Greenfield is a city in
Franklin County-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the
county seatA county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of
Franklin County-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
. Greenfield is home to
Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield Community College is a two-year Community College in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1962, currently has an annual enrollment of 3,000, is regionally known for its art program, its small-town atmosphere, and its setting amid picturesque old farmland at the foot of...
, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair. The city has a Main Street
Historic DistrictA historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
containing fine examples of Federal, Greek Revival and
Victorian architectureThe term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
.
Greenfield is part of the
Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Springfield Metropolitan Area is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield metropolitan statistical area as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts. As of...
.
History
Pocumtuck
IndiansThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
(of the Algonkian Indian group) first settled and originally inhabited the area. Native American artifacts in the area have been dated at 9,000 to 12,000 years B.P. (before present). They planted field crops and fished the rivers. The Pocumtuck were wiped out as a tribe by an attack by the Mohawk (of the Iroquoian Indian Group from NY) in 1664. This now unoccupied area was colonized by the
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
in 1686 as part of
DeerfieldDeerfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,750 as of the 2000 census. Deerfield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area in Western Massachusetts, lying only north of the city of Springfield.Deerfield includes the...
. In 1753, Greenfield was set off from Deerfield and incorporated as a separate town, named for the Green River. It was the eastern terminus of the
Mohawk Trail- External links :* *...
, a principal route for Native American trade traveling west into
Upstate New YorkUpstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
.
In 1795, the
South Hadley CanalThe South Hadley Canal was a canal along the Connecticut River in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It is said to be the earliest navigable canal in the United States, with operation commencing in 1795....
opened, allowing boats to bypass the South Hadley falls and reach Greenfield via the
Connecticut RiverThe Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. Located at the
confluenceIn geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of the
DeerfieldDeerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town...
and Green rivers, and not far from where they merge into the Connecticut River, Greenfield developed into a trade center. It was designated county seat when Franklin County was created from Hampshire County in 1811. Falls provided water power for industry, and Greenfield grew into a prosperous
mill townA mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
. John Russell established the Green River Works in 1834, hiring skilled
GermanThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
workers at what was the country's first
cutleryCutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
factory. The
Connecticut River RailroadThe Connecticut River Railroad was formed in 1845 by the merger of the Northampton and Springfield Railroad with the unbuilt Greenfield and Northampton Railroad....
would be the first of several railways to enter the town, replacing the former canal trade. For a while during the 20th century, Greenfield was one of the most important centers of the tap and die business as the home of Greenfield Tap & Die Company (GTD). (GTD is today one of the Widia brands.)
Geography
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 21.9 square miles (56.8 km²), of which, 21.7 square miles (56.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.87%) is water. Greenfield is located at the center of the county, and is bordered by
ColrainColrain is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :Colrain was first settled in 1735 as "Boston Township No...
,
LeydenLeyden is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 772 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and
BernardstonBernardston is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,155 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
to the north,
GillGill is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 1,363 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to the east,
MontagueMontague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
to the southeast,
DeerfieldDeerfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,750 as of the 2000 census. Deerfield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area in Western Massachusetts, lying only north of the city of Springfield.Deerfield includes the...
to the south, and
ShelburneShelburne is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,058 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.The village of Shelburne Falls is located in the town.- History :...
to the west. Greenfield is located thirty-nine miles north of
SpringfieldSpringfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
and ninety miles west-northwest of Boston.
Greenfield lies at the confluence of the
DeerfieldDeerfield River is a river that runs for from southern Vermont through northwestern Massachusetts to the Connecticut River. The Deerfield was historically influential in the settlement of western Franklin County, Massachusetts, and its namesake town...
, Green and
ConnecticutThe Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
rivers. The Green River runs from the north, through town to the Deerfield, which lies along the city's southern border. From there, the Deerfield meets the Connecticut, which flows southward along the Montague border before bending eastward briefly before continuing southward. Several brooks flow into the three rivers, as well as a fourth river, the Fall River, which makes up the city's border with Gill. The city is located beside the
Pocumtuck RangeThe Pocumtuck Range, also referred to as the Pocumtuck Ridge, is the northern-most subrange of the Metacomet Ridge mountain range of southern New England...
, the northernmost subridge of the
Metacomet RidgeThe Metacomet Ridge, Metacomet Ridge Mountains, or Metacomet Range of southern New England, United States, is a narrow and steep fault-block mountain ridge known for its extensive cliff faces, scenic vistas, microclimate ecosystems, and communities of plants considered rare or endangered...
, and is surrounded by hills, with the town center lying on an elevated point above the rivers.
Greenfield lies at the junction of four roads.
Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
heads north and south through the city, and is duplexed for a 3-mile stretch with Route 2, the
Mohawk Trail- External links :* *...
. The Mohawk Trail enters over the Fall River as a surface road, before becoming a limited-access highway until I-91. Once it leaves the Interstate, Route 2 becomes a surface road again. Between the start of the limited access section of Route 2 and its split from I-91 at Exit 24, The Mohawk Trail follows Route 2A which uses Route 2's former right-of-way through town. At the town center, Route 2A meets the duplexed
U.S. Route 5U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...
and Route 10, the road that the Interstate replaced, which comes over the Deerfield River in the south before heading northward through town, with another interchange along the highway portion of Route 2.
Greenfield lies at the junction of two separate sets of the Springfield Terminal railway, the east-west line heading from the northern points of Worcester County towards the
Hoosac TunnelThe Hoosac Tunnel is a 4.75-mile-long railroad tunnel in western Massachusetts which passes through the Hoosac Range, an extension of Vermont's Green Mountains. Work began in 1848 and was finally completed in 1875...
and Albany, and the north-south line heading from Springfield in the south towards Vermont in the north. The town is served by several bus lines taking tourists towards the northern Berkshires, as well as being the hub of the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), whose local service extends from Bernardston to Northampton and from Athol to Charlemont. A new "intermodal transportation center" serving as the hub for FRTA bus service and possible passenger rail service is slated to open on Bank Row at the end of 2010. The nearest general aviation airport is located in the
Turners FallsTurners Falls is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,441 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
section of
MontagueMontague is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area....
, and the nearest national air service is at
Bradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
in
Windsor LocksWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
,
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Demographics
See also: Greenfield (CDP)Greenfield is a census-designated place located in the city of Greenfield in Franklin County, Massachusetts. The population was 13,716 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Greenfield is located at ....
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Greenfield, as the only community in the county with a population over 10,000, is the largest community by population and population density in the county. It is also the smallest mainland county seat in the Commonwealth, as only the island towns of
EdgartownEdgartown is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,779 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dukes County. Edgartown has the largest population and area in the entire Dukes County and Martha's Vineyard.- History :In 1642....
and
NantucketNantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
are smaller. As of the
censusA census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,168 people, 7,939 households, and 4,374 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 836.2 people per square mile (322.8/km²). There were 8,301 housing units at an average density of 382.1 per square mile (147.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.39% White, 1.34% Black or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.32% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.54% of the population.
There were 7,939 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,110, and the median income for a family was $46,412. Males had a median income of $33,903 versus $26,427 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $18,830. About 11.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Although officially styled the "Town of Greenfield", the 2003 revised corporate charter changed Greenfield's governance model to a
mayor-council governmentThe mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
, making it the Commonwealth's newest city. Greenfield had formerly been governed by a
town councilA town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
and a town manager. Currently, the town council consists of four
at-largeAt-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
councilors and nine councilors elected by
precinctA precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
. The other town boards are appointed, with the exception of the seven-member school committee, which currently consists of the mayor plus six members elected at-large.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 15, 2008 |
| Party |
Number of Voters |
Percentage
|
Democratic The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
|
3,831 |
33.24%
|
RepublicanThe Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
|
1,243 |
10.78%
|
Unaffiliated |
6,335 |
54.96%
|
Minor Parties |
117 |
1.02% |
| Total |
11,526 |
100% |
Mayor
Greenfield's first mayor, Christine Forgey, served until 2009 when she was defeated in a
primary electionA primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Greenfield's second mayor, Bill Martin took second place in the 2009 primary as a write-in candidate and went on to win the
general electionIn a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
in June. Martin's tenure began with a formal
inaugurationAn inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
ceremony, the city's first, which also featured a mayoral fanfare,
Long Live our Mayor, written for the occasion in the style of
Hail to the Chief"Hail to the Chief" is a march primarily associated with the President of the United States. Its playing accompanies the appearance of the President at many public appearances. For major official occasions, the United States Marine Band and other military ensembles generally are the performers, so...
. At the inauguration, Martin read a proclamation declaring July 1 as "Inauguration Day" in all following years.
In Greenfield, the Mayor appoints most of the members of the various town boards, with the town council approving appointments. The mayor also serves as a voting member of the school committee, but is currently forbidden to serve as its chairman or vice-chair. In addition, the mayor sits as a non-voting member of all the other town boards.
City council
The City Council consists of 13 members: four "Councilors at Large" and nine "Precinct Councilors" elected to represent each of the nine voting precincts. Timothy Farrell is the current Council President, David Singer the Vice-President and Mark Maloney is the Treasurer.
Municipal services
Greenfield operates its own police, fire and ambulance services. The town is also patrolled by the Second (Shelburne Falls) Barracks of Troop "B" of the
Massachusetts State PoliceThe Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
. It runs a sizeable
public worksPublic works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
department and is the home base of the regional waste management system. The Greenfield Public Library is one of the larger libraries in the area, and is connected to the regional library network. Greenfield also operates numerous municipal parks and recreation areas including a town swimming center.
County Seat
As county seat, Greenfield is also home to many different state offices, including courthouses and one of the offices of the Northwest District Attorney, Elizabeth D. Scheibel. The Franklin County
SheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
is based in Greenfield and operates the Franklin County Jail at the corner of Elm and Allen streets. The city also has the central post office for the "013" series of
ZIP codeZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s, which extends through Franklin County and several towns in Worcester County. Greenfield is home to the privately-run Baystate Franklin Medical Center, which serves much of the northern
Pioneer ValleyThe Pioneer Valley is the colloquial name for the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts's portion of the Connecticut River Valley. The Pioneer Valley consists of three counties in Massachusetts which collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland...
.
Legislative Delegation
Greenfield is part of the
Second Franklin district of the
Massachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, which includes much of southeastern Franklin County and towns in western Worcester County. Currently Representative
Denise AndrewsDenise Andrews is an American politician from Western Massachusetts. A Democrat, she is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 2nd Franklin district. She was first elected in 2010 and took office on January 5, 2011. The 2nd Franklin district comprises six towns,...
serves this district. In the
Massachusetts SenateThe Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
, the town is part of the
Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes much of eastern Franklin and Hampshire Counties. State Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg currently represents this district.
Nationally, Greenfield is represented in the
United States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as part of
Massachusetts's 1st congressional districtMassachusetts's 1st congressional district is in western and central Massachusetts. The largest Massachusetts district in area, it covers about one-third of the state and is more rural than the rest. It has the state's highest point, Mount Greylock...
, and has been represented by
John OlverJohn Walter Olver is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early in his career, he was a chemistry professor and served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court....
of
AmherstAmherst 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 . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
since June 1991. Massachusetts is currently represented in the
United States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
by Senators
John KerryJohn Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
and
Scott BrownScott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
.
Education
Greenfield operates its own
public school system for the town's 1,700 students. Greenfield operates the Academy of Early Learning at North Parish for pre-kindergarten students, three elementary schools - the Four Corners School to the north, the Federal Street School centrally, and the Newton Elementary School to the west - for students from
kindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through
third gradeIn the United States, third grade is a year of primary education. It is the third school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 8 – 9 years old, depending on when their birthday occurs....
, the Greenfield Middle School for students from
fourthFourth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fourth grade is the fourth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 9 or 10 years old, depending on their birthday. It is a part of elementary school. In some parts of the United States, fourth grade...
through
seventh gradeSeventh grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The seventh grade is the seventh school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 12–13 years old. Traditionally, seventh grade was the next-to-last year of elementary school...
s, and
Greenfield High SchoolGreenfield High School is located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The mascot for Greenfield High School is the "Green Wave" represented by a green ocean wave.-External links:*...
for
eighthEighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
through
twelfth gradeTwelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
s. Greenfield's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Green Wave", and their school colors are green and white.
Alternative public schools
Greenfield operates the Poet Seat School, an alternative middle and high school for
special needsIn the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
students. On July 9, 2009, Greenfield's local school committee approved creation of the
Massachusetts Virtual Academy or "MAVA @ Greenfield", the only kindergarten through
twelfth gradeTwelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
distance learning school of its kind in the state. The MAVA program is also expected to provide expanded course offerings to students in the traditional public schools. Greenfield is also home to the Four Rivers Charter Public School, which serves students in grades 7-12.
Private schools
Greenfield also has several private schools. The oldest is the Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a private 7th-12th grade boarding school for girls. The
Greenfield Center SchoolFor schools of a similar name, see Greenfield School.Greenfield Center School is an independent day school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It has a population of about 140 children, and was founded in 1981.The Greenfield Center School, was...
serves students through eighth grade with an "ethical" approach to education. There is one religiou school. The Cornerstone Christian School. Holy Trinity School closed in 2011.
Higher education
Greenfield is home to the
Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield Community College is a two-year Community College in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1962, currently has an annual enrollment of 3,000, is regionally known for its art program, its small-town atmosphere, and its setting amid picturesque old farmland at the foot of...
, which serves the northern
Pioneer ValleyThe Pioneer Valley is the colloquial name for the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts's portion of the Connecticut River Valley. The Pioneer Valley consists of three counties in Massachusetts which collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland...
and offers some courses to Greenfield High students seeking advanced learning opportunities. The nearest state college is
Westfield State CollegeWestfield State University is a comprehensive, coeducational, four-year public university in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1838 by noted educator and social reformer Horace Mann as the first public co-educational college in America without barrier to race, gender and economic class...
, and the nearest state university is the
University of Massachusetts AmherstThe University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
. There are also several private colleges, including members of the
Five CollegesThe Five Colleges comprises four liberal arts colleges and one university in the Connecticut River Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, totaling approximately 28,000 students. The schools belong to a consortium called Five Colleges, Incorporated, established in 1965...
and
Seven SistersThe Seven Sisters are seven liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern United States that are historically women's colleges. They are Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Radcliffe College, Smith College, Vassar College, and Wellesley College. All were founded between 1837 and...
, in the Northampton area.
Media
Greenfield has five
FMFM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
radio stations, one FM Translator, two
AMAm or am may refer to:* Americium, a chemical element with symbol Am* Attometre , a unit of length * A minor , a minor chord in music* am, a form of the verb to be used as a Copula...
radio stations, one
cable televisionCable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
station, and one daily local newspaper.
FM stations
- 95.3 WPVQ
WPVQ is a radio station licensed to serve Greenfield, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Saga Communications and licensed to Saga Communications of New England, LLC. It airs a Country music format.-History:...
(Country) Saga Communications
- 98.3 WHAI
WHAI is an adult contemporary radio station in Greenfield, Massachusetts, owned by Saga Communications. The station operates on 98.3 MHz. WHAI has operated on the FM dial since 1948; however, its roots date back to the 1938 sign on of WHMQ, which shared the WHAI call sign with the FM side until...
(Adult Contemporary) Saga Communications
- 102.9 W275AS (// WYRY
-FM Country) Tri Valley Broadcast Corporation
- 107.9 WMCB-LP
WMCB-LP is a radio station licensed to serve Greenfield, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Greenfield Community Television, Inc. It airs a Community radio format.WMCB-LP shares the 107.9 MHz frequency with religious broadcaster WLPV-LP...
(Talk/Information) Greenfield Community Television¹
- 107.9 WLPV-LP (Religious) Living Waters Assembly of God Church¹
¹ - WMCB-LP/WLPV-LP operate under a "share time" agreement with the U.S.
Federal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
AM stations
- 1240 WHMQ (// WHMP Talk) Saga Communications
- 1520 WIZZ
WIZZ is a radio station licensed to serve Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA. The station is owned by P. & M. Radio, LLC. It airs a Nostalgia radio format.The station verifies signal reports by QSL card....
(Nostalgia) P&M Radio
Cable stations
Newspapers
- The Recorder
The Recorder is a six-day morning daily newspaper published in Greenfield, Massachusetts, USA, covering all of Franklin County, Massachusetts; Hinsdale, New Hampshire; and Brattleboro, Guilford and Vernon, Vermont...
Newspaper
Points of interest
- Historical Society of Greenfield, 43 Church Street
- Guiding Star Grange
The Guiding Star Grange, located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, was the first grange organized in the state in 1873. It is one of the few local Grange associations in New England with a steadily growing membership and vibrant community....
is a community hall, known for traditional music and dance in the Pioneer Valley.
- Greenfield Center School
For schools of a similar name, see Greenfield School.Greenfield Center School is an independent day school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It has a population of about 140 children, and was founded in 1981.The Greenfield Center School, was...
, an independent K-8th grade school, is the a site of the Coalition of Essential Schools and the home of the New England Coalition of Progressive Educators.
- Greenfield Energy Park, a community greenspace featuring renewable energy exhibits, gardens, native arboretum, caboose museum, concerts, and public art in the heart of downtown Greenfield. Site of former train station. Headquartered at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).
- Leavitt-Hovey House
Leavitt-Hovey House is an historic house located at 402 Main Street in Greenfield, Massachusetts.The house was designed by the noted architect Asher Benjamin in 1797 for Judge Jonathan Leavitt and added to the National Historic Register in 1983.-History:...
, now the Greenfield Public Library, built in 1797 by Asher BenjaminAsher Benjamin was an American architect and author whose work transitioned between Federal style architecture and the later Greek Revival. His seven handbooks on design deeply influenced the look of cities and towns throughout New England until the Civil War...
for judge Jonathan LeavittJonathan Leavitt was a prominent Greenfield, Massachusetts attorney, judge, state senator and businessman for whom the architect Asher Benjamin designed the Leavitt House, now the Leavitt-Hovey House on Main Street, in 1797....
.
- The area is home to an optical illusion
An optical illusion is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source...
known as a gravity hillA gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
. It is located on Shelburne Road, while facing Greenfield, immediately after the Route 2 bridge. From under the overpass, the road appears to rise slightly to a crest a few hundred feet away. The illusion is slight, but convincing. A car in neutral at the "bottom" of the rise will appear to crawl uphill.
- Rocky Mountain Park features Poet's Seat Tower
Poet's Seat Tower is a 1912 sandstone observation tower, located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. It was so named to honor a long tradition of poets being drawn to the spot, in particular, the local poet Frederick Goddard Tuckerman...
, a 1912 sandstoneSandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
observation towerAn observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
named for the site's attraction to poets, particularly Frederick Goddard TuckermanFrederick Goddard Tuckerman was an American poet, remembered mostly for his sonnet series. Apart from the 1860 publication of his book Poems, which included approximately two-fifths of his lifetime sonnet output and other poetic works in a variety of forms, the remainder of his poetry was...
. The annual Fourth of July fireworksFireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
celebration takes place at Poet's Seat, which overlooks Beacon Field.
Notable residents
- Charles Allen
Charles Allen was an American jurist, born at Greenfield, Massachusetts to Sylvester and Harriet Allen. He graduated from Harvard University in 1847, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1850...
, jurist
- Christopher Baldwin
Christopher Baldwin is an American illustrator and author of several webcomics, the most significant being Bruno, a look at the life of an introspective young woman set in the real world....
, comic strip artist (BrunoBruno is a webcomic written and drawn by Christopher Baldwin from January 1, 1996 to February 14, 2007. Its storylines revolve around the life of an introspective young woman, set in the real world. Her unusual name comes from the Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno...
)
- Stan Batinski
Stanley Batinski was an American football offensive lineman who played eight years in the NFL....
, football player
- Asher Benjamin
Asher Benjamin was an American architect and author whose work transitioned between Federal style architecture and the later Greek Revival. His seven handbooks on design deeply influenced the look of cities and towns throughout New England until the Civil War...
, architect
- Stan Benjamin
Alfred Stanley "Stan" Benjamin was a right fielder in Major League Baseball for five seasons; four with the Philadelphia Phillies , of the National League , and one with the Cleveland Indians , of the American League . The 6' 2", 194 lb. Benjamin batted and threw right-handed, and was born...
, baseball player, teacher, coach and scout
- Peter Bergeron
Peter Francis Bergeron is a former professional baseball outfielder. Bergeron appeared 308 Major League games, all of which were played with the Montreal Expos over five different seasons. He was known as primarily being a leadoff hitter, with above average speed and defensive skills...
, baseball player
- Titus Billings
Titus Billings was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement. He served in several positions in the church and was a contemporary of Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young. Billings was a councilor in the first Bishopric of the Church to Edward Partridge. He participated in the Battle of Crooked...
, religious pioneer
- Misha Collins
Misha Collins is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his role as the angel Castiel on the CW television series Supernatural.-Personal life:...
, television and film actor
- Scott Crago, musician
- Kelly Doton
Kelly Doton is a field hockey defender from the United States, who earned her first international cap vs New Zealand on April 14, 2005 in Virginia Beach...
, field hockey player
- George Grennell, Jr.
George Grennell, Jr. was a U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts. He was born in Greenfield on December 25, 1786. He attended Deerfield Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1808...
, congressman
- Van Hansis
Van Hansis is an American actor. Hansis, who uses the name Van professionally, starred on the long-running CBS soap opera As the World Turns as Luke Snyder, the son of one of the show's signature supercouples, Holden and Lily Snyder ,...
, Actor (As The World TurnsAs the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
)
- Kevin Hassett
Kevin Allen Hassett is an American economist. He is best known for his work in macroeconomics and tax policy and for coauthoring Dow 36,000, published in 1999. Hassett is currently a senior fellow and director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute...
, economist & author (now lives in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
)
- Herbert Huncke
Herbert Edwin Huncke was a writer and poet, and active participant in a number of emerging cultural, social and aesthetic movements of the 20th century in America...
, Beat GenerationThe Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
figure
- Penn Jillette
Penn Fraser Jillette is an American magician, comedian, illusionist, juggler, bassist and a best-selling author known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team Penn & Teller, and advocacy of atheism, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and scientific skepticism.-Early...
, magician
- Robin Lane
Robin Lane is an American rock singer and songwriter. Her band, Robin Lane & the Chartbusters, released three albums on Warner Bros. Records in the early 1980s, and was known for its single "When Things Go Wrong"....
, musician
- Jonathan Leavitt
Jonathan Leavitt was a prominent Greenfield, Massachusetts attorney, judge, state senator and businessman for whom the architect Asher Benjamin designed the Leavitt House, now the Leavitt-Hovey House on Main Street, in 1797....
, lawyer, judge, state senator & banker
- Roger Hooker Leavitt
Col. Roger Hooker Leavitt was a prominent landowner, early industrialist and Massachusetts politician who with other family members was an ardent abolitionist, using his home in Charlemont, Massachusetts as an Underground Railroad station for slaves escaped from the South...
, prominent abolitionist
- Winter Miller
Winter Miller is an American playwright and journalist. In the summer of 2007, a reading of Miller's play In Darfur was at the Delacorte Theater in New York City....
, playwright (In Darfur)
- Michael Moschen
Michael Moschen is a juggler. He received a Fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation in 1990, has appeared on TV on PBS, and done ads for Motorola. Cirque du Soleil commissioned Moschen to create a new work for their permanent theatrical circus in Las Vegas, Nevada.Moschen is particularly known...
, juggler
- Steve Partenheimer
Harold Philip "Steve" Partenheimer was a Major League Baseball player who played one game with the Detroit Tigers on June 28, 1913....
, baseball player
- George Ripley, Transcendentalist
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the 1830s and 1840s in the New England region of the United States as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian...
and founder of the Brook FarmBrook Farm, also called the Brook Farm Institute of Agriculture and Education or the Brook Farm Association for Industry and Education, was a utopian experiment in communal living in the United States in the 1840s...
communal experiment
- John E. Russell
John Edwards Russell was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, Russell was instructed by private tutors....
, congressman
- Rufus Saxton
Rufus Saxton was a Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions defending Harper's Ferry during Confederate General Jackson's Valley Campaign.-Early life:Saxton was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts...
, brigadier general
- Bennett Jones Sims, bishop
- Charles Pomeroy Stone
Charles Pomeroy Stone was a career United States Army officer, civil engineer, and surveyor. He fought with distinction in the Mexican–American War, earning two brevet promotions for his performance in the conflict. After resigning and surveying for the Mexican Government, he returned to the U.S...
, army officer & engineer
- Frederick Goddard Tuckerman
Frederick Goddard Tuckerman was an American poet, remembered mostly for his sonnet series. Apart from the 1860 publication of his book Poems, which included approximately two-fifths of his lifetime sonnet output and other poetic works in a variety of forms, the remainder of his poetry was...
, poet
- Fred Wallner
Frederick William "Fred" Wallner was an American football guard who played five seasons in the National Football League and one season with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He was a member of the Oilers' first AFL Championship team.-See also:*Other American Football League...
, football player
- William B. Washburn
William Barrett Washburn was an American politician from Massachusetts who served in the United States House of Representatives and as the 28th Governor of Massachusetts.-Early life:...
, congressman & governor
Further reading
- Francis M. Thompson, History of Greenfield, Shire Town of Franklin County, Massachusetts; T. Morey & Son, publishers; Greenfield, Massachusetts 1904
- History of Greenfield, Massachusetts (1879)
- History of the Green River Works
- Leavitt-Hovey House, History of Greenfield, Massachusetts, Francis Thompson, 1904
- http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1000491_gl_partner_households.pdf
External links