[80]
Today Springfield's top five industries (in order, by number of workers) are: Education and Health Services; Trade and Transportation; Manufacturing; Tourism and Hospitality; and Professional & Business Services. Springfield is considered to have a "mature economy", which protects the city to a degree during recessions and inhibits it somewhat during bubbles.[81] Springfield is considered to have one of America's top emerging multi-cultural markets—the city features a 33% Latino population with buying power that has increased over 295% from 1990 to 2006. As of 2006, more than 60% of Hispanic Springfielders had arrived in the city since 1986.[82][needs update]
With 25 universities and colleges within a 15-mile (24 km) radius from Springfield, including several universities and
In 2010,[84] the median household income was $35,236. Median income for the family was $51,110. The per capita income was $16,863. About 21.3% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.
Business headquarters
The City of Springfield is the economic center of Western Massachusetts. It features the
Springfield is also home to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' third largest employer,
- The American Hockey League: the primary development league for the NHL.
- Baystate Health: Largest employer and healthcare provider in Western Massachusetts; 3rd largest employer in Massachusetts, constructing the $300 million "Hospital of the Future".[87]
- Big Y: a regional supermarket chain that was founded in nearby Chicopee, but is now headquartered in Springfield. Big Y operates more than 50 supermarkets throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.
- Breck Shampoo: Founded in Springfield in 1936.
- Hampden Bank: Founded in Springfield in 1852. Headquartered in Springfield.
- Health New England
- Fortune 100company based in Massachusetts (2010 list). The corporate headquarters are on State Street.
- Merriam-Webster: Publisher of the original Webster Dictionary[88]
- Peter Pan Bus Lines: Headquartered in Metro Center, Peter Pan moved its Springfield terminal and operations to Union Station when renovations were completed in 2017.[89]
- handguns. The company maintains its corporate headquarters on Roosevelt Avenue in East Springfield.
Former companies
With a history spanning nearly four centuries, Springfield has been home to a number of legacy companies that were household names, including:
- Forbes & Wallace: Regional department store, closed in 1974
- Friendly Ice Cream Corporation: Founded in Springfield, headquartered in the Springfield suburb of Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
- Good Housekeeping: Founded in Holyoke in 1885, and published in Springfield from 1887 to 1911 before being moved to New York City with its purchase by the Hearst Corporation.
- Oscar Hedströmin Springfield in 1901
- Milton Bradley Company: American game company established in 1860. Headquartered in Springfield until its relocation to suburban East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
- Monarch Insurance: Founded in Springfield in 1901, filed for bankruptcy in 1991, soon after completing Springfield's tallest skyscraper, Monarch Place.
- Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce of America Inc. was formed in 1919 to meet the growing U.S. luxury car market. A manufacturing plant was set up on Hendee Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the former 'American Wire Wheel Company' building. Over the years, the factory's 1,200 employees produced 1,703 Silver Ghosts and 1,241 Phantoms, with the first Silver Ghost chassis finished in 1921. The 1929 stock market crash led to the plant's closure in 1931. Springfield is the only place outside Britain where Rolls-Royce luxury cars have ever been built.[90]
- Sheraton Hotels and Resorts: founded in Springfield in 1937 with the purchase of The Stonehaven Hotel, and later the Hotel Kimball.
- Springfield Armory: Founded by George Washington in 1777; began production of the M1 Garand in 1919, closed by the Pentagon in 1968. The current-day Geneseo, Illinois-based Springfield Armory, Inc. has no presence in Springfield outside licensing the trademark.
- Wason Manufacturing Company, one founded in 1845, large railway livery manufacturer, first mass-producer of a sleeping car; closed 1932
Arts and culture
Cuisine
Springfield's mosaic of ethnic communities have long played a role in its culinary institutions, with many newer smaller restaurants and several decades-old establishments in its downtown.[52] 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. 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).[91][92]
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,[93] Lebanese restaurant Nadim's Downtown,[94] local chain Puerto Rican Bakery,[95] and a host of other Greek, Jamaican, Mexican, and Vietnamese venues.[96]
Festivals
- Armory Big Band Concerts: annually each summer the Springfield Armory features 1940s big band concerts.[97]
- Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend: a week of events culminating in the enshrinement of new members.[98]
- Forest Park every year from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day.[99]
- Caribbean Festival: held annually in late August, featuring a parade, music, and fashion show.[100]
- Glendi: a three-day Greek cultural festival hosted by the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral every September. The festival, which offers Greek food, pastries, and music, is one of the premier Greek festivals in the region.[101]
- Hoop City Jazz Festival: an annual event.[102]
- Mattoon Street Arts Festival.[103]
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society Festival: a mid-July celebration of Italian feast days in Springfield's South End, featuring food and a parade.[104]
- Parade of Big Balloons: a Thanksgiving parade featuring a 75-foot (23 m) inflatable "Cat in the Hat", large balloons, bands, and marching contingents Springfield's Metro Center.[105]
- Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival: each spring, featuring two weeks of films, guest speakers, and events related to Jewish culture.[106]
- Springfield Pride: Springfield Pride Week was held in June 2011.[107] The first Pride parade was held in June 2022.[108]
- Star Spangled Springfield: an Independence Day celebration and fireworks display.[109]
- Stearns Square Concert Series, and Bike Nights: annually from June through September featuring live music at Stearns Square. Bike Nights coincides with the concerts, and is an event for motorcyclists.[citation needed]
- World's Largest Pancake Breakfast: annually, near the city's founding date of May 14, Springfield attempts to break the Guinness world record for largest number of pancakes served.[110]
Museums
Springfield is home to five distinct museums at the
The Quadrangle's five museums are the Museum of Fine Arts, which features a large
The Connecticut Valley Historical Museum was one of the Quadrangle's five museums until 2009.
In 2017 the
Springfield's Indian Orchard neighborhood is home to the RMS Titanic Historical Society's Titanic Museum, which displays a collection of rare artifacts that tell stories about the ill-fated ocean liner's passengers and crew.[115]
Music
The
In 2011, Springfield's music scene was eclectic. It featured a notable heavy rock scene, from which the bands Gaiah, Staind, All That Remains, Shadows Fall, and The Acacia Strain rose to national prominence. Jazz and blues rival rock in popularity.
In 2010 and 2011 the Springfield-headquartered Hampden Bank sponsored the Hoops City Jazz & Art Festival, a three-day event that drew approximately 30,000 people to Metro Center to hear varieties of different jazz music—from smooth jazz, to hard bop, to New Orleans-style jazz. Headliners included Springfield great Taj Mahal, the Average White Band, and Poncho Sanchez.
Points of interest
- Interstate 91.
- Bright Nights: during the holiday season, Forest Parkhosts a lighting display.
- City Stage: features off-Broadway productions, comedians, and children's programming.
- Club Quarter: a grouping of 60 clubs, bars, and restaurants around Stearns Square, Worthington and Main Streets. Springfield's variety of nightclubs and entertainment is part of what makes it, according to Yahoo!, one of America's ten best cities for dating.[116] LGBT and dance clubs are integrated with hip-hop, rock, jazz, and blues clubs. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are particularly busy evenings.
- Interstate 91elevated highway.
- Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden: amidst the Quadrangle, there are large, bronze statues of characters from Springfield native Dr. Seuss's books.
- First Game of Basketball Sculpture: located directly on the site of the first game of basketball, this illuminated sculpture in Springfield's Mason Square commercial district has become a site of pilgrimage for basketball fans from around the world.
- Forest Park: nearly the same size as Central Park at 735 acres (297.4 ha), it features the Zoo at Forest Park; the 31 acres (12.5 ha) Porter Lake; numerous playgrounds; a formal rose garden; 38 tennis courts; a skating arena; numerous basketball and bocce courts; lawn bowling fields; Victorian promenades and water gardens; tree groves; baseball diamonds; numerous statues; an aquatic park; and the Barney Carriage House, where many weddings take place. Contrary to popular belief, the park was not designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
- King Philip's Stockade: a historic, city park where in 1675, the Pocumtuc Indians—organized by Chief Attack on Springfield during King Philip's War. During the attack, approximately 75% of the city was burned.
- The Eagles, and Bob Dylan, among many others.
- Mulberry Street: the street featuring the house that inspired Dr. Seuss's first children's book, the classic And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.
- The Puritan: a famous statue designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudensdepicting Deacon Samuel Chapin, an early settler of Springfield. Originally located in Stearns Square, it has been located in Merrick Park in the Quadrangle for over 100 years and become a symbol of Springfield.
- The Dutch Renaissance collections, as well as its collection of American masters, including works by Springfielder James McNeill Whistler. The Springfield Science Museum features the United States' first planetarium (built 1931), and a large dinosaur exhibit. The George Walter Vincent Smith Museum is known worldwide[citation needed] for housing the largest collection of Chinese cloisonné outside of China; it also features exotic curiosities like Asian suits of armor, and a collection of marble busts. The Quadrangle also features two regional history museums: the Connecticut Valley Historical Society, which tells the story of "The Great River" and its people, and the new Museum of Springfield History, which showcases the innovations that make Springfield "The City of Progress" during the abolitionist period and Industrial Revolution, which includes the first American–English dictionary, the first gasoline-powered car, the first successful motorcycle company, the first modern fire engine, and dozens of other firsts (see below for a more complete list).
- St. John's Congregational Church: founded in 1844 as the Sanford Street "Free Church", St. John's Congregational Church is a predominately black church that played a pivotal role in the Fugitive Slave Act. As of 2011, St. John's remains one of the most prominent, predominately black congregations in the Northeastern United States.[120]
- Greater Springfield.
- Stacy Building: the location where, in 1892–1893, the Duryea Brothers built the first, American gasoline-powered car, which in 1895 won the first automobile race in Chicago, Illinois. A model of the Duryea Brothers' first car sits in a tree-shaded park beside the historic location, amidst the restaurants and bars of the Club Quarter.
- Six Flags New England: located 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Springfield's South End in Agawam, this amusement park is the largest in the Northeast and features a roller coaster, Superman the Ride.
- The National Historic Site, and features a museum that includes one of the world's largest collections of firearms.[121]
- Springfield Cemetery: opened in 1841 and located in the heart of the city, it is designed in the scenic rural cemetery tradition. The cemetery is the final resting place of many pioneer settlers and noted individuals from Springfield and the region.
- Symphony Hall: dedicated in 1913 by President William Howard Taft as part of the Springfield Municipal Group, Springfield Symphony Hall features "perfect acoustics". It is home to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra conducted by showman Kevin Rhodes, and also hosts Broadway touring productions.
- Stearns Square: designed by the artistic team of Stanford White and Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1897, this small park is the center of Springfield's Club Quarter.[122] It features ornate architectural and sculptural details from the original team's design; however, most of those were meant to accompany The Puritan, and thus moved to storage. Stearns Square hosts a large motorcycle gathering each Thursday evening, and is the site of a summer concert series.
Architecture
In addition to its nickname The City of Firsts, Springfield is known as The City of Homes for its attractive architecture, which differentiates it from most medium-size, Northeastern American cities. Most of Springfield's housing stock consists of Victorian "
In Metro Center, stands the two prominent skyscrapers, Tower Square, and
Maple High, which is architecturally (and geographically) distinct from, but often included with Springfield's economically depressed
Springfield—like many mid-size Northeastern cities, e.g., Hartford, Albany, and New Haven—from the 1950s to the 1970s, razed a significant number of historic commercial buildings in the name of urban renewal. In 1961, this included Unity Church, the first building designed by the young Henry Hobson Richardson.[124] Springfield's Metro Center remains more aesthetically cohesive than many its peer cities; however, as elsewhere, the city currently features a patchwork of parking lots and grand old buildings. Current efforts are underway to improve the cohesion of Springfield's Metro Center, including the completed Main Street and State Street Corridor improvement projects, the upcoming $70 million renovation to Springfield's 1926 Union Station and the renovation of the Epiphany Tower on State Street into a new hotel. New constructions include the architecturally award-winning, $57 million Moshe Safdie-designed Federal Building on State Street.[125]
Public library
Efforts to establish a public library began in the 1850s.[126][127] In fiscal year 2008, the city of Springfield spent 1.13% ($5,321,151) of its budget on its public library—approximately $35 per person, per year ($46.12 adjusted for inflation to 2022).[128] In fiscal year 2009, Springfield spent about 1% ($5,077,158) of its budget on the library—approximately $32 per person, per year ($42.32 adjusted for inflation to 2022).[129] Springfield has Massachusetts' 2nd largest library circulation, behind Boston.
As of 2012, the public library purchases access for its patrons to databases owned by the following companies:[130]
- EBSCO Industries
- Foundation Center
- Cengage Learning
- Infobase Publishing
- LearningExpress, LLC
- Merriam-Webster, Inc.
- NewsBank, Inc.
- Oxford University Press
- ProQuest (products include Massachusetts Newsstand)
Sports
Besides Springfield's historic connection with basketball, the city has a rich sporting history. Volleyball was invented in the adjacent city of Holyoke, and the first exhibition match was held in 1896 at the International YMCA Training School, now known as Springfield College.
Basketball remains a popular sport in Springfield's sporting landscape. Springfield is currently home to the Western Mass Zombies a minor league basketball team participating in the
Springfield has had professional baseball in the past. The
Parks and recreation
In 2010, Springfield was cited as the fourth "Greenest City" in the United States—the largest city cited in the Top 10. The recognition noted Springfield's numerous parks, the purity of its drinking water, its regional recycling center, and organizations like ReStore Home Improvement Center, which salvages building materials.
- Quadrangle-Mattoon Street Historic District offers a place to sit amidst the restaurants on the northern fringe of the Club Quarter.[135]
- Armoury Commons is a rectangular park just south of the Springfield Armory, located at the corner of Pearl and Spring Streets in Metro Center. Renovated in 2009, Armoury Commons features several sculptures, including Pynchon Park's original sculpture. The park is often used as a place to play chess and other games.
- Connecticut River Valley. However, Interstate 91's position, height, and ancillary structures—including a 1,756-car, below-grade parking lot (the largest in the city), and 20-foot (6 m) stone walls block all views of the Connecticut River, and all but three passages to the park from Metro Center. Despite Springfield's rating as one of the most walkable cities in the U.S., due to the poor planning of I-91, this park can be difficult to reach on foot.[136]
- UMass Amherst's Urban Design Studio in the Byers Block (b. 1835); and, across Main Street, the MassMutual Centerarena and convention center.
- Five Mile Pond is a Naturalist park and pond approximately 5 miles (8 km) from Springfield's Metro Center in the Pine Point neighborhood of Springfield. There are several, glacial lakes in the Five Mile Pond area, including Lake Lorraine, Loon Pond, and Long Pond. Five Mile Pond is popular with boaters.
- roller skate during the 19th century. During the holiday season, Forest Park hosts the nationally renowned lighting display, Bright Nights. Contrary to popular belief, the park was not designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
- King Philip's Stockade is an historic park, famous as the site where Native Americans organized the 1675 Sack of Springfield; The Stockade features numerous picnic pavilions, excellent views of the Connecticut River Valley, and a sculpture of The Windsor Indian, who tried in vain to warn the residents of Springfield of coming danger.[137]
- Leonardo da Vinci Park is a small greenspace (0.4 acres), located in the historically Italian South End of Springfield. It features ornamental perimeter fencing surrounding a playground. Leonardo da Vinci Park was renovated in 2009 and now features new picnic tables and playground equipment.
- Pynchon Park is an architecturally interesting brutalist-style city park, which was dedicated in 1977. It links Springfield's Metro Center with the Quadrangle cultural grouping, (the museums and sculptures sit atop a steep bluff). Mostly made of poured concrete, but featuring a waterfall, lush greenery, and fountains, Pynchon Park received numerous accolades from the American Institute of Architecture for "enhancing the quality of the urban environment in the core of the city". It features two levels and a distinctive elevator.[138]
- The Puritan, originally stood. The Puritan has since been moved to the Quadrangle, at the corner of State and Chestnut Streets; however, White's and St. Gaudens' original fountain, bench, and turtle sculptures, all meant to complement The Puritan, remain in Stearns Square.
- Van Horn Park is a large park in the Hungry Hill section of Liberty Heights in Springfield. It features two ponds and a reservoir. The Reservoir and lower dam are not generally accessible to the public. The Main Entrance is on Armory Street near Chapin Terrace.
Government
City of Springfield
Springfield employs a strong-mayor form of city government. Springfield's mayor is Domenic J. Sarno, who has been serving since 2008.
The city's governmental bureaucracy consists of 33 departments, which administer a wide array of municipal services, e.g. police, fire, public works, parks, public health, housing, economic development, and the Springfield Public School System, New England's 2nd largest public school system.[139]
Springfield's legislative body is its City Council, which features a mix of eight ward representatives—even though the city has more than twice that many neighborhoods, resulting in several incongruous "wards"—and five at-large city representatives, several of whom have served for well over a decade.
Finances
In 2003, the City of Springfield was on the brink of financial default, and thus taken over by a Commonwealth-appointed Finance Control Board until 2009. Disbanded in June of that year, the Control Board made great strides stabilizing Springfield's finances.[140] While Springfield has achieved balanced budgets since 2009, the city has not enlarged its tax base, and thus many of its public works projects—which have been in the pipeline for years, some even decades—remain unfinished (e.g., repairs to Springfield's landmark Campanile).[141] The construction of MGM Springfield, which opened in 2018, fueled a number of projects in the years leading up to and after its opening, with an estimated $3 billion of new development and infrastructure spending materializing.[142]
Building off of the work of the Control Board, the city's finances have remained stable under Mayor Domenic J. Sarno's (2008–present) despite the Great Recession and several natural and man made disasters: June 1, 2011, tornado Springfield Tornado, Hurricane Irene, a freak October snow storm (which in some ways was more damaging than the tornado),[143] and a large gas explosion in the downtown area in 2012. The city has recovered, however receiving a bond upgrade from Standard and Poor's Investment Services and the GFOA's Distinguished Budget Award for six consecutive years.
Judicial system
Like every other municipality in Massachusetts, Springfield has no judicial branch itself. Rather, it uses the Springfield-based state courts, which include Springfield district court and Hampden County Superior Court, both of which are based in Springfield. The Federal District Court also regularly hears cases in Springfield—now in an architecturally award-winning building on State Street, constructed in 2009.
Politics
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 1, 2017[144] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
Democratic | 53,416 | 51.24% | |||
Republican | 7,952 | 7.63% | |||
Unaffiliated | 41,643 | 39.95% | |||
Libertarian | 1,230 | 1.18% | |||
Total | 104,241 | 100% |
Springfield became a
Springfield, like all municipalities in Massachusetts, is subject to limited
The Springfield
The mayor's office and city council chambers are located in city hall—part of the Municipal Group in Metro Center, Springfield. The Finance Control Board met there as well.
Springfield is heavily Democratic. In the
Switch to ward representation
Springfield City Councilors 2024-2025[147][148][149][150] |
---|
|
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. There would still be some at-large seats under this format. The primary argument for this has been that City Councilors live in only four of the city's wards. An initiative to change the composition failed to pass the City Council twice. In 2007 Mayor Charles V. Ryan and City Councilor Jose Tosado proposed a home-rule amendment that would expand the council to thirteen members adding four seats to the existing nine member at large system, but allocated between eight ward and five at large seats. This home-rule petition was adopted by the City Council 8–1, and was later passed by the State Senate and House and signed by the Governor. On election day, November 6, 2007, city residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of changing the City Council and School Committee. The ballot initiative that established a new council with five at-large seats and eight ward seats passed 3–1. On November 3, 2009, Springfield held its first ward elections in 50 years.
State and federal representation
The State Representatives are Orlando Ramos, Carlos González, Bud Williams, and Angelo Puppolo. The State Senator is Adam Gomez. Springfield is part of the Eighth Massachusetts Governor's Council district and is represented by Tara Jacobs (D-North Adams).
Education
Grade schools
The Springfield Plan for citizenship education drew national attention in the 1940s for its efforts to combat racism.
Public schools (K–12)
Springfield has the second-largest school district in Massachusetts and in New England. It operates 38 elementary schools, six high schools, six middle schools (6–8), and seven specialized schools. 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. There are also two charter secondary schools in the City of Springfield: SABIS International, which ranks among the top 5% of high schools nationally in academic quality, and the Hampden Charter School of Science.
The city is required under a 1970s court order to balance schools racially, which had necessitated busing. 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.
In June 2015, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced $3.2 million in grants to three underperforming middle schools in Springfield.[151]
Private schools
The
The diocese runs Pope Francis Preparatory School (previously Cathedral High School), which is the largest Catholic high school in Western Massachusetts. Two nonsectarian private schools are also located in Springfield: Commonwealth Academy[154] located on the former campus of the MacDuffie School (which moved to Granby, Massachusetts, in 2011 after 130 years in Springfield), and teaches grades four through twelve, soon to enroll students in grades K–12; and the Academy Hill School,[155] which teaches kindergarten through grade eight.
Within 15 miles (24 km) of Springfield are many private prep schools, which can serve as day schools for Springfield students; they include the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts; Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut.
Higher education
Universities and colleges
The
As of 2015, Springfield attracts over 20,000 university students per year. Its universities and colleges include
Several of Greater Springfield's institutions rank among the most prestigious in the world. For example, Amherst College, 15 miles (24 km) north of Springfield, and Smith College, 13 miles (21 km) north of Springfield, consistently rank among America's top 10 liberal arts colleges. Mount Holyoke College—the United States' first women's college—consistently ranks among America's Top 15 colleges, and it is located only 9 miles (14 km) north of Springfield. Hampshire College is located 14 miles (23 km) north of Springfield. The 30,000-student University of Massachusetts Amherst is located 16 miles (26 km) north of Springfield. Approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of Springfield, across the Memorial Bridge in Westfield, is Westfield State University, founded by noted education reformer Horace Mann. Westfield was the first university in America to admit students without regard to sex, race, or economic status.[158]
Just outside Springfield's northern city limits is
Community colleges
In 1968, following the Pentagon's controversial closing of the Springfield Armory, Springfielders founded Springfield Technical Community College on 35 acres (14.2 ha) behind the Springfield Armory National Park. Springfield Technical Community College is the only polytechnic community college in Massachusetts, and was founded to continue Springfield's tradition of technical innovation.[159]
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.
Media
Newspapers
Springfield's largest local newspaper is The Republican, which has also previously been known as the Springfield Union-News & Sunday Republican, from when it merged with the Springfield Union. Smaller papers such as The Reminder[160] and the Valley Advocate also serve Greater Springfield.
Other newspapers serve specific communities of interest, such as El Pueblo Latino and El Sol Latino, which serve the Hispanic community, as well as Unity First and the AfAm Point of View,[161] both of which serve the African-American community, and The Rainbow Times, which serves Springfield's LGBT community.
Television
Springfield has a long history of broadcast television, including two of the oldest
Channel (digital/virtual) | Call sign | Network | Owner |
---|---|---|---|
11/22 | WWLP |
NBC/CW (through The CW Plus) (DT2) Ion Television (DT3) |
Nexstar Media Group |
21/3.5 | WSHM-LD | CBS | Gray Television |
13/57 | WGBY |
PBS |
WGBH Educational Foundation Operated by New England Public Media |
21/22 | WFXQ-CD | NBC++ | Nexstar Media Group |
34 | WTXX-LD | Independent | Tyche Broadcasting |
40 | WGGB | ABC, FOX/MyNetworkTV (DT2) | Gray Television |
43 | WHTX-LP | Univision | Entravision Communications |
++WFXQ-CD rebroadcasts WWLP.
- WWLP-TV 22 WWLP-TV is the NBC affiliate for the area, and also carries subchannel affiliations with The CW and Ion Television. WWLP-TV is owned and operated by the Nexstar Media Group, and maintains studios in nearby Chicopee (where the station moved from their old studios atop Provin Mountain). WWLP is the oldest TV station to air regularly scheduled programming in the market, launching its schedule on March 17, 1953, on Channel 61. WWLP also operated WRLP (UHF 32), a UHF station licensed to Greenfield, whose transmitter was in Winchester, New Hampshire, as well as W69AQ (UHF 69), a low power station that transmitted from the WWLP tower on Provin Mountain.
- Springfield Republican.
- Springfield Republican. WSHM-LD was formerly W67DF, a translator of TBN, before being sold to the Meredith Corporation, WFSB's then-owners. WSHM-LD is referred to as "CBS 3", denoting its cable channel assignment within the market and to encourage long-time viewers of WFSB to stay with WSHM-LD.
- WGBY 57 WGBY is the PBS member station for the area. WGBY's studios are in downtown Springfield, near Interstate 91 and the Conrail train lines. WGBY signed on in 1963. WGBY is owned by the Boston-based WGBH Educational Foundation and is operated by New England Public Media. WGBY signed off their analog signal permanently in November 2008, to allow for the replacement of transmission antennas.
Cable operators
Springfield proper is serviced exclusively by Comcast cable. 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.
Radio
Springfield was home to the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, and the oldest radio station of any kind in New England:
Callsign |
Frequency | City/town | Network affiliation / owner | Format |
---|---|---|---|---|
WFCR | 88.5 FM | Springfield[163] | University of Massachusetts Amherst | Public Radio
|
WSKB | 89.5 FM | Westfield | Westfield State University | College Radio
|
WSCB | 89.9 FM | Springfield | Springfield College | College Radio
|
WTCC | 90.7 FM | Springfield | Springfield Technical Community College | Public Radio
|
WAIC | 91.9 FM | Springfield | American International College | College Radio
|
WHYN-FM | 93.1 FM | Springfield | iHeartMedia | Hot Adult Contemporary ( Top 40 on HD2)
|
WMAS-FM | 94.7 FM | Enfield, Connecticut | Entercom |
Adult contemporary (Country on HD2) |
WLZX-FM | 99.3 FM | Northampton | Saga Communications of New England | "Everything That Rocks" |
WLCQ-LP | 99.7 FM | Feeding Hills | Lighthouse Christian Center | Christian Rock/Pop Music, "The Q" |
WRNX | 100.9 FM | Amherst | iHeartMedia | Country |
WAQY | 102.1 FM | Springfield | Saga Communications of New England | Classic rock |
WCCH | 103.5 FM | Holyoke | Holyoke Community College | College Radio
|
WNEK-FM | 105.1 FM | Springfield | Western New England University | College Radio
|
WWEI | 105.5 FM | Easthampton/Springfield | Entercom |
Sports Talk (simulcast of WEEI-FM in Boston) |
WEIB | 106.3 FM | Northampton/Springfield | Cutting Edge Broadcasting | Smooth Jazz
|
WHYN | 560 AM | Springfield | iHeartMedia | News/Talk |
WNNZ |
640 AM | Westfield | University of Massachusetts Amherst | Public Radio (programmed by WFCR)
|
WACE | 730 AM | Chicopee | Carter Broadcasting Corporation | Religious |
WARE | 1250 AM | Ware | Success Signal Broadcasting | Oldies |
WACM | 1270 AM | Springfield | Davidson Media Group | Spanish |
WHLL | 1450 AM | Springfield | Entercom |
CBS Sports Radio affiliate)
|
WSPR | 1490 AM | Springfield | Davidson Media Group | Spanish |
Infrastructure
Transportation
Springfield is called the Crossroads of New England because it is the major shipping nexus from New York City, Boston,
Rail
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. Amtrak relocated its operations into Union Station proper from their previous track side station building in June 2019. A high level train platform is under construction to improve the experience for rail passengers and is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2019.
The New Haven–Springfield Line was upgraded in conjunction with the launch of the Hartford Line service. The project received funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Federal Government, and the State of Connecticut. Amtrak trains on the route between New Haven and Springfield reach speeds of 110 mph (177 km/h).
In 2011, Springfield Union Station started a $70 million renovation to become an intermodal transportation facility, allowing
There are no major freight yards in Springfield proper, but
Bus
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. The PVTA operates nineteen bus routes from Union Station. The PVTA's Springfield service area includes Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, West Springfield, Ludlow, Agawam, and East Longmeadow. With transfers, it is possible to travel into PVTA's northern service area, which includes Northampton, Amherst, and Easthampton.
Intercity bus service is provided by Peter Pan Bus Lines and Greyhound Lines, both of which operate from Union Station. They provide service to destinations across the northeast United States.
Air
Springfield is primarily served by Bradley International Airport, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 12 miles (19 km) south of downtown. It features over 100 daily departures to 30 destinations on nine airlines.[165] It is also the primary airport for Hartford.
Other regional airports serving Springfield include:
- Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Springfield in Westfield, Massachusetts. It is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Massachusetts Turnpike.
- Westover Metropolitan Airport is 5 miles (8 km) from downtown Springfield. It is 3 miles (5 km) from the Massachusetts Turnpike.
- Logan International Airport in Boston is approximately 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Springfield.
Cycling and walking
Taken in its entirety, Springfield has a moderate Walk Score of 59,[166] however walkability varies between neighborhoods. Whereas the suburban neighborhood of Sixteen Acres is largely car-dependent with a score of 30, and Indian Orchard has a somewhat walkable rating of 54, the Metro Center area, with its grid central to stores, residences, and businesses, yields a Walk Score of 82.[167][168][169]
The city's Connecticut River Walk Park offers a largely uninterrupted bike route from the North to South End, and is part of a broader plan by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to create a continuous route alongside the Connecticut River from Agawam to Holyoke, with construction and planning ongoing.[170]
The city recently partnered with Bewegen[171] (an e-bike share system provider) to install e-bike share stations in both Springfield[172] and West Springfield.[173]
Water and sewer system
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. The city purchased the Springfield Aqueduct Company in 1872.[174]
Borden Brook Reservoir, located in the rural western Hampden County town of Blandford was completed in 1910. It feeds into the Cobble Mountain Reservoir (completed in 1931) located at the junction of the towns of Blandford, Granville and Russell. The Wild Cat Aqueduct carries water from the Cobble Mountain Reservoir to a hydroelectric generating station on the Granville–Russell border, at the Little River. 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.[175]
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.
SWSC provides retail water in Springfield and Ludlow; wholesale water to Agawam, East Longmeadow, and Longmeadow; partial or peak service to Southwick, Westfield, and West Springfield; and emergency service to Chicopee and Wilbraham.[175]
Emergency services
The Springfield Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city, and is one of the oldest fire departments in the United States.[176]
Notable people
- Creighton Abrams, U.S. Army general, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and Commander of Operations during the Vietnam War
- NHL's Boston Bruins
- Johnny Appleseed, American folk hero, spent his childhood and young adulthood in Springfield
- Joe Arpaio, "America's Toughest Sheriff", known for "tent city" prison in Maricopa County, Arizona
- Adele Addison, soprano, acclaimed in classical music during the 1950s–1960s
- Joel Asaph Allen, zoologist
- U.S. Republican Partyand Springfield lawyer
- Travis Best, National Basketball Association player
- Alfred Ely Beach, inventor of New York City's subway system
- Mary Agnes Dalrymple Bishop(1857–1934), American journalist, newspaper editor
- R. P. Blackmur, poet and literary critic
- Nina Blackwood, original MTV VJ and Sirius Satellite Radio DJ
- Ran Blake, jazz pianist
- Thomas Blanchard, inventor of lathe (1819), which led to technological advances known as interchangeable parts and assembly line manufacturing; also, inventor of first modern car—powered by steam (1825)
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Edward Boland, U.S. Congressman 1952–1989
- Cheryl Boone Isaacs, first African-American and third woman to become President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- parasitologist, whose work on the bubonic plagueand many other diseases was internationally regarded
- Chester Bowles, former Governor of Connecticut
- United States Republican Party
- Lloyd Wheaton Bowers, lawyer and former U.S. Solicitor General
- Ron Brace, National Football League player
- Milton Bradley, inventor of parlor games and game-manufacturer
- Chuck Bresnahan, NFL coach
- John Brown, abolitionist
- D-Day launch during World War II
- Nick Buoniconti, NFL Hall of Famer
- Thornton Burgess, children's author, known for "Peter Cottontail"
- Chris Capuano, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Ruth E. Carter, Oscar-winning costume designer for her work on Marvel's Black Panther
- Athan Catjakis (1931–2022), Massachusetts state legislator
- John Cena, WWE wrestler
- Amzi Chapin, cabinet maker, singing-school teacher and shapenote composer
- Chester W. Chapin, railroad magnate
- Deacon Samuel Chapin, early settler of Springfield, 1642
- John A. Chapman (1965–2002), USAF Combat Controller, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
- Thornton Chase, first American convert to the Baháʼí Faith
- Yodelin' Slim Clark, singer
- Bobby Coleman, singer-songwriter
- George R. Collins, art historian
- Shamus Culhane, lead animator at Walt Disney Studios, who produced such classics as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Billy Curtis, actor, best known as a Munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz", and "Terror of Tinytown"
- "Afternoon Delight"
- Donald Davidson, philosopher, known for studies regarding communication
- Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont from 2003 to 2010
- Vinny Del Negro, NBA player and head coach
- Max Ehrlich, writer, best known for his novel The Reincarnation of Peter Proud, and its film adaptation set in Springfield
- David W. Evans, professor of psychology and neuroscience, Bucknell University
- George Bowman Ferry, architect
- sainthoodin 2008
- June Foray, voice actress for animated films
- Forer effect
- Carole Fredericks, French musician whose brother was Springfield blues great Taj Mahal
- John Garand, weapons inventor
- Theodor Seuss Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss), writer and illustrator best known for his children's books
- United States Senatorfrom 1925 to 1931
- Charles Goodyear, inventor of vulcanized rubber
- Mike Gravel, senator from Alaska
- Chester Harding, portrait painter during the 19th century
- Richard F. Heck, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2010
- Victor Heflin, football player
- Iris Holland, Massachusetts state legislator
- Elizur Holyoke, early explorer of Western Massachusetts, for whom Holyoke, Massachusetts, and the Holyoke Range are named
- Joseph French Johnson, economist, wrote the inspirational "The Price of Success"
- Sophia Orne Johnson(1826–1899), author
- Raymond A. Jordan (1943–2022), state legislator
- Alan Kay, computer scientist
- Edward Kamuda, founder and president of Titanic Historical Society
- Derek Kellogg, LIU Brooklyn men's basketball head coach
- Peter King, sportswriter and TV commentator
- Stanley King, 11th president of Amherst College
- Bob Kudelski, professional hockey player
- Paul LaPalme, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Timothy Leary, writer, psychologist and advocate of psychedelic drug research and use
- Norman Leyden, conductor and clarinetist
- Edward Tsang Lu, astronaut
- Arthur MacArthur, Jr., Army general, father of Douglas MacArthur
- William Manchester, historian, author of The Death of a President and other renowned literary works
- Baseball Hall of Famein 1954
- Frank J. Matrango, state legislator
- Tim Mayotte, professional tennis player
- Patrick Mazeika (born 1993), baseball player
- Linda J. Melconian, public servant, educator, lawyer
- Miles Morgan, hero of King Philip's War of 1675, a statue of Morgan stands in Springfield's Court Square
- Horace A. Moses, philanthropist and paper pioneer
- James Naismith, inventor of basketball
- Tom Newberry, football player
- Lowell North, Olympic gold medalist in sailing
- Larry O'Brien, Postmaster General, Democratic National Committee chairman and Commissioner of the National Basketball Association
- Jerry Orbach, Actor
- Robert B. Parker, author of Spenser and Jesse Stone novels
- Joe Philbin, head coach of NFL Miami Dolphins
- Maude Gillette Phillips (1860–?), author, educator
- Nella Brown Pond (1858–1893), dramatic reader
- Eleanor Powell, actress and tap dancer
- banned book
- Joe Ragland (born 1989), American-Liberian basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Caleb Rice, first Mayor of Springfield, President of MassMutual
- George Washington Rice, founder of MassMutual Life Insurance
- William Rice, Methodist minister, President and Executive Director of the Springfield City Library Association
- William Marsh Rice, founder of Rice University, Houston, Texas[177]
- Stephen Rivers (1955–2010), political activist and publicist.[178]
- Peter Robinson, actor and freak show performer
- Kurt Russell, actor
- Julia Sanderson Theater(now The Paramount Theater)
- Joe Scibelli, Los Angeles Rams professional football player
- Mike Scully, writer and producer for The Simpsons
- Chloë Sevigny, actress
- Michael Shapiro, actor and voice actor
- Daniel Shays, leader of Shays' Rebellion
- John Shea, actor and director
- Eddie Shore, professional hockey player and owner
- Guinness Book of World Recordsas Youngest Professional Artist in the World
- David Socha international soccer referee
- Talbert W. Swan II: Prelate, Church Of God In Christ, Activist, Author
- Tommy Tallarico, video game music composer
- Antonio Thomas, professional wrestler
- Louise Hall Tharp, biographer
- George Tomasini, film editor known for work with Alfred Hitchcock
- Mike Trombley, former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Paige Turco, actress
- Frank Vatrano, ice hockey player
- Lynn Vincent, author
- Benjamin Wade U.S. Senator from Ohio
- David Ames Wells, engineer and economist
- Daniel Baird Wesson, weapons inventor and founder of Smith & Wesson
- Daytime Emmyaward-winning soap opera actress
- James McNeill Whistler, painter
- Mary Margaret O'Reilly, civil servant
- Terence H. Winkless, film and television director
Notable musical artists
- The Acacia Strain, deathcore band
- Agoraphobic Nosebleed, grindcore band
- All That Remains, metalcore band
- Destrophy, Otep, Erik Tisinger, guitarist and bassist, from Springfield
- Killswitch Engage, metalcore band
- Lucy Escott, soprano[179][180]
- Eddie Fontaine, singer
- Carole Fredericks, singer
- Ashley Gearing, country music artist
- Taj Mahal, blues musician
- fusionmusician
- Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Mark Mulcahy musician
- Linda Perry, songwriter, formerly of 4 Non Blondes
- Shadows Fall, metalcore band
- Signs, reggaeton band
- Staind, alternative rock band
- Paul Weston, composer for Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and others
- hip hopartist
- D. Woods, member of group Danity Kane
- Phil Woods, jazz saxophonist with Quincy Jones, Steely Dan, Paul Simon, others
Sister cities
- Bracigliano, Salerno, Italy[181]
- Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland[183]
See also
- The Children's Study Home
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Springfield, Massachusetts
- Equivalent Lands
- USS Springfield, 4 ships
Notes
- ^ While both demonyms are listed in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there is some indication that Springfieldian is given some propriety:
"In at least two cases, the name of the resident depends on which state the town is in: Richmonder in Virginia but Richmondite in Indiana; Springfieldian in Massachusetts but Springfielder in Ohio."[11] - ^ Combined statistical areas (CSAs) as defined by the US Census.
- ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
- Brainard Airport from January 1949 to December 1954, and at Bradley Int'l in Windsor Locks since January 1955.[43]
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- ^ "Metro Center, Springfield". Walk Score. Archived from the original on October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- ^ "Home / Parks / Parks Facilities and Use / River Walk / More about River Walk". City of Springfield. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "The Bewegen Bike Share System - Power Your Ride". The Bewegen Bike Share System. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "ValleyBike will not offer bike share program in Springfield due to coronavirus". MassLive.com. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- WSHM). Retrieved May 27, 2021.]
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link - ^ About the Commission | Springfield Water and Sewer Commission Archived October 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Waterandsewer.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Water System History | Springfield Water and Sewer Commission Archived May 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Waterandsewer.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.
- ^ "History". Springfield Fire Department. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ Randal L. Hall and Sylvia Stallings Morris, eds, William Marsh Rice and His Institute: Centennial Edition (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2012), p.1.
- ^ Chmielewski, Dawn C. "Stephen M. Rivers dies at 55; Hollywood publicist and political activist" Archived January 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- ^ Gänzl, Kurt (March 3, 2021). "Lucy Escott: Australia's greatest American prima donna". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Gänzl, Kurt (2018). "Lucy Escott". Victorian Vocalists. Routledge. pp. 219–223.
- ^ Becker, Sy (July 12, 2018). "Mayor from Italy visits Springfield". WWLP 22 News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ Springfield, Massachusetts and Takikawa City, Hokkaido Archived January 15, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Massachusetts Hokkaido Association.
- ^ "Mayor Sarno and Congressman Neal Welcome Toireasa Ferris, Kerry County Councilor for Tralee, Ireland". City of Springfield (Mass.). March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
Further reading
- King, Moses, ed. (1884). King's Handbook of Springfield: A Series of Monographs, Historical and Descriptive. Springfield, Mass.: J. D. Gill. OCLC 960063143.
- Swift, Esther M. (1969). West Springfield Massachusetts: A Town History. West Springfield Heritage Association. OCLC 69843.
- Atlas of Springfield City, Massachusetts. Boston, Massachusetts: Geo. H. Walker & Co. 1882.