| Amherst, Massachusetts | |||
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| — Town — | |||
| Downtown Amherst. Shops along the west side of South Pleasant Street, February 2005. | |||
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| Nickname(s): The People's Republic of Amherst[1][2][3] | |||
| Location in Hampshire County in Massachusetts | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Hampshire | ||
| Settled | 1703 | ||
| Incorporated | 1759 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Representative town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 27.8 sq mi (71.9 km2) | ||
| • Land | 27.7 sq mi (71.8 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 295 ft (90 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 37,819 | ||
| • Density | 1,365.3/sq mi (526.7/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 01002 | ||
| Area code(s) | 413 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-01325 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618195 | ||
| Website | www.amherstma.gov | ||
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County (although the county seat is Northampton). The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, three of the Five Colleges. Amherst consistently ranks as one of the most progressively liberal regions of the United States—due in large part to five colleges within the area. The Amherst-Northampton region is known as the happy valley due to the art and music communities, progressive ideas, prestigious colleges and large student population. The name of the town is usually pronounced without the h ("AM-erst"),[4] unlike some other towns of the same name.[5]
The communities of Amherst Center, North Amherst, and South Amherst are census-designated places.
Amherst is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lying 18 miles (28.9km) northeast of the city of Springfield, Amherst is considered the northernmost town in the Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor Metropolitan Region.
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The earliest known document of the lands now comprising Amherst is the deed of purchase dated December 1658 between John Pynchon of Springfield and three native inhabitants, referred to as Umpanchla, Quonquont and Chickwalopp.[6] According to the deed, "ye Indians of Nolwotogg (Norwottuck) upon ye River of Quinecticott (Connecticut)" sold the entire area in exchange for "two Hundred fatham of Wampam & Twenty fatham, and one large Coate at Eight fatham wch Chickwollop set of, of trusts, besides severall small giftes" [sic]. Amherst celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2009. The Amherst 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee has been established to oversee the creation and implementation of Town-wide activities throughout 2009. The Amherst Historical Society also organized events, including a book published by them and written by Elizabeth M. Sharpe, "Amherst A to Z".
When the first permanent English settlements arrived in 1727, this land and the surrounding area (including present-day South Hadley and Granby) belonged to the town of Hadley. It gained precinct status in 1734 and eventually township in 1759.
When it incorporated, the colonial governor assigned the town the name Amherst after Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst. Many colonial governors at the time scattered his name amidst the influx of new town applications, which is why several towns in the Northeast bear the name. Amherst was a hero of the French and Indian War who, according to popular legend, singlehandedly won Canada for the British and banished France from North America. Popular belief has it that he supported the American side in the Revolutionary war and resigned his commission rather than fight for the British. In truth, he remained in the service of the Crown during the war—albeit in Great Britain rather than North America—where he organised the defense against the proposed Franco-Spanish Armada of 1779. Nonetheless his previous service in the French and Indian War meant he remained popular in New England. Amherst is also infamous for recommending, in a letter to a subordinate, the use of smallpox-covered blankets in warfare against the Native Americans along with any "other method that can serve to Extirpate this Execrable Race."[7] For this reason, there have been occasional ad hoc movements to rename the town. Suggested new names have included "Emily," after Emily Dickinson (see Notable Residents below).
In 1786, as the American Revolution was ending, many soldiers returning home found themselves in debt because they hadn't been able to attend to business and property while away fighting. Farmers unable to pay taxes and debts had their property and livestock confiscated by the courts. Daniel Shays, a Pelham resident who was promoted from the ranks to a Captain in the Revolutionary Army, organized Shays's Rebellion.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.8 square miles (72.0 km2), of which 27.7 square miles (71.7 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) (0.14%) is water. The town is bordered by Hadley to the west, Sunderland and Leverett to the north, Shutesbury, Pelham, and Belchertown to the east, and Granby and South Hadley to the south. The town is nearly equidistant from both the northern and southern state lines. For interactive mapping provided by the Town of Amherst, see External Links on this page.
Amherst's ZIP code of 01002 is the second-lowest number in the continental United States after Agawam, MA (not counting codes used for specific government buildings such as the IRS).
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1790 | 1,233 | — |
| 1800 | 1,258 | +2.0% |
| 1810 | 1,469 | +16.8% |
| 1820 | 1,917 | +30.5% |
| 1830 | 2,631 | +37.2% |
| 1840 | 2,550 | −3.1% |
| 1850 | 3,057 | +19.9% |
| 1860 | 3,206 | +4.9% |
| 1870 | 4,035 | +25.9% |
| 1880 | 4,298 | +6.5% |
| 1890 | 4,512 | +5.0% |
| 1900 | 5,028 | +11.4% |
| 1910 | 5,112 | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 5,550 | +8.6% |
| 1930 | 5,883 | +6.0% |
| 1940 | 6,410 | +9.0% |
| 1950 | 10,856 | +69.4% |
| 1960 | 13,718 | +26.4% |
| 1970 | 26,331 | +91.9% |
| 1980 | 33,229 | +26.2% |
| 1990 | 35,228 | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 34,874 | −1.0% |
| 2001* | 35,092 | +0.6% |
| 2002* | 34,721 | −1.1% |
| 2003* | 35,005 | +0.8% |
| 2004* | 34,954 | −0.1% |
| 2005* | 35,664 | +2.0% |
| 2006* | 35,721 | +0.2% |
| 2007* | 35,962 | +0.7% |
| 2008* | 36,229 | +0.7% |
| 2009* | 36,247 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 37,819 | +4.3% |
| * = population estimate. [8] Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] |
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As of the 2008 U.S. Census, there were 35,564 people, 9,174 households, and 4,550 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,283.4 people per square mile (485.7/km²). There were 9,427 housing units at an average density of 340.1 per square mile (131.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.7% White, 5.10% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 9.02% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.89% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. 6.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,174 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 12.8% under the age of 18, 50.0% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,017, and the median income for a family was $61,237. Males had a median income of $44,795 versus $32,672 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,427. About 7.2% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over. The reason for the large population living below the poverty line is the large number of students that live in Amherst.
According to the 2010 5-year American Community Survey estimates, occupied housing units had a median household income of $50,063, which includes both renter and owner-occupied units. More specifically, owner-occupied units had a median income of $100,208, while renter-occupied housing units had a median income of $23,925. Large disparities in income between the two groups could explain the high poverty rate and lower median income, as students are the primary tenants of renter-occupied units within Amherst.
Of residents 25 years old or older, 41.7% have a graduate or professional degree, and only 4.9% did not graduate from high school. The largest industry is education, health, and social services, in which 51.9% of employed persons work.
These statistics given above include some but not all of the large student population, roughly 30,000 in 2010, many of whom only reside in the town part of the year. Amherst is home to thousands of part-time and full-time residents associated with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst College, and Hampshire College and many of those students are involved with the liberal politics of the town.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 18, 2006[19] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |
| Democratic | 8,350 | 49.18% | |
| Republican | 1,076 | 6.34% | |
| Unaffiliated | 7,228 | 42.57% | |
| Other Parties | 326 | 1.92% | |
| Total | 16,980 | 100% | |
Amherst is among relatively few towns of its size in Massachusetts in not having moved to a mayor-council or council-manager form of government. Instead, it has maintained the traditional town meeting (legislative) and select board (executive), though with the important modification, allowed through a special state law, whereby Town Meeting is made up of elected representatives of each precinct in the town. In addition, the select board hires a town manager to handle the day-to-day administrative details of running a town.
In recent years, some have sought to abolish the 254-member Town Meeting with a new charter that would create a directly-elected mayor and a nine-member Town Council. The charter was rejected by voters in Spring 2003 by fourteen votes, and defeated again on March 29, 2005 by 252 votes.
The Amherst Conservation Commission voted to ban offleash dogs from local conservation areas (Amethyst Brook and Lower Miller River) for most hours of the day. The decision was taken over objections of some commissioners.
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), funded by local governments and the Five Colleges, provides public transportation in the area and runs well into the early morning hours on weekends when school is in session. Passenger fares on Amherst routes are pre-paid by member academic institutions; students and staff simply show their ID to ride as often as they like.
Rail service is available through Amtrak at the Amherst station (AMM) on the soon to be discontinued Vermonter service between Washington D.C. and St. Albans, VT. More frequent service to New York City and Washington D.C. is available from Springfield.
The closest major domestic and limited international air service is available through Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Bradley is located approximately one hour's driving time from Amherst. Major international service is available through Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, 90 miles away.
General aviation service is close by, at Northampton Airport (7B2), Westover Metropolitan Airport (CEF) and Turners Falls Airport (0B5).
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