81-610: The Springfield metropolitan area , also known as Greater Springfield , is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts . The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts . As of 2023, the metropolitan area's population was estimated at 460,291, making it
162-646: A collection of Asian curiosities; the Springfield Science Museum , which features a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex, an aquarium and the first American-made planetarium , designed and built (1937) by Frank Korkosz; the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum , as Springfield is the birthplace of Theodor Geisel ; and the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, a museum about the multi-faceted city. The Connecticut Valley Historical Museum
243-540: A collection of rare artifacts that tell stories about the ill-fated ocean liner's passengers and crew. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra performs in Springfield Symphony Hall . 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
324-448: A history spanning nearly four centuries, Springfield has been home to a number of legacy companies that were household names, including: 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. Among its oldest institutions are Smith's Billiards, founded in 1902, which serves Theodore's Blues, Booze, & BBQ,
405-685: 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. 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
486-575: A luxury condominium building. 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 . The former McIntosh Shoe Company (158 Chestnut Street), one of Springfield's finest examples of the Chicago School of Architecture , has been converted into industrial-style condominiums; and
567-627: 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). In recent decades
648-653: A population of 699,162 in 2020. 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
729-524: 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
810-748: A southbound 31 trip. These routes are operated by the Valley Area Transit Company (VATCo), except for the Nashawannuck Express, which is operated by Hulmes Transportation Services. Continues to Route R42. Combined with former M40. Operates express trips on weekdays between Smith College and UMass, effective September 5, 2017. PVTA offers connections to the following transit agencies: Route timetables and maps are available on PVTA's website at https://www.pvta.com/schedules.php . Customer Service Centers can print schedules for riders by request. PVTA endorsed Transit as
891-582: A stop on the Underground Railroad and home of abolitionist John Brown , widely known for his raid on Harpers Ferry , 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. Today the city
SECTION 10
#1732779635592972-465: Is characterized by 2 operations, the local NBC affiliate WWLP 22 , and the consolidated WesternMassNews, representing CBS affiliate WSHM 3 , joint ABC affiliate and FOX affiliate WGGB . In 2019 local NPR affiliate WFCR and PBS WGBY merged operations to form New England Public Media . Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is the most populous city in and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts , United States. Springfield sits on
1053-400: Is considered to have a "mature economy", which protects the city to a degree during recessions and inhibits it somewhat during bubbles. 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
1134-412: Is divided into 17 distinct neighborhoods; in alphabetical order, they are: According to the 2010 Census , Springfield had a population of 153,060, of which 72,573 (47.4%) were male and 80,487 (52.6%) were female. 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. The median age for males was 30.2 years and 34.1 years for females. According to
1215-522: Is home to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' largest Fortune 100 company, MassMutual Financial Group. It is also home to the world's largest producer of handguns, Smith & Wesson , founded in 1852. It is home to Merriam Webster , the first and most widely read American–English dictionary, founded in 1806. Springfield is also home to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' third largest employer, Baystate Health , with over 10,000 employees. Baystate
1296-489: 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 " Painted Ladies " (similar to those found in San Francisco); however, Springfield also features Gilded Age mansions, urban condominiums buildings, brick apartment blocks, and more suburban post-World War II architecture (in
1377-425: Is managed by First Transit . All SATCo fixed-route buses are numbered in the 1000 series. SATCo transports more than 9 million passengers annually. New Flyer Xcelsior]] XD40 | 2021 Active New Flyer Xcelsior]] XD40 | 2022 1862-1964 Active New Flyer Xcelsior]] XD40 | 2023 1865-1870 Active New Flyer Xcelsior]] XD40 | 2024 1871-1880 Active UMass Transit Services operates PVTA's routes through
1458-752: Is one of two combined statistical areas in Massachusetts; the other is Greater Boston . An alternative system of measuring New England metropolitan areas was developed, called the New England city and town area (NECTA) because, in New England , towns are a much more important level of government than counties. County government in New England is weak at best, and in Connecticut , Rhode Island , and most of Massachusetts , does not exist at all. In addition, major cities and surrounding towns are often much smaller in land area than in other parts of
1539-703: 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) Forest Park . Forest Park lies in the southwestern corner of the city, surrounded by Springfield's attractive garden districts, Forest Park and Forest Park Heights , which feature over 600 Victorian Painted Lady mansions. Forest Park also borders Longmeadow. Springfield shares borders with other suburbs such as East Longmeadow , Wilbraham , Ludlow and
1620-675: Is the largest in western New England , and the urban, economic, and media capital of Massachusetts' section of the Connecticut River Valley , colloquially known as the Pioneer Valley . 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
1701-720: Is the largest regional transit authority, and second largest public transit system in Massachusetts after the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority , providing service to over 11 million riders annually across 24 municipalities in the region, with about 70% of all riders using the system as their primary mode of transit. As per Section 25, Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws, regional transit authorities in Massachusetts are not permitted to directly operate their service, but must instead contract with other entities to operate
SECTION 20
#17327796355921782-665: Is the primary operator of public transportation services in the Springfield Metropolitan Area. Headquartered in Springfield, the PVTA maintains a fleet of approximately 174 buses, 144 vans, and "is the largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts." Founded in 1974 with the enactment of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 161B, the PVTA serves 24 member communities in Hampden , Hampshire , and Franklin counties. Each member community pays an assessment fee to
1863-599: Is the western campus of Tufts University School of Medicine . 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. In addition to Baystate, Springfield features two other nationally ranked hospitals; Mercy Medical , run by The Sisters of Providence , and Shriners Hospital for Children. The following companies maintain their headquarters in Springfield: With
1944-651: Is thought to better approximate New England's metropolitan areas because it uses New England's geographically smaller building blocks. In Springfield's case, its NECTA consists of 51 additional cities and towns surrounding the city. As of the census of 2010, there were 692,942 people, 269,091 households, and 168,758 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 81.10% White , 6.7% African American , 0.30% Native American , 2.5% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 6.6% from other races , and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.4% of
2025-612: Is up 12% in September 2014 and 9% in October. An audit in 2005 revealed that the PVTA made approximately $ 10 million in accounting errors on a transportation development project at Springfield's Union Station. Initial reports said PVTA could owe the federal government as much as $ 4 million. That amount was reduced in 2009 to less than $ 1 million. A federal probe in 2006 also targeted some PVTA employees. Subsequently, Administrator Gary Shepard resigned in 2006 after being put on leave by
2106-527: The 117th-largest metropolitan area in the United States . Historically, the census has also identified the region as "Springfield–Holyoke, Mass.–Conn." as those cities were the area's population centers as recently as 1980; since that time the population has become further distributed, including new growth in Amherst , Westfield , and West Springfield , and Northern Connecticut. Greater Springfield
2187-520: The 2010 Census , there were 61,706 housing units in Springfield, of which 56,752 were occupied. This was the highest average of home occupancy among the four distinct Western New England metropolises (the other three being Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, Connecticut ). Also as of 2010, Springfield features the highest average homeowner occupancy ratio among the four Western New England metropolises at 50%—73,232 Springfielders live in owner-occupied units, versus 74,111 in rental units. By comparison, as of
2268-699: The City Beautiful movement. The Quadrangle's five distinct collections include the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden ; the largest collection of Chinese cloisonne outside of China; and the original casting of Augustus Saint Gaudens 's most famous sculpture, Puritan . The Quadrangle's five museums are the Museum of Fine Arts, which features a large Impressionist collection; the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum,
2349-528: The Five Colleges area in eastern Hampshire County and neighboring towns, with most of the routes centered around UMass Amherst , the largest ridership generator in the service area. UMass Transit Services is a department within the University of Massachusetts Amherst . The UMass Transit garage is located on-campus at 255 Governors Drive, Amherst. All UMass Transit fixed-route buses are numbered in
2430-781: The Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts , offering fixed-route bus service, paratransit service, and senior van service. PVTA was created by Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws in 1974. Based in Springfield, Massachusetts , PVTA serves Hampden and Hampshire counties, and provides connecting service to CT transit in Hartford County, Connecticut, to FRTA in Franklin County , and to WRTA in Worcester County . It
2511-434: The tornado left three dead, hundreds injured, and over 500 homeless in the city alone. 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 . It was the first deadly tornado to strike Massachusetts since May 29, 1995. Neighborhoods of Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield
Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts - Misplaced Pages Continue
2592-517: The "Windsor Indian" who, running 20 miles from Windsor, Connecticut , to the settlement, was able to give advance warning of the attack. 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. In 1777, Springfield's location at numerous crossroads led George Washington and Henry Knox to establish
2673-1226: The 1200 series. Route B79 is operated by the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation and the Town of Ware, through its Quaboag Connector partnership. These routes are operated by the Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCo), except for the Ware Shuttle and Palmer Shuttle, which are operated by Hulmes Transportation Services. B – trips in Chicopee Falls serve Grove, Church, Court, and Main Streets. From Chicopee Big Y, these trips serve Montgomery, Grattan, and Chicopee Streets and travel to Holyoke Transportation Center via South Hadley Falls, then Bridge, N. Canal, Cabot, and High Streets. These routes are operated by UMass Transit Services (UMTS). See UMass Transit fixed routes for more information. Functions to provide service to South Amherst during periods when
2754-616: The 2010 Census, New Haven features an owner occupancy rate of 31%; Hartford of 26%; and Bridgeport of 43%. In terms of race and ethnicity, Springfield is 51.8% White , 22.3% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian (1.2% Vietnamese, 0.3% Chinese, 0.2% Indian, 0.1% Cambodian, 0.1% Filipino, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Laotian), 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 18.0% from Some Other Race, and 4.7% from Two or More Races (1.5% White and Black or African American; 1.0% White and Some Other Race). Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 38.8% of
2835-406: The 2010 census, the metropolitan area had the highest percentage of Puerto Ricans of any metropolitan statistical area in the continental United States. The median income for a household in the MSA was $ 42,195, and the median income for a family was $ 52,551. Males had a median income of $ 37,784 versus $ 28,404 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $ 20,633. The median age for the MSA
2916-407: The 3000 series. UMass Transit is a student-based organization with more than 90% of the employees (i.e. bus drivers, mechanics, dispatchers) being UMass students, with the remaining employees falling under University 03 employment status or full time administrators. UMass Transit Services is one of the oldest student driver groups in the country, having been founded in 1969 as a demonstration grant from
2997-499: The 38 is not operated When it was being operated, it: Only operated during full service periods and wintersession (January) Provided evening and weekend service to Hampshire Mall On weekdays, two trips were operated directly between Smith College and Mount Holyoke College as an express variant of Route 39 (mimicking Route 39E). On wintersession weekdays, provided service between Smith College and Mount Holyoke College via Hampshire College. The Hampshire College–Mt. Holyoke portion
3078-461: 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. Distribution of Greater Springfield NECTA Labor Force (2016) Springfield's vicinity to both Boston and New York City lends it
3159-556: The MassDOT BusPlus app. Tickets and passes purchased on smartphones are validated electronically with mobile ticket validators, located inside the front door of the bus on the right side. Tickets are visually validated by bus operators when mobile ticket validators are unavailable. This program launched on July 19, 2020, and mobile ticket validators entered service on January 2, 2024. PVTA buses operated by UMass Transit do not charge fares. See here for more details. Ridership
3240-487: The PVTA Customer Service Center at Springfield Union Station. Transfers for children 6-12 are $ 0.25, and transfers for mobility impaired passengers and seniors are $ 0.10. All passes are good through the end of the service day. PVTA offers riders the ability to purchase tickets and passes on their smartphone, removing the need to pay cash on board or purchase physical passes ahead of time, using
3321-547: The PVTA based "on the number of miles served in that city or town." Alternative sources of revenue mostly originate from federal and state governments . The PVTA itself is governed by an advisory board . The Springfield metropolitan area is tabulated by Nielsen as the Springfield-Holyoke designated market area , and is the 111th largest television market in the United States, with viewership comparable to Tallahassee and Fort Wayne . The area's local news
Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts - Misplaced Pages Continue
3402-579: The Sixteen Acres and Pine Point neighborhoods). 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. As of 2011, Springfield's housing prices are considerably lower than nearby New England cities which do not feature such intricate architecture. In Metro Center, stands
3483-658: 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 . In addition to its nickname The City of Firsts , Springfield
3564-596: The UMass Accessible Van Service (operated by UMass Transit Services ) provides service for University members. Amherst-area paratransit passengers who are not members of the University community are served by MV. All paratransit vehicles are numbered in the 5000 series. The fixed-route van shuttles (Ware Shuttle, Palmer Shuttle, and Nashawannuck Express) are operated by Hulmes Transportation Services. These routes are operated by vans numbered in
3645-676: The UMass Transit service area via Route 9, and to the SATCo service area on the other side of the Mount Tom Range via Routes 5 and 10. VATCo, located at 54 Industrial Drive in Northampton, is managed by First Transit . All VATCo fixed-route buses are numbered in the 7000 series. ADA Paratransit Service and Senior Van Service is provided by MV Transit for the entire service area, except for the University of Massachusetts, where
3726-482: The United States' National Armory at Springfield , which produced the first American musket in 1794, and later the famous Springfield rifle . From 1777 until its closing during the Vietnam War , the Springfield Armory attracted skilled laborers to Springfield, making it the United States' longtime center for precision manufacturing. The near-capture of the armory during Shays' Rebellion of 1787 led directly to
3807-472: 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. The Urban Land Institute stated in 2010 that "the perception of crime [in Springfield] appears to be worse than the reality". By another measure, crime and population data collected by
3888-526: The United States. For example, Springfield is 33.2 sq. miles, whereas Fort Worth, Texas , is 298.9 sq. miles, nearly 10 times larger in land area than Springfield. Because of the sizable discrepancy in land area, New England cities like Springfield feature much higher population densities. In addition, New England cities and towns have developed allegiances that transcend state borders; cities in Connecticut are included in Springfield's NECTA. This system
3969-408: The United States. The city of Springfield itself is home to Springfield College , Western New England University , American International College , and Springfield Technical Community College , among other higher educational institutions. The area that would become Springfield was historically inhabited by indigenous people, with documented middle archaic period sites, a ceramic workshop site from
4050-533: The Urban Mass Transit Administration. UMass Transit Services operates 10 routes with a fleet of 40 transit vehicles (35' - 60'). Service runs 12 months a year, 20 hours per day, seven days per week. UMass Transit Services transports more than 3.5 million passengers annually. The Valley Area Transit Company (VATCo) operates the central portion of PVTA's service area. All of its routes originate from Northampton , providing connections to
4131-577: The Woodland period in south Springfield, and the contact period Long Hill site, excavated in 1895. At the time of European contact at settlement, the Springfield area was inhabited by the Agawam tribe, who sold land to English settlers. Springfield was founded in 1636 by English Puritan William Pynchon as "Agawam Plantation" under the administration of the Connecticut Colony . In 1641 it
SECTION 50
#17327796355924212-481: The arms industry of the Armory, as well as from private companies such as Smith & Wesson , established by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson . Similarly, the industrial economy led Thomas and Charles Wason to establish the Wason Manufacturing Company , which produced the first manufactured sleeping car . The largest railcar works in New England, Wason produced 100 cars a day at its peak;
4293-438: The buses. As such, the PVTA contracts with two entities to provide fixed-route service in the service area: First Transit and UMass Transit Services . The contractors run semi- autonomous garages that act as vehicle depots for the surrounding areas. The Springfield Area Transit Company (SATCo) operates the southern portion of PVTA's service area, servicing Hampden County . SATCo, located at 665 Cottage Street in Springfield,
4374-575: 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, Lebanese restaurant Nadim's Downtown, local chain Puerto Rican Bakery, and a host of other Greek, Jamaican, Mexican, and Vietnamese venues. Springfield is home to five distinct museums at the Quadrangle , along with the ornate Springfield City Library —an architecturally significant example of
4455-460: The city of Chicopee (which constituted one of Springfield's most populous neighborhoods until it separated and became an independent municipality in 1852). The Connecticut state line is only 4 miles (6 km) south of Springfield, beside the wealthy suburb of Longmeadow , which itself separated from Springfield in 1783. Springfield's densely urban Metro Center district surrounding Main Street
4536-605: The city of Chicopee. The small cities of Agawam and West Springfield lie less than a mile (1.6 km) from Springfield's Metro Center, across the Connecticut River. The City of Springfield also owns the Springfield Country Club, located in the autonomous city of West Springfield, which separated from Springfield in 1774. Springfield, like other cities in southern New England, has a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Köppen : Dfa ) with four distinct seasons and precipitation evenly distributed throughout
4617-681: The city since 1986. With 25 universities and colleges within a 15-mile (24 km) radius from Springfield, including several 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 universities and colleges provide
4698-494: The company was eventually purchased by Brill in 1907 and closed during the Depression in 1937. 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. Springfield underwent
4779-409: The country. On the occasions that hurricanes have hit New England, Springfield's inland, upriver location has caused its damages to be considerably less than shoreline cities like New Haven, Connecticut , and Providence, Rhode Island . On June 1, 2011, Springfield was directly struck by the second-largest tornado ever to hit Massachusetts . With wind speeds exceeding 160 mph (257 km/h),
4860-473: The early 21st century, Springfield saw long-term revitalization projects and several large projects, including the $ 1 billion New Haven–Hartford–Springfield intercity rail ; a $ 1 billion MGM casino ., and the $ 95 million redevelopment of Springfield Union Station. In December 2022, Springfield was designated by the National Park Service as an American World War II Heritage City,
4941-594: 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 third most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the fourth most populous city in New England after Boston , Worcester , and Providence . Metropolitan Springfield , as one of two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts (the other being Greater Boston ), had
SECTION 60
#17327796355925022-468: The fertile Connecticut River Valley , 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
5103-468: 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 ). Springfield would play major roles in machine production, initially driven by
5184-558: The first in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one of only 18 communities in the country. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 33.1 square miles (85.7 km ), of which 31.9 square miles (82.5 km ) are land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km ), or 3.65%, are water. Once nicknamed "The City in a Forest", Springfield features over 4.0 square miles (10.4 km ) of urban parkland, 12% of its total land area. Located in
5265-449: The formation of the U.S. Constitutional Convention . 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 );
5346-653: The ground . During that attack, three-quarters of the original settlement was burned to the ground, with many of Springfield's residents survived by taking refuge in John Pynchon's brick house, the "Old Fort", the first such house to be built in the Connecticut River Valley. Out of the siege, Miles Morgan and his sons were lauded as heroes; as one of the few homesteads to survive the attack, alerting troops in Hadley, as well as Toto, often referred to as
5427-484: The high snowfall amounts and blustery wind averages of nearby cities such as Worcester, Massachusetts , and Albany, New York . Springfield's summers are very warm and sometimes humid. During summer, several times per month, on hot days afternoon thunderstorms will develop when unstable warm air collides with approaching cold fronts . The daily average in July is around 74 °F (23 °C). Usually several days during
5508-796: The official trip planning and real-time information app for PVTA bus routes. In the app, you can look up real-time departures, plan trips, and receive service alerts for when there are detours or other disruptions. PVTA also provides Transit's Royale subscription feature to all riders at no cost. Transit can be downloaded at https://www.transitapp.com/download . Schedule information is also available through other mapping platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps , and service alerts are posted on PVTA's website at https://www.pvta.com/alerts.php . One-way fixed-route fares are noted below. NOTE : Buses operated by UMass Transit Services (3000-series) do not have fareboxes (see UMass Transit buses below). One-way fares for adults 13 and older are $ 1.40 if purchased at
5589-426: The population (33.2% Puerto Rican, 1.7% Dominican, 1.0% Mexican, 0.5% Guatemalan, 0.3% Cuban, 0.2% Colombian, 0.2% Spanish, 0.2% Salvadoran, 0.1% Peruvian, 0.1% Ecuadorian, 0.1% Panamanian, 0.1% Costa Rican, 0.1% Honduran). Non-Hispanic Whites were 36.7% of the population in 2010, down from 84.1% in 1970. Data is from the 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. In 2010, Springfield ranked 35th in
5670-408: The population. As of the census of 2000, there were 680,014 people, 260,745 households, and 167,924 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 83.50% White , 5.96% African American , 0.25% Native American , 1.74% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 6.35% from other races , and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.15% of the population. In
5751-508: The red-brick, former Milton Bradley toy factory is now Stockbridge Court Apartments (45 Willow Street). In the Ridgewood Historic District, the 1950s-futurist Mulberry House (101 Mulberry Street), is now a condominium building that features some of the finest views of Springfield. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority ( PVTA ) oversees and coordinates public transportation in
5832-404: The region with an educated workforce, which yields a yearly GDP of over $ 100 billion—more than at least 16 U.S. States. Hartford–Springfield has become home to a number of biotech firms and high-speed computing centers. As of 2009 Springfield ranks as the 24th most important high-tech center in the United States with approximately 14,000 high-tech jobs. In 2010, the median household income
5913-472: The summer exceed 90 °F (32 °C), constituting a " heat wave ". Spring and fall temperatures are usually pleasant, with mild days and crisp, cool nights. Precipitation averages 45.85 inches (1,165 mm) annually, and snowfall averages 40.5 inches (103 cm), most of which falls from mid-December to early March. Although not unheard of, extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes occur infrequently in Springfield compared with other areas in
5994-500: The two prominent skyscrapers, Tower Square, and Monarch Place , the latter of which is the tallest building in Massachusetts outside of Boston. Many of the city's Victorian buildings including former hotels, factories, and other institutions have been converted into apartment buildings and luxury condominiums. For example, Springfield's ornate Classical High School (235 State Street), with its immense Victorian atrium—where Dr. Seuss, Timothy Leary, and Taj Mahal all went to high school—is now
6075-465: The year, but the intensity (and sometimes the duration) of warmer periods is greater than in northern areas. Winters are cold with a daily average in January of around 26 °F (−3 °C). During winter, nor'easter storms can drop significant snowfalls on Springfield and the Connecticut River Valley . Temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) can occur each year, though the area does not experience
6156-464: 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. The City of Springfield is the economic center of Western Massachusetts. It features the Pioneer Valley 's largest concentration of retail, manufacturing, entertainment, banking, legal, and medical groups. Springfield
6237-484: Was 38.9 in 2010 overall, with a median age of 37.4 for males and 40.1 for females. The estimated median age in 2017 was 38.2 overall with a median age 36.6 for males and 39.6 for females. Among the 100 most populous MSAs in the United States, the Springfield metropolitan area had the 10th highest life expectancy in 2016 for the top quartile of income earners, adjusted for race and ethnicity, with an overall life expectancy of 87.2. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)
6318-444: Was invented in Springfield in 1891 by Canadian James Naismith . Hartford , the capital of Connecticut , lies 24 miles (39 km) south of Springfield, on the western bank of the Connecticut River. 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
6399-761: Was one of the Quadrangle's five museums until 2009. In 2017 the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum opened in the former location, the William Pynchon Memorial Building. The collections of the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum are now located in the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Springfield's Indian Orchard neighborhood is home to the RMS Titanic Historical Society's Titanic Museum , which displays
6480-645: Was renamed after Pynchon's hometown of Springfield, Essex , England, following incidents, including trade disputes as well as Captain John Mason's hostilities toward native tribes, which precipitated the settlement's joining the Massachusetts Bay Colony . During its early existence, Springfield flourished both as an agricultural settlement and as a trading post, although its prosperity waned dramatically during (and after) King Philip's War in 1675, when natives laid siege to it and burned it to
6561-571: Was shared with the Route 38 Connection available to FRTA Route 31 at Whately Park and Ride Currently mostly eliminated; interlined with Route 31. There are a total of two trips providing service to South Deerfield and Whately. The first trip (morning) travels to Whately via Sunderland Road as Route 31/46, before continuing to Sugarloaf Estates, where it begins a southbound 31 trip. The second trip (evening) travels from Sugarloaf Estates to Whately as Route 31/46, before returning to Sugarloaf and starting
#591408