Hampden County, Massachusetts

History

Springfield had been Hampshire County's traditional shire town since its founding in 1636, then in 1794 Northampton was made Hampshire County's shire town. Springfield grew at a pace far quicker than Northampton, so was granted shire town-status over its own southerly jurisdiction. The agreement of settlement (regarding assets, liabilities, income and expenses) made between Hampden and Hampshire counties in November 1812 can be found in the Court of Sessions Record Book 1, pages 5–6 of the Hampden County Commissioners' Archives, housed in the Registry of Deeds. and is the youngest county by establishment date in the state.

To the north of Hampden County is modern-day Hampshire County; to the west is Berkshire County; to the east is Worcester County; to the south are Litchfield County, Hartford County, and Tolland County in Connecticut. Hampden County is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the most urban county in Western Massachusetts. The Knowledge Corridor surrounding Springfield-Hartford is New England's second most populous urban area (after Greater Boston) with 1.9 million people.

Law and government

As with most Massachusetts counties, Hampden County exists today only as a historical geographic region, and has no county government. All former county functions were assumed by state agencies in 1998. The sheriff and some other regional officials with specific duties are still elected locally to perform duties within the county borders, but there is no county council, county commission or other county governing body. Communities are now granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services. Hampden County and Hampshire County together are part of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

Government and politics

|} Paul DePalo (D) 7th District Edward Markey (D)}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 634 sqmi, of which 617 sqmi is land and 17 sqmi (2.7%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Hampshire County (north)
• Worcester County (east)
• Tolland County, Connecticut (southeast)
• Hartford County, Connecticut (south)
• Litchfield County, Connecticut (southwest)
• Berkshire County (west)

Communities

Cities

• Agawam
• Chicopee
• Holyoke
• Palmer
• Springfield (traditional county seat)
• West Springfield
• Westfield

Towns

• Blandford
• Brimfield
• Chester
• East Longmeadow
• Granville
• Hampden
• Holland
• Longmeadow
• Ludlow
• Monson
• Montgomery
• Russell
• Southwick
• Tolland
• Wales
• Wilbraham

Census-designated places

• Blandford
• Chester
• Holland
• Monson Center
• Russell
• Wilbraham

Other unincorporated communities

• Bondsville
• Depot Village
• Feeding Hills
• Three Rivers
• Woronoco

City neighborhoods

The following are neighborhoods located in Springfield or West Springfield.

• Bay
• Boston Road
• Brightwood
• East Forest Park
• East Springfield
• Forest Park
• Indian Orchard
• Liberty Heights
• McKnight
• Memorial Square
• Merrick
• Metro Center
• Old Hill
• Pine Point
• Six Corners and Maple Heights
• Sixteen Acres
• South End
• Upper Hill

The following are neighborhoods located in Chicopee.

• Aldenville
• Burnett Road
• Chicopee Center (Cabotville)
• Chicopee Falls
• Fairview
• Smith Highlands
• Westover
• Willimansett

The following are neighborhoods located in Holyoke.

• Churchill
• Downtown
• Elmwood
• The Flats
• Highlands
• Highland Park
• Homestead Avenue
• Ingleside
• Jarvis Avenue
• Oakdale
• Rock Valley
• Smith's Ferry
• South Holyoke
• Springdale
• Whiting Farms

National Parks

• Springfield Armory National Historic Site

State parks

• Brimfield State Forest
• Chester-Blandford State Forest
• Chicopee Memorial State Park
• Connecticut River Greenway State Park
• Hampton Ponds State Park
• Holyoke Heritage State Park
• Lake Lorraine State Park (CLOSED)
• Mount Tom State Reservation
• Tolland State Forest

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 465,825. Of the residents, 21.1% were under the age of 18 and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.0 males. 90.5% of residents lived in urban areas and 9.5% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 64.9% White, 8.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.7% from some other race, and 10.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 26.0% of the population.

There were 185,030 households in the county, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 33.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 197,033 housing units, of which 6.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.6% were owner-occupied and 39.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 463,490 people, 179,927 households, and 115,961 families residing in the county. The population density was 751.0 PD/sqmi. There were 192,175 housing units at an average density of 311.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 76.5% white, 9.0% black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 9.2% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 20.9% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:

• 17.9% Puerto Rican
• 17.4% Irish
• 12.7% French
• 11.0% Polish
• 10.8% Italian
• 8.8% English
• 6.0% German
• 5.5% French Canadian
• 2.6% American
• 2.2% Portuguese
• 2.0% Scottish
• 1.6% Russian
• 1.4% West Indian
• 1.3% Scotch-Irish
• 1.1% Swedish

Of the 179,927 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 38.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,724 and the median income for a family was $61,061. Males had a median income of $50,207 versus $37,765 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,718. About 13.2% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Education

Colleges and universities

• American International College
• Bay Path University
• Elms College
• Holyoke Community College
• Springfield College
• Springfield Technical Community College
• Western New England University :* Western New England University School of Law
• Westfield State University

Public school districts

• Agawam Public Schools
• Chicopee Public Schools
• East Longmeadow Public Schools
• Gateway Regional School District (Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Russell and Worthington)
• Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District
• Holyoke Public Schools
• Longmeadow Public Schools
• Monson Public Schools
• Palmer Public Schools
• Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
• Springfield Public Schools
• Westfield Public Schools
• West Springfield Public Schools

Other institutions

Although no county government exists in Hampden County, a number of private associations, mainly representing trades, remain identified with Hampden County. For example the Hampden Agricultural Society opened Hampden Park in Springfield in 1853. To maintain current training among municipal inspectors, in 2005 the nongovernmental Hampden County Plumbing & Gas Inspectors Association was formed. The Hampden County Bar Association provides support and resources to the legal community and those seeking such representation. In part a legacy of the Eastern States Exposition, the Hampden County Improvement League, and Hampden County Beekeepers Association, both provide agricultural education and outreach. The Hampden County Radio Association, an affiliate of the ARRL, offers training in amateur radio and related technology.

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Hampden County is served by both bus and rail service, with intermodal connections at Springfield Union Station, and Holyoke station via the Holyoke Transportation Center. Additionally the region is served by the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, and Westover Metropolitan Airport. A bike share program, ValleyBike, connects Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke and West Springfield to points north in Hampshire County.

Bus

• PVTA
• Peter Pan Bus Lines

Rail

• Hartford Line
• Valley Flyer

References

References

1. "Hampden County, Massachusetts".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. [https://hampdencountyhistory.wordpress.com/2018/10/02/hampden-county-incorporated-1812/ Hampden County Incorporated in 1812]. Posted October 2, 2018, by Hampden County Registry of Deeds. Accessed August 5, 2023.
4. The southern division of [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Hampshire County]] was separated as Hampden County on August 1, 1812, by a prior act of the [[Massachusetts General Court]] on February 25, 1812, with [[Springfield, Massachusetts
5. [https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/MA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm 01 AUG 1812 HAMPDEN created from HAMPSHIRE]. (Mass. Acts 1812, ch. 137/p. 291) HAMPDEN. Massachusetts : Individual County Chronologies. Massachusetts Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library, 2009. Accessed April 7, 2024.
6. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
7. (February 24, 2024). "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts".
8. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
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12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
18. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hampden County, Massachusetts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hampden County, Massachusetts".
20. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hampden County, Massachusetts".
21. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
23. "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. "DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. "TIGER/Line Shapefile, 2020, State, Massachusetts, 2020 Census Block". U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division, Spatial Data Collection and Products Branch (Point of Contact).
26. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau.
27. "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau.
28. "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau.
29. "Hampden County Plumbing & Gas Inspectors Association".
30. "Hampden County Bar Association".
31. "Hampden County Beekeepers Association".
32. "Hampden County Improvement League".
33. "Hampden County Radio Association".