Northampton, Massachusetts

This article is about Northampton, Massachusetts. For other places of the same name, see Northampton (disambiguation).

Northampton
City
City of Northampton
First Church, Main Street, Northampton
First Church, Main Street, Northampton
Flag of Northampton
Flag
Official seal of Northampton
Seal
Nickname: 
The Meadow City[1]
Motto(s): 
Caritas, educatio, justitia (Latin)
"Caring, education and justice"
Location of Northampton in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Location of Northampton in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Northampton is located in the United States
Northampton
Northampton
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 42°20′N 72°39′W / 42.333°N 72.650°W / 42.333; -72.650
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyHampshire
Charter for township grantedMay 18, 1653[2]: 7 
European settlers arriveEarly spring, 1654[2]: 15–16 
Established as a citySeptember 5, 1883[3][4]
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorGina-Louise Sciarra (D)
Area
[5]
 • Total35.75 sq mi (92.59 km2)
 • Land34.25 sq mi (88.70 km2)
 • Water1.50 sq mi (3.90 km2)
Elevation
190 ft (60 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29,571
 • Density863.49/sq mi (333.40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
01060–01063
Area code413
FIPS code25-46330
GNIS feature ID0606674
Websitewww.northamptonma.gov

The city of Northampton /nɔːrθˈhæmptən/[6] is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States.[7] As of the 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence and Leeds) was 29,571.[8]

Northampton is known as an academic, artistic, musical, and countercultural hub. It features a large politically liberal community along with numerous alternative health and intellectual organizations.[9] Based on U.S. Census demographics, election returns, and other criteria, the website Epodunk rates Northampton as the most politically liberal medium-size city (population 25,000–99,000) in the United States.[10] The city has a high proportion of residents who identify as gay and lesbian[11][12] and a high number of same-sex households[13] and is a popular destination for the LGBT community.[14][15]

Northampton is part of the Pioneer Valley and is one of the northernmost cities in the Knowledge Corridor—a cross-state cultural and economic partnership with other Connecticut River Valley cities and towns. Northampton is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area, one of western Massachusetts's two separate metropolitan areas. It sits approximately 19 miles (31 km) north of the city of Springfield.

Northampton is home to Smith College, the Hotel Northampton, Northampton High School, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, and the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.

  1. ^ For use in a standalone publication see– Kneeland, Frederick N. (1894). Northampton, the Meadow City. Northampton, Massachusetts: F. N. Kneeland and L. P. Bryant. OCLC 24093077.
  2. ^ a b Trumbull, James Russell (1898). History of Northampton Massachusetts from Its Settlement in 1654.
  3. ^ Office of the City Clerk of Northampton, Ma. Records, Volume 1: 1884-1888, City of Northampton. 1883, p. 2.
  4. ^ Office of the Mayor of Northampton, Ma. "1883 – Chapter 250: Act to establish the city of Northampton." 1883, pp. 537-554.
  5. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  6. ^ "Northampton". Dictionary.com. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "Profile for Northampton, Massachusetts, MA". ePodunk. Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  8. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Northampton city, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Sachs, Andrea. "Northampton, Mass: Where Alternative Goes Main Street". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  10. ^ "Most liberal places in America". ePodunk. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Human Rights Campaign 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  12. ^ Gates, Gary J.; Ost, Jason (January 1, 2004). The Gay & Lesbian Atlas. The Urban Institute. p. 27. ISBN 9780877667216 – via the Internet Archive. northampton.
  13. ^ "Florence / Bay State 01062 Northampton, MA Neighborhood Profile".
  14. ^ Karr, Paul; Brokaw, Leslie; Morris, Marie; Reckford, Laura M. (November 3, 2008). Frommer's New England. Wiley. p. 55. ISBN 9780470417416 – via Internet Archive. gay population of northampton massachusetts.
  15. ^ Anderson, Tammy L. (January 23, 2014). Understanding Deviance: Connecting Classical and Contemporary Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN 9781134756308 – via Google Books.