Editing Springfield, Massachusetts

{{For|the metropolitan area|Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Springfield
| nickname           = The City of Firsts; The City of Progress;<ref name="cardcow1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardcow.com/12517/city-progress-new-library-merrick-park-state-street-springfield-massachusetts/|title=The City of Progress New City Library, Merrick Park, State Street Springfield, MA|publisher=Cardcow.com|access-date=July 16, 2011|archive-date=October 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007085115/http://www.cardcow.com/12517/city-progress-new-library-merrick-park-state-street-springfield-massachusetts/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cardcow2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardcow.com/129088/city-progress-winchester-square-springfield-massachusetts/|title=The City Of Progress, Winchester Square Springfield, MA|publisher=Cardcow.com|access-date=July 16, 2011|archive-date=October 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007085216/http://www.cardcow.com/129088/city-progress-winchester-square-springfield-massachusetts/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ebooksread1">{{cite web|author1=Denis Larionov|author2=Alexander Zhulin|name-list-style=amp|url=http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/george-storrs-graves/progressive-springfield-massachusetts-var/1-progressive-springfield-massachusetts-var.shtml|title=Progressive Springfield, Massachusetts, by George Storrs Graves|publisher=Ebooksread.com|access-date=July 16, 2011|archive-date=October 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012044233/http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/george-storrs-graves/progressive-springfield-massachusetts-var/1-progressive-springfield-massachusetts-var.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The City of Homes; A City in the Forest;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/picturesquesprin00grav#page/n3/mode/2up|title=Picturesque Springfield and West Springfield, Massachusetts|publisher=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=December 27, 2011}}</ref> Hoop&nbsp;City;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/progressivesprin00grav#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Progressive Springfield, Massachusetts|publisher=Internet Archive|access-date=December 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/picturesquesprin00grav#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Picturesque Springfield and West Springfield, Massachusetts|publisher=Internet Archive|access-date=December 27, 2011}}</ref><br />[[1767 Milestones|The Western Gateway to New England]]<ref name=pricelee>{{cite book|title=The Price & Lee Co.'s Springfield Directory|date=1960|publisher=Price & Lee Co.|url=https://archive.org/stream/springfieldwests1960spri#page/n19/mode/2up/search/%22western+gateway%22|page=22|access-date=March 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Industrial Directory and Shippers' Guide|date=1921|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2bUNAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Western+Gateway+to+New+England%22&pg=PA266|page=266|publisher=New York Central Lines|access-date=March 15, 2017|archive-date=February 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215200313/https://books.google.com/books?id=2bUNAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Western+Gateway+to+New+England%22&pg=PA266|url-status=live}}</ref>
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 280
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/2/2/2
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Springfield-MA.jpg
  | alt1                   = Springfield skyline
  | caption1               = Springfield skyline across Connecticut River
  | image2                 = Symphony Hall - Springfield, Massachusetts - DSC03277.JPG
  | alt2                   = Symphony Hall
  | caption2               = [[Symphony Hall, Springfield|Symphony Hall]]
  | image3                 = The Puritan by St. Gaudens.jpg
  | alt3                   = The Puritan statue of pioneer Samuel Chapin
  | caption3               = [[The Puritan (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Puritan]] statue of pioneer [[Samuel Chapin]]
  | image4                 = Court Square, Springfield MA.jpg
  | alt4                   = Court Square Historic District
  | caption4               = [[Court Square|Court Square Historic District]]
  | image5                 = Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.jpg
  | alt5                   = Basketball Hall of Fame
  | caption5               = [[Basketball Hall of Fame]]
  | image6                 = Memorial Bridge, Springfield MA.jpg
  | alt6                   = Hampden County Memorial Bridge overlooking the Connecticut River
  | caption6               = [[Memorial Bridge (Massachusetts)|Hampden County Memorial Bridge]]
  | image7                 = Springfield Armory Museum - Springfield, Massachusetts - DSC02481.JPG
  | alt7                   = Springfield Armory National Historic Site
  | caption7               = [[Springfield Armory|Springfield Armory National Historic Site]]
  }}
| image_flag         = Flag of Springfield, Massachusetts.svg
| flag_link          = Symbols of Springfield, Massachusetts#City Flag
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Springfield, Massachusetts.svg
| image_seal         = Seal of Springfield, Massachusetts.svg
| seal_link          = Symbols of Springfield, Massachusetts#City Seal
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q49158}}###{{coord|qid=Q54160}}###{{coord|qid=Q771}}###{{coord|39|49|41|N|90|34|46|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:11;8;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;shape;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#5f5f5f|id2=SWITCH:Q49158;Q54160;Q771;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#5f5f5f|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1;1|switch=Springfield;Hampden County;Massachusetts;the United States}}
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|06|05|N|72|35|25|W|region:US-MA_type:city(156,000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = [[Massachusetts]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of regions of the United States|Region]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[New England]]
| established_title  = Settled <small>(town)</small>
| established_date   = {{Start date and age|1636|5|14}}
| established_title2 = Incorporated <small>(city)</small>
| established_date2  = {{Start date and age|1852|5|25}}
| founder            = [[William Pynchon]]
| named_for          = [[Springfield, Essex]]
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-council city]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Springfield, Massachusetts|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Domenic Sarno]] ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| leader_title1      = <!-- Board of<br />&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Selectmen -->
| leader_name1       = 
| area_total_km2     = 85.68
| area_total_sq_mi   = 33.08
| area_land_km2      = 82.54
| area_land_sq_mi    = 31.87
| area_water_km2     = 3.14
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.21
| population_rank    = [[List of United States cities by population|168th, U.S.]] {{As of|2020|lc=y}} incorporated places estimate
| population_total   = 155929
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 1889.08
| population_urban   = 442,145 ([[List of United States urban areas|US: 92nd]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 846.1
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 2,191.4
| population_metro   = 699162 ([[Metropolitan statistical area|US: 87th]])
| population_density_sq_mi = 4892.66
| population_footnotes = 
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="2010 Census MSA">{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/320M100US2544140| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Springfield, MA Metro Area| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=August 2, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213091645/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/320M100US2544140| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population_demonym = Springfieldian{{efn|While both demonyms are listed in the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', there is some indication that Springfieldian is given some propriety:<br />"In at least two cases, the name of the resident depends on which state the town is in: Richmonder in Virginia but Richmondite in Indiana; Springfieldian in Massachusetts but Springfielder in Ohio."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brooke|first1=Maxey|title=Everybody Comes From Somewhere|url=http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2818&context=wordways|journal=Word Ways|publisher=Butler University|volume=16|issue=3|year=1983|pages=151–152|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=August 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830053138/http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2818&context=wordways|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<br />Springfielder<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Merriam Webster English Dictionary|title=Springfieldian|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Springfieldian|access-date=May 11, 2017|language=en|edition=Online|year=2017|publisher=Merriam Webster, Inc.|location=Springfield, MA|quote=a native or resident of Springfield (such as Springfield in Illinois, Massachusetts, or Ohio): springfielder|archive-date=August 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830141956/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Springfieldian|url-status=live}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 21
| elevation_ft       = 70
| timezone           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 01101–01105, 01107–01109, 01118–01119, 01128–01129, 01144, 01151
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 413|413]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 25-67000
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0609092
| website            = {{URL|www.springfield-ma.gov}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| subdivision_type4  = Historic countries
| subdivision_name4  = [[Kingdom of England]]<br />[[Kingdom of Great Britain]]
| subdivision_type5  = [[Colony|Historic colonies]]
| subdivision_name5  = {{Plain list|
* [[Connecticut Colony]] <small>(1636–1641)</small>
* [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]] <small>(1641–1686, 1689–1691)</small>
* [[Dominion of New England]] <small>(1686–1689)</small>
* [[Province of Massachusetts Bay]] <small>(1691–1780)</small>
}}
| blank_name_sec2    = GDP
| blank_info_sec2    = {{US$|link=yes}}30&nbsp;billion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RGMP44140|title=Total Real Gross Domestic Product for Springfield, MA (MSA)|date=January 2001|publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis|access-date=December 27, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227162438/https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RGMP44140|archive-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_25.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022|archive-date=May 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528021656/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_25.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''Springfield''' is the most populous city in [[Hampden County, Massachusetts]], United States, and its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Springfield sits on 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 (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Mill River]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city's population was 155,929, making it the [[List of municipalities in Massachusetts|third most populous city]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Massachusetts]] and the fourth most populous city in [[New England]] after [[Boston]], [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], and [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]. [[Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts|Metropolitan Springfield]], as one of two metropolitan areas{{efn|Combined statistical areas (CSAs) as defined by the US Census.}} in Massachusetts (the other being [[Greater Boston]]), had a population of 699,162 in 2020.<ref name="2010 Census MSA"/>

Springfield was founded in 1636, the first [[Springfield (toponym)|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 [[American Civil War|Civil War]], as a stop on the [[Underground Railroad]] and home of abolitionist [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]], widely known for his [[John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry|raid on Harpers Ferry]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Abolitionist John Brown's years in Springfield Ma. transform his anti-slavery thoughts and actions|url=https://www.masslive.com/history/2010/04/abolitionist_john_browns_transformation_years_in_springfield_ma.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419164637/https://www.masslive.com/history/2010/04/abolitionist_john_browns_transformation_years_in_springfield_ma.html|archive-date=April 19, 2019|last=Phaneuf|first=Wayne|date=April 6, 2010}}
* {{cite web|website=Our Plural History—Springfield, MA|publisher=Springfield Technical Community College|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215132426/http://ourpluralhistory.stcc.edu/resistingslavery/abolitionism.html|url=http://ourpluralhistory.stcc.edu/resistingslavery/abolitionism.html|title=Resisting Slavery, Abolitionism & the Underground Railroad|year=2009}}</ref> and for the Armory's manufacture of the famed "[[Springfield rifle]]s" used ubiquitously by Union troops. Closing during the [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] administration, today the [[National Park Service|national park]] site features the largest collection of historic American firearms in the world.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm Springfield Armory National Historic Site—Springfield Armory National Historic Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323142701/http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm |date=March 23, 2016 }}. Nps.gov (August 2, 2013). Retrieved on August 21, 2013.</ref>

Today the city 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 [[History of Springfield, Massachusetts#"Firsts" in Springfield|many innovations developed there]], such as the [[Merriam-Webster|first American dictionary]], the [[Duryea Motor Wagon Company|first American gas-powered automobile]], and the [[Thomas Blanchard (inventor)|first machining lathe for interchangeable parts]]; "The City of Homes", due to its Victorian residential architecture; and "Hoop City", as [[basketball]] was invented in Springfield in 1891 by Canadian [[James Naismith]].

[[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], the capital of [[Connecticut]], lies {{convert|24|mi}} 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 the United States.<ref name="sdplotkin.com">{{cite web |url=http://sdplotkin.com/files/WMECO_Review2010.pdf |date=March 22, 2011 |title=Western Massachusetts 2010–2011 Economic Review |access-date=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204013231/http://sdplotkin.com/files/WMECO_Review2010.pdf |archive-date=February 4, 2015 }}</ref> 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.
{{TOC limit|3}}

==History==

{{Main|History of Springfield, Massachusetts}}

=== Prehistory ===
The area that would become Springfield was historically inhabited by indigenous people, with documented middle archaic period sites, a ceramic workshop site from the Woodland period in south Springfield, and the contact period Long Hill site, excavated in 1895.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Massachusetts Historical Commission |title=Historical & Archaeological Resources of the Connecticut River Valley: A Framework for Preservation Decisions |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpdf/regionalreports/ctvalley.pdf |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref>

At the time of European contact at settlement, the Springfield area was inhabited by the Agawam tribe, who sold land to English settlers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Springfield, MA - Our Plural History |url=https://ourpluralhistory.stcc.edu/firstpeoples/agawamnonotuck.html |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=ourpluralhistory.stcc.edu}}</ref>

=== Colonial period ===
[[File:View of Springfield, Massachusetts on the Connecticut River by Thomas Chambers.JPG|thumb|left|''View of Springfield, Massachusetts, on the Connecticut River'' {{circa|1840–1845}}, by [[Thomas Chambers (painter)|Thomas Chambers]]]]

Springfield was founded in 1636 by English Puritan [[William Pynchon]] as "Agawam Plantation" under the administration of the [[Connecticut Colony]]. In 1641 it was renamed after Pynchon's hometown of [[Springfield, Essex]], England, following incidents, including trade disputes as well as [[John Mason (c. 1600–1672)|Captain John Mason's]] hostilities toward native tribes, which precipitated the settlement's joining the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]].<ref>Barrows, Charles Henry (1911). ''The History of Springfield in Massachusetts for the Young: Being also in some part the history of other towns and cities in the county of Hampden''. Connecticut Valley Historical Society. pp. 46–48</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Springfield, 1636–1886: History of Town and City|last=Green|first=Mason Arnold|chapter=Chapter II. 1638–1639|publisher=C. A. Nichols & Co.|year=1888|page=20|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vMLAcJjc4p8C&pg=PA20|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215200249/https://books.google.com/books?id=vMLAcJjc4p8C&pg=PA20|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 [[Attack on Springfield|laid siege to it and burned it to 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 the "Windsor Indian" who, running 20 miles from [[Windsor, Connecticut]], to the settlement, was able to give advance warning of the attack.<ref name=King9>{{cite book | last = King | first = Moses | author-link = Moses King | title = King's Handbook of Springfield, Massachusetts | publisher = Franklin Press | year = 1885 | page = 9 | isbn = 9781152362826}}</ref>

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|Albany]], [[New York City]], and [[Montreal]], and with some of the northeastern United States' most fertile soil.<ref name="worldcat">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/servlet/org.oclc.lac.ui.DialABookServlet?oclcnum=61302153 |title=Find in a Library: The Encyclopedia of New England |publisher=worldcat.org |access-date=October 16, 2014 |archive-date=October 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017173537/http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/servlet/org.oclc.lac.ui.DialABookServlet?oclcnum=61302153 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Post-colonial period ===
In 1777, Springfield's location at numerous crossroads led [[George Washington]] and [[Henry Knox]] to establish the United States' [[Springfield Armory|National Armory at Springfield]], which produced the first American [[musket]] in 1794, and later the famous [[Springfield rifle]].<ref name="springfield375.org">{{cite web|url=http://springfield375.org/?p=126 |title=Firsts &#124; Springfield 375 |publisher=Springfield375.org |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521154926/http://springfield375.org/?p=126 |archive-date=May 21, 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/375-new_museum_of_springfield_history_to_open_october_10 |title=New Museum of Springfield History to Open October 10—News |publisher=Springfield Museums |date=September 24, 2009 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605113252/http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/375-new_museum_of_springfield_history_to_open_october_10 |url-status=live }}</ref> The near-capture of the armory during [[Shays' Rebellion]] of 1787 led directly to the formation of the [[U.S. Constitutional Convention]].

[[File:1908 Main Street Springfield Massachusetts byDetroitPubCo LC 4a22730a.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Main Street, 1908]]

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 (inventor)|Thomas Blanchard]]); the first American horseless car (1825, Thomas Blanchard); the mass production of [[vulcanized rubber]] (1844, [[Charles Goodyear]]); the first American gasoline-powered car (1893, [[Duryea Brothers]]); the first successful motorcycle company (1901, "[[Indian (motorcycle)|Indian]]"); one of America's first commercial radio stations (1921, [[WBZ (AM)|WBZ]], broadcast from the [[Hotel Kimball]]); and most famously, the world's second-most-popular sport, [[basketball]] (1891, Dr. [[James Naismith]]).<ref name="springfield375.org" /> Springfield would play major roles in machine production, initially driven by the arms industry of the Armory, as well as from private companies such as [[Smith & Wesson]], established by [[Horace Smith (inventor)|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]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bianculli |first=Anthony J. |title=Trains and Technology: the American Railroad in the Nineteenth Century. Vol. 2, Cars. |year=2002 |publisher=University of Delaware Press |location=Newark, Del. [u.a.] |isbn=0-87413-730-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/trainstechnology0000bian/page/52 52] |url=https://archive.org/details/trainstechnology0000bian/page/52 }}</ref> The largest railcar works in New England, Wason produced 100 cars a day at its peak; the company was eventually purchased by [[Brill Company|Brill]] in 1907 and closed during the Depression in 1937.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lost Springfield, Massachusetts|last=Strahan|first=Derek|publisher=The History Press|location=Charleston, SC|year=2017|pages=70–71}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Collier's New Encyclopedia|year=1921|title=Springfield (Massachusetts)|location=New York|title-link=:s:Springfield (Massachusetts)}}</ref>

Springfield underwent 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 [[Interstate 91|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 the early 21st century, Springfield saw long-term revitalization projects and several large projects, including the $1&nbsp;billion [[Hartford Line|New Haven–Hartford–Springfield intercity rail]];<ref name="nhhsrail">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhhsrail.com/ |title=New Haven–Hartford–Springfield Rail Program |publisher=nhhsrail.com |access-date=October 16, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006032221/http://www.nhhsrail.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[MGM Springfield|a $1&nbsp;billion MGM casino]].,<ref name="mgmspringfield">{{cite web |url=http://www.mgmspringfield.com/springfield/vision.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825001237/http://www.mgmspringfield.com/springfield/vision.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |title=MGM Springfield—Our Vision |access-date=October 16, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="springfield-ma">{{cite web |url=http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/planning/328.0.html |title=Springfield Redevelopment Authority: Union Station |publisher=www3.springfield-ma.gov |access-date=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018200656/http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/planning/328.0.html |archive-date=October 18, 2014 }}</ref> and the $95 million redevelopment of Springfield Union Station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.springfield-ma.gov/sra/union-station|title=Springfield Union Station: Springfield Redevelopment Authority|website=www.springfield-ma.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/business-news/2017/03/union_station.html|title=Grand opening date set for Springfield's Union Station|first=Jim|last=Kinney|date=March 6, 2017|website=masslive}}</ref>  In December 2022, Springfield was designated by the National Park Service as an American World War II Heritage City,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/spar/learn/news/city-of-springfield-designated-an-american-world-war-ii-heritage-city-by-national-park-service.htm|title=City of Springfield Designated an American World War II Heritage City by National Park Service - Springfield Armory National Historic Site |website=U.S. National Park Service |date=December 6, 2022  |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203224648/https://www.nps.gov/spar/learn/news/city-of-springfield-designated-an-american-world-war-ii-heritage-city-by-national-park-service.htm |archive-date= 2024-02-03 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/news-story?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=16042&cHash=df98fa6c04cdd81241285cd99218c863|title=City of Springfield Designated an American World War II Heritage City by National Park Service|date=December 6, 2022|website=City of Springfield, MA}}</ref> the first in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one of only 18 communities in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-service-announces-new-american-world-war-ii-heritage-cities.htm|title=National Park Service announces new American World War II Heritage Cities - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov}}</ref>

==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]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA |percentages=on
|1765|2755
|1790|1574
|1800|2312
|1810|2767
|1820|3914
|1830|6784
|1840|10985
|1850|11766
|1860|15199
|1870|26703
|1880|33340
|1890|44179
|1900|62059
|1910|88926
|1920|129614
|1930|149900
|1940|149554
|1950|162399
|1960|174463
|1970|163905
|1980|152319
|1990|156983
|2000|152082
|2010|153060
|2020|155929
|2024*|154888
|footnote= *= population estimate. Source=1765;<ref name="Chickering 1846">{{cite book |last1=Chickering |first1=Jesse |title=Statistical view of the population of Massachusetts, 1765-1840 |date=1846 |publisher=C.C. Little and J. Brown |location=Boston |page=60 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IX5IAAAAMAAJ&q=springfield&pg=PA60 |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> 1790-1950;<ref name="1950_Census_Urban_populations_since_1790">{{cite web|title=1950 Census of Population|volume=1: Number of Inhabitants|at=Section 6, Pages 21-7 through 21-09, Massachusetts Table 4. Population of Urban Places of 10,000 or more from Earliest Census to 1920|publisher=Bureau of the Census|access-date=July 12, 2011|year=1952|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch06.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch06.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> 1960-1980;<ref name="1980 Census of Population">{{cite web |title=1980 Census of Population|volume=1: Number of Inhabitants|at=Section 23, Page 23-11, Massachusetts Table 4. Population of County Subdivisions 1960 to 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_maABC-01.pdf |website=Census.gov |publisher=Bureau of the Census |access-date=12 December 2023 |year=1981}}</ref> 1990-2010;<ref name="2010 Census of Population">{{cite web |title=2010 Census of Population and Housing|volume=2: Population and Housing Unit Counts|at=Section 23, Page 13, Massachusetts Table 8. Population and Housing Units: 1990 to 2010; and Area Measurements and Density: 2010 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-23.pdf |website=Census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=12 December 2023 |year=2012}}</ref> 2020;<ref>{{cite web |title="Race." Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P1, 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=population&g=060XX00US2501367000 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> 2022.<ref name="2020-2022 City and Town Population Totals">{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 24, 2023 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Historical racial composition 
! 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Census Springfield, Massachusetts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/springfieldcitymassachusetts/PST045219|website=www.census.gov|access-date=September 8, 2021|archive-date=September 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922013055/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/springfieldcitymassachusetts/PST045219|url-status=live}}</ref>!! 2010<ref name=QuickFacts2010>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045216/2567000,25,00 QuickFacts for Springfield city / Massachusetts / United States], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed February 9, 2017.</ref>!! 1990<ref name="pop">{{cite web |title=Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}
</ref>!! 1970<ref name="pop"/> !! 1940<ref name="pop"/>
|-
| [[White American|White]] 
| 63.3%|| 51.8% || 68.5% || 87% || 97.9%
|-
| —[[Non-Hispanic whites|Non-Hispanic]] 
| 31.2%|| 36.7% || 63.6% || 84.1%<ref name="fifteen">From 15% sample</ref> || −
|-
| [[African American|Black or African American]] 
| 20.9%|| 22.3% || 19.2% || 3.3% || 2.1%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race) 
| 45%|| 38.8% || 16.9% || 3.3%<ref name="fifteen"/> || −
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] 
| 2.7%|| 2.4% || 1% || 0.1% || −
|}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Springfield, Massachusetts – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Springfield city, Massachusetts|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US2567000|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Springfield city, Massachusetts|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2567000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Springfield city, Massachusetts|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2567000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|74,291
|56,248
|style='background: #ffffe6; |44,046
|48.85%
|36.75%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28.25%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|29,831
|29,934
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,548
|19.62%
|19.56%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18.31%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|336
|329
|style='background: #ffffe6; |259
|0.22%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|2,857
|3,615
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,426
|1.88%
|2.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.84%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|42
|47
|style='background: #ffffe6; |75
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|236
|248
|style='background: #ffffe6; |863
|0.16%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.55%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|3,146
|3,188
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,838
|2.07%
|2.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.10%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|41,343
|59,451
|style='background: #ffffe6; |72,874
|27.18%
|38.84%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |46.74%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''152,082'''
|'''153,060'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''155,929'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
According to the [[2010 United States Census|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 the [[2010 United States Census|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 the 2010 Census, New Haven features an owner occupancy rate of 31%; Hartford of 26%; and Bridgeport of 43%.<ref>[http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php#.TmHJRl3XahA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221034940/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php#.TmHJRl3XahA|date=December 21, 2012}}</ref>

In terms of race and ethnicity, Springfield is 51.8% [[White American|White]], 22.3% [[African American|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). [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics]] and Latinos of any race made up 38.8% of 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).<ref>[https://archive.today/20190521214830/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table American FactFinder] . Factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved on August 2, 2013.</ref> [[Non-Hispanic Whites]] were 36.7% of the population in 2010,<ref name=QuickFacts2010/> down from 84.1% in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Massachusetts—Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref>

===Income===

{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}

Data is from the 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP03&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150117113227/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP03&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 17, 2015 |title=SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP05&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150105011252/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP05&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2015 |title=ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_S1101&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212210258/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_S1101&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |title=HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign=bottom
! Rank !! ZIP Code (ZCTA) !! Per capita<br />income !! Median<br />household<br />income !! Median<br />family<br />income !! Population !! Number of<br />households
|-
| || ''[[Massachusetts]]'' || $35,763 || $66,866 || $84,900 || 6,605,058 || 2,530,147
|-
| 1 || 01128 || $33,573 || $78,864 || $86,964 || 2,468 || 964
|-
| || ''[[United States]]'' || $28,155 || $53,046 || $64,719 || 311,536,594 || 115,610,216
|-
| 2 || 01129 || $26,752 || $61,435 || $67,083 || 7,505 || 2,892
|-
| || ''[[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden County]]'' || $25,817 || $49,094 || $61,474 || 465,144 || 177,990
|-
| 3 || 01119 || $21,261 || $46,055 || $58,458 || 13,962 || 4,831
|-
| 4 || 01108 || $18,347 || $34,064 || $35,083 || 25,755 || 9,348
|-
| || ''Springfield'' || $18,133 || $34,311 || $39,535 || 153,428 || 55,894
|-
| 5 || 01104 || $17,307 || $32,273 || $39,475 || 23,083 || 8,884
|-
| 6 || 01103 || $17,095 || $14,133 || $17,457 || 2,556 || 1,553
|-
| 7 || 01151 || $16,169 || $30,043 || $28,415 || 9,134 || 3,410
|-
| 8 || 01109 || $13,938 || $33,376 || $36,737 || 31,429 || 9,555
|-
| 9 || 01107 || $12,440 || $21,737 || $29,199 || 11,271 || 3,920
|-
| 10 || 01105 || $12,137 || $18,402 || $21,345 || 12,360 || 4,836
|}

===Crime===
In 2010, Springfield ranked 35th in 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.<ref name="cqpress1">{{cite web|title=2010 City Crime Rate Rankings|url=http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2010/City_crime_rate_2010-2011_hightolow.pdf|date=April 12, 2015|website=Os.cqpress.com|access-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412010233/http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2010/City_crime_rate_2010-2011_hightolow.pdf|archive-date=April 12, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Urban Land Institute]] stated in 2010 that "the perception of crime [in Springfield] appears to be worse than the reality".<ref>[http://www.uli.org/~/media/Documents/ULIDifferentialContent/TAP_Report_Downtown_Springfd--FINAL11%206%2007%20pdf.ashx Resource Library | Urban Land Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622120825/http://www.uli.org/~/media/Documents/ULIDifferentialContent/TAP_Report_Downtown_Springfd--FINAL11%206%2007%20pdf.ashx |date=June 22, 2011 }}. Uli.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>

By another measure, crime and population data collected by 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Springfield crime rates and statistics|date=August 15, 2010|website=NeighborhoodScout|url=http://www.neighborhoodscout.com:80/ma/springfield/crime/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815035247/http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/springfield/crime/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 15, 2010|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Springfield crime rates and statistics|date=January 30, 2019|website=NeighborhoodScout|url=https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/springfield/crime|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130050205/https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/springfield/crime|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref>

==Economy==

{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Distribution of Greater Springfield [[New England city and town area|NECTA]] Labor Force (2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_5YR/C24050/360M300US2578100|title=Industry by Occupation for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over [Springfield, MA-CT Metropolitan NECTA]|publisher=US Census Bureau|year=2016|access-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213125853/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_5YR/C24050/360M300US2578100|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| other = 
| label1 =Nat'l resources & mining
| value1 =1
| color1 =#fdfff7
| label2 =Construction
| value2 =5
| color2 =#008d8c 
| label3 =Manufacturing
| value3 =10
| color3 =#42327c
| label4 =Trade, transportation & utilities
| value4 =18 
| color4 =#ff6600 
| label5 =Information
| value5 =2
| color5 =#282f27
| label6 =Finance & real estate
| value6 =6
| color6 =#981800
| label7 =Professional & business services 
| value7 =8
| color7 =#4d2906
| label8 =Educational & health services
| value8 =33
| color8 =#006f47
| label9 =Leisure & hospitality
| value9 =9
| color9 =#f3d827
| label10 =Other services
| value10 =4
| color10 =#a3c409
| label11 =Government
| value11 =4
| color11 =#c31074
}}
{|class="toc" style="float:left; font-size:90%; text-align:center; margin:1em;"
|-
| colspan="7" style="background:tan;"|Top Springfield companies for 2018<br />(ranked by revenues)<br />''with City and U.S. ranks''<br /><small>Source: ''Fortune 500''<ref name="Fortune_500">{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/fortune500/list/filtered?hqcity=Springfield|title=Fortune 500 Companies 2018: Who Made The List|website=Fortune|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|access-date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001220509/http://fortune.com/fortune500/list/filtered?hqcity=Springfield|url-status=dead}}</ref></small>
|- style="background:#ccc;"
|| Spfld. || || style="background:#ccc;" | Corporation || || style="background:#ccc;" | US || || style="background:#ccc;" | Revenue<br />(in millions)
|-
| 1 || || [[MassMutual]] || || 93 || || $33,495.4
|-
| 2 || || [[Eversource Energy]] || || 364 || || $7,752
|-
| colspan=7 style="background:tan;"|Top City Employers<br /><small>Source: ''MA Executive Office of Labor<br /> and Workforce Development''</small><ref name="cmwlthemploy">''MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development'': [http://lmi2.detma.org/lmi/Top_employer_list.asp?gstfips=25&areatype=04&gCountyCode=000013 Largest 200 Employers in Hampden County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923171547/http://lmi2.detma.org/lmi/Top_employer_list.asp?gstfips=25&areatype=04&gCountyCode=000013 |date=September 23, 2017 }} (2017). Retrieved on May 10, 2017.</ref>
|-
| style="background:#ccc;"|Rank|||| colspan="5" style="background:#ccc;"|Company/Organization||
|-
| 1 || || colspan=5 | [[Baystate Medical Center]]
|-
| 2 || || colspan=5 | [[Smith & Wesson]]
|-
| 3 || || colspan=5 | [[General Dynamics]]
|-
| 4 || || colspan=5 | [[MassMutual]]
|-
| 5 || || colspan=5 | [[Mercy Medical Center (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Mercy Medical Center]]
|-
| 6 || || colspan=5 | [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Postal Service]]
|-
| 7 || || colspan=5 | [[Big Y Foods]]
|-
| 8 || || colspan=5 | [[Courts of Massachusetts|Massachusetts Trial Court]]
|-
| 9 || || colspan=5 | [[Springfield Republican]]
|-
| 10 || || colspan=5 | [[Springfield College]]
|}

Springfield's vicinity to both [[Boston]] and [[New York City]] lends it 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Proposed Billion Dollar Bakeries Merger Vitally Concerns; Two Local Bakeries Already Linked Up with Big Combines|date=January 17, 1926|page=1|work=Springfield Sunday Republican|location=Springfield, Mass.}}</ref>

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 is considered to have a "mature economy", which protects the city to a degree during recessions and inhibits it somewhat during bubbles.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jonathan Melle |url=http://jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/11/smitty-pignatelli-top-down-politics-of.html |title=Jonathan Melle on Politics: Shitty Pignatelli—Top Down Politics of the BANAL! Also see Denis Guyer & Andrea Nuciforo & Carmen Massimiano |publisher=Jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com |date=November 10, 2007 |access-date=May 7, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708044455/http://jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/11/smitty-pignatelli-top-down-politics-of.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 the city since 1986.<ref>[http://www.davidsonmediagroup.com/Stations/MAPS/DMG%20Springfield%204-07.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026061430/http://www.davidsonmediagroup.com/Stations/MAPS/DMG%20Springfield%204-07.pdf|date=October 26, 2012}}</ref>{{Update inline|reason=Figure given by source is 10+ years old.|date=September 2019}}

With 25 universities and colleges within a {{convert|15|mi|km|0|adj=on}} 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 the region with an educated workforce, which yields a yearly GDP of over $100&nbsp;billion—more than at least 16 U.S. States. Hartford–Springfield has become home to a number of [[Biotechnology|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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/archive/americas-tech-centers.html |title=America's top 100 high-tech centers |first=G. Scott |last=Thomas |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028220957/http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/archive/americas-tech-centers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010,<ref>{{cite web |title=American FactFinder |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_DP03&prodType=table |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20160213193529/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_DP03&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 13, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 14, 2012 }}</ref> the median household income 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.

===Business headquarters and prominent companies===
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| header            = 
| image1            = Baystate Medical Center, Springfield MA.jpg
| alt1              = A seven-story brick hospital building with a parking lot
| image2            = Smith & Wesson Mod.29.jpg
| alt2              = A revolver in a wicker basket with two lock cylinders next to it
| image3            = CRRC Orange Line car mockup on display at City Hall Plaza, April 2017.JPG
| alt3              = A subway rail car prototype with orange trim sits on a raised platform a tent with stairs to one entrance and a ramp to the opposite entrance
| caption3          = Hospital network [[Baystate Medical Center]] and gun maker [[Smith & Wesson]] are both headquartered in Springfield, and the largest employers in the city; [[CRRC|CRRC MA]] began production in Springfield in 2018, assembling new [[Orange Line (MBTA)|Orange Line]] cars, as well as filling rail-car contracts for other US cities, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rail car maker CRRC MA to build warehouse at East Springfield factory|date=February 13, 2019|url=https://www.masslive.com/business/2019/02/rail-car-maker-crrc-ma-to-build-warehouse-at-east-springfield-factory.html|publisher=MassLive|last=Kinney|first=Jim|access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322143626/https://www.masslive.com/business/2019/02/rail-car-maker-crrc-ma-to-build-warehouse-at-east-springfield-factory.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

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 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 is the western campus of [[Tufts University School of Medicine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tufts.edu/med/clinicalaffiliates/teachinghospitals/baystate.html |title=Baystate Medical Center—School of Medicine—Tufts University |publisher=Tufts.edu |access-date=April 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417182152/http://www.tufts.edu/med/clinicalaffiliates/teachinghospitals/baystate.html |archive-date=April 17, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> [[Baystate Health]] is in the midst of a $300&nbsp;million addition; nicknamed "The Hospital of the Future", it is the largest construction project in New England.<ref name="cbs3springfield.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2012/11/new_baystate_emergency_room_to.html | title=Baystate Medical Center readies to open new emergency room with 3 times as much space, helipad | date=November 30, 2012 }}</ref> In addition to Baystate, Springfield features two other nationally ranked hospitals; [[Mercy Medical Center (Springfield)|Mercy Medical]], run by [[Sisters of Providence of Holyoke|The Sisters of Providence]], and [[Shriners Hospital]] for Children. The following companies maintain their headquarters in Springfield:

* The [[American Hockey League]]: the primary development league for the [[National Hockey League|NHL]].
* [[Baystate Health]]: Largest employer and healthcare provider in Western Massachusetts; 3rd largest employer in Massachusetts, constructing the $300&nbsp;million "Hospital of the Future".<ref name="cbs3springfield.com"/>
* [[Big Y]]: a regional supermarket chain that was founded in nearby Chicopee, but is now headquartered in Springfield. Big Y operates more than 50 supermarkets throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.
* [[Breck Shampoo]]: Founded in Springfield in 1936.
* [[Hampden Bank]]: Founded in Springfield in 1852. Headquartered in Springfield.
* [[Health New England]]
* [[Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company]]: Founded in 1851. MassMutual is the second largest [[Fortune 100]] company based in Massachusetts (2010 list). The corporate headquarters are on State Street.
* [[Merriam Webster|Merriam-Webster]]: Publisher of the original Webster Dictionary<ref>"[http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/contact.htm Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218215830/http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/contact.htm |date=February 18, 2010 }}". [[Merriam-Webster]]. Retrieved on October 27, 2009.</ref>
* [[Peter Pan Bus Lines]]: Headquartered in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]], Peter Pan moved its Springfield terminal and operations to Union Station when renovations were completed in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2017/05/peter_pan_agrees_on_union_station_move.html|title=Peter Pan Bus Lines agrees on move to Springfield's Union Station|website=Masslive.com|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=June 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615160711/http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2017/05/peter_pan_agrees_on_union_station_move.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Smith & Wesson]]: Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson is America's largest producer of [[handguns]]. The company maintained its corporate headquarters on Roosevelt Avenue in [[East Springfield, Springfield, Massachusetts|East Springfield]] until 2023, when it was moved to Maryville, Tennessee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=The Associated |title=With a 'Duck Dynasty' ribbon-cutting, Smith & Wesson ditches western Massachusetts after over 100 years for gun-friendly Tennessee |url=https://fortune.com/2023/10/08/smith-wesson-guns-moves-headquarters-tennessee-from-massachusetts-duck-dynasty/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref> The firm planned to retain many jobs in Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-30 |title=Citing 'arbitrary and damaging legislation,' Smith & Wesson to move HQ from Springfield to Tennessee |url=https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2021-09-30/citing-arbitrary-and-damaging-legislation-smith-wesson-to-move-hq-from-springfield-to-tennessee |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=New England Public Media |language=en}}</ref>

===Former companies===
With a history spanning nearly four centuries, Springfield has been home to a number of legacy companies that were household names, including:
* [[Forbes & Wallace]]: Regional department store, closed in 1974
* [[Friendlys|Friendly Ice Cream Corporation]]: Founded in Springfield, headquartered in the Springfield suburb of [[Wilbraham, Massachusetts]].
* ''[[Good Housekeeping]]'': Founded in Holyoke in 1885, and published in Springfield from 1887 to 1911 before being moved to New York City with its purchase by the Hearst Corporation.
* [[Indian Motocycle Manufacturing Company]]: America's first motorcycle brand, was founded by George M. Hendee and C. [[Oscar Hedström]] in Springfield in 1901
* [[Milton Bradley Company]]: American game company established in 1860. Headquartered in Springfield until its relocation to suburban East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
* Monarch Insurance: Founded in Springfield in 1901, filed for bankruptcy in 1991, soon after completing Springfield's tallest skyscraper, [[Monarch Place]].
* [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]]: Rolls-Royce of America Inc. was formed in 1919 to meet the growing U.S. luxury car market. A manufacturing plant was set up on Hendee Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the former 'American Wire Wheel Company' building. Over the years, the factory's 1,200 employees produced 1,703 Silver Ghosts and 1,241 Phantoms, with the first Silver Ghost chassis finished in 1921. The [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|1929 stock market crash]] led to the plant's closure in 1931. Springfield is the only place outside [[United Kingdom|Britain]] where Rolls-Royce luxury cars have ever been built.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollsroycefoundation.org/rolls-royce-in-america.html|title=Rolls-Royce in America|website=Rolls-Royce Foundation|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150000/http://rollsroycefoundation.org/rolls-royce-in-america.html|archive-date=October 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Sheraton Hotels and Resorts]]: founded in Springfield in 1937 with the purchase of The Stonehaven Hotel, and later the [[Hotel Kimball]].
* [[Springfield Armory]]: Founded by George Washington in 1777; began production of the [[M1 Garand]] in 1936, closed by [[the Pentagon]] in 1968. The current-day [[Geneseo, Illinois]]-based [[Springfield Armory, Inc.]] has no presence in Springfield outside [[brand licensing|licensing the trademark]]. 
* [[Wason Manufacturing Company]], one founded in 1845, large railway livery manufacturer, first mass-producer of a sleeping car; closed 1932

==Arts and culture==
===Cuisine===
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.<ref name="zvastudy"/> Among its oldest institutions are Smith's Billiards, founded in 1902, which serves Theodore's Blues, Booze, & BBQ, 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 (restaurant)|The Student Prince Cafe]], a long-running [[German cuisine|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 cuisine|Italian restaurants]] such as Frigo's (1950), The Red Rose (1963), and Leone's (1988) and pastry shops like La Fiorentina (1947).<ref>{{cite news|work=Phantom Gourmet/CBS 4|location=Boston|url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/02/23/phantom-gourmet-red-rose-is-springfield/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329221331/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/02/23/phantom-gourmet-red-rose-is-springfield/|archive-date=March 29, 2016|title=Phantom Gourmet: Red Rose In Springfield}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media | date = April 16, 2015 | title = Frigo's—Springfield MA | via = Youtube | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evAIu5VPpIg | publisher = Phantom Gourmet | access-date = September 11, 2019 | archive-date = June 30, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200630012303/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evAIu5VPpIg | url-status = live }}</ref>

In recent decades the city has also become home to a number of cuisines not found elsewhere in the region, including [[Cajun cuisine|Cajun restaurant]] Chef Wayne's Big Mamou,<ref>{{cite AV media | date = October 4, 2015 | title = Chef Wayne's Big Mamou—Springfield MA | via = Youtube | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NtomXCBpVE | publisher = Phantom Gourmet | access-date = September 11, 2019 | archive-date = May 18, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200518172919/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NtomXCBpVE&gl=US&hl=en | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Lebanese cuisine|Lebanese restaurant]] Nadim's Downtown,<ref>{{cite news|title=Nadim's Downtown offers best of both worlds for Springfield diners|work=The Republican|location=Springfield, Mass.|url=https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2017/07/nadims_springfield_review_1.html|last=Bellamy|first=Fran|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523054938/https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2017/07/nadims_springfield_review_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> local chain Puerto Rican Bakery,<ref>{{cite news|title=Springfield's Puerto Rico Bakery and Restaurant owner Jorge Perez says basic business procedures keep business flourishing|url=https://www.masslive.com/business-news/2011/02/springfield_puerto_rico_bakery_ii.html|last=Santana|first=Lucila|work=El Pueblo Latino|location=Springfield, Mass.|via=MassLive|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523054943/https://www.masslive.com/business-news/2011/02/springfield_puerto_rico_bakery_ii.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and a host of other Greek, Jamaican, Mexican, and Vietnamese venues.<ref>{{cite news|title=The foodie guide to Springfield|url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Foodie-Guide-to-springfield-21240757|date=December 7, 2018|last=Whitehead|first=Margaret|work=Daily Hampshire Gazette|location=Northampton, Mass|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523054942/https://www.gazettenet.com/Foodie-Guide-to-springfield-21240757|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Festivals===
* Armory Big Band Concerts: annually each summer the [[Springfield Armory]] features 1940s big band concerts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau—Springfield Armory Big Band Concert |url=http://www.valleyvisitor.com/events-calendar-jump-to/events/springfield-armory-big-band-concert.html?day=20120901 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611151058/http://www.valleyvisitor.com/events-calendar-jump-to/events/springfield-armory-big-band-concert.html?day=20120901 |archive-date=June 11, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2017}}</ref>
* Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend: a week of events culminating in the enshrinement of new members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoophall.com/enshrinement-tickets/ |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Enshrinement Tickets |publisher=Hoophall.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525034639/http://www.hoophall.com/enshrinement-tickets/ |archive-date=May 25, 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Bright Nights (Springfield)|Bright Nights]]: Since 1995, over 600,000 lights have illuminated a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|1|adj=on}} driving tour of [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]] every year from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bright Nights at Forest Park |url=https://www.brightnights.org/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=www.brightnights.org |language=en |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204201043/https://www.brightnights.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Caribbean Festival: held annually in late August, featuring a parade, music, and fashion show.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ashley Kohl |title=Caribbean Festival in Springfield &#124; MyMassAppeal.com |url=http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/mass_appeal/leisure/caribbean-festival-in-springfield |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927175354/http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/mass_appeal/leisure/caribbean-festival-in-springfield |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |publisher=Wwlp.com}}</ref>
* Glendi: a three-day Greek cultural festival hosted by the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral every September. The festival, which offers [[Greek cuisine|Greek food]], pastries, and music, is one of the premier [[Greek festival]]s in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glendi 2022 |url=https://www.stgeorgecath.org/glendi |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral |language=en |archive-date=December 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203000015/https://www.stgeorgecath.org/glendi |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Hoop City Jazz Festival: an annual event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hampden Bank's Hoop City Jazz & Art Festival |url=https://www.hoopcityjazz.org/ |url-status=usurped |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=www.hoopcityjazz.org |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219043920/https://www.hoopcityjazz.org/ }}</ref>
* Mattoon Street Arts Festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome &#124; Mattoon Street Arts Festival Springfield, Mass |url=http://www.mattoonfestival.org/ |publisher=Mattoonfestival.org |access-date=April 26, 2011 |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905231500/http://www.mattoonfestival.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society Festival: a mid-July celebration of Italian feast days in Springfield's [[South End, Springfield, Massachusetts|South End]], featuring food and a parade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Republican |first=Cori Urban {{!}} Special to The |date=2016-07-13 |title=Our Lady of Mount Carmel feast in Springfield keeps tradition alive |url=https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2016/07/our_lady_of_mount_carmel_feast.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=masslive |language=en |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219043921/https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2016/07/our_lady_of_mount_carmel_feast.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Parade of Big Balloons: a [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] parade featuring a {{convert|75|ft|m|0|adj=on}} inflatable "Cat in the Hat", large balloons, bands, and marching contingents Springfield's [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2022 |title=Parade of the Big Balloons |url=https://www.spiritofspringfield.org/events/parade-of-big-balloons |url-status=live |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=Spirit of Springfield |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215200248/https://www.spiritofspringfield.org/events/parade-of-big-balloons }}</ref>
* Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival: each spring, featuring two weeks of films, guest speakers, and events related to Jewish culture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival Welcome |url=http://pvjff.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702053907/http://pvjff.org/ |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2011 |publisher=Pvjff.org}}</ref>
* Springfield Pride: Springfield [[LGBT pride|Pride]] Week was held in June 2011.<ref name="masslive.com">{{cite web |last=Goonan |first=Peter |date=June 4, 2011 |title=Grassroots group plans first-ever Springfield Pride Week |url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/grassroots_group_plans_first-e.html |work=The Republican |access-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609093214/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/grassroots_group_plans_first-e.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The first [[Pride parade]] was held in June 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grout |first=Michelle |title=Springfield, LGBTQ+ Pride Parade! |url=https://springfielddowntown.com/event/springfield-lgbtq-pride-parade/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Springfield BID |language=en-US |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219043918/https://springfielddowntown.com/event/springfield-lgbtq-pride-parade/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 
* Star Spangled Springfield: an [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebration and fireworks display.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2022 |title=Star Spangled Springfield |url=https://www.spiritofspringfield.org/events/star-spangled-springfield |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=Spirit of Springfield |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602071818/https://www.spiritofspringfield.org/events/star-spangled-springfield |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Stearns Square Concert Series, and Bike Nights: annually from June through September featuring live music at [[Stearns Square]]. Bike Nights coincides with the concerts, and is an event for motorcyclists.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
* World's Largest Pancake Breakfast: annually, near the city's founding date of May 14, Springfield attempts to break the [[Guinness Book of World Records|Guinness]] world record for largest number of pancakes served.<ref>{{cite web |title=The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast |url=http://www.spiritofspringfield.org/breakfast/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708012106/http://www.spiritofspringfield.org/breakfast/index.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |publisher=Spirit of Springfield}}</ref>

===Museums===
[[File:Japanese Arms and Armor Gallery - George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum - DSC03522.JPG|thumb|[[Edo period]] Japanese armor at the [[George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum]]]]

Springfield is home to five distinct museums at the [[Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Quadrangle]], along with the ornate [[Springfield City Library]]—an architecturally significant example of the [[City Beautiful]] movement. The Quadrangle's five distinct collections include the [[Dr. Seuss Memorial|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, 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 [[Dr. Seuss|Theodor Geisel]]; and the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, a museum about the multi-faceted city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/|title=The Museums|date=July 2015|publisher=Springfield Museums|access-date=April 26, 2011|archive-date=June 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628032833/http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Connecticut Valley Historical Museum 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pioneervalleyhistorynetwork.org/locations/connecticut-valley-historical-museum-genealogy-library/#:~:text=The%20Connecticut%20Valley%20Historical%20Museum,Wood%20Museum%20of%20Springfield%20History!|title=CONNECTICUT VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Springfield|date=June 18, 2010|access-date=October 6, 2021|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006123633/https://pioneervalleyhistorynetwork.org/locations/connecticut-valley-historical-museum-genealogy-library/#:~:text=The%20Connecticut%20Valley%20Historical%20Museum,Wood%20Museum%20of%20Springfield%20History!|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-amazing-world-of-dr-seuss-museum-is-officially-open|title=A Museum Dedicated to Dr. Seuss Just Opened|last=Craggs|first=Ryan|date=June 5, 2017|work=Condé Nast Traveler|access-date=August 21, 2018|language=en|archive-date=August 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822014720/https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-amazing-world-of-dr-seuss-museum-is-officially-open|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/06/05/the-amazing-world-of-dr-seuss-museum-opens-in-springfield-massachusetts/102509338/|title=Oh the Places You'll Go! Dr. Seuss museum opens its doors|date=June 5, 2017|work=USA TODAY|access-date=August 21, 2018|language=en|archive-date=August 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821224942/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/06/05/the-amazing-world-of-dr-seuss-museum-opens-in-springfield-massachusetts/102509338/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Springfield's Indian Orchard neighborhood is home to the RMS Titanic Historical Society's [[Titanic Historical Society|Titanic Museum]], which displays a collection of rare artifacts that tell stories about the ill-fated ocean liner's passengers and crew.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.titanic1.org/museum/index.asp |title=Titanic Historical Society |publisher=Titanic1.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522072938/http://www.titanic1.org/museum/index.asp |archive-date=May 22, 2011 }}</ref>

===Music===
[[File:Springfield Symphony Orchestra before concert.jpg|thumb|[[Springfield Symphony Orchestra]]]]

The [[Springfield Symphony Orchestra]] performs in [[Symphony Hall, Springfield|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 (band)|All That Remains]], [[Shadows Fall]], and [[The Acacia Strain]] rose to national prominence. Jazz and blues rival rock in popularity.

In 2010 and 2011 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 (musician)|Taj Mahal]], the [[Average White Band]], and [[Poncho Sanchez]].

===Points of interest===
* [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Basketball Hall of Fame]]: housed in a $47&nbsp;million structure designed by [[Gwathmey Siegel & Associates]], it is a shrine to the world's second most popular sport, basketball. Located in the city where basketball was invented, the facility—built beside the [[Connecticut River]]—spans {{convert|80,000|sqft|m2|-2}} features numerous restaurants and the [[WMAS-FM]] studios. However, it is separated from Springfield's [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]] by an eight-lane highway, [[Interstate 91 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 91]].
* Bright Nights: during the holiday season, [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]] hosts a lighting display.
* City Stage: features off-Broadway productions, comedians, and children's programming.
* [[Club Quarter]]: a grouping of 60 clubs, bars, and restaurants around Stearns Square, Worthington and Main Streets. Springfield's variety of nightclubs and entertainment is part of what makes it, according to [[Yahoo!]], one of America's ten best cities for dating.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://realestate.yahoo.com/neighborhoods/best_and_worst_cities_for_dating.html |title=Best and Worst Cities for Dating |publisher=Yahoo! Real Estate |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314144337/http://realestate.yahoo.com/neighborhoods/best_and_worst_cities_for_dating.html |archive-date=March 14, 2012 }}</ref> [[LGBT]] and dance clubs are integrated with hip-hop, rock, jazz, and blues clubs. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are particularly busy evenings.
* [[Connecticut River Walk Park]]: a landscaped park that snakes along the [[Connecticut River]], offering views of the [[Mount Tom Range]], [[Mount Holyoke Range]], and Springfield's skyline. However, this park is separated from the city by the eight lane [[Interstate 91 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 91]], which cuts through three riverfront neighborhoods and poses accessibility challenges. In 2010, the [[Urban Land Institute]] released a plan for Springfield's riverfront, presenting the possibility of moving Interstate 91 or otherwise altering it to allow easier access to the River Walk and the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]].<ref name="scholarworks.umass.edu">{{cite web |url=http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=larp_honors&sei-redir=1#search=springfield+divided+by+91 |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+divided+by+91 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Michael McAuliffe |author2=The Republican |url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/study_by_urban_land_institute.html |title=Study by Urban Land Institute envisions revitalized Springfield waterfront |date=May 5, 2010 |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=June 18, 2011 |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328130536/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/study_by_urban_land_institute.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/riverfront-proj.0.html |title=City of Springfield, Mass.: Riverfront |publisher=Springfieldcityhall.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703195451/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/riverfront-proj.0.html |archive-date=July 3, 2008 }}</ref>
* [[Court Square]]: a park, referred to as "Springfield's front door", it remains the city's only topographical constant since its founding in 1636. Located on Main Street and surrounded by ornate architecture, including the iconic [[Springfield Municipal Group]], Court Square is the civic heart of Springfield. Until the 1960s, Court Square extended to the [[Connecticut River]]; however, as with [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]], its connection to the river was severed by the building of the [[Interstate 91 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 91]] elevated highway.
* [[Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]]: amidst the Quadrangle, there are large, bronze statues of characters from Springfield native [[Dr. Seuss]]'s books.
* First Game of Basketball Sculpture: located directly on the site of the first game of basketball, this illuminated sculpture in Springfield's [[McKnight, Springfield, Massachusetts (and Mason Square)|Mason Square]] commercial district has become a site of pilgrimage for basketball fans from around the world.
* [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]]: nearly the same size as Central Park at {{convert|735|acre|ha|1}}, it features the Zoo at Forest Park; the {{convert|31|acre|ha|1}} Porter Lake; numerous playgrounds; a formal rose garden; 38 tennis courts; a skating arena; numerous basketball and bocce courts; lawn bowling fields; Victorian promenades and water gardens; tree groves; baseball diamonds; numerous statues; an aquatic park; and the Barney Carriage House, where many weddings take place. Contrary to popular belief, the park was not designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
* King Philip's Stockade: a historic, city park where in 1675, the Pocumtuc Indians—organized by Chief [[Metacomet]], also known as King Philip—initiated the [[Attack on Springfield]] during [[King Philip's War]]. During the attack, approximately 75% of the city was burned.
* [[MassMutual Center]]: formerly known as the Springfield Civic Center, this 8,000-seat arena and convention center received a $71&nbsp;million renovation in 2003–2005. Located across from historic [[Court Square]] in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]], the arena houses the [[American Hockey League]]'s [[Springfield Thunderbirds]]. The venue also attracts big-name concert tours. In the past, it has hosted concerts by [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], [[Pearl Jam]], [[Van Halen]], [[Marilyn Manson]], [[The Eagles]], and [[Bob Dylan]], among many others.
* [[Mulberry Street (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Mulberry Street]]: the street featuring the house that inspired [[Dr. Seuss]]'s first children's book, the classic ''[[And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street]].''
* [[The Puritan (Springfield)|The Puritan]]: a famous statue designed by [[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]] depicting Deacon Samuel Chapin, an early settler of Springfield. Originally located in Stearns Square, it has been located in Merrick Park in the Quadrangle for over 100 years and become a symbol of Springfield.
* The [[Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Quadrangle]]: a campus of five museums surrounding the [[Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden]]. It includes the [[Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)#Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts|Museum of Fine Arts]], known for its [[Impressionist]] and [[Dutch Renaissance]] collections, as well as its collection of American masters, including works by Springfielder [[James McNeill Whistler]]. The [[Springfield Science Museum]] features the United States' first [[planetarium]] (built 1931), and a large [[dinosaur]] exhibit. The [[George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum]] is known worldwide{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} for housing the largest collection of Chinese [[cloisonné]] outside of China; it also features exotic curiosities like Asian suits of armor, and a collection of marble busts. The Quadrangle also features two regional history museums: the Connecticut Valley Historical Society, which tells the story of "The Great River" and its people, and the new Museum of Springfield History, which showcases the innovations that make Springfield "The City of Progress" during the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist period]] and [[Industrial Revolution]], which includes the first American–English dictionary, the first gasoline-powered car, the first successful motorcycle company, the first modern fire engine, and dozens of other firsts (see below for a more complete list).
* St. John's Congregational Church: founded in 1844 as the Sanford Street "Free Church", St. John's Congregational Church is a predominately black church that played a pivotal role in the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] movement. While living in Springfield, [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]] attended services here from 1846 to 1850, and as of 2011, the church still displays ''John Brown's Bible''. It was at this church where John Brown met [[Frederick Douglass]], [[Sojourner Truth]], and other prominent abolitionists—and where he later founded the militant ''League of Gileadites'' in response to the [[Fugitive Slave Act]]. As of 2011, St. John's remains one of the most prominent, predominately black congregations in the Northeastern United States.<ref name="sjkb">{{cite web |url=http://sjkb.org/discover_stjohns/history.html |title=History &#124; St. John's Congregational Church &#124; Springfield, MA |publisher=Sjkb.org |date=June 22, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2011 |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426062202/http://sjkb.org/discover_stjohns/history.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[St. Michael's Cathedral, Springfield|St. Michael's Cathedral]]: beside the Quadrangle, this elegant Catholic Church is the seat of the Diocese of [[Greater Springfield]].
* [[Stacy Building]]: the location where, in 1892–1893, the [[Duryea Brothers]] built the first, American gasoline-powered car, which in 1895 won the first automobile race in Chicago, Illinois. A model of the Duryea Brothers' first car sits in a tree-shaded park beside the historic location, amidst the restaurants and bars of the [[Club Quarter]].
* [[Six Flags New England]]: located {{convert|1|mi|km|1}} west of Springfield's [[South End, Springfield, Massachusetts|South End]] in Agawam, this amusement park is the largest in the Northeast and features a roller coaster, Superman the Ride.
* The [[Springfield Armory National Historic Site]]: founded by General [[George Washington]] and [[Henry Knox]] in 1777; the site of [[Shays' Rebellion]] in 1787, which led directly to the [[U.S. Constitutional Convention]]; the site of numerous technological innovations including the manufacturing advances known as [[interchangeable parts]], the [[assembly line]], and [[mass production]]; and the producer of the United States Military's firearms from 1794 to 1968, when the Armory was controversially shut down by Defense Secretary [[Robert McNamara]]. Today, it is a [[National Historic Sites (United States)|National Historic Site]], and features a museum that includes one of the world's largest collections of firearms.<ref name="nps.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm |title=Springfield Armory National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) |publisher=Nps.gov |access-date=May 24, 2012 |archive-date=March 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323142701/http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Springfield Cemetery (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Springfield Cemetery]]: opened in 1841 and located in the heart of the city, it is designed in the scenic [[rural cemetery]] tradition. The cemetery is the final resting place of many pioneer settlers and noted individuals from Springfield and the region.
* Symphony Hall: dedicated in 1913 by President [[William Howard Taft]] as part of the [[Springfield Municipal Group]], Springfield Symphony Hall features "perfect acoustics". It is home to the [[Springfield Symphony Orchestra]], and also hosts Broadway touring productions.
* [[Stearns Square]]: designed by the artistic team of [[Stanford White]] and [[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]] in 1897, this small park is the center of Springfield's Club Quarter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/360-walking_tour_to_visit_outdoor_sculpture_by_saint-gaudens |title=Walking Tour to Visit Outdoor Sculpture by Saint-Gaudens—News |publisher=Springfield Museums |date=July 23, 2009 |access-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=July 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701190458/http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/360-walking_tour_to_visit_outdoor_sculpture_by_saint-gaudens |url-status=live }}</ref> It features ornate architectural and sculptural details from the original team's design; however, most of those were meant to accompany The Puritan, and thus moved to storage. Stearns Square hosts a large motorcycle gathering each Thursday evening, and is the site of a summer concert series.

===Architecture===
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Springfield, Massachusetts}}
[[File:UnityChurch.jpg|thumb|right|Unity Church (1869), the first commission of architect [[Henry Hobson Richardson|H. H. Richardson]]; demolished  1961.]]
[[File:SpringfieldMA MattoonStreet 2.jpg|thumb|right|Victorian-era rowhouses]]
{{multiple image
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   | footer = [[Monarch Place]] (left); [[Tower Square (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Tower Square]] (right), also known as the MassMutual Tower
   | image1 = Monarch Place as seen from Steiger Park during day, Springfield, Massachusetts.jpg
   | image2 = Tower Square (BayState West, MassMutual Tower), Springfield, Massachusetts.jpg}}

In addition to its nickname ''The City of Firsts'', Springfield 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 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 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 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]].<ref name="hammondmuseumofradio.org">{{cite web|author=Paul Cassel|url=http://www.hammondmuseumofradio.org/wbz-dhalper.html|title=WBZ and WBZA in the 20s and 30s|publisher=Hammondmuseumofradio.org|access-date=June 10, 2011|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721065410/http://www.hammondmuseumofradio.org/wbz-dhalper.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The former McIntosh Shoe Company (158 Chestnut Street), one of Springfield's finest examples of the [[Chicago school (architecture)|Chicago School of Architecture]], has been converted into industrial-style condominiums; and 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.

[[Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts|Forest Park (and Forest Park Heights)]], surrounding by the {{convert|735|acre|ha|1}} [[Forest Park (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Forest Park]], is a New England Garden District featuring more than 600 [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[Painted Ladies]]. The [[McKnight, Springfield, Massachusetts (and Mason Square)|McKnight National Historic District]], America's first planned residential neighborhood, (1881), features more than 900 Victorian Painted Ladies, many of which have been rehabilitated by Springfield's growing [[LGBT]] community. The Old Hill, Upper Hill, and Bay neighborhoods also feature this type of architecture.

Maple High, which is architecturally (and geographically) distinct from, but often included with Springfield's economically depressed [[Six Corners]] neighborhood, was Springfield's first "Gold Coast". Many mansions from the early 19th century and later [[gilded age]] stand atop a bluff on Maple Street, overlooking the Connecticut River. The Ridgewood Historic district on Ridgewood and Mulberry Streets also feature historic mansions from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Springfield—like many mid-size Northeastern cities, e.g., Hartford, [[Albany, New York|Albany]], and New Haven—from the 1950s to the 1970s, razed a significant number of historic commercial buildings in the name of [[urban renewal]]. In 1961, this included Unity Church, the first building designed by the young [[Henry Hobson Richardson]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ochsner |first1=Jeffrey Karl |author-link1=Jeffrey Karl Ochsner |title=H.H. Richardson: Complete Architectural Works |year=1982 |publisher=MIT Press |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |isbn=978-0-262-65015-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/hhrichardsoncomp00ochs/page/25 25] |url=https://archive.org/details/hhrichardsoncomp00ochs/page/25 }}</ref> Springfield's Metro Center remains more aesthetically cohesive than many its peer cities; however, as elsewhere, the city currently features a patchwork of parking lots and grand old buildings. Current efforts are underway to improve the cohesion of Springfield's Metro Center, including the completed Main Street and State Street Corridor improvement projects, the upcoming $70&nbsp;million renovation to Springfield's 1926 Union Station and the renovation of the Epiphany Tower on State Street into a new hotel. New constructions include the architecturally award-winning, $57&nbsp;million [[Moshe Safdie]]-designed Federal Building on State Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/248.0.html |title=City of Springfield, Mass.: Alphabetical Project Update List |publisher=Springfieldcityhall.com |date=September 9, 2010 |access-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716123525/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/248.0.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Public library===

{{Further|Springfield City Library (Massachusetts)|Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)#Springfield City Library|Indian Orchard Branch Library}}

Efforts to establish a public library began in the 1850s.<ref>C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891. [https://books.google.com/books?id=LusKAAAAYAAJ Google books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215200246/https://books.google.com/books?id=LusKAAAAYAAJ |date=February 15, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/|title=Springfield City Library|website=Springfieldlibrary.org|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=July 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707082212/http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> In fiscal year 2008, the city of Springfield spent 1.13% ($5,321,151) of its budget on its public library—approximately $35 per person, per year ($46.12 adjusted for inflation to 2022).<ref>July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What's Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: [http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php Municipal Pie Reports] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123010127/http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php |date=January 23, 2012 }}. Retrieved August 4, 2010.</ref> In fiscal year 2009, Springfield spent about 1% ($5,077,158) of its budget on the library—approximately $32 per person, per year ($42.32 adjusted for inflation to 2022).<ref>July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009; cf. {{cite web|url=http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php |title=FY 2009 Municipal Pie Report |author=Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners |year=2011 |access-date=April 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123010127/http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php |archive-date=January 23, 2012 }}</ref> Springfield has Massachusetts' 2nd largest library circulation, behind Boston.

As of 2012, the public library purchases access for its patrons to databases owned by the following companies:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/databases_alphabetical.html |title=Library Catalogs & Electronic Databases |author=Springfield City Library |date=April 10, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222080356/http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/databases_alphabetical.html |archive-date=February 22, 2012 }}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[EBSCO Industries]]
* [[Foundation Center]]
* [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]], of [[Cengage Learning]]
* [[Infobase Publishing]]
* LearningExpress, LLC
* [[Merriam-Webster, Inc.]]
* [[NewsBank, Inc.]]
* [[Oxford University Press]]
* [[ProQuest]] (products include [[Massachusetts Newsstand]])
{{Div col end}}

==Sports==
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   | footer = The MassMutual Center during a basketball game in 2013; [[Springfield Thunderbirds|Thunderbirds]] home game against the [[Providence Bruins]]
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   | image2 = Thunderbirds-Bruins.jpg}}

Besides Springfield's historic connection with basketball, the city has a rich sporting history. Volleyball was invented in the adjacent city of Holyoke, and the first exhibition match was held in 1896 at the [[Springfield College|International YMCA Training School]], now known as [[Springfield College]].

[[Ice hockey]] has been played professionally in Springfield since the 1920s, and Springfield is home to the league headquarters of the [[American Hockey League]]. The [[Springfield Indians]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (now located in [[Utica, New York]]) was the oldest minor league hockey franchise in existence. In [[1994–95 AHL season|1994]] the team relocated to Worcester and was replaced by the [[Springfield Falcons]], who played at the [[MassMutual Center]]. The Falcons were then replaced by the [[Springfield Thunderbirds]] in [[2016–17 AHL season|2016]]. For parts of two seasons (1978–1980) the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] [[Hartford Whalers]] played in Springfield while their arena was undergoing repairs after a roof collapse. It hosted Game 1 and Game 2 of the [[1978 WHA playoffs|1978 Avco Cup Final]]. On the amateur level, the Junior A [[Springfield Pics|Springfield Olympics]] played for many years at the Olympia, while [[American International College]]'s Yellow Jackets compete in [[NCAA]] Division I hockey.

Basketball remains a popular sport in Springfield's sporting landscape. Springfield is currently home to the Western Mass Zombies a minor league basketball team participating in the [[East Coast Basketball League]]. The Zombies in 2021 were named ECBL Mid-Atlantic Champions. Prior to the 2014–2015 season, Springfield was home to the [[Springfield Armor]] of the [[NBA Development League]], which began play in 2009 at the MassMutual Center. Beginning in the 2011–2012 season, the Armor was the exclusive affiliate of the [[Brooklyn Nets]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/dleague/springfield/name_logo_090630.html |title=Springfield's NBA Development League Team Unveils Name and Logo |publisher=NBA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184421/http://www.nba.com/dleague/springfield/name_logo_090630.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }}</ref> For many years, the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic has been the semi-official start to the college basketball season, and the NCAA Division II championships are usually held in Springfield. The [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference]] played its championships in Springfield from 2012 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=204861913 |title=MAAC Names MassMutual Center in Springfield Site for 2012–2014 MAAC Basketball Championships |publisher=Maacsports.com |access-date=June 8, 2011 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012812/http://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=204861913 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[New England Blizzard]] of the [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|ABL]] played its first game in Springfield, and several minor pro men's and women's teams have called the city home, including the [[Springfield Fame]] of the [[United States Basketball League]] (the league's inaugural champion in 1985) and the Springfield Hall of Famers of the [[Eastern Professional Basketball League]].

Springfield has had professional baseball in the past. The [[Springfield Giants]] of the Single- and Double-A [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]] played between 1957 and 1965. The team was quite successful, winning consecutive championships in 1959, 1960 and 1961, by startling coincidence the same seasons in which the Springfield Indians won three straight [[Calder Cup]] championships in hockey. The Giants played at Pynchon Park by the Connecticut River until relocating after the 1965 season. Pynchon Park's grandstands were destroyed by fire the year after in 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.projectballpark.org/history/na/alt/pynchon.html |title=Pynchon Park |publisher=Projectballpark.org |date=September 11, 1966 |access-date=August 1, 2009 |archive-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919163020/http://www.projectballpark.org/history/na/alt/pynchon.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Before that time, the [[Springfield Cubs]] played in the minor league [[New England League]] from 1946 until 1949, after which the league folded; they then played in the [[International League]] until 1953. For many years before the Giants, Springfield was also a member of the Eastern League, between 1893 and 1943. In general, the team was named the [[Springfield Ponies|Ponies]], but it also carried the nicknames of "Maroons" (1895), "Green Sox" (1917), "Hampdens" (1920–1921), "Rifles (1932, 1942–1943) and "Nationals" (1939–1941). The team located closest are the Valley Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League who play their games in nearby Holyoke, but house their team offices at 100 Congress Street in Springfield.

==Parks and recreation==
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| image1    = Barney Mausoleum in Forest Park - Springfield MA - Flickr - Rusty Clark.jpg
| image2    = Connecticut River Walk Park, Springfield MA.jpg
}}

In 2010, Springfield was cited as the fourth "Greenest City" in the United States—the largest city cited in the Top 10. The recognition noted Springfield's numerous parks, the purity of its drinking water, its regional recycling center, and organizations like ReStore Home Improvement Center, which salvages building materials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/greencities.aspx |title=Green Cities |publisher=Bestplaces.net |access-date=April 14, 2011 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623005759/https://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/greencities.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> Springfield features over {{convert|2400|acre|km2|0}} of parkland distributed among 35 urban parks, including the grand, {{convert|735|acre|ha|1}} [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]]. Well-known parks include the following, among others:
* [[Apremont Triangle Historic District|Apremont Triangle Park]] is a triangular, pocket park in front of Springfield's historic [[Kimball Towers]] in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]]. Named for Springfield's [[104th Infantry Regiment (United States)|104th Infantry Regiment]], which following the [[World War I]] Battle of [[Apremont, Ardennes|Apremont]], became the first U.S. military unit awarded for heroism by a foreign power, receiving France's highest military honor: the {{lang|fr|[[Croix de Guerre]]}} for bravery in combat. The same Springfield unit received the same honor again in [[World War II]]. Apremont Triangle Park, steps from both the bohemian [[Kimball Towers]] and upper-class [[Quadrangle-Mattoon Street Historic District]] offers a place to sit amidst the restaurants on the northern fringe of the [[Club Quarter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://photos.masslive.com/republican/2011/05/springfields_monuments_and_memorials_46.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824104228/http://photos.masslive.com/republican/2011/05/springfields_monuments_and_memorials_46.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 24, 2011 |title=Springfield's monuments and memorials &#124; masslive.com |publisher=Photos.masslive.com |date=May 29, 2011}}</ref>
* Armoury Commons is a rectangular park just south of the [[Springfield Armory]], located at the corner of Pearl and Spring Streets in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]]. Renovated in 2009, Armoury Commons features several sculptures, including Pynchon Park's original sculpture. The park is often used as a place to play chess and other games.
* [[Connecticut River Walk Park]] is a narrow, landscaped park that snakes along the scenic [[Connecticut River]] for several miles. Beginning near the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]], it features jogging trails, benches, boat docks, and plazas—all of which afford scenic vistas of the [[Connecticut River]] and [[Connecticut River Valley]]. However, Interstate 91's position, height, and ancillary structures—including a 1,756-car, below-grade parking lot (the largest in the city), and {{convert|20|ft|m|0|adj=on}} stone walls block all views of the Connecticut River, and all but three passages to the park from [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]]. Despite Springfield's rating as one of the most walkable cities in the U.S., due to the poor planning of I-91, this park can be difficult to reach on foot.<ref name="walkscore1">{{cite web |url=http://www.walkscore.com/MA/Springfield |title=Springfield, Massachusetts Neighborhoods on Walk Score |publisher=Walkscore.com |access-date=December 27, 2011 |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018031528/http://www.walkscore.com/MA/Springfield |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Court Square]] has been Springfield's one topographical constant since colonial days—it is located in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]]. Featuring monuments to Springfield's hero during [[King Philip's War]] of 1675, [[Miles Morgan]]; President [[William McKinley]]; and a Civil War memorial Court Square is surrounded by extraordinarily fine architecture, including [[H.H. Richardson]]'s [[Richardsonian Romanesque]] Courthouse; the [[Springfield Municipal Group]] featuring the [[Greek Revival]] City Hall, Symphony Hall, and the {{convert|300|ft|m|0|adj=on}} [[Italianate]] Campanile; and also the 1819 reconstruction of the 1638 [[First Church of Christ, Congregational (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Old First Church]]. Other buildings included are the One Financial Plaza skyscraper, [[UMass Amherst]]'s Urban Design Studio in the Byers Block (b. 1835); and, across Main Street, the [[MassMutual Center]] arena and convention center.
* Five Mile Pond is a Naturalist park and pond approximately {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} from Springfield's [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]] in the [[Pine Point, Springfield, Massachusetts|Pine Point]] neighborhood of Springfield. There are several, [[glacial lake]]s in the Five Mile Pond area, including Lake Lorraine, Loon Pond, and Long Pond. Five Mile Pond is popular with boaters.
* [[Forest Park (Springfield)|Forest Park]] is one of the United States' largest urban parks (at {{convert|735|acre|ha|1}}) and also one of its most historically important urban parks. Amenities include the [[The Zoo In Forest Park|Zoo at Forest Park]], which features many exotic animals; the United States' first public swimming pool (1899); numerous playgrounds; an ice-skating rink; a formal rose garden; the {{convert|31|acre|ha|1}} Porter Lake, which features fishing and paddle-boating; 38 tennis courts; numerous basketball and bocce courts; lawn bowling fields; Victorian promenades and water gardens; dozens of hiking and walking trails; an aquatic park; numerous sculptures; and the Carriage House of Springfielder [[Everett Hosmer Barney]], the man who invented the [[ice skate]] and popularized the [[roller skate]] during the 19th century. During the holiday season, Forest Park hosts the nationally renowned lighting display, [[Bright Nights (Springfield)|Bright Nights]]. Contrary to popular belief, the park was not designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
* King Philip's Stockade is an historic park, famous as the site where Native Americans organized the 1675 Sack of Springfield; The Stockade features numerous picnic pavilions, excellent views of the [[Connecticut River Valley]], and a sculpture of ''The Windsor Indian'', who tried in vain to warn the residents of Springfield of coming danger.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barneycarriagehouse.com/bch/ |title=Weddings and Corporate Events at the Carriage House at the Barney Estate, Forest Park, Springfield, MA 01108 |publisher=Barney Carriage House |access-date=April 22, 2011 |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513090502/http://www.barneycarriagehouse.com/bch/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Leonardo da Vinci Park is a small greenspace (0.4 acres), located in the historically Italian [[South End, Springfield, Massachusetts|South End]] of Springfield. It features ornamental perimeter fencing surrounding a playground. Leonardo da Vinci Park was renovated in 2009 and now features new picnic tables and playground equipment.
* Pynchon Park is an architecturally interesting [[brutalist]]-style city park, which was dedicated in 1977. It links Springfield's [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]] with the [[Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Quadrangle]] cultural grouping, (the museums and sculptures sit atop a steep bluff). Mostly made of poured concrete, but featuring a waterfall, lush greenery, and fountains, Pynchon Park received numerous accolades from the American Institute of Architecture for "enhancing the quality of the urban environment in the core of the city". It features two levels and a distinctive elevator.<ref name="masslive2">{{cite web |author=Michael S. Gordon / The Republican |url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/springfields_pynchon_park_rare.html |title=Springfield's Pynchon Park, rarely accessible since 1976, reopens after renovations |date=September 16, 2010 |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=April 22, 2011 |archive-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919165813/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/springfields_pynchon_park_rare.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Stearns Square]] is a rectangular park between Worthington Street and Bridge Street in Springfield's [[Club Quarter]], located in [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]]. Designed by the creative 'dream-team' of [[Stanford White]] and [[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]]. It was there that St. Gaudens' most famous work, ''[[The Puritan (Springfield)|The Puritan]]'', originally stood. ''The Puritan'' has since been moved to the [[Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)|Quadrangle]], at the corner of State and Chestnut Streets; however, White's and St. Gaudens' original fountain, bench, and turtle sculptures, all meant to complement ''The Puritan'', remain in Stearns Square.
* [[Van Horn Park]] is a large park in the Hungry Hill section of [[Liberty Heights, Springfield, Massachusetts|Liberty Heights]] in Springfield. It features two ponds and a reservoir. The Reservoir and lower dam are not generally accessible to the public. The Main Entrance is on Armory Street near Chapin Terrace.

==Government==
[[File:City Hall - Springfield, MA - DSC03296.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Springfield Municipal Group|Springfield City Hall]] (1913)]]

===City of Springfield===

Springfield employs a strong-mayor form of city government. [[List of mayors of Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield's mayor]] is Domenic J. Sarno, who has been serving since 2008.

The city's governmental bureaucracy consists of 33 departments, which administer a wide array of municipal services, e.g. police, [[Springfield Fire Department|fire]], public works, parks, public health, housing, economic development, and the [[Springfield Public School System]], New England's 2nd largest public school system.<ref name="masslive">{{cite web |url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/springfield_schools_superinten_8.html |title=Springfield Schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick touts students' gains in academics, attendance, behavior &#124; |date=October 4, 2013 |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=October 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702104114/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/springfield_schools_superinten_8.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Springfield's legislative body is its City Council, which features a mix of eight [[Ward (United States)|ward]] representatives—even though the city has more than twice that many neighborhoods, resulting in several incongruous "wards"—and five at-large city representatives, several of whom have served for well over a decade.

====Finances====

In 2003, the City of Springfield was on the brink of financial default, and thus taken over by a Commonwealth-appointed Finance Control Board until 2009. Disbanded in June of that year, the Control Board made great strides stabilizing Springfield's finances.<ref name="bostonfed">{{cite web |url=http://www.bostonfed.org/commdev/pcadp/2009/pcadp0901.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/http://www.bostonfed.org/commdev/pcadp/2009/pcadp0901.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-10 |url-status=live |date=September 14, 2009 |title=Towards a More Prosperous Springfield, Massachusetts: Project Introduction and Motivation |author=Lynn Browne |access-date=October 16, 2014}}</ref> While Springfield has achieved balanced budgets since 2009, the city has not enlarged its tax base, and thus many of its public works projects—which have been in the pipeline for years, some even decades—remain unfinished (e.g., repairs to Springfield's landmark Campanile).<ref name="springfield-ma2">{{cite web |url=http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/capitalassets/campanile.0.html |title=Springfield, Mass. Capital Assets: The Campanile |publisher=www3.springfield-ma.gov |access-date=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701140037/http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/capitalassets/campanile.0.html |archive-date=July 1, 2014 }}</ref> The construction of [[MGM Springfield]], which opened in 2018, fueled a number of projects in the years leading up to and after its opening, with an estimated $3 billion of new development and infrastructure spending materializing.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Governing|url=https://www.governing.com/topics/finance/gov-springfield-massachusetts-turnaround-bankruptcy.html|title=This Small New England City Was on the Verge of Bankruptcy. Now It's a Turnaround Success Story|last=Greenblatt|first=Alan|date=December 2018|publisher=e.Republic|location=Washington, DC|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821173856/https://www.governing.com/topics/finance/gov-springfield-massachusetts-turnaround-bankruptcy.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Building off of the work of the Control Board, the city's finances have remained stable under Mayor Domenic J. Sarno's (2008–present) despite the Great Recession and several natural and man made disasters: [[2011 New England tornado outbreak|June 1, 2011, tornado Springfield Tornado]], [[Hurricane Irene]], a freak [[2011 Halloween nor'easter|October snow storm]] (which in some ways was more damaging than the tornado),<ref name="masslive3">{{cite web |url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/western_massachusetts_communit_41.html |title=Western Massachusetts communities deal with cleanup costs in wake of October snowstorm |date=December 27, 2011 |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=October 16, 2014 |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703092355/http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/western_massachusetts_communit_41.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and a large gas explosion in the downtown area in 2012. The city has recovered, however receiving a bond upgrade from Standard and Poor's Investment Services and the GFOA's Distinguished Budget Award for six consecutive years.

===Judicial system===

Like every other municipality in Massachusetts, Springfield has no judicial branch itself. Rather, it uses the Springfield-based state courts, which include Springfield district court and Hampden County [[Massachusetts Superior Court|Superior Court]], both of which are based in Springfield. The [[United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts|Federal District Court]] also regularly hears cases in Springfield—now in an architecturally award-winning building on State Street, constructed in 2009.

===Politics===

{{See also|List of mayors of Springfield, Massachusetts|Mayoral elections in Springfield, Massachusetts}}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 26, 2024<ref>{{cite web|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 26, 2024 |publisher=Massachusetts Elections Division |access-date=November 23, 2024 |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/accessible-table/enrollment-breakdown-2024.htm}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 39,388
| style="text-align:center;"| 32.80%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 7,072
| style="text-align:center;"| 5.89%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| style="text-align:center;"| 72,335
| style="text-align:center;"| 60.24%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 460
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.38%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 120,078
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}

Springfield became a [[City (Massachusetts)|city]] on May 25, 1852, by decree of the [[Massachusetts General Court|Massachusetts Legislature]], after a decade-long internal dispute that resulted in the partition of Chicopee from Springfield, and thus the loss of two fifths of the city's population.

Springfield, like all municipalities in Massachusetts, is subject to limited [[home rule]] municipal power. The current [[charter|city charter]], in effect since 1959, uses a "strong mayor" government with most power concentrated in the [[mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts|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 is former City Councilor [[Domenic Sarno]], elected November 6, 2007, by a margin of 52.54% to 47.18% against incumbent Charles Ryan. He took office in January 2008. In November 2009 and 2011, Sarno won reelection, albeit—in the latter case—with just 22% of eligible Springfield voters voting.<ref name="valleyadvocate">{{cite news |last=Turner |first=Maureen |date=December 8, 2011 |title=News—Where Were They on Election Day? Apathy is too simple a way of explaining why 78 percent of Springfield voters didn't make it to the polls in November. |url=http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=14394 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315213443/http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=14394 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |work=The Valley Advocate |access-date=May 22, 2019 }}</ref>

The Springfield [[City Council]], consisting of thirteen members, is the city's legislative branch. Elected every odd numbered year, eight of its members are elected to represent "wards", which are made of (sometimes incongruous) groupings of Springfield neighborhoods, e.g. Springfield's ethnic North End neighborhoods—Memorial Square and Brightwood—share a ward with Metro Center, Springfield's downtown. Five city council members are elected at-large. The City Council passes the city's budget, holds hearings, creates departments and commissions, and amends zoning laws.

The mayor's office and city council chambers are located in city hall—part of the [[Springfield Municipal Group|Municipal Group]] in Metro Center, Springfield. The Finance Control Board met there as well.

Springfield is heavily Democratic. In the [[2020 US Presidential Election]] Democrat [[Joe Biden]] received 72.4 percent of the vote to Republican [[Donald Trump]]'s 25.7 percent.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/140751/filter_by_county:Hampden | title=PD43+ » 2020 President General Election Statewide (Showing only Hampden County) | access-date=September 8, 2022 | archive-date=September 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908160417/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/140751/filter_by_county:Hampden | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Switch to ward representation===

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em;"
|-
! Springfield City Councilors 2024-2025<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wmasspi.com/2014/01/council-makes-history-president-fenton-promises-busy-year.html |title=Council Makes History, President Fenton Promises Busy Year ...—Western Mass Politics & Insight |website=Wmasspi.com |date=January 6, 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621091326/http://www.wmasspi.com/2014/01/council-makes-history-president-fenton-promises-busy-year.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://springfieldcityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Board/1001-City-Council|title=Accela Meeting Portal|website=springfieldcityma.iqm2.com|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710002402/http://springfieldcityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Board/1001-City-Council|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmasspi.com/2018/09/in-springfield-a-whitfield-of-dreams-comes-true-mid-term.html|title=In Springfield, a Whitfield of Dreams Comes True Mid-term ...|date=September 25, 2018|website=Western Mass Politics & Insight|language=en-US|others=Whitfield joined in mid-2018 after resignation of Thomas Ashe.|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514152945/https://www.wmasspi.com/2018/09/in-springfield-a-whitfield-of-dreams-comes-true-mid-term.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmasspi.com/2021/03/springfield-council-explores-strange-new-duty-boldly-chooses-a-gomez-for-ward-1.html|title=Springfield Council Explores Strange New Duty, Boldly Chooses a Gomez for Ward 1…|date=March 9, 2021|website=Western Mass Politics & Insight|language=en-US|others=Gumersindo Gomez filled the seat his son [[Adam Gomez]] vacated after the latter joined the State Senate.|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309063851/https://www.wmasspi.com/2021/03/springfield-council-explores-strange-new-duty-boldly-chooses-a-gomez-for-ward-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|
* Michael A. Fenton: Ward 2 (President)
* Melvin Edwards: Ward 3 (Vice President)
* Sean Curran: At-Large
* Kateri Walsh: At-Large 
* Jose M. Delgado: At-Large 
* Brian Santaniello: At-Large
* Tracye Whitfield: At-Large  
* Maria Perez: Ward 1
* Malo Brown: Ward 4
* Lavar Click-Bruce: Ward 5 
* Victor Davila: Ward 6
* Tim Allen: Ward 7
* Zaida Govan: Ward 8
|}
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 some at-large seats under this format. The primary argument for this has been that City Councilors live in only four of the city's wards. An initiative to change the composition failed to pass the City Council twice. In 2007 Mayor Charles V. Ryan and City Councilor Jose Tosado 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 was later 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 ballot initiative that established a new council with five at-large seats and eight ward seats passed 3–1. On November 3, 2009, Springfield held its first ward elections in 50 years.

===State and federal representation===
The State Representatives are [[Orlando Ramos]], [[Carlos González (American politician)|Carlos González]], [[Bud Williams]], and [[Angelo Puppolo]].  The State Senator is [[Adam Gomez]]. Springfield is part of the Eighth [[Massachusetts Governor's Council]] district and is represented by Tara Jacobs (D-North Adams).

[[Richard Neal]] represents [[United States House of Representatives, Massachusetts District 1]], and [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[Edward Markey]] represent Springfield in the Federal Senate.

==Education==

[[File:Springfield City Library, Central Branch.jpg|thumb|right|Central Branch of [[Springfield City Library]]]]

===Grade schools===
[[The Springfield Plan]] for [[citizenship education (subject)|citizenship education]] drew national attention in the 1940s for its efforts to combat racism.

====Public schools (K–12)====

Springfield has the second-largest school district in Massachusetts and in New England. It operates 38 elementary schools, six high schools, six middle schools (6–8), and seven specialized schools. The main high schools in the city include the [[High School of Commerce (Massachusetts)|High School of Commerce]], [[Springfield Central High School]], [[Roger L Putnam Vocational-Technical High School]], and the [[Springfield High School of Science and Technology]], better known as Sci-Tech. There are also two charter secondary schools in the City of Springfield: SABIS International, which ranks among the top 5% of high schools nationally in academic quality, and the Hampden Charter School of Science.

The city is required under a 1970s court order to balance schools racially, which had necessitated busing. However, since then, the city and the school's population has shifted and many of the neighborhoods are more [[Racial integration|integrated]], calling into question the need for busing at all.

In June 2015, [[Governor of Massachusetts|Massachusetts Governor]] [[Charlie Baker]] announced $3.2 million in grants to three underperforming middle schools in Springfield.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williams|first=Michelle|title=State awards $4.48 million to school turnaround efforts in Springfield, Worcester|website=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|MassLive.com]]|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|url=https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/state_awards_over_four_million.html|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=June 23, 2018|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113170437/https://www.masslive.com/news/2015/06/state_awards_over_four_million.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Private schools====

The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts|Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield]] operated five Catholic elementary schools in the city, all of which were consolidated into a single entity, St. Michael's Academy, in the autumn of 2009.<ref>[http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1232787365176350.xml&coll=1 Catholic grade schools remade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328171232/http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-17%2F1232787365176350.xml&coll=1 |date=March 28, 2012 }}, ''The Republican'', January 24, 2009</ref> The non-denominational [[Pioneer Valley Christian School|Pioneer Valley Christian Academy]] is located in the suburban [[Sixteen Acres, Springfield, Massachusetts|Sixteen Acres]] neighborhood, educating K–12.<ref>[http://www.pvcama.org/ Pioneer Valley Christian Academy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310195435/http://pvcama.org/ |date=March 10, 2017 }}. Retrieved April 22, 2010.</ref> Non-sectarian elementary schools within the City of Springfield include the Pioneer Valley Montessori School in Springfield's Sixteen Acres neighborhood and Orchard Children's Corner in suburban [[Indian Orchard, Springfield, Massachusetts|Indian Orchard]], a Pre-Kindergarten, among others.

The diocese runs [[Pope Francis Preparatory School]] (previously Cathedral High School), which is the largest Catholic high school in Western Massachusetts. Two [[nonsectarian]] private schools are also located in Springfield: Commonwealth Academy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commonwealth-academy.org/|title=Massachusetts Academy|access-date=April 27, 2016|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204122211/http://commonwealth-academy.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> located on the former campus of the [[MacDuffie School]] (which moved to [[Granby, Massachusetts]], in 2011 after 130 years in Springfield), and teaches grades four through twelve, soon to enroll students in grades K–12; and the Academy Hill School,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.academyhill.org/|title=Academy Hill School|website=Academy Hill School|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701012249/http://www.academyhill.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> which teaches [[kindergarten]] through grade eight.

Within {{convert|15|mi|km|0}} of Springfield are many private prep schools, which can serve as day schools for Springfield students; they include the [[Williston Northampton School]] in Easthampton, Massachusetts; [[Wilbraham & Monson Academy]] in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and [[Suffield Academy]] in [[Suffield, Connecticut]].

===Higher education===

====Universities and colleges====

The [[Knowledge Corridor]] boasts the second-largest concentration of higher learning institutions in the United States, with 32 universities and [[liberal arts colleges]] and over 160,000 university students in Greater Hartford–Springfield. This includes two college consortia, the [[Five Colleges (Massachusetts)|Five Colleges]], and the [[Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield]], whose member institutions often collaborate in greater outreach programs. Within {{convert|16|mi|km|0}} of Springfield's [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|Metro Center]], there are 18 universities and liberal arts colleges, which enroll approximately 100,000 students.<ref name="nu">{{cite web |url=http://nuwnotes1.nu.com/apps/wmeco/webcontent.nsf/AR/econ_review_2010/$File/2010_wmeco_Review.pdf |date=January 10, 2011 |title=Western Massachusetts 2010–2011 Economic Review |access-date=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202012925/http://nuwnotes1.nu.com/apps/wmeco/webcontent.nsf/AR/econ_review_2010/$File/2010_wmeco_Review.pdf |archive-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref>

As of 2015, Springfield attracts over 20,000 university students per year. Its universities and colleges include [[Western New England College|Western New England University]]; [[Springfield College]], famous as the birthplace of the sport of basketball (1891) and the nation's first [[physical education]] class, (1912); [[American International College]], founded to educate America's immigrant population, is notable as the inventor of the [[Model Congress]] program. [[UMass Amherst]] relocated its urban design center graduate program to [[Court Square]] in Metro Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/elm_street.0.html |title=Court Square Springfield, Mass.: Home Page |publisher=Springfieldcityhall.com |date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719162257/http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/elm_street.0.html |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref>

Several of Greater Springfield's institutions rank among the most prestigious in the world. For example, [[Amherst College]], {{convert|15|mi|km|0}} north of Springfield, and [[Smith College]], {{convert|13|mi|km|0}} north of Springfield, consistently rank among America's top 10 liberal arts colleges. [[Mount Holyoke College]]—the United States' first women's college—consistently ranks among America's Top 15 colleges, and it is located only {{convert|9|mi|km|0}} north of Springfield. [[Hampshire College]] is located {{convert|14|mi|km|0}} north of Springfield. The 30,000-student [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] is located {{convert|16|mi|km|0}} north of Springfield. Approximately {{convert|10|mi|km|0}} west of Springfield, across the Memorial Bridge in Westfield, is [[Westfield State University]], founded by noted education reformer [[Horace Mann]]. Westfield was the first university in America to admit students without regard to sex, race, or economic status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsc.ma.edu/prospective-students/undergraduate-admissions/after-you-apply/ |title=After You Apply : Undergraduate Admissions : Prospective Students : Westfield State University |publisher=Wsc.ma.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604041344/http://www.wsc.ma.edu/prospective-students/undergraduate-admissions/after-you-apply/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref>

Just outside Springfield's northern city limits is [[Elms College]], a Catholic college. Likewise, just {{convert|2|mi|km|1}} below Springfield's southern city limit in [[Longmeadow]] is [[Bay Path University]]; both schools were once all-women but are now co-ed.

====Community colleges====

In 1968, following the Pentagon's controversial closing of the [[Springfield Armory]], Springfielders founded [[Springfield Technical Community College]] on {{convert|35|acre|ha|1}} behind the Springfield Armory National Park. Springfield Technical Community College is the only polytechnic community college in Massachusetts, and was founded to continue Springfield's tradition of technical innovation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shaysrebellion.stcc.edu/shaysapp/about/project.jsp |title=Shays' Rebellion—About This Project |publisher=Shaysrebellion.stcc.edu |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720050248/http://shaysrebellion.stcc.edu/shaysapp/about/project.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Holyoke Community College]], {{convert|8|mi|km|0}} north of Springfield, offers more traditional community college programming in Greater Springfield, as well as instruction in the culinary arts.

==Media==

[[File:The Republican Building, Springfield, Massachusetts.jpg|thumb|Headquarters and printing facilities of ''[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Republican]]'']]

===Newspapers===

Springfield's largest local newspaper is ''[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|The Republican]]'', which has also previously been known as the ''Springfield Union-News & Sunday Republican'', from when it merged with the ''Springfield Union''. Smaller papers such as ''The Reminder''<ref name="thereminder">{{cite news |title=Local News |url=https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/ |access-date=January 21, 2022 |work=The Reminder |publisher=Reminder Publications |date=October 1, 2009 |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121070231/https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the ''Valley Advocate'' also serve [[Pioneer Valley|Greater Springfield]].

Other newspapers serve specific communities of interest, such as ''El Pueblo Latino'' and ''[[El Sol Latino]]'', which serve the Hispanic community, as well as ''Unity First'' and the ''AfAm Point of View'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afampointofview.com/|title=AfAm Point of View|website=AfAm Point of View|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=June 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628064443/http://www.afampointofview.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> both of which serve the African-American community, and ''The Rainbow Times'', which serves Springfield's LGBT community.

===Television===

Springfield has a long history of broadcast television, including two of the oldest [[UHF]] television stations on the air today.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Channel (digital/virtual) !! Call sign !! Network !! Owner
|-
| 11/22 || |[[WWLP-TV|WWLP]] || [[NBC]]/[[The CW|CW]] (through [[The CW Plus]]) (DT2)<br />[[Ion Television]] (DT3) || [[Nexstar Media Group]]
|-
| 21/3.5 || [[WSHM-LD]] || [[CBS]] || [[Gray Television]]
|-
| 13/57 || [[WGBY]] || [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] || [[WGBH-TV|WGBH Educational Foundation]]<br /><small>Operated by New England Public Media</small>
|-
| 21/22 || [[WFXQ-CD]] || NBC++ || Nexstar Media Group
|-
| 34 || [[WTXX-LD]] || [[Independent station|Independent]] || Tyche Broadcasting
|-
| 40 || [[WGGB-TV|WGGB]] || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]/[[MyNetworkTV]] (DT2) || Gray Television
|-
| 43 || [[WUVN|WHTX-LP]] || [[Univision]] || [[Entravision Communications]]
|}

====Cable operators====

Springfield proper is serviced exclusively by [[Comcast]] cable. Springfield was formerly wired with a "dual plant" cable system from 1980 until 2001, requiring an A/B switch for each home to watch programming and complicating [[Videocassette recorder|VCR recordings]].

===Radio===
Springfield was home to the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, and the oldest radio station of any kind in New England: [[WBZ (AM)|WBZ]], which broadcast live from Springfield's luxurious [[Hotel Kimball]] at 140 Chestnut Street (now the [[Kimball Towers Condominiums]]) before moving to Boston in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springfield375.org/|title=Springfield 375—Springfield's Official 375th Anniversary Celebration Site|date=July 21, 2013|access-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721031431/http://www.springfield375.org/|archive-date=July 21, 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Callsign]] !! Frequency !! City/town !! Network affiliation / owner !! Format
|-
| [[WFCR]] || align=right | 88.5 FM || Springfield<ref name="masslive4">{{cite web |author1=Jim Kinney |author2=The Republican |url=http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/05/public_radio_station_wfcr_plans_move_to.html |title=Public radio station WFCR-FM plans move from Amherst to Springfield |date=May 13, 2011 |publisher=masslive.com |access-date=May 15, 2011 |archive-date=October 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018043719/http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2011/05/public_radio_station_wfcr_plans_move_to.html |url-status=live }}</ref> || [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] || [[Public Radio]]
|-
| [[WSKB]] || align=right | 89.5 FM || Westfield || [[Westfield State University]] || [[College Radio]]
|-
| [[WSCB]] || align=right | 89.9 FM || Springfield || [[Springfield College]] || [[College Radio]]
|-
| [[WTCC (FM)|WTCC]] || align=right | 90.7 FM || Springfield || [[Springfield Technical Community College]] || [[Public Radio]]
|-
| [[WAIC]] || align=right | 91.9 FM || Springfield || [[American International College]] || [[College Radio]]
|-
| [[WHYN-FM]] || align=right | 93.1 FM || Springfield || [[iHeartMedia]] || Hot Adult Contemporary ''([[Top 40 radio|Top 40]] on HD2)''
|-
| [[WMAS-FM]] || align=right | 94.7 FM || [[Enfield, Connecticut]] || [[Entercom]] || Adult contemporary ''([[Country music|Country]] on HD2)''
|-
| [[WLZX-FM]] || align=right | 99.3 FM || Northampton || Saga Communications of New England || "Everything That Rocks"
|-
| [[WLCQ-LP]] || align=right | 99.7 FM || Feeding Hills || Lighthouse Christian Center || Christian Rock/Pop Music, "The Q"
|-
| [[WRNX]] || align=right | 100.9 FM || Amherst || [[iHeartMedia]] || Country
|-
| [[WAQY]] || align=right | 102.1 FM || Springfield || Saga Communications of New England || [[Classic rock]]
|-
| [[WCCH]] || align=right | 103.5 FM || [[Holyoke, Massachusetts|Holyoke]] || [[Holyoke Community College]] || [[College Radio]]
|-
| [[WNEK-FM]] || align=right | 105.1 FM || Springfield || [[Western New England University]] || [[College Radio]]
|-
| [[WWEI]] || align=right | 105.5 FM || Easthampton/Springfield || [[Entercom]] || [[Sports radio|Sports Talk]]'' (simulcast of [[WEEI-FM]] in Boston)''
|-
| [[WEIB]] || align=right | 106.3 FM || [[Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton]]/Springfield || Cutting Edge Broadcasting || [[Smooth Jazz]]
|-
| [[WHYN (AM)|WHYN]] || align=right | 560&nbsp;AM || Springfield || [[iHeartMedia]] || News/Talk
|-
| [[WNNZ (AM)|WNNZ]] || align=right | 640&nbsp;AM || Westfield || [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] || [[Public Radio]] ''(programmed by WFCR)''
|-
| [[WACE (AM)|WACE]] || align=right | 730&nbsp;AM || [[Chicopee, Massachusetts|Chicopee]] || Carter Broadcasting Corporation|| Religious
|-
| [[WARE]] || align=right | 1250&nbsp;AM || [[Ware, Massachusetts|Ware]] || Success Signal Broadcasting || [[Oldies]]
|-
| [[WACM (AM)|WACM]] || align=right | 1270&nbsp;AM || Springfield || Davidson Media Group || [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
|-
| [[WHLL]] || align=right | 1450&nbsp;AM || Springfield || [[Entercom]] || [[Sports Radio]] ([[CBS Sports Radio]] affiliate)
|-
| [[WSPR (AM)|WSPR]] || align=right | 1490&nbsp;AM || Springfield || [[Davidson Media Group]] || [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
|}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:Springfield Union Station, July 2016.jpg|thumb|[[Springfield Union Station (Massachusetts)|Union Station]] is used for bus, Amtrak, and commuter rail service]]

Springfield is called the ''Crossroads of New England'' because it is the major shipping nexus from New York City, Boston, [[Montreal]] and the [[Great Lakes]] (via [[Albany, New York]]). Much of the cargo heading from one of these places to another crosses through the City of Springfield.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} As a geographical trade center, Springfield has more advantages than just being equidistant to these other large trade centers—it sits beside the [[Connecticut River]], is located near some of the most fertile farmland in the Northeast, and is served by numerous rail lines and [[Interstate Highways]], including [[I-90 (MA)|I-90]] ([[Massachusetts Turnpike|Mass Pike]]) and [[I-91 (MA)|I-91]], which connect New Haven, Hartford, Holyoke, [[Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton]], and [[Vermont]] to Springfield. One of the few spurs of I-91 in Massachusetts, [[Interstate 291 (Massachusetts)|I-291]], runs through Springfield, and provides a secondary connection between I-90 and I-91.

====Rail====
[[Springfield Union Station (Massachusetts)|Springfield Union Station]], originally opened in 1926 and re-opened in 2017, is served by five [[Amtrak]] intercity routes: the ''[[Vermonter (train)|Vermonter]]'', which runs from Washington, D.C. to St. Albans, Vermont; the ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'', which runs from Chicago to Boston; the [[Amtrak Hartford Line|Amtrak ''Hartford Line'']], which runs from Springfield to New Haven; the ''[[Valley Flyer]]'', which runs from New Haven to Greenfield; and the ''[[Northeast Regional]]'', which runs from Springfield to D.C./Virginia. Amtrak relocated its operations into Union Station proper from their previous track side station building in June 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://media.amtrak.com/2019/06/amtrak-trains-return-to-historic-springfield-union-station/ | title = Amtrak Trains Return to Historic Springfield Union Station | publisher = Amtrak | date = 2019-06-10 | accessdate = 2024-07-09}}</ref>

[[CT Rail]]'s [[Hartford Line]] started operating from Union Station in June 2018, with Springfield as the northern terminus. Trains operate to New Haven, CT with multiple stops in Connecticut along the way. The line shares the same route and station listing as the Amtrak route of the same name, and the two are operated in conjunction as a commuter rail service for the region.

The [[New Haven–Springfield Line]] was upgraded in conjunction with the launch of the Hartford Line service. The project received funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Federal Government, and the State of Connecticut. Amtrak trains on the route between New Haven and Springfield reach speeds of {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.

In 2011, Springfield Union Station started a $70&nbsp;million renovation to become an intermodal transportation facility, allowing [[Peter Pan Bus]], [[Greyhound Bus]], and the [[PVTA]] to occupy a modern space next to the renovated Union Station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfield-ma.gov/planning/union_station.0.html |title=Springfield Redevelopment Authority: Springfield Union Station |website=Springfield-ma.gov |access-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629074429/http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/planning/union_station.0.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was completed in June 2017.

There are no major freight yards in Springfield proper, but [[Connecticut Southern Railroad]] and [[CSX]] serve CSX's West Springfield yard across the Connecticut River.

====Bus====

The [[Pioneer Valley Transit Authority]] (PVTA) is based in Springfield and uses [[Springfield Union Station (Massachusetts)|Union Station]] as its Springfield hub, next to the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] arch that denotes the entrance to [[Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts|downtown Springfield]]. The PVTA operates nineteen bus routes from Union Station. The PVTA's Springfield service area includes Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, West Springfield, Ludlow, Agawam, and East Longmeadow. With transfers, it is possible to travel into PVTA's northern service area, which includes Northampton, Amherst, and Easthampton.

Intercity bus service is provided by [[Peter Pan Bus Lines]] and [[Greyhound Lines]], both of which operate from Union Station. They provide service to destinations across the northeast United States.

====Air====

Springfield is primarily served by [[Bradley International Airport]], in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]], {{convert|12|mi}} south of downtown. It features over 100 daily departures to 30 destinations on nine airlines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradleyairport.com/Flights/destinations.aspx |title=Destinations |publisher=Bradleyairport.com |date=April 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604083658/http://www.bradleyairport.com/Flights/destinations.aspx |archive-date=June 4, 2012 }}</ref> It is also the primary airport for Hartford.

Other regional airports serving Springfield include:
* [[Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport]] is 12 miles (19&nbsp;km) from downtown Springfield in [[Westfield, Massachusetts]]. It is 1.5 miles (2.4&nbsp;km) from the Massachusetts Turnpike.
* [[Westover Metropolitan Airport]] is {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} from downtown Springfield. It is {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} from the Massachusetts Turnpike.
* [[Logan International Airport]] in Boston is approximately {{convert|80|mi|km|round=5}} northeast of Springfield.

====Cycling====

The city's [[Connecticut River Walk Park]] offers a largely uninterrupted bike route from the North to South End, and is part of a broader plan by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to create a continuous route alongside the Connecticut River from Agawam to Holyoke, with construction and planning ongoing.<ref name=riverwalkmore>{{cite web|title=Home / Parks / Parks Facilities and Use / River Walk / More about River Walk|url=https://www.springfield-ma.gov/park/index.php?id=riverwalk-more|publisher=City of Springfield|access-date=July 27, 2011|archive-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331200405/http://springfield-ma.gov/park/index.php?id=riverwalk-more|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The city recently partnered with Bewegen<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Bewegen Bike Share System - Power Your Ride|url=https://bewegen.com/en|access-date=May 27, 2021|publisher=The Bewegen Bike Share System|language=en|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802065752/https://bewegen.com/en|url-status=live}}</ref> (an e-bike share system provider) to install e-bike share stations in both Springfield<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 9, 2020|title=ValleyBike will not offer bike share program in Springfield due to coronavirus|url=https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/07/valleybike-will-not-offer-bike-share-program-in-springfield-due-to-coronavirus.html|access-date=May 27, 2021|publisher=[[The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)|MassLive.com]]|language=en|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416170837/https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/07/valleybike-will-not-offer-bike-share-program-in-springfield-due-to-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and West Springfield.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pugliese|first=Ryan Trowbridge, Kaylee|title=ValleyBike launches locations in West Springfield|url=https://www.westernmassnews.com/news/valleybike-launches-locations-in-west-springfield/article_db90eaf2-ae8d-11eb-8675-f7915490e218.html|access-date=May 27, 2021|publisher=Western Mass News ([[WGGB-TV|WGGB]]/[[WSHM-TV|WSHM]])|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Water and sewer system===

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (created in its current form in 1996) owns several reservoirs and aqueducts, as well as hydropower and sewage treatment stations. The city purchased the Springfield Aqueduct Company in 1872.<ref>[http://waterandsewer.org/about_us/index.html About the Commission | Springfield Water and Sewer Commission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005163257/http://www.waterandsewer.org/about_us/index.html |date=October 5, 2013 }}. Waterandsewer.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>

Borden Brook Reservoir, located in the rural western Hampden County town of [[Blandford, Massachusetts|Blandford]] was completed in 1910. It feeds into the Cobble Mountain Reservoir (completed in 1931) located at the junction of the towns of Blandford, [[Granville, Massachusetts|Granville]] and [[Russell, Massachusetts|Russell]]. The [[Wild Cat Aqueduct]] carries water from the Cobble Mountain Reservoir to a hydroelectric generating station on the Granville–Russell border, at the Little River. Drinking water flows to the West Parish Water Filtration Plant in [[Westfield, Massachusetts|Westfield]], and is then pumped to holding tanks at the top of [[Provin Mountain]] in [[Agawam, Massachusetts|Agawam]].<ref name="water system">[http://waterandsewer.org/about_us/water_system_history.html Water System History | Springfield Water and Sewer Commission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509015834/http://www.waterandsewer.org/about_us/water_system_history.html |date=May 9, 2013 }}. Waterandsewer.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>

The 1875 Ludlow Reservoir, also known as Springfield Reservoir, is maintained as an emergency water supply; it is located in [[Ludlow, Massachusetts|Ludlow]] and fed via the [[Broad Brook Canal]].

SWSC provides retail water in Springfield and Ludlow; wholesale water to Agawam, East Longmeadow, and Longmeadow; partial or peak service to Southwick, Westfield, and West Springfield; and emergency service to Chicopee and Wilbraham.<ref name="water system" />

===Emergency services===
The Springfield Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city, and is one of the oldest fire departments in the United States.<ref name=history>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/fire/history.0.html |website=Springfield Fire Department |access-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317184518/http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/fire/history.0.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!-- Please Note -- 
Only those who already have a Wikipedia article may be included in this section.
An external reliable source of their residency should be cited here.
All others will be deleted without notice. Guidelines for notability can be found by reviewing. WP:BIO
-->
<!-- Please keep the list in alphabetical order. -->

{{Columns-list|
* [[Creighton Abrams]], U.S. Army general, [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]], and Commander of Operations during the [[Vietnam War]]
* [[Weston Adams]], longtime president of the [[NHL]]'s [[Boston Bruins]]
* [[Johnny Appleseed]], American folk hero, spent his childhood and young adulthood in Springfield
* [[Joe Arpaio]], "America's Toughest Sheriff", known for "tent city" prison in [[Maricopa County, Arizona]]
* [[Adele Addison]], soprano, acclaimed in classical music during the 1950s–1960s
* [[Joel Asaph Allen]], zoologist
* [[George Ashmun]], founder of the [[U.S. Republican Party]] and Springfield lawyer
* [[Travis Best]], [[National Basketball Association]] player
* [[Alfred Ely Beach]], inventor of New York City's subway system
* [[Mary Agnes Dalrymple Bishop]] (1857–1934), American journalist, newspaper editor
* [[R. P. Blackmur]], poet and literary critic
* [[Nina Blackwood]], original MTV VJ and [[Sirius Satellite Radio]] DJ
* [[Ran Blake]], jazz pianist
* [[Thomas Blanchard (inventor)|Thomas Blanchard]], inventor of [[lathe]] (1819), which led to technological advances known as [[interchangeable parts]] and [[assembly line]] manufacturing; also, inventor of first modern car—powered by steam (1825)
* [[Herbert Blomstedt]], orchestra conductor of [[Danish National Symphony Orchestra]], and symphony orchestras in San Francisco and [[Stockholm, Sweden]]
* [[Edward Boland]], U.S. Congressman 1952–1989
* [[Cheryl Boone Isaacs]], first African-American and third woman to become President of the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]
* [[Mary Ann Booth]], American [[photomicroscopy]] pioneer, [[parasitologist]], whose work on the [[bubonic plague]] and many other diseases was internationally regarded
* [[Chester Bowles]], former Governor of Connecticut
* [[Samuel Bowles (journalist)|Samuel Bowles]], journalist, founder of ''[[Springfield Republican]]'', one of founders of [[United States Republican Party]]
* [[Lloyd Wheaton Bowers]], lawyer and former U.S. Solicitor General
* [[Ron Brace]], [[National Football League]] player
* [[Milton Bradley]], inventor of parlor games and game-manufacturer
* [[Chuck Bresnahan]], NFL coach
* [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]], abolitionist
* [[Harold R. Bull]], completed the weather report that enabled the [[D-Day]] launch during [[World War II]]
* [[Nick Buoniconti]], [[National Football League|NFL]] [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]]
* [[Thornton Burgess]], children's author, known for "[[Peter Cottontail]]"
* [[Chris Capuano]], Major League Baseball pitcher
* [[Ruth E. Carter]], [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-winning costume designer for her work on Marvel's [[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]
* [[Athan Catjakis]] (1931–2022), Massachusetts state legislator
* [[John Cena]], [[WWE]] wrestler
* [[Amzi Chapin]], cabinet maker, singing-school teacher and shapenote composer
* [[Chester W. Chapin]], railroad magnate
* [[Deacon Samuel Chapin]], early settler of Springfield, 1642
* [[John A. Chapman]] (1965–2002), USAF Combat Controller, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
* [[Thornton Chase]], first American convert to the [[Baháʼí Faith]]
* [[Yodelin' Slim Clark]], singer
* [[Bobby Coleman]], singer-songwriter
* [[George R. Collins]], art historian
* [[Jeff Cook (soccer coach)|Jeff Cook]], soccer coach<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeff Cook |url=https://gopsusports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/season/2024-25/staff/jeff-cook |website=[[Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer|Penn State Nittany Lions]] |access-date=April 25, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Otis H. Cooley]], daguerreotype photographer
* [[Shamus Culhane]], lead animator at [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney Studios]], who produced such classics as ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]''
* [[Billy Curtis]], actor, best known as a Munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz", and "Terror of Tinytown"
* [[Bill Danoff]], member of [[Starland Vocal Band]] and wrote No. 1 hit [[Afternoon Delight (song)|"Afternoon Delight"]]
* [[Donald Davidson (philosopher)|Donald Davidson]], philosopher, known for studies regarding communication
* [[Jim Douglas]], Governor of Vermont from 2003 to 2010
* [[Vinny Del Negro]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player and head coach
* [[Max Ehrlich (writer)|Max Ehrlich]], writer, best known for his novel ''[[The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (novel)|The Reincarnation of Peter Proud]]'', and [[The Reincarnation of Peter Proud|its film adaptation]] set in Springfield 
* [[David W. Evans]], professor of psychology and neuroscience, [[Bucknell University]]
* [[George Bowman Ferry]], architect
* [[Theodore Foley]], Roman Catholic priest, nominated for [[sainthood]] in 2008
* [[June Foray]], voice actress for animated films
* [[Bertram Forer]], psychologist, known for the [[Forer effect]]
* [[Carole Fredericks]], French musician whose brother was Springfield blues great Taj Mahal
* [[John Garand]], weapons inventor
* Theodor Seuss Geisel (a.k.a. [[Dr. Seuss]]), writer and illustrator best known for his children's books
* [[Frederick H. Gillett]], [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives]] from 1919 to 1925, [[United States Senator]] from 1925 to 1931
* [[Charles Goodyear]], inventor of vulcanized rubber
* [[Mike Gravel]], senator from Alaska
* [[Chester Harding (painter)|Chester Harding]], portrait painter during the 19th century
* [[Richard F. Heck]], awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] in 2010
* [[Victor Heflin]], football player
* [[Iris Holland]], Massachusetts state legislator
* [[Elizur Holyoke]], early explorer of [[Western Massachusetts]], for whom [[Holyoke, Massachusetts]], and the [[Holyoke Range]] are named
* [[Joseph French Johnson]], economist, wrote the inspirational "The Price of Success"
* [[Sophia Orne Johnson]] (1826–1899), author
* [[Raymond A. Jordan]] (1943–2022), state legislator
* [[Alan Kay]], computer scientist
* [[Edward Kamuda]], founder and president of Titanic Historical Society
* [[Derek Kellogg]], LIU Brooklyn men's basketball head coach
* [[Peter King (sportswriter)|Peter King]], sportswriter and TV commentator
* [[Stanley King]], 11th president of [[Amherst College]]
* [[Bob Kudelski]], professional hockey player
* [[Paul LaPalme]], Major League Baseball pitcher
* [[Timothy Leary]], writer, psychologist and advocate of psychedelic drug research and use
* [[Norman Leyden]], conductor and clarinetist
* [[Edward Tsang Lu]], astronaut
* [[Arthur MacArthur, Jr.]], Army general, father of [[Douglas MacArthur]]
* [[William Manchester]], historian, author of ''[[The Death of a President]]'' and other renowned literary works
* [[Rabbit Maranville]], professional baseball player, inducted into [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1954
* [[Frank J. Matrango]], state legislator
* [[Tim Mayotte]], professional tennis player
* [[Patrick Mazeika]] (born 1993), baseball player
* [[Linda J. Melconian]], public servant, educator, lawyer
* [[Miles Morgan]], hero of [[King Philip's War]] of 1675, a statue of Morgan stands in Springfield's [[Court Square]]
* [[Horace A. Moses]], philanthropist and paper pioneer
* [[James Naismith]], inventor of basketball
* [[Tom Newberry]], football player
* [[Lowell North]], Olympic gold medalist in sailing
* [[Larry O'Brien]], [[United States Postmaster General|Postmaster General]], [[Democratic National Committee]] chairman and Commissioner of the [[National Basketball Association]]
* [[Jerry Orbach]], Actor
* [[Robert B. Parker]], author of ''[[Spenser (character)|Spenser]]'' and ''[[Jesse Stone (character)|Jesse Stone]]'' novels
* [[Joe Philbin]], head coach of NFL [[Miami Dolphins]]
* [[Maude Gillette Phillips]] (1860–?), author, educator
* [[Nella Brown Pond]] (1858–1893), dramatic reader
* [[Eleanor Powell]], actress and tap dancer
* [[William Pynchon]], founder of City of Springfield; earlier founded [[Roxbury, Massachusetts]]; in 1649, wrote America's first [[banned book]]
* [[Joe Ragland]] (born 1989), American-Liberian basketball player for [[Hapoel Eilat B.C.|Hapoel Eilat]] of the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]
* [[Caleb Rice]], first Mayor of Springfield, President of [[MassMutual]]
* [[George W. Rice (businessman)|George Washington Rice]], founder of [[MassMutual]] Life Insurance
* [[William Rice (librarian)|William Rice]], Methodist minister, President and Executive Director of the [[Quadrangle (Springfield, Massachusetts)#Springfield City Library|Springfield City Library Association]]
* [[William Marsh Rice]], founder of [[Rice University]], Houston, Texas<ref>Randal L. Hall and Sylvia Stallings Morris, eds, ''William Marsh Rice and His Institute: Centennial Edition'' (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2012), p.1.</ref> 
* [[Stephen Rivers]] (1955–2010), political activist and publicist.<ref>Chmielewski, Dawn C. [https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-stephen-rivers-20100609-story.html "Stephen M. Rivers dies at 55; Hollywood publicist and political activist"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', June 9, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.</ref>
* [[Peter Robinson (sideshow artist)|Peter Robinson]], actor and freak show performer
* [[Kurt Russell]], actor
* [[Julia Sanderson]], actress, vaudevillian, and namesake of Springfield's [[Julia Sanderson Theater]] (now The Paramount Theater)
* [[Joe Scibelli]], Los Angeles Rams professional football player
* [[Mike Scully]], writer and producer for ''[[The Simpsons]]''
* [[Chloë Sevigny]], actress
* [[Michael Shapiro (actor)|Michael Shapiro]], actor and voice actor
* [[Daniel Shays]], leader of [[Shays' Rebellion]]
* [[John Shea]], actor and director
* [[Eddie Shore]], professional hockey player and owner
* [[David Socha]] international soccer referee
* [[Talbert W. Swan II]]: Prelate, Church Of God In Christ, Activist, Author
* [[Tommy Tallarico]], video game music composer
* [[Tom Matera|Antonio Thomas]], professional wrestler
* [[Louise Hall Tharp]], biographer
* [[George Tomasini]], film editor known for work with [[Alfred Hitchcock]]
* [[Mike Trombley]], former [[Major League Baseball]] pitcher
* [[Paige Turco]], actress
* [[Frank Vatrano]], ice hockey player
* [[Lynn Vincent]], author
* [[Benjamin Wade]] U.S. Senator from Ohio
* [[David Ames Wells]], engineer and economist
* [[Daniel Baird Wesson]], weapons inventor and founder of [[Smith & Wesson]]
* [[Maura West]], [[Daytime Emmy]] award-winning soap opera actress
* [[James McNeill Whistler]], painter
* [[Mary Margaret O'Reilly]], civil servant
* [[Terence H. Winkless]], film and television director
}}

===Notable musical artists===

{{Columns-list|
* [[The Acacia Strain]], [[deathcore]] band
* [[Agoraphobic Nosebleed]], [[grindcore]] band
* [[All That Remains (band)|All That Remains]], metalcore band
* [[Destrophy]], [[Otep]], Erik Tisinger, guitarist and bassist, from Springfield
* [[Killswitch Engage]], [[metalcore]] band
* [[Lucy Escott]], soprano<ref name="Kurt">{{Cite web |last=Gänzl |first=Kurt |author-link=Kurt Gänzl |date=2021-03-03 |title=Lucy Escott: Australia's greatest American prima donna |url=https://theatreheritage.org.au/on-stage-magazine/profiles/item/681-lucy-escott-australia-s-greatest-american-prima-donna |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Theatre Heritage Australia |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Ganzl">{{Cite book |last=Gänzl |first=Kurt |author-link=Kurt Gänzl|chapter=Lucy Escott|title=Victorian Vocalists|publisher=Routledge|year=2018|pages=219–223}}</ref>
* [[Eddie Fontaine]], singer
* [[Carole Fredericks]], singer
* [[Ashley Gearing]], [[country music]] artist
* [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]], blues musician
* [[Tony MacAlpine]], [[jazz-rock fusion|fusion]] musician
* [[Joe Morello]], jazz drummer with the [[Dave Brubeck Quartet]]
* [[Mark Mulcahy]] musician
* [[Linda Perry]], songwriter, formerly of [[4 Non Blondes]]
* [[Shadows Fall]], metalcore band
* [[Signs (band)|Signs]], reggaeton band
* [[Staind]], [[alternative rock]] band
* [[Paul Weston]], composer for [[Bing Crosby]], [[Frank Sinatra]], and others
* [[Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgette]], [[hip hop]] artist
* [[D. Woods]], member of group [[Danity Kane]]
* [[Phil Woods]], jazz saxophonist with [[Quincy Jones]], [[Steely Dan]], [[Paul Simon]], others
}}

==Sister cities==
* {{flagdeco|ITA}}[[Bracigliano]], [[Province of Salerno|Salerno]], Italy<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor from Italy visits Springfield|last=Becker|first=Sy|date=July 12, 2018|publisher=WWLP 22 News|url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/mayor-from-italy-visits-springfield/|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-date=August 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821210620/https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/mayor-from-italy-visits-springfield/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|JPN}}[[Takikawa]], [[Hokkaido]], Japan<ref>[http://www.masshokkaido.org/page-200060 Springfield, Massachusetts and Takikawa City, Hokkaido] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071700/http://www.masshokkaido.org/page-200060 |date=January 15, 2018 }}. Massachusetts Hokkaido Association.</ref>
* {{flagdeco|IRE}}[[Tralee]], [[County Kerry]], Ireland<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor Sarno and Congressman Neal Welcome Toireasa Ferris, Kerry County Councilor for Tralee, Ireland|publisher=City of Springfield (Mass.)|url=https://www3.springfield-ma.gov/cos/index.php?id=news-story&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=13663&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=424e591bef53bcd4ec20616318b03f43|date=March 20, 2018|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523054942/https://www3.springfield-ma.gov/cos/index.php?id=news-story&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=13663&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&cHash=424e591bef53bcd4ec20616318b03f43|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[The Children's Study Home]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Springfield, Massachusetts]]
* [[Equivalent Lands]]
* [[USS Springfield|USS ''Springfield'']], 4 ships

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |editor-last=King |editor-first=Moses |date=1884 |title=King's Handbook of Springfield: A Series of Monographs, Historical and Descriptive |url=https://archive.org/stream/kingshandbookofs00king#page/n0/mode/2up |location=Springfield, Mass. |publisher=J. D. Gill |oclc=960063143}}
* {{cite book |last=Swift |first=Esther M. |date=1969 |title=West Springfield Massachusetts: A Town History |publisher=West Springfield Heritage Association |oclc=69843}}
* {{cite book |author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. --> |title=Atlas of Springfield City, Massachusetts |url=http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/127876?show=full |location=Boston, Massachusetts |publisher=Geo. H. Walker & Co. |date=1882}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=1|s=Category:Springfield, Massachusetts|d=Q49158}}
* [https://www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/ City of Springfield, Massachusetts Official website]
* [https://springfieldregionalchamber.com/ Springfield Regional Chamber]

{{SpringfieldMA|state=collapsed}}
{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Springfield, Massachusetts
| North     = [[Chicopee, Massachusetts|Chicopee]]
| Northeast = [[Ludlow, Massachusetts|Ludlow]]
| East      = [[Wilbraham, Massachusetts|Wilbraham]]
| Southeast = [[East Longmeadow, Massachusetts|East Longmeadow]]
| South     = [[Longmeadow, Massachusetts|Longmeadow]]
| Southwest = [[Agawam, Massachusetts|Agawam]]
| West      = [[West Springfield, Massachusetts|West Springfield]]/[[Connecticut River]]
| Northwest = [[West Springfield, Massachusetts|West Springfield]]
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Articles relating to Springfield
| list ={{Hampden County, Massachusetts}}
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}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Irish-American history]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1636]]
[[Category:Massachusetts populated places on the Connecticut River]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican culture in the United States]]
[[Category:Russian-American culture in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts|.]]
[[Category:World War II Heritage Cities]]