Editing Springfield, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Springfield ma from space.jpg|thumb|upright|Springfield satellite image]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|85.7|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|82.5|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|3.1|km2|order=flip}}, or 3.65%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010 geo">{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2567000| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Springfield city, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=August 2, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213110228/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2567000| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> Once nicknamed "The City in a Forest", Springfield features over {{convert|4.0|sqmi|km2|1}} of urban parkland, 12% of its total land area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://choosespringfieldmass.com/amenities.html |title=Amenities &#124; Choose Springfield, Massachusetts |publisher=Choosespringfieldmass.com |access-date=December 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324173910/http://www.choosespringfieldmass.com/amenities.html |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Located in 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 {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} north of Springfield, in the city of [[Chicopee, Massachusetts|Chicopee]] (which constituted one of Springfield's most populous neighborhoods until it separated and became an independent municipality in 1852).<ref name="Gardner">{{cite book|title=Springfield Present and Prospective: The City of Homes |author1=Tower, J.E. |author2=Gardner, E.C. |date=1905 |publisher=Pond & Campbell |url=https://archive.org/details/springfieldpres00gardgoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/springfieldpres00gardgoog/page/n198 86] |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> The Connecticut state line is only {{convert|4|mi|0}} south of Springfield, beside the wealthy suburb of [[Longmeadow, Massachusetts|Longmeadow]], which itself separated from Springfield in 1783.<ref name="Gardner"/>

Springfield's densely urban [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]] district surrounding Main Street is relatively flat, and follows the north–south trajectory of the Connecticut River; however, as one moves eastward, the city becomes increasingly hilly.

Aside from its rivers, Springfield's second most prominent topographical feature is the city's {{convert|735|acre|adj=on}} [[Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts|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 Historic District|Forest Park Heights]], which feature over 600 Victorian [[Painted ladies|Painted Lady]] mansions. Forest Park also borders Longmeadow. Springfield shares borders with other suburbs such as [[East Longmeadow, Massachusetts|East Longmeadow]], [[Wilbraham, Massachusetts|Wilbraham]], [[Ludlow, Massachusetts|Ludlow]] and the city of Chicopee. The small cities of [[Agawam, Massachusetts|Agawam]] and [[West Springfield, Massachusetts|West Springfield]] lie less than a mile (1.6&nbsp;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.<ref name="Gardner"/>

===Climate===

{{climate chart
| Springfield, MA
|17.7|34.5|3.23
|20.9|38.5|2.89
|27.9|47.7|3.62
|38.4|60.5|3.72
|47.7|71.2|4.35
|57.3|79.6|4.35
|62.7|84.5|4.18
|61.1|82.7|3.93
|52.7|74.9|3.88
|41.1|63.1|4.37
|33.2|51.6|3.89
|23.4|39.7|3.44
|units = imperial
|float = right
|clear = right }}

Springfield, like other cities in southern New England, has a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa'') with four distinct seasons and precipitation evenly distributed throughout 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 {{convert|26|°F|C|0}}. During winter, [[nor'easter]] storms can drop significant snowfalls on Springfield and the [[Connecticut River Valley]]. Temperatures below {{convert|0|°F|°C|0}} can occur each year, though the area does not experience the high snowfall amounts and blustery wind averages of nearby cities such as [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], and [[Albany, New York]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

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 front]]s. The daily average in July is around {{convert|74|°F|C|0}}. Usually several days during the summer exceed {{convert|90|°F|°C|0}}, constituting a "[[heat wave]]". Spring and fall temperatures are usually pleasant, with mild days and crisp, cool nights. Precipitation averages {{convert|45.85|in|mm|0}} annually, and snowfall averages {{convert|40.5|in|cm|0}}, most of which falls from mid-December to early March. Although not unheard of, extreme weather events like [[hurricanes]] and [[tornado]]es occur infrequently in Springfield compared with other areas in 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]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

On [[2011 New England tornado outbreak|June 1, 2011]], Springfield was directly struck by the second-largest [[tornado]] ever to hit [[Massachusetts]].<ref name="noaa1">{{cite web |author=James Notchey |url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/sigevents/jun01_2011_summary.php |title=Massachusetts Tornado Outbreak Summary—National Weather Service Forecast Office in Taunton, MA |publisher=Erh.noaa.gov |access-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706042455/http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/sigevents/jun01_2011_summary.php |url-status=live }}</ref> With wind speeds exceeding {{convert|160|mph|km/h|abbr=on|0}}, the [[2011 New England tornado outbreak#The Greater Springfield tornado|tornado]] left three dead, hundreds injured, and over 500 homeless in the city alone.<ref name="wggb1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wggb.com/story/14943481/helping-homeless-tornado-victims|title=Massachusetts News, Weather, Photos, Events—Western Mass News|website=Wggb.com|access-date=April 27, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002155822/http://www.wggb.com/story/14943481/helping-homeless-tornado-victims|archive-date=October 2, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/weather/four-dead-in-springfield-tornadoes |title=Four dead in Springfield tornadoes &#124; WTNH.com Connecticut |publisher=Wtnh.com |access-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603062933/http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/weather/four-dead-in-springfield-tornadoes |archive-date=June 3, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The tornado caused hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage to Springfield and wrought significant destruction in a {{convert|39|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} path from [[Westfield, Massachusetts|Westfield]] to [[Charlton, Massachusetts]].<ref name="noaa1" /> It was the first deadly tornado to strike Massachusetts since May 29, 1995.
{{Hartford–Springfield weatherbox}}

===Neighborhoods===
{{Springfield, Massachusetts Labelled Map|float=right}}
{{For|a more complete topographical description|List of Springfield, Massachusetts neighborhoods}}

Springfield is divided into 17 distinct neighborhoods; in alphabetical order, they are:
* [[Bay, Springfield, Massachusetts|Bay]]: features Blunt Park. In terms of demographics, Bay is primarily African American.
* [[Boston Road, Springfield, Massachusetts|Boston Road]]: named for its proximity to the original [[Boston Post Road]] system, features the [[Eastfield Mall]]. Primarily commercial in character, it comprises several shopping plazas designed for automobile travel.
* [[Brightwood, Springfield, Massachusetts|Brightwood]]: features numerous [[Baystate Health]] specialty buildings. Amputated from the rest of Springfield by the [[Interstate 91 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 91]] elevated highway, academic suggestions are being made to reunite the neighborhood with the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=larp_honors&sei-redir=1#search=springfield+north+end+interstate+91+umass |title=Landscape Urbanism for the Highway city of Springfield North End |author=Piyawut Inthasorn |date=May 14, 2010 |website=scholarworks.umass.edu |access-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112123419/http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=larp_honors&sei-redir=1#search=springfield+north+end+interstate+91+umass |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=larp_grad_research&sei-redir=1#search=springfield+north+end+interstate+91+umass |title=Making Connections—Envisioning Springfield's North End |author=David M. Ahronian |date=2009 |website=scholarworks.umass.edu |access-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601200600/http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=larp_grad_research&sei-redir=1#search=springfield+north+end+interstate+91+umass |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[East Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts|East Forest Park]]: Primarily middle class residential in character. Borders [[East Longmeadow, Massachusetts]].
* [[East Springfield, Springfield, Massachusetts|East Springfield]]: features [[Smith & Wesson]] and the Performance Food Group. Residential and working-class in character.
* [[Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts|Forest Park]]: features {{convert|735|acre|km2|1}} [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]] and the Forest Park Heights Historic District, (established 1975).<ref name="springfieldcityhall">{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/forestpark.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/forestpark.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live |date=May 1, 2006 |title=Forest Park Heights Historic District |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> Residential in character, featuring a commercial district at "The X" and an upper-class garden district surrounding Forest Park.
* [[Indian Orchard, Springfield, Massachusetts|Indian Orchard]]: features a well-defined Main Street and historic mill buildings that have become artists' spaces. Formerly a suburb of Springfield, Indian Orchard developed separately as a milltown on the [[Chicopee River]] before joining Springfield. Primarily residential in character, Indian Orchard features Lake Lorraine State Park, Hubbard Park, and weekly farmers markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://choosespringfieldmass.com/city_neighborhoods/indian_orchard_01151.html |title=Indian Orchard, 01151 &#124; Choose Springfield, Massachusetts |publisher=Choosespringfieldmass.com |access-date=January 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322102355/http://choosespringfieldmass.com/city_neighborhoods/indian_orchard_01151.html |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* [[Liberty Heights, Springfield, Massachusetts|Liberty Heights]]: features Springfield's three nationally ranked hospitals: [[Baystate Health]], [[Mercy Medical Center (Springfield)|Mercy Medical]], and Shriner's Children's Hospital. Primarily residential and medical in character, it features a demographically diverse population. Liberty Heights includes eclectic districts like Hungry Hill and Atwater Park, and Springfield's 3rd largest park, [[Van Horn Park]].
* [[McKnight, Springfield, Massachusetts (and Mason Square)|The McKnight Historic District]]: features the [[Knowledge Corridor]]'s largest array of historic, [[Victorian architecture]], including over 900 [[Painted Ladies]]. Primarily residential in character, McKnight was the United States' first planned residential neighborhood.<ref name="springfield375.org"/> McKnight's commercial district is called Mason Square. Features [[American International College]]. In terms of demographics, McKnight features significant populations of African American and [[LGBT]] residents, and is home to [[Mason Square]], named for African American philanthropist [[Primus P. Mason]].
* [[Memorial Square, Springfield, Massachusetts|Memorial Square]]: features the [[North End, Springfield, Massachusetts|North End's]] commercial district.
* [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]]: features nearly all major cultural venues in the region.<ref name="zvastudy">[http://www.mass.gov/Asfcb/docs/downtown_springfield_residential.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122141037/http://www.mass.gov/Asfcb/docs/downtown_springfield_residential.pdf|date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> Commercial, cultural, civic, and increasingly residential in character. Features the ''Downtown Business District'', ''The [[Club Quarter]]''—with more than 60 clubs, restaurants, and bars—numerous festivals, cultural institutions, educational institutions, and significant historic sites.
* [[North End, Springfield, Massachusetts|North End]]: not technically a Springfield neighborhood, but rather three northern Springfield neighborhoods. Includes [[Brightwood, Springfield, Massachusetts|Brightwood]], which is residential and medical in character, but cut off from the rest of the city by [[Interstate 91 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 91]]; [[Memorial Square, Springfield, Massachusetts|Memorial Square]], which is commercial in character; and [[Liberty Heights, Springfield, Massachusetts|Liberty Heights]], which is medical and residential in character. In terms of demographics, the North End is predominantly [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]].
* [[Old Hill, Springfield, Massachusetts|Old Hill]]: features [[Springfield College]]. Residential in character. Bordering [[Watershops Pond|Lake Massasoit]]. Old Hill is primarily Latino.<ref name="springfieldcityhall2">{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/Final_Report_Old_.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/Final_Report_Old_.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live |date=July 27, 2004 |title=OLD HILL NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN |author=Steven Cecil |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Pine Point, Springfield, Massachusetts|Pine Point]]: features the headquarters of [[MassMutual]], a [[Fortune 100]] company. Primarily middle-class and residential in character.
* [[Six Corners/Maple Heights, Springfield, Massachusetts|Six Corners]]: features [[Mulberry Street (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Mulberry Street]] in the Ridgewood Historic District (established 1977);<ref name="springfieldcityhall3">{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/ridgewood.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/ridgewood.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live |date=May 1, 2006 |title=Ridgewood Historic District |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> the Lower Maple Historic District (established 1977);<ref name="springfieldcityhall4">{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/lowermaple.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/lowermaple.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live |date=May 1, 2006 |title=Lower Maple Historic District |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> and the Maple Hill Historic District, (established 1977).<ref name="springfieldcityhall5">{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/maplehill.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/forms/Hist_Neighborhoods/maplehill.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live |date=May 1, 2006 |title=Maple Hill Historic District |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> Urban and residential in character.
* [[Sixteen Acres, Springfield, Massachusetts|Sixteen Acres]]: features [[Western New England College|Western New England University]] and SABIS International School. Suburban in character. Includes much of Springfield's post-[[World War II]] suburban architecture.
* [[South End, Springfield, Massachusetts|South End]]: features numerous Italian–American restaurants, festivals, and landmarks. Urban and commercial in character, this neighborhood was hard hit by the June 1, 2011, tornado. Includes the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]; however, it is separated from it by [[Interstate 91 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 91]].
* [[Upper Hill, Springfield, Massachusetts|Upper Hill]]: features Wesson Park. Bordering [[Watershops Pond|Lake Massasoit]]. Residential in character. Located between [[Springfield College]] and [[American International College]].