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Springfield is a city in Massachusetts. It is the county seat of Hampden County.GR6 As of the 2000 census, the city population was 152,082. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts and fourth largest in New England (behind Boston, Providence and Worcester). According to a July 1, 2003 Census estimate, there were 152,157 people in Springfield. The city is the largest (and also historically the first) city called Springfield in the United States. It is also the largest city on the Connecticut River and the largest city in Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley. It is home to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Springfield Falcons hockey team. It has a notable history as the home to Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and as the birthplace of that great American pastime, basketball, invented by James Naismith at Springfield College. It is also home to the western world's largest collection of Chinese cloisonné at the G.W. Vincent Smith Art Museum. The city of Springfield holds two nicknames, The City of Homes and The City of Firsts. With Hartford, Connecticut, greater Springfield constitutes New England's Knowledge Corridor.
HistorySpringfield was founded in 1636 by William Pynchon, the then assistant treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The town was named after the city in England where he was born. The location on the floodplains of the Connecticut River included soil suitable for farming. Long, narrow plots of farmland were created, extending out from the river. Over time, parts of the settlement were sectioned off to form neighboring towns, including West Springfield.
During the 1770s, George Washington selected Springfield as the site of the National Armory. By the 1780s the Arsenal was a major ammunition and weapons depot. In 1787 poor farmers from western Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, tried to seize the arms at Springfield. This came to be known as Shays' Rebellion, and was a key event leading to the Federal Constitutional Convention. Those involved in the rebellion planned to use the weapons to force the closure of the Commonwealth and county courts, which were seizing their lands for debt. The term Springfield Rifle may refer to any sort of arms produced by the Springfield Armory for the United States armed forces. In 1845, the Wason Manufacturing Company, one of the earliest makers of railway passenger coach equipment in the United States, was established in Springfield.
In 1893, two Springfielders named Charles and Frank Duryea built the first ever gasoline powered commercial car in Springfield. The Duryea Motor Wagon was put on the streets of Springfield on September 20 1893. This part of the city was later annexed by Chicopee, Massachusetts. Springfield is known as the City of Homes, a nickname given to it in the late 19th century due to its many Victorian mansions, as well as multitudes of single-family houses inhabited by workers. The city of Springfield is most commonly known as the birthplace of basketball. In 1891, James Naismith, a physical education teacher in Springfield, invented the sport at the Springfield YMCA, now Springfield College, to fill the gap between the football and baseball seasons. The sport quickly became popular worldwide. On February 17, 1968, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was opened on the Springfield College campus which was replaced by a larger facility on the east bank of the Connecticut river in 1985. In 2002 a newer facility for the Hall of Fame opened next to the existing site. Shaped like a basketball and illuminated at night, it has become an interesting addition to the cityscape. In 1901, the Indian Manufacturing Company, America's first motorcycle brand, was founded by George M. Hendee and C. Oscar Hedstrom in Springfield -- two years before Harley Davidson Motor Company. Springfield is the birthplace of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, drug pioneer Timothy Leary, and famous actor Kurt Russell, among an eclectic group of other notables. More recent famous Springfielders include the National Basketball Association's Travis Best, and the musical bands Staind and The Acacia Strain. In 1936, Springfield suffered its most devastating natural disaster. The Connecticut River flooded, reaching record heights, inundating the South End and the North End (before the flood, houses — some of Springfield's finest — stood where Interstate 91 now runs). Damages were estimated at $200,000,000 in 1936 dollars. This flood occurred at the height of the Great Depression; Western Massachusetts and Springfield had already suffered greatly. The water damage was repaired after WPA money was made available to Springfield. However, large riverfront portions of the North and South Ends no longer exist. For nearly six decades, Springfield has been slumping economically, due largely to a decline in manufacturing. Many major companies that maintained factories in the city closed their facilities, moving to the suburbs or out of New England all together. In 1968, the Springfield Armory was closed by the Pentagon. Another large manufacturer, American Bosch, shuttered its doors in 1986. In 2005, this exodus continued, with the closure of the Danaher Tool forge, maker of Craftsman tools. Many Springfield residents moved to the suburbs to escape inner-city crime and urban decay. Because manufacturing had been a large part of Springfield's economy, it proved difficult to fill the void with a service-based economy, more so than in similar cities with more diversified economies. Local department stores, Forbes & Wallace and Steigers, shuttered in 1974 and 1994, respectively. Johnsons Bookstore closed a few years later, though this was due less to a decline in retail downtown than competition from chain bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble. Many banks headquartered in Springfield closed or merged with larger banks, (in fact, all but Hampden Bank, which remains the only Springfield-based bank.) A downtown revitalization project known as Baystate West, was completed in 1973, but over the years it too became empty. The construction contributed to Springfield's somewhat modern 1970s-era skyline. The Eastfield Mall, built on Springfield's outskirts in 1969, proved more successful. However, it suffered a decline after the Holyoke Mall was opened in the 1980s. Over the past five years, the mall has rebounded; consequently, Springfield's largest retail area is now on Boston Road, on the northeastern edge of the city, rather than downtown. The Quadrangle, an extraordinary grouping of museums and sculpture gardens, remains a testament to the city's nineteenth-century grandeur. Control BoardIn July 2004, the Massachusetts General Court created, in response to the city's request for additional aid, a state-run Finance Control Board (FCB) to resolve an escalating financial crisis. The fiscal problems had already resulted in wage freezes, cuts in city services, fee increases, and layoffs. The FCB consisted of the mayor (Charles Ryan), the City Council president, and three eastern-Massachusetts based appointees of Governor Mitt Romney. The Control Board operates under the overall direction of state Secretary of Finance and Administration then-Eric Kriss. The FCB legislation included a state loan of $52 million to be paid back with future city tax receipts. A $20 million grant was originally included, but then-House Speaker Thomas Finneran killed that section, fearing it would invite fiscal irresponsibility among other municipalities. Initial estimates placed the city's operating deficit at over $40 million annually. The original FCB bill filed by Governor Romney included a suspension of Chapter 150E, the state law that defines the collective bargaining process for public employees (state employees are not covered by federal labor laws). Opposition from the unions killed that section. City and state officials disagree over the causes. The state blames overspending relative to income by the city. Municipal officials blame dwindling local aid during the statewide financial crisis in 2003.[1] As of 2006, the Control Board has balanced the city's budget, but not without controversy. The City froze all wage increases for employees in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, resulting in substantial litigation with employee unions. Their suits claim that the wage freeze violated their contracts and the collective bargaining law itself and was done without proper legal authority. So far the largest unions, police, firefighters, and teachers have been resolved. Teachers scored a victory in court when Judge Constance Sweeney ruled the wage freeze implemented by former Mayor Michael Albano to be illegal. (The control board's freezes were ruled to be not at issue, but the judge suggested they have less legal footing). A sum of $2.1 million was awarded to them. The city appealed, but the contract was resolved and the rulings and issue made moot.[2]
Until the FY2007 budget, city residents had not experienced any direct impacts by the control board's actions. In the '07 budget, the Control Board approved a $90 trash fee. Controversy and outrage erupted city-wide over the fee, however it is projected to bring in $4.5 million and balance the city's budget. Despite protests from residents, and city and state officials, it was to be implemented in October, 2006. In November, 2006 Judge Constance Sweeney, following a law suit by city residents, issued a temporary injunction against the city collecting its trash fee, citing the reasonableness of the plaintiffs' argument. The plaintiffs contended that the fee was in fact a tax, in violation of the state constitution. Sweeney ordered the city to inform residents not to pay the fee pending a full hearing, date to be set December 4.[3] The FCB has a staff of five: Executive Director Philip Puccia, Chief Development Officer David Panagore, Deputy Director Stephen Lisauskas and Executive Assistant Ann-Marie Mahnken, Administrative Assistant Candace McKenna. The State-appointed members of the board are Alan LeBovidge, Commissioner of Revenue, Thomas Gloster III, and Michael Jacobson. GeographySpringfield is located at (42.112411, -72.547455).GR1 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 86.0 km² (33.2 mi²). 83.1 km² (32.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (3.31%) is water. Springfield sits on the bank of the Connecticut River, just a few miles north of the border between Massachusetts and Connecticut. Along the river, the city is fairly low and flat. Moving outward from the river, the terrain becomes more hilly, most prominently along State Street and Belmont Avenue. Springfield is typically divided up into seventeen distinct neighborhoods. They are, as defined by the city Election commission: Bay, Boston Road, Brightwood, East Forest Park, East Springfield, Forest Park, Indian Orchard, Liberty Heights, McKnight, Memorial Square, Metro Center, Old Hill, Pine Point, Six Corners, Sixteen Acres, South End, and Upper Hill. Their exact boundaries are disputed by Census data, civic wards, precinct borders, zip codes, and the opinions of the city's citizens. Many of the neighborhoods are subdivided again according to landmarks or voting precincts. Some names are unofficial, but are used by area residents nonetheless. For example, the Hollywood section in the South End actually refers to a housing complex, and Mason Square is the central intersection in the McKnight neighborhood. Forest Park lies in the southwestern part of the city, along the border with affluent Longmeadow. The park is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. The city shares borders with the towns of East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, and Ludlow and the city of Chicopee. The cities of Agawam and West Springfield are across the Connecticut River. The city also owns Cobble Mountain Reservoir, its water supply, located in the towns of Blandford, Granville, and Russell, at the western edge of Hampden County. It also owns Franconia Golf Course, located mostly in East Longmeadow. Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 152,082 people, 57,130 households, and 36,391 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,829.3/km² (4,737.7/mi²). There are nearly 2 million residents in the greater Springfield-Hartford metro region. In Springfield proper, there were 61,172 housing units at an average density of 735.8/km² (1,905.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 35% White, 30% Spanish, 20% African American, 1% Native American, 2% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander, 8% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. There were 57,130 households out of which 25% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25% were married couples living together, 19% had a female householder with no husband present, and 10% were non-families. 10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3 and the average family size was 3. In the city the population was spread out with 29% under the age of 18, 11% from 18 to 24, 29% from 25 to 44, 19% from 45 to 64, and 12% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,417, and the median income for a family was $36,285. Males had a median income of $32,396 versus $26,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,232. About 20% of families and 34% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34% of those under age 18 and 12% of those age 65 or over. Law and governmentSpringfield became a city on May 25, 1852 by decree of the Massachusetts Legislature. Springfield, like all municipalities in Massachusetts enjoys limited home rule. Prior to the Control Board, Springfield's government had the power to establish commissions, pass city ordinances, set tax rates, write a budget, and other miscellaneous operations specifically relating to the city. The current city charter, in effect since 1959, uses a "strong mayor" government with most power concentrated in the mayor as in Boston and elsewhere. The mayor representing the city's executive branch, presents the budget, appoints commissioners and department heads, and in general runs the city. The current mayor, Charles V. Ryan, was also mayor during the 1960s. The City Council, consisting of nine members, is the city's legislative branch. Each of the members are elected at-large, along with the mayor, every odd numbered year. It passes the budget, authorizes bond sales, holds hearings, create departments and commissions, and amends zoning laws. The city council appoints a president who becomes acting mayor should a vacancy occur in the office. The mayor's office and city council chambers are in city hall part of the Municipal Group in downtown Springfield. The Finance Control Board meets there as well.
Recently, efforts have been made to provide each of the city's eight wards a seat in the city council, instead of the current at-large format. There would still be about three at-large seats under this format. The primary argument for this has been that City Councilors currently live in only four of the city's wards. Thus far, the initiative has failed to pass the City Council twice. If ever passed, it would still need the approval of the Massachusetts legislature and the Governor. Many critics argue that the slim Caucasian majority in Springfield keeps the city council out of touch with the needs of Springfield's large black and Hispanic populations. Striking against that argument is that nothing deters blacks and Hispanics from running for office, nor does ward representation guarantee that they will. Some citizens believe that the problem might be corrected by greater voter turnout among blacks and Hispanics. The plaintiffs hoped to postpone the 2005 municipal election pending the judge's ruling, but the motion was denied. The case itself is ongoing. The city has no judicial branch itself, but rather uses the Springfield based state courts, which include Springfield district court and Hampden County Superior Court. The Federal District Court also hears cases regularly in Springfield.
EducationSpringfield is home to three 4-year colleges: Springfield College, Western New England College and American International College. On the grounds of the former Springfield Armory is Springfield Technical Community College. The greater Springfield area is home to six Colleges: Westfield State College, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Springfield also has the third largest school district in Massachusetts operating 38 elementary schools, six high schools, and seven specialized schools. The city School Committee recently passed a new neighborhood school program to improve schools and reduce the growing busing costs associated with the current plan. The plan faces stiff opposition from parents and minority groups who claim that the schools are still unequal. The city is required under a 1970s court order to balance school racially which had necessitated busing. However, since then, the city and the school's population has shifted and many of the neighborhoods are more integrated, calling into question the need for busing at all. Though the plan is likely to be challenged in court, the state Board of Education decided it did not have authority to review it, sidestepping the volatile issue while effectively blessing it. The city also has several private schools. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield operates five Catholic elementary schools in the city and many more elsewhere in the diocese. The dioceses also runs Cathedral High School. Cathedral High School is also the most prominent Catholic high school in the area. CultureSpringfield was and remains, in many respects, the cultural center of Western Massachusetts since its founding in the early 1600s. Because of the distance from Boston then (and to a degree now) many feel that the city and region are ignored by the powers that be in the eastern parts of the state. Said powers are periodically accused of lumping Springfield and its formerly industrial neighbors together with the rest of the agricultural areas west of Worcester. Some have observed, sarcastically, that Springfield maintains a better relationship with Hartford than with Boston. Springfield is physically closer to Hartford, shares a major interstate highway, and Bradley International Airport. Sometimes they are considered twin cities. Though not nearly as cosmopolitan as Boston or New York City, Springfield retains strong ethnic characteristics seen in the variety of restaurants available in all parts of the city. Remnants of the city's industrial glory are best represented in its museums at The Quadrangle and its library system. Though both have suffered funding cuts in recent years, they remain well-respected and sizable considering the relatively small population. Springfield also has its own well-respected orchestra. Known as the second poorest city in Massachusetts, (behind Holyoke) Springfield retains a strong middle class and high homeownership rates in many neighborhoods. Many of Springfield's suburbs are affluent, most notably Longmeadow, to the south. A major cultural attraction during the Christmas season is Bright Nights. The trees of Forest Park are decorated with lights in the form of various characters (including some from the works of Springfield native Dr. Seuss) and scenes, some of which are animated. Tourists form a line to drive their cars along a meandering path through the park.[citation needed] MediaNewspaperSpringfield's largest local newspaper is The Springfield Republican. It was formerly the Springfield Union-News & Sunday Republican. Smaller papers such as The Reminder and the Valley Advocate also serve Greater Springfield. Foreign language newspapers include PREDVESTNIK, The Russian Language Newspaper, (Official website) and El Pueblo Latino, which serves the Hispanic community, among others. TelevisionMajor television stations originating from the city include WWLP (NBC), WGGB (ABC),WSHM (CBS) and WGBY (PBS). Only the PBS,CBS and ABC stations broadcast from studios in the city proper. WWLP's studios are in nearby Chicopee. Also in the Springfield area are Univision WHTX, which simulcasts WUVN in Hartford, Connecticut, and Telemundo WDMR, which simulcasts WRDM in Hartford. Other television stations serving Springfield originate from Hartford, Connecticut. It also offers a low-powered cable only CW station WBQT. In January 2004, the Hartford CBS affiliate, WFSB, began operating a CBS station, WSHM, aimed at the Springfield-Northampton, Massachusetts market. Currently, the station airs much of the same programming as WFSB, with the exception of the Hartford station's newscasts. WSHM began its own newscasts at 6 and 11 p.m. in October 2005, broadcast out of its downtown Springfield home. In early 2007, Springfield will get a new TV station in WFXQ, a low-power digital-only sister station of WWLP. It's beened rumored of becoming a FOX affiliation on a few message boards (which would mean it would be the first local FOX affiliate for Springfield), but since the Springfield market does not have a MyNetworkTV affiliate, it could also become that too. Radio
TransportationThe Springfield-Hartford, Connecticut area is served by Bradley International Airport in nearby Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Springfield and Hartford are located 25 miles (40 km) apart. Springfield also has an Amtrak station served by trains destined for New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Vermont, and Chicago. Amtrak operates out of its own station facility built into one of the old platforms of the city's long condemned train station on Frank B. Murray St. with an entrance on Lyman street, which lies on the side of the railroad embankment opposite the station. Buses running into the city use a facility owned and operated by Peter Pan Bus Lines, located on the corner of Main and Liberty streets. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority is the regional public transit provider, operating a fleet of buses from the Peter Pan terminal. Plans exist for redevelopment of the city's Union Station into an Intermodal Transportation facility for both Amtrak and bus lines. While significant federal, state, and civic investment has been appropriated for this project, disputes between the owners of the right-of-way and the planners in charge of the project, originally scheduled for completion in 1998, the PVTA, have slowed progress. In 2005, it was revealed that the project and the PVTA had been embroiled in the city's ever-widening corruption probe, throwing its future into question. Plans also exist for a New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Line. [1] As of August 2006, the Connecticut General Assembly has committed $146 million to the project, which is considered only a first step. In order to complete the project, the state of Connecticut must provide further funding, as must the state of Massachusetts if the line is to cross the state line. The line could become operational as soon as 2011. [2] Springfield is often referred to as the "Crossroads of New England" because of the crossing of major east-west and north-south railroads. While the same railways exist and operate today, the city is also served by a number of Interstate Highways including I-90 (Mass Pike) and I-91, which connect New Haven, Hartford, Holyoke, Northampton, and Vermont to Springfield. One of the few spurs of I-91 in Massachusetts, I-291, runs through the city. It connects I-90 to I-91 since the turnpike does not actually enter the city. Notable residents
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