Springfield, Massachusetts

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Springfield is a city in Massachusetts. It is the county seat of Hampden County⁶. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 152,082. A July 1, 2003 Census estimate put the city's population at 152,157. The city is the largest (and also historically the first) city called Springfield in the United States. It is also the largest city on the Connecticut River and the largest city in Western Massachusetts.

History and Notable Events

Springfield was founded in 1636 by William Pynchon, the then assistant treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The town was named after the city in England where he was born.

It served as a small working town, but in 1675 during King Philip's War, it's security was threatened. The leader of the Wampanoag Indian tribe, Wamsutta, died shortly after being questioned at gunpoint by Plymouth colonists. Soon thereafter, the war began. Wamsutta's brother and successor, Metacom, known as Philip to the colonists, started war with the colony to avenge his brother's death -- the tribe attacked Springfield and destroyed more than half the town.

During the 1770s, George Washington selected Springfield as the site of the National Armory. By the 1780s the Arsenal was a major ammunition and weapons depot. In 1787 poor farmers from western Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, tried to seize the arms at Springfield. This came to be known as Shay's Rebellion, and was a key event leading to the Federal Constitutional Convention. Those involved in the rebellion planned to use the weapons to force the closure of the Commonwealth and county courts that were seizing their lands for debt.

The term Springfield rifle may refer to any sort of arms produced by the Springfield Armory for the United States armed forces.

In 1852, Smith and Wesson, America's largest producer of handguns, was founded in Springfield -- it remains headquartered there.

In 1852, Massachusetts incorporated Springfield as a city.

In 1893, two Springfielders named Charles and Frank Dureya built the first ever gasoline powered commercial car in Springfield. The car was put on the streets of Springfield on September 20 of that year.

Springfield is known as the City of Homes, a nickname given to it in the late 19th century due to it's many Victorian mansions, as well as multitudes of single-family houses inhabited by workers.

The city of Springfield is most commonly known as the birthplace of basketball. In 1891, James Naismith, a physical education teacher in Springfield, invented the sport at the Springfield YMCA, to fill the gap between the football and baseball seasons. On February 17, 1986, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was opened on the banks of the Connecticut River.

In 1901, the Indian (motorcycle) Manufacturing Company, America's first motorcycle brand, was founded by George M. Hendee and C. Oscar Hedstrom in Springfield -- two years before Harley Davidson Motor Company.

Springfield is the birthplace of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and Timothy Leary, drug pioneer, among others.

For nearly six decades, Springfield has been slumping economically, largely due to a decline in manufacturing. Many residents moved to the suburbs to escape inner-city crime. However Springfield features a remarkable cultural center, known as The Quadrangle -- a grouping of museums and sculpture gardens.

Education

Springfield is home to three 4-year colleges: Springfield College, Western New England College and American International College. The greater Springield area is home to the Five Colleges: Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts.

Transportation

The Springfield-Hartford, Connecticut area is served by Bradley International Airport in nearby Windsor Locks, Connecticut. (Springfield and Hartford are twin cities, located less than 25 miles apart.) Springfield also has an Amtrak station, with trains destined to Washington, DC, Boston, Vermont and Chicago.

Geography

Springfield is located at 42°6'45" North, 72°32'51" West (42.112411, -72.547455)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 86.0 km² (33.2 mi²). 83.1 km² (32.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.31% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 152,082 people, 57,130 households, and 36,391 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,829.3/km² (4,737.7/mi²). There are nearly 1.5 million residents in the greater Springfield-Hartford metro region. In Springfield proper, there are 61,172 housing units at an average density of 735.8/km² (1,905.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 56.11% White, 21.01% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.92% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 16.45% from other races, and 4.04% from two or more races. 27.18% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 57,130 households out of which 33.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% are married couples living together, 23.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% are non-families. 30.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $30,417, and the median income for a family is $36,285. Males have a median income of $32,396 versus $26,536 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,232. 23.1% of the population and 19.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 33.9% of those under the age of 18 and 11.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• City of Springfield, Massachusetts Official city website.
• masslive.com Local-interest site with news from the Springfield Republican, the largest local daily newspaper
• Valley Advocate (local weekly alternative newspaper)