Northampton

Northampton, Massachusetts: Smith College

Northampton, city, seat (1662) of Hampshire county, west-central Massachusetts, U.S. It lies along the Connecticut River, 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Springfield. The site, originally known as Nonotuck (an Algonquian word meaning “middle of the river”), was settled in 1654 and named for Northampton, England. It subsequently became a self-sufficient farming community. During King Philip’s War (1675–76) and Queen Anne’s War (1702–13), the area was the scene of brutal raids. In one such attack (May 1704), half the population of the nearby village of Pascommuck (now in Easthampton) was slaughtered.

A woolen mill was established in 1809, and, connected to the Connecticut communities by canal (1834) and by railroad (1845), Northampton developed as a manufacturing centre, particularly for silk (which has since declined). Great impetus was given to Northampton’s growth by the establishment there in 1875 of Smith College, an exclusive school for women. President Calvin Coolidge, who practiced law in Northampton, served as mayor (1910–11) and died there in 1933; the Forbes Library (1893) houses a collection of Coolidge memorabilia.

The city’s economy is now dependent on services (education and health care) and trade. Manufactures include plastic moldings, electronic equipment, and heat sensing devices. Look Memorial Park is a popular recreational area. Inc. town, 1655; city, 1883. Pop. (2000) 28,978; (2010) 28,549.