Springfield, Massachusetts, the county seat of Hampden County, is in the southwest part of the state. It is the third largest city in Massachusetts. Springfield is called the "City of Homes."
Springfield is a port city whose economy is primarily composed of manufacturing and printing. Manufactured products include chemicals, plastics, clothing, paper, machinery, and various electrical goods.
The Springfield-Hartford region has the second largest concentration of institutions of higher learning in New England. Many Springfield movers have come to the area to take advantage of the rich academic and cultural resources close by.
History
William Pynchon settled in Springfield in 1636 and named it after the English town he was born in. The Wampanoag Indian tribe attacked the area in 1675, called King Philip's War, in retaliation of their chief's recent death. The National Armory was chosen to be built in Springfield in the 1770's. In 1787, Daniel Shays led the Shay's Rebellion in an attempt to take weapons from the armory. Springfield was officially incorporated in 1852. James Naismith invented the game of basketball in the city in 1891. A huge flood hit the city in 1936 and remains the most damaging natural disaster in the city's history. F
or a majority of the 20th century, Springfield went into a decline because of manufacturing losses and people moving into the nearby suburbs. In recent years, the city has begun to make progress again, but work still needs to be done. Recently, a state board was created to help control the city's financial difficulties.
Tourism
Springfield is serviced by Bradley International Airport which is located 15 miles from the city. There are no major professional sports teams in the area, although several collegiate and minor league teams exist.
The most popular destination of the city is the Basketball Hall of Fame. Parks of the city include Merrick Park and Forest Park. Additional attractions include the U.S. Armory, an Underground Railroad stop, and a science museum with the first projection planetarium built in the U.S.