City of Springfield
Seal
Nickname: City of Homes
Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°06′05″N 72°35′25″W / 42.10139, -72.59028
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Hampden
Settled	1636
Incorporated	1852
Government
- Type	Mayor-council city
- Mayor	Domenic J Sarno (D)
Area
- City	33.2 sq mi (86.0 km²)
- Land	32.1 sq mi (83.1 km²)
- Water	1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
Elevation	70 ft (21 m)
Population (2000)
- City	154,082
- Density	4,737.7/sq mi (1,829.2/km²)
- Metro	680,510
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01101 01103 01104 01105 01107 01108 01109 01119 01128 01129 01151
Area code(s)	413
FIPS code	25-67000
GNIS feature ID	0609092
Website: http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/COS/

Springfield is a city in, and the county seat of, Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States.^[1] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 475 pixelsFull resolution (1134 × 674 pixel, file size: 125 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... // A nickname is a name of an entity or thing that is not its proper name. ... Image File history File links Springfield_ma_highlight. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Massachusetts counties This is a list of Massachusetts counties, consisting of the 14 Massachusetts counties currently in existence. ... Hampden County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Mayor-Council government is one of two variations of government most commonly used in modern representative municipal governments in the United States. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... The Eastern Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting five hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... The Eastern Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting five hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating telephone number ranges to countries, regions, areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks such as mobile phone networks. ... Area code 413 is the area code for western Massachusetts. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Hampden County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

In the 2000 census, the city population was 154,082. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and fourth largest in New England (behind Boston, Worcester, and Providence). Springfield holds two nicknames — The City of Homes and The City of Firsts. 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Boston redirects here. ... For other uses, see Worcester (disambiguation). ... Providence redirects here. ...

Historically the first Springfield in the United States, it is also the largest city with the name of Springfield. It is also the largest city on the Connecticut River (and the largest city in Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley). // Look up Springfield in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Connecticut River as seen from the French King Bridge in western Massachusetts. ... Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley. ... The Pioneer Valley and Connecticut River, looking southward toward the towns of Sunderland, Amherst and Whately. ...

Springfield is notable as birthplace of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, as well as the city in which James Naismith invented basketball. It is home to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Springfield Falcons AHL hockey team. It also holds the western world's largest collection of Chinese cloisonné at the G.W. Vincent Smith Art Museum. Theodor Seuss Geisel (pronounced ; March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) was an American writer and cartoonist, better known by his pen name, Dr. Seuss (often pronounced , but he himself said [1]). He published over 40 childrens books, which were often characterized by his imaginative characters and frequent use of... James Naismith James A. Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was the inventor of the sport of basketball and the first to introduce the use of a helmet in American football. ... This article is about the sport. ... Basketball Hall of Fame Logo The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. ... The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. ... AHL might be an acronym or abbreviation for: American Hockey League acylated homoserine lactones This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Cloisonné is a multi-step enamel process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items. ... The Dr. Seuss Memorial and Museum of Fine Arts. ...

The Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of three counties - Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin. As of the 2000 census, the Springfield MSA had a population of 680,014 (though a July 1, 2007 estimate placed the population at 682,657).^[2] It is also part of a larger northeastern metropolitan area known as the Megalopolis. Hampshire County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Megalopolis (Greek: large city, great city) can mean: The town of Megalópoli (Μεγαλοπολη), Megalopolis, Greece. ...

In an economic and cultural partnership with Hartford, Connecticut, the Springfield-Hartford region constitutes New England's Knowledge Corridor - the second-largest concentration of institutions of higher learning in New England, after Greater Boston. Hartford redirects here. ... New Englands Knowledge Corridor constitutes an economic and cultural partnership between the Connecticut River cities of Springfield, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and surrounding towns. ... Light Blue represents the area in Massachusetts known as Greater Boston, while Dark Blue represents the Metro-Boston area and Red represents Boston proper, the City of Boston Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston, Massachusetts. ...

History

Colonial settlement

Contact with European explorers, conquerors, and colonists from the 1500s onward brought diseases (possibly smallpox and measles) which decimated the native population of North America. By 1635, the still-active epidemics had left an estimated 5,000 Indians in all of New England.^[4] Nickname: Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1660 Incorporated (town) May 19, 1669 Incorporated (city) November 2, 1920 Government  - Mayor Michael R. Boulanger Area  - Total 47. ... Wilbraham is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 13,473. ... The Town of West Springfield (familiarly known as West Side) is a city[1] in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden County Settled 1751 Incorporated 1775 Government  - Type Representative town meeting Area  - Town  28. ... Southwick is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Montgomery is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... Longmeadow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... Russell is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... See Holyoke, Colorado for the city in Colorado. ... Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1635 Incorporated 1855 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Richard A. Cohen (D) Area  - Total 24. ... Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1640 Incorporated 1848 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette Area  - Total 23. ... Hampden is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... East Longmeadow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States situated in the Pioneer Valley region of Western Massachusetts. ... Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a contagious disease unique to humans. ...

In 1635, William Pynchon, then the assistant treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, led an expedition with John Cable and John Woodcock, either up the Connecticut River or west across land from the Boston settlement, to the site of the Native American village of Agawam (which was associated with either the Pocomtuc or Nipmuck tribe) on the western bank. The lands nearest the river were both clear of trees due to occasional burns by the Indians, and covered in nutrient-rich river silt from occasional floods.^[5] They constructed a pre-fabricated house south of the Westfield River in what is now Agawam, Massachusetts. Cable and Woodcock were supplied with food and goods to trade over the winter. William Pynchon (October 11, 1590 – October 29, 1662) was a Colonial Assistant, Treasurer, and original Patentee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. ... A map of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Capital Charlestown, Boston History  - Established 1629  - New England Confederation 1643  - Dominion of New England 1686  - Province of Massachusetts Bay 1692  - Disestablished 1692 The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it) was an English settlement on... The Pocomtuc were a Native American tribe inhabiting the Connecticut River valley from the northern tip of Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and the tri-state area of Vermont, New Hammpshire, and Massachusetts. ... Nipmuck emblem The Nipmuck are an aboriginal North American people, belonging to the family of Algonquian peoples, currently living in and around the Chaubunagungamaug Reservation of Webster, Massachusetts. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1635 Incorporated 1855 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Richard A. Cohen (D) Area  - Total 24. ...

In 1636, Pynchon led a settlement expedition with at least seven other men.^[6] The English settlers and their livestock travelled over land from the existing settlements in eastern Massachusetts, while some supplies were transported by boat.^[7] Pynchon's party purchased (by barter) land on both sides of river from the 18 inhabitants of the village, representing the inner tracts of what is now Agawam, West Springfield, Longmeadow, Springfield, and Chicopee.^[8] The Indians retained foraging and hunting rights, the rights to their existing farmlands, and were granted the right to compensation if the English cattle ruined their corn crops.^[9] A 19th-centure example of barter: A sample labor for labor note for the Cincinnati Time Store. ...

The settlement was originally named Agawam Plantation, but in 1640 it was renamed Springfield after the village near Chelmsford, Essex in England where Pynchon was born. Chelmsford Borough Council Coat Of Arms , Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England. ... For other meanings of Essex, see Essex (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

After warnings about the west side being prone to flooding,^[10] and to "avoid trespassing" on the reserved Indian lands, the settlement moved to the less favorable farmland on the east side of the river, and the initial land grants to English families were made there.^[11] Long, narrow plots of farmland were created, extending out from the river, in addition to more distant forested "wood lots". A warehouse was also constructed at Warehouse Point in Connecticut, to facilitate the main profit-generating industry for the settlement - trade with the Indians for beaver skins.^[12]

Purchases of large swaths of land from the Indians continued throughout the 1600s, enlarging Springfield's territory and forming other colonial towns elsewhere in the Pioneer Valley. Westfield was the westernmost settlement of Massachusetts Bay Colony until 1725, making Springfield a "frontier town" for a number of decades.^[13] Over decades and centuries, portions of Springfield were sectioned off to form neighboring towns (see table for dates and links to individual town histories). A map of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Capital Charlestown, Boston History  - Established 1629  - New England Confederation 1643  - Dominion of New England 1686  - Province of Massachusetts Bay 1692  - Disestablished 1692 The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it) was an English settlement on...

Due to imprecision in surveying the colonial borders, Springfield was soon embroiled in a boundary dispute between the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Connecticut Colony which was not resolved until 1803-4. (See the article on the History of Massachusetts.) As a result, some lands originally administered by Springfield are now in Connecticut.^[14] A map of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Capital Charlestown, Boston History  - Established 1629  - New England Confederation 1643  - Dominion of New England 1686  - Province of Massachusetts Bay 1692  - Disestablished 1692 The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it) was an English settlement on... A map of the Connecticut, New Haven, and Saybrook colonies. ... Flag of Massachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was created in the late 1700s. ...

Springfield remained a small working town when its security was threatened in 1675, during King Philip's War. 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, Metacomet, known as Philip to the colonists, started war with the colony to avenge his brother's death; the Pocomtuc tribe attacked Springfield and destroyed more than half the town on October 5, 1675.^[15] Attack King Philips War, sometimes called Metacoms War or Metacoms Rebellion,[1] was an armed conflict between Indian inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Indian allies from 1675–1676. ... The Wampanoag (Wôpanâak in the Wampanoag language) are a Native American people. ... Wamsutta (b. ... Metacomet (died August 12, 1676), also known as King Philip or Metacom, was a war chief or sachem of the Wampanoag Indians and their leader in King Philips War. ... The Pocomtuc were a Native American tribe inhabiting the Connecticut River valley from the northern tip of Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and the tri-state area of Vermont, New Hammpshire, and Massachusetts. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... Year 1675 (MDCLXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Springfield Armory

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 Shays'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, which were seizing their lands for debt. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... This is an article about the US Government Arsenal. ... Engraving depicting Nick Gaskin (left) and Job Shattuck Nickolas Jarrod Gaskin (Born July 9, 1990), is a teenager in Forrest City, Arkansas. ... Shayss Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts that lasted from 1786 to 1787. ... hi:Alternative meaning: Constitutional convention (political custom) this is random:Alternative meaning: Constitutional convention (political custom) A constitutional convention is a gathering of delegates for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. ...

The term Springfield Rifle may refer to any sort of arms produced by the Springfield Armory for the United States armed forces. The term Springfield Rifle may refer to any one of several types of small arms produced by the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the United States armed forces. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...

Industrialization

Springfield is known as the City of Homes, a nickname given to it in the late 19th century due to its many Victorian mansions, as well as multitudes of single-family houses inhabited by workers. Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ...

Main Street, looking north, 1905

Wason Manufacturing Company, one of the earliest makers of railway passenger coach equipment in the United States, was established in Springfield in 1845. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 535 pixelsFull resolution (935 × 625 pixels, file size: 102 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Postcard: Main Street, looking north, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1905 postmark Description: Undivided back postcard, address side shown on store Web page with September 30, 1905 postmark Source... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 535 pixelsFull resolution (935 × 625 pixels, file size: 102 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Postcard: Main Street, looking north, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1905 postmark Description: Undivided back postcard, address side shown on store Web page with September 30, 1905 postmark Source... The Wason Manufacturing Company was a maker of railway passenger coaches during the 19th and early 20th century. ...

In 1856, Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson formed Smith & Wesson to manufacture revolvers. The company headquarters are still located in Springield. Horace Smith (born Cheshire, Massachusetts, 1808 - died 1893) partnered with Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich, Connecticut in the early 1850s to develop the first repeating rifle, the Volcanic rifle. ... Daniel B. Wesson (born Worcester, Massachusetts, May 18, 1825 - died August 4, 1906) partnered with Horace Smith in Norwich, Connecticut in the early 1850s to develop the first repeating rifle, the Volcanic rifle. ... Smith & Wesson NASDAQ: SWHC (S&W) is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. ... Revolver is also a rock-and-roll album by The Beatles. ...

Charles Gilbert and John Barker formed the Gilbert and Barker Manufacturing Company in 1865. The company produced gasoline pumps in Springfield until moving to West Springfield, Massachusetts in 1912. The company became Gilbarco and moved to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1965. [2] John Barker may refer to: John Barker (scholar) (fl. ... The Town of West Springfield (familiarly known as West Side) is a city[1] in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Gilbarco Veeder-Root, a member of the Danaher Corp, is a leading producer of gas pumps and other fuel industry hardware along with Point of Sale systems. ... Greensboro redirects here. ...

Two Springfielders, Charles and Frank Duryea, built a gasoline powered automobile in Springfield in 1893. The Duryea Motor Wagon was put on the streets (in what is now Chicopee, home of Stevens Arms) on September 20, 1893 and soon became to be the first ever offered for sale. The Duryeas were joined in the automobile industry in 1900 by Skene (which disappeared the next year) and Knox (which survived until 1914). Charles Edgar Duryea (December 15, 1861 – September 28, 1938) was a manufacturer of motor vehicles. ... James Frank Duryea (October 8, 1869, Washburn, Illinois - February 15, 1967, Saybrook, Connecticut), along with his brother Charles Duryea invented and built one of the first. ... Petrol redirects here. ... Car redirects here. ... Duryea was the first American automobile manufacturer, trailing the French Panhard firm by just 4 years. ... Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1640 Incorporated 1848 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette Area  - Total 23. ... Stevens Arms was founded as J. Stevens & Co. ... is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Automakers are companies that produce automobiles. ... The Skene was an American automobile manufactured from 1900 to 1901. ... Knox Automobile Company was a manufacturer of Brass Era automobiles in Springfield, Massachusetts. ...

Indian Motorcycles were manufactured in Springfield from 1901 to 1953. Chief and Scout models were the best sellers from the 1920s to the 1950s. The Hendee Manufacturing Company, Indian's parent company, also manufactured other products such as aircraft engines, bicycles, boat motors, and air conditioners. The Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, Americas oldest motorcycle brand, was founded as the Hendee Manufacturing Company by George M. Hendee and C. Oscar Hedstrom in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1901, two years before Harley Davidson Motor Company. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other uses, see Bicycle (disambiguation). ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ...

From 1921 to 1931 a Rolls-Royce factory in Springfield assembled nearly 3000 Silver Ghosts and Phantoms before production was halted by the Great Depression.[3] Rolls-Royce Limited was an British car and, later, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls on 15 March 1906 and was the result of a partnership formed in 1904. ... AX201 at Cat and Fiddle Hill during the Scottish Reliability Trial 1907 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Sedanca De Ville 1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer 1922 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost 1924 The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost refers both to a car... The Phantom was Rolls-Royces replacement for the original Silver Ghost. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ...

Granville Brothers Aircraft manufactured aircraft at Springfield Airport from 1929 until their bankruptcy in 1934. They are best known for the trophy and speed record holding Senior Sportster series of racing aircraft. Gee Bee R-1 Granville Brothers Aircraft was a aircraft manufacturer best known for the production of the Gee Bee line of air racers, which are synonymous with the Golden Age of Air Racing. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration—see text) in the United Kingdom. ...

Floods

In 1936, Springfield suffered its most devastating natural disaster. The Connecticut River flooded, reaching record heights, inundating the South End and the North End (before the flood, some of Springfield's finest houses stood where Interstate 91 now runs). Damages were estimated at $200,000,000 in 1936. This flood occurred at the height of the Great Depression; Western Massachusetts and Springfield had already suffered greatly. The water damage was repaired after WPA money was made available to Springfield. However, large riverfront portions of the North and South Ends no longer exist. The Connecticut River as seen from the French King Bridge in western Massachusetts. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 91 Interstate 91 (abbreviated I-91) is an interstate highway in the New England section of the United States. ... USD redirects here. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley. ... WPA is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings: Washington Project for the Arts, an arts organization based in Washington, D.C. Walter Payton Award, in U.S. Division I-AA football War Powers Act, a U.S. federal law, also known as the Trading with the Enemy Act and...

Two years later, water hit Springfield again. The New England Hurricane of 1938 came up the east coast of the United States on September 21, 1938, flooding the Connecticut River Valley once again. Lowest pressure 938 mbar (hPa; 27. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Birthplace of basketball

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, now Springfield College, to fill the gap between the football and baseball seasons. The sport quickly became popular worldwide. On February 17, 1968, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was opened on the Springfield College campus, which was replaced by a larger facility on the east bank of the Connecticut river in 1985. In 2002, a newer facility for the Hall of Fame opened next to the existing site. Shaped like a basketball and illuminated at night, it has become an interesting landmark to the cityscape. The first building to serve as an indoor basketball court resides at Wilbraham and Monson Academy and has since been converted into a dormitory (Smith Hall). This article is about the sport. ... James Naismith James A. Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was the inventor of the sport of basketball and the first to introduce the use of a helmet in American football. ... Not to be confused with YWCA. This article is about the association. ... Springfield College is a college located in Springfield, Massachusetts. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Basketball Hall of Fame Logo The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. ... Springfield College is a college located in Springfield, Massachusetts. ... This article is about the sport. ... Seattle, Washington cityscape Houses of Parliament, Sunset, 1902, by Claude Monet View of Delft (1660-1661) by Jan Vermeer A cityscape is the urban equivalent of a landscape. ...

State takeover

After an ongoing fiscal crisis, the Massachusetts General Court granted control of the city (especially finance, personnel, and real estate matters) to the Springfield Finance Control Board on June 30, 2004. The Board is composed of three appointees of the State Secretary of Administration and Finance, the Mayor, and the President of the City Council, and is expected to be in charge of the city until June 30, 2009.^[16][17] The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ...

The fiscal problems had already resulted in wage freezes, cuts in city services, fee increases, and layoffs.

The FCB operates under the overall direction of Massachusetts Secretary of Finance and Administration Leslie Kirwan. The FCB legislation included a state loan of $52 million to be paid back with future city tax receipts.^[18] A $20 million grant was originally included, but then-House Speaker Thomas Finneran killed that section, fearing it would invite fiscal irresponsibility among other municipalities. Initial estimates placed the city's operating deficit at over $40 million annually. The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of Massachusetts. ... Former Speaker of the MA House of Representatives Thomas Finneran. ...

The original FCB bill filed by Governor Romney included a suspension of Chapter 150E, the state law that defines the collective bargaining process for public employees (state employees are not covered by federal labor laws). Opposition from the unions killed that section.

City and state officials disagree over the causes. The State blamed overspending relative to income by the city. Municipal officials blame dwindling local aid during the statewide financial crisis in 2003.^[19] Other observers noted a weak economy and years of mismanagement and corruption in city government.^[20]

This article or section may contain an inappropriate mixture of prose and timeline. Please help convert this timeline into prose or, if necessary, a list.

As of 2006, the Control Board has balanced the City's budget. The City, prior to the FCB, had frozen all wage increases for employees for several years, resulting in substantial litigation with employee unions. Their suits claim that the wage freeze violated their contracts and the collective bargaining law itself and was done without proper legal authority. The City claimed that Chapter 656 of the Acts of 1989 authorized and directed the City to do so. As of June 30, 2007 all 27 union contracts have been resolved. Teachers scored a victory in court when Judge Constance Sweeney ruled the wage freeze implemented by former Mayor Michael Albano to be illegal. (The control board's freezes were ruled to be not at issue, but the judge suggested they have less legal footing). A sum of $2.1 million was awarded to them. The city appealed, however the contract was resolved and the rulings and issue made moot.^[21] Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to everyday speech. ...

Until the FY2007 budget, city residents had not experienced any direct impacts by the control board's actions. In the '07 budget, the FCB approved a $90 trash fee. Controversy and outrage erupted city-wide over the fee, however it is projected to bring in $4.5 million and balance the city's budget. Despite protests from residents, and other city and state elected officials, the FCB directed that it be implemented in October 2006. That year city residents filed a law suit, claiming the fee was illegal. A temporary injuction was placed against the city. The city was barred from collecting the fee until the issue was resolved. In the end, the fee was allowed to go into effect as long as the city made clear municipal garbage pickup was voluntary as long as other services were secured.^[22] Recycling collection remains free.

In early 2007, Gov. Deval Patrick announced the board will be extended for at least another year instead of expiring in June as planned, and later that spring announced that he would be replacing the appointed members. At the June 28, 2007 meeting Governor Patrick's new appointees, Chris Gabrieli, Robert Nunes, and Springfield resident James O'S. Morton held their first meeting along with Mayor Charles Ryan and City Council President Kateri Walsh. Chris Gabrelli was appointed chairman at this meeting and the Board voted to extend its term until June 30, 2009.

With the recent 2007 mayor election, mayor Domenic Sarno joins the Control Board joined by newly-named City Council President Bud Williams.

As of 2008, the FCB has a staff of five: Executive Director Stephen Lisauskas, Chief Development Officer David B. Panagore, Deputy Executive Director, Patricia Vinchesi, Executive Assistant Ann-Marie Mahnken and Receptionist Candace McKenna.

Geography

Springfield is located at 42°6′45″N, 72°32′51″W (42.112411, -72.547455).^[23] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86.0 km²), of which, 32.1 square miles (83.1 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (3.31%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

Springfield sits on the bank of the Connecticut River, just a few miles north of the border between Massachusetts and Connecticut. Along the river, the city is fairly low and flat. Moving outward from the river, the terrain becomes more hilly, most prominently along State Street and Belmont Avenue. The Connecticut River as seen from the French King Bridge in western Massachusetts. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) none (de facto English) Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport[2] Largest metro area Hartford Metro Area[3] Area  Ranked 48th in the US  - Total 5,543[4] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ...

Springfield is typically divided up into eighteen distinct neighborhoods. They are, as defined by the city Election commission: Bay, Boston Road, Brightwood, East Forest Park, East Springfield, Forest Park, Indian Orchard, Liberty Heights, McKnight, Memorial Square, Metro Center, North End, Old Hill, Pine Point, Six Corners, Sixteen Acres, South End, and Upper Hill. Their exact boundaries are disputed by Census data, civic wards, precinct borders, zip codes, and the opinions of the city's citizens. Many of the neighborhoods are subdivided again according to landmarks or voting precincts. Some names are unofficial, but are used by area residents nonetheless. For example, the Hollywood section in the South End actually refers to a housing complex, and Mason Square is the central intersection in the McKnight neighborhood.

Forest Park lies in the southwestern part of the city, along the border with affluent Longmeadow. The park is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The city shares borders with the towns of Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, and Ludlow and the city of Chicopee. The cities of Agawam and West Springfield are across the Connecticut River. The city also owns Cobble Mountain Reservoir, its water supply, located in the towns of Blandford, Granville, and Russell, at the western edge of Hampden County. It also owns Franconia Golf Course, located mostly in East Longmeadow. Forest Park (735 acres), on the banks of the Connecticut River in Springfield, Massachusetts, is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. ... Longmeadow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... Longmeadow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... East Longmeadow is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... Wilbraham is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 13,473. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden County Settled 1751 Incorporated 1775 Government  - Type Representative town meeting Area  - Town  28. ... Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1640 Incorporated 1848 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette Area  - Total 23. ... Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country State County Hampden Settled 1635 Incorporated 1855 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Richard A. Cohen (D) Area  - Total 24. ... The Town of West Springfield (familiarly known as West Side) is a city[1] in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. ... The Connecticut River as seen from the French King Bridge in western Massachusetts. ...   Blandford is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Granville, Massachusetts is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... Russell is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ... East Longmeadow is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts. ...

Climate

Springfield's climate is warm and humid during the summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80s and very cold during the winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30s.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 85.50 °F (29.72 °C), while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 6.90 °F (-13.9 °C). For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Celsius (disambiguation). ...

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 28 °F (−2 °C) and moderate during winter with an average difference of 25 °F (−4 °C).

The annual average precipitation at Springfield is 61.65 in (156 cm). Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 6.11 in (15 cm).^[24] An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 152,082 people, 57,130 households, and 36,391 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,737.7 people per square mile (1,829.3/km²). There are nearly 2 million residents in the greater Springfield-Hartford metro region. In Springfield proper, there were 61,172 housing units at an average density of 1,905.6/sq mi (735.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.11% White, 1.92% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 21.01% African American, 0.37% Native American, 16.45% from other races, and 4.04% from two or more races. 27.18% of the population were Hispanic of any race. Ancestries include: Irish (12.6%), Italian (9.3%), French (8.2%), Polish (6.0%), and English (4.8%).[4] The United [[States Census of 1790 was the first Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1800 was the second Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1810 was the third Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1820 was the fourth Census conducted in the United States. ... The United States Census of 1830 was the fifth Census conducted in the United States. ... The Sixth Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 17,069,453 — an increase of 32. ... The Seventh Census of the United States, conducted by the Bureau of the Census, determined the resident population of the United States to be 23,191,876 — an increase of 35. ... The United States Census of 1860 was the eighth Census conducted in the United States. ... The Ninth United States Census was taken in 1870. ... 1880 US Census The United States Census of 1880 was the tenth United States Census. ... The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 1, 1890. ... 1900 US Census The Twelfth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21. ... The Thirteenth United States Census was taken in 1910. ... The Fourteenth United States Census was taken in 1920. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1930. ... The Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7. ... The Seventeenth United States Census was taken in 1950. ... The Eighteenth United States Census was taken in 1960. ... The Nineteenth United States Census was taken in 1970. ... The Twentieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11. ... The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... The United States Census of year 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... English Americans (occasionally known as Anglo-Americans) are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England. ...

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

In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.7 years. For every 100 females there were 89 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,417, and the median income for a family was $36,285. Males had a median income of $32,396 versus $26,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,232. 19.3% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over. Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in their country. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Government

See also: List of Springfield Mayors

Springfield became a city on May 25, 1852, by decree of the Massachusetts Legislature. Springfield, like all municipalities in Massachusetts, enjoys limited home rule. Prior to the Control Board, Springfield's government had the power to establish commissions, pass city ordinances, set tax rates, write a budget, and other miscellaneous operations specifically relating to the city. The current city charter, in effect since 1959, uses a "strong mayor" government with most power concentrated in the mayor, as in Boston and elsewhere. The mayor representing the city's executive branch presents the budget, appoints commissioners and department heads, and in general runs the city. The Mayor-Elect is City Councilor Domenic Sarno, elected 6 November 2007 by a margin of 52.54% to 47.18%. He took office in January, 2008. Mayors of Springfield, Massachusetts Caleb Rice (1852-1853) Philos B. Tyler (1854) Elephalt Trask (1855) Ansel Phelps, Jr. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... This is a list of Mayors of Springfield, Massachusetts. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

The City Council, consisting of nine members, is the city's legislative branch. Each of the members are elected at-large, along with the mayor, every odd numbered year. It passes the budget, authorizes bond sales, holds hearings, creates departments and commissions, and amends zoning laws. The city council appoints a president who becomes acting mayor should a vacancy occur in the office. A city council is the most common style of legislative government in a city or town. ...

The mayor's office and city council chambers are in city hall - part of the Municipal Group in downtown Springfield. The Finance Control Board meets there as well. The Municipal Group of Springfield, Massachusetts is a collection of three prominent municipal buildings in the citys downtown. ...

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 about three at-large seats under this format. The primary argument for this has been that City Councilors currently live in only four of the city's wards. Thus far, the initiative has failed to pass the City Council twice. If ever passed, it would still need the approval of the Massachusetts legislature and the Governor. More recently Mayor Charles V. Ryan and City Councilor Jose Tosedo 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 has since been 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 changes will take effect with the next regular election. Many proponents of ward representation argue that the slim Caucasian majority in Springfield keeps the city council out of touch with the needs of Springfield's large black and Hispanic populations, and that the cost of running a city-wide campaign is prohibitively high for local black or Hispanic polit