Westfield, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Westfield, Massachusetts |
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| Nickname: "The Whip City" | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States of America | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| Counties | Hampden County | ||
| Settled | 1660 | ||
| Incorporated (town) | May 19, 1669 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | November 2, 1920 | ||
| Mayor | Richard K. Sullivan Jr. | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 122.6 km² (47.3 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 120.6 km² (46.6 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 1.9 km² (0.7 sq mi) 1.56% | ||
| Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) | ||
| Population | |||
| - City (2000) | 40,072 | ||
| - Density | 332.2/km² (860.3/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| Website: http://www.ci.westfield.ma.us/ | |||
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,072 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Westfield was first settled in 1660 and was officially established in 1669. It was incorporated as a city in 1920.
From the time of its founding until 1725, Westfield was the westernmost settlement in the Massachusetts Colony. Town meetings were held in a church meeting house until 1839 when Town Hall was erected on Broad Street. This building served as a City Hall from 1920 to 1958. Due to its alluvial lands, the inhabitants of this area were entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits for about 150 years. Early in the 19th century the making of bricks, whips, and cigars became the principal occupations. At one point in the 1800s, Westfield was the prominent center of the buggy whip industry. To this day, the city is nicknamed the "Whip City." Other firms at the time engaged in the production of bicycles, paper products, boilers and radiators, textile machinery, abrasives, wood products, and precision tools. The establishment of industry in the community changed its character from agricultural to a thriving industrial city during the latter part of the 19th century.
In the early 20th century, Westfield was at the center of the Pure Food movement, an effort to require stricter standards on the production of food. Louis B. Allyn, a Westfield resident and pure foods expert forMcClure's, lived in Westfield until his murder. In 1906, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
[edit] Geography
Westfield is located at (42.129492, -72.745986)GR1. It is bordered on the north by Southampton, on the northeast by Holyoke, on the east by West Springfield, on the southeast by Agawam, on the south by Southwick, on the southwest by Granville, on the west by Russell, and on the northwest by Montgomery.
The Westfield River runs through the center of the city. Because of the large river watershed, and in response to severe flooding occurring during the first half of the 20th century, a complicated system of pumps, dikes, waterways, and dams were set up to protect the city. Regardless, Westfield is still considered flood prone.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 122.6 km² (47.3 mi²). 120.6 km² (46.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (1.56%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 40,072 people, 14,797 households, and 10,017 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.2/km² (860.3/mi²). There were 15,441 housing units at an average density of 128.0/km² (331.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.53% White, 0.91% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.12% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% of the population.
There were 14,797 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,240, and the median income for a family was $55,327. Males had a median income of $38,316 versus $27,459 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,600. About 6.9% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Westfield's public school system consists of two preschools, eight elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The city is also home to Westfield State College.
[edit] Preschools
[edit] Elementary schools
- Abner Gibbs Elementary School
- Franklin Avenue Elementary School
- Highland Elementary School
- Juniper Park Elementary School
- Moseley Elementary School
- Munger Hill Elementary School
- Paper Mill Elementary School
- Southampton Road Elementary School
[edit] Middle schools
[edit] High schools
[edit] Other schools
[edit] Transportation
The Massachusetts Turnpike crosses Westfield just north of the central business district, providing excellent east-west access. US 20 is the major east-west arterial of the city, US 202 (also known as MA Route 10) is the major north-south arterial. The city is presently served by two PVTA bus routes to Springfield and Holyoke. Bus and rail service to all points is available at Springfield.
Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield has charter passenger services available. Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks, Connecticut with scheduled flights listed by most airlines, is within 40 minutes driving time.
Rail freight service is provided by Pioneer Valley Railroad and CSX. More than 35 motor freight carriers with nearby terminals provide competitive freight service locally and to all distant points.
[edit] Points of interest
- Amelia Park Arena
- Stanley Park of Westfield
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- Westfield State College
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
