Holyoke, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County
, Massachusetts
, United States
, between the western bank of the Connecticut River
and the Mount Tom Range
of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880. Sitting only 8 miles north of the major city of Springfield, Massachusetts
, Holyoke is considered part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area
- one of the two distinct metropolitan areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The City of Holyoke was named for Elizur Holyoke
, a Springfielder who first explored the area in 1664.
Holyoke was one of the first planned industrial communities in the United States. Its rectilinear grid pattern is notable in Western Massachusetts
, where few roads are straight. The city's advantageous location on the Connecticut River - the largest river in New England
- beside Hadley Falls, the river's steepest drop (60 feet), attracted the Boston Associates, who had successfully developed Lowell, Massachusetts
' textile
industry. From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, Holyoke was the world's biggest paper
manufacturer. The elaborate Holyoke Canal System
, a system of canals built to power paper and textile mills, distinguishes it from other Connecticut River cities. Holyoke is nicknamed The Paper City due to its fame as the world's greatest paper producer.
The sport of volleyball
was invented in Holyoke in 1895. The Volleyball Hall of Fame
is located there.
by traders from the Plymouth Plantation. In 1636, Massachusetts Bay Colony
assistant treasurer and Puritan iconoclast William Pynchon
led a group of settlers from Roxbury, Massachusetts
to land that scouts had vetted the previous year. They considered it the most advantageous land in the Connecticut River Valley for both farming and trading. This settlement, located on fertile farmland just north of the Connecticut River's first major falls (at Enfield Falls,) the place where sea-going vessels necessarily had to stop, and switch their cargo into smaller shallops to continue northward on the Connecticut River, quickly became a successful settlement - largely due to its advantageous position on the Bay Path to Boston, the Massachusetts Path to Albany, and beside the Connecticut River. Originally, Springfield spanned both sides of the Connecticut River
; however, the region was eventually partitioned. In the 1650s, the area that would become Holyoke was first explored by Elizur Holyoke
. Later, the land on the western bank of the Connecticut River became West Springfield, Massachusetts
. West Springfield's northernmost parish, (alternately called Third Parish, North Parish, or Ireland Parish,) became Holyoke, named after earlier Springfield settler, William Pynchon
's son-in-law, Elizur Holyoke. The village of Holyoke was first settled in 1745, and was officially incorporated in 1850.
The first post office
in the area was called Ireland and was established June 3, 1822, with Martin Chapin as first postmaster. It was discontinued in 1883. Another post office called Ireland Depot was established February 26, 1847, with John M. Chapin as first postmaster and had its name changed to Holyoke, (with George Whittle as first postmaster) March 14, 1850.
A part of Northampton
known as Smiths Ferry was separated from the rest of the town by the creation of Easthampton
in 1809, and the shortest path to downtown Northampton was on a road near the Connecticut River oxbow, which was subject to frequent flooding. The neighborhood became the northern part of Holyoke in 1909.
in 1849, and the subsequent construction of water-powered mills, particularly paper mill
s. At one point over 25 paper mills were in operation in the city, and the population rose from just under 5,000 in 1860 to over 60,000 in 1920. In 1888, Holyoke's paper industry spurred the foundation of the American Pad & Paper Company
, which is one of the largest suppliers of office products in the world. An early planned industrial town, Holyoke features rectilinear street grid - a novelty in New England
. This street hierarchy is seen as a potential economic development tool as it lends well to high-rise buildings, and the surrounding canals could be landscaped into a source of recreation and relaxation.
In the past several years, there have been successful efforts to attract high-tech jobs to Holyoke and diversify its economic base. For example, in 2011, a coalition of universities and tech companies built an energy-efficient, high-performance computing center in Holyoke, supporting the state’s tech sector and academic institutions. These companies and institutions include Cisco Systems
, Harvard University
, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT,) the University of Massachusetts
, Boston University
, EMC Corporation
, and Accenture PLC. The data center will be built in Holyoke because the city provides New England's best access to green hydropower
. The retail sector has been a major employer in the city since the construction of the Holyoke Mall
, one of the largest shopping malls in New England, in 1979. Retail has provided the city with a large and steady tax base, contributing over $7 million dollars in taxes annually. Holyoke is a sister city of Northampton, Massachusetts
.
in the city of Holyoke. It sits firmly on Library Park, which was donated by the Holyoke Water Power Company in 1887. In 1870 the library was originally located in a room in the old Appleton Street School. In 1876 it moved to a large central room on the main floor of City Hall. It remained there until it was determined that it had outgrown the space and a modern facility was required. Holyoke's citizens were charged to raise money to construct the library building and provide additional books. Under the leadership of Henry Chase, $95,000 was raised. William Whiting and William Skinner, each gave $10,000. Joseph Clough, the architect in charge of designing the building, gave his services gratis because his daughter was a faithful patron of the library. It opened officially in 1902. At the dedication ceremony William Whiting, who was library president at the time, referred to the library as the "people's college", and added that: “A library is as much a part of the intellectual life of a community as its schools, and should be supported generously as part of our educational system. Within these walls you will find authors devoted to literature, arts and science, and they are free to any who will ask. We can say to the citizens of Holyoke you have only to ask her and you will find knowledge to make your life useful and happy”.
invented volleyball
at the former Holyoke YMCA
. That YMCA building was located on High Street at the intersection with Appleton Street but has since been demolished. The Volleyball Hall of Fame
resides in Holyoke at Heritage State Park and inducts a new class of athletes, coaches, and contributors every October.
parade. Held annually since 1952 on the Sunday following St. Patrick's Day, the parade draws hundreds of thousands of people from across New England
and the United States. In the 1850s, mills began to recruit French-Canadians
, who were viewed as more docile and less likely to form labor unions. Later waves of immigration and migration led to significant communities of Germans, Poles, Jews, and then, starting in the 1950s, Puerto Ricans, and other Latino groups. Today Latinos form the largest minority group in the city, with the largest percentage-wise Puerto Rican population of any city in the US outside Puerto Rico proper, at 36.5%. The entire Latino population of Holyoke, as of the 2010 census, was 19,313, or 48% of the city's population of 39,880.
Holyoke is located at 42°12′11"N 72°37′26"W (42.203191, -72.623969).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²), of which, 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (6.70%) is water. The city is bordered by Southampton, Westfield, and Easthampton to the west, Northampton to the north, Hadley, South Hadley and Chicopee as river borders to the east, and West Springfield to the south.
Holyoke is the location of East Mountain
, the Mount Tom Range
, and Mount Tom
, 1202 feet (363 m), the highest traprock peak on the Metacomet Ridge
, a linear mountain range that extends from Long Island Sound
to the Vermont
border. Mount Tom is characterized by its high cliffs, sweeping vistas, and microclimate
ecosystems. The 110 miles (177 km) Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
traverses the Mount Tom Range and East Mountain.
of 2000, there were 39,838 people, 14,967 households, and 9,474 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,871.4 people per square mile (722.5/km²). There were 16,210 housing units at an average density of 761.5 per square mile (294.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.76% White, 3.71% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 26.41% from other races
, and 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.38% of the population.
There were 14,967 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples
living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,441, and the median income for a family was $36,130. Males had a median income of $34,849 versus $26,652 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,913. About 22.6% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
The city of Holyoke has a large Irish and Latino population—both demographics well-known to patronize the Roman Catholic Church. This, and political tradition, contribute to Holyoke being viewed as one of the Pioneer Valley's most conservative cities, along with Westfield, Agawam, and Palmer. Interestingly, the nearby City of Springfield, which also features a large Catholic population, is overwhelmingly liberal, politically and socially.
According to the 2003 FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement Holyoke's crime rate in most categories was above the national average, in some categories, significantly. Most of these crimes are placed in the category of property theft, with a property crime count of 2,822.
serves the city of Holyoke. Holyoke High School and William J. Dean Technical-Vocational High School are the city's two high schools. Holyoke Community College
serves Holyoke as well as the western Massachusetts area. Holyoke Catholic High School was located in Holyoke for 5 decades but is now in Chicopee.
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The 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 States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, between the western bank of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The 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...
and the Mount Tom Range
Mount Tom Range
The Mount Tom Range is a traprock mountain range located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to nearly the Vermont border...
of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880. Sitting only 8 miles north of the major city of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield 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...
, Holyoke is considered part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area
Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
The 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...
- one of the two distinct metropolitan areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The City of Holyoke was named for Elizur Holyoke
Elizur Holyoke
Captain Elizur Holyoke of Springfield, Massachusetts was the namesake of the mountain, Mount Holyoke, and , of the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts.-Background:...
, a Springfielder who first explored the area in 1664.
Holyoke was one of the first planned industrial communities in the United States. Its rectilinear grid pattern is notable in Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
, where few roads are straight. The city's advantageous location on the Connecticut River - the largest river in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
- beside Hadley Falls, the river's steepest drop (60 feet), attracted the Boston Associates, who had successfully developed Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
' textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
industry. From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, Holyoke was the world's biggest paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
manufacturer. The elaborate Holyoke Canal System
Holyoke Canal System
The Holyoke Canal System is a system of power canals in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Its major canals are called the First Level Canal, Second Level Canal, and Third Level Canal.- History :...
, a system of canals built to power paper and textile mills, distinguishes it from other Connecticut River cities. Holyoke is nicknamed The Paper City due to its fame as the world's greatest paper producer.
The sport of volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
was invented in Holyoke in 1895. The Volleyball Hall of Fame
Volleyball Hall of Fame
The Volleyball Hall of Fame was founded to honor extraordinary players, coaches, officials, and leaders who have made significant contributions to the game of volleyball. The hall is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G...
is located there.
History
The Connecticut River Valley was first inhabited by Englishmen in 1633 - a post was established at Windsor, ConnecticutWindsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
by traders from the Plymouth Plantation. In 1636, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
assistant treasurer and Puritan iconoclast William Pynchon
William Pynchon
William Pynchon was an English colonist in North America best known as the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was also a colonial treasurer, original patentee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the iconoclastic author of the New World's first banned book...
led a group of settlers from Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
to land that scouts had vetted the previous year. They considered it the most advantageous land in the Connecticut River Valley for both farming and trading. This settlement, located on fertile farmland just north of the Connecticut River's first major falls (at Enfield Falls,) the place where sea-going vessels necessarily had to stop, and switch their cargo into smaller shallops to continue northward on the Connecticut River, quickly became a successful settlement - largely due to its advantageous position on the Bay Path to Boston, the Massachusetts Path to Albany, and beside the Connecticut River. Originally, Springfield spanned both sides of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The 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...
; however, the region was eventually partitioned. In the 1650s, the area that would become Holyoke was first explored by Elizur Holyoke
Elizur Holyoke
Captain Elizur Holyoke of Springfield, Massachusetts was the namesake of the mountain, Mount Holyoke, and , of the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts.-Background:...
. Later, the land on the western bank of the Connecticut River became West Springfield, Massachusetts
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
. West Springfield's northernmost parish, (alternately called Third Parish, North Parish, or Ireland Parish,) became Holyoke, named after earlier Springfield settler, William Pynchon
William Pynchon
William Pynchon was an English colonist in North America best known as the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was also a colonial treasurer, original patentee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the iconoclastic author of the New World's first banned book...
's son-in-law, Elizur Holyoke. The village of Holyoke was first settled in 1745, and was officially incorporated in 1850.
The first post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in the area was called Ireland and was established June 3, 1822, with Martin Chapin as first postmaster. It was discontinued in 1883. Another post office called Ireland Depot was established February 26, 1847, with John M. Chapin as first postmaster and had its name changed to Holyoke, (with George Whittle as first postmaster) March 14, 1850.
A part of Northampton
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
known as Smiths Ferry was separated from the rest of the town by the creation of Easthampton
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Easthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
in 1809, and the shortest path to downtown Northampton was on a road near the Connecticut River oxbow, which was subject to frequent flooding. The neighborhood became the northern part of Holyoke in 1909.
Population and economy
Holyoke had few inhabitants until the construction of a dam and the Holyoke Canal SystemHolyoke Canal System
The Holyoke Canal System is a system of power canals in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Its major canals are called the First Level Canal, Second Level Canal, and Third Level Canal.- History :...
in 1849, and the subsequent construction of water-powered mills, particularly paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s. At one point over 25 paper mills were in operation in the city, and the population rose from just under 5,000 in 1860 to over 60,000 in 1920. In 1888, Holyoke's paper industry spurred the foundation of the American Pad & Paper Company
Ampad
American Pad & Paper LLC, or Ampad, is a manufacturer of office products, including writing pads, specialty papers, filing products and envelopes. Some products are marketed under the Ampad brand name, others are produced for brands including Staples and Wal-Mart. The company makes over 2500...
, which is one of the largest suppliers of office products in the world. An early planned industrial town, Holyoke features rectilinear street grid - a novelty in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. This street hierarchy is seen as a potential economic development tool as it lends well to high-rise buildings, and the surrounding canals could be landscaped into a source of recreation and relaxation.
In the past several years, there have been successful efforts to attract high-tech jobs to Holyoke and diversify its economic base. For example, in 2011, a coalition of universities and tech companies built an energy-efficient, high-performance computing center in Holyoke, supporting the state’s tech sector and academic institutions. These companies and institutions include Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT,) the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation , a Financial Times Global 500, Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, develops, delivers and supports information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure hardware, software, and services. EMC is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.Former Intel executive Richard Egan and his...
, and Accenture PLC. The data center will be built in Holyoke because the city provides New England's best access to green hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
. The retail sector has been a major employer in the city since the construction of the Holyoke Mall
Holyoke Mall
The Holyoke Mall at Ingleside is a shopping mall located in Holyoke, Massachusetts that serves the Springfield metropolitan area. It features nearly 200 stores, a large food court, and several restaurants...
, one of the largest shopping malls in New England, in 1979. Retail has provided the city with a large and steady tax base, contributing over $7 million dollars in taxes annually. Holyoke is a sister city of Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
.
"The People's College"
Holyoke Public Library, found at 335 Maple Street, is one of the very few examples of neoclassical architectureNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
in the city of Holyoke. It sits firmly on Library Park, which was donated by the Holyoke Water Power Company in 1887. In 1870 the library was originally located in a room in the old Appleton Street School. In 1876 it moved to a large central room on the main floor of City Hall. It remained there until it was determined that it had outgrown the space and a modern facility was required. Holyoke's citizens were charged to raise money to construct the library building and provide additional books. Under the leadership of Henry Chase, $95,000 was raised. William Whiting and William Skinner, each gave $10,000. Joseph Clough, the architect in charge of designing the building, gave his services gratis because his daughter was a faithful patron of the library. It opened officially in 1902. At the dedication ceremony William Whiting, who was library president at the time, referred to the library as the "people's college", and added that: “A library is as much a part of the intellectual life of a community as its schools, and should be supported generously as part of our educational system. Within these walls you will find authors devoted to literature, arts and science, and they are free to any who will ask. We can say to the citizens of Holyoke you have only to ask her and you will find knowledge to make your life useful and happy”.
Birthplace of Volleyball
On February 9, 1895, William G. MorganWilliam G. Morgan
William G. Morgan was the inventor of volleyball, originally called "Mintonette". He was born in Lockport, New York, USA. He met James Naismith, inventor of basketball, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College, Massachusetts in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical...
invented volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
at the former Holyoke YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. That YMCA building was located on High Street at the intersection with Appleton Street but has since been demolished. The Volleyball Hall of Fame
Volleyball Hall of Fame
The Volleyball Hall of Fame was founded to honor extraordinary players, coaches, officials, and leaders who have made significant contributions to the game of volleyball. The hall is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G...
resides in Holyoke at Heritage State Park and inducts a new class of athletes, coaches, and contributors every October.
Immigration and migration
Historically, a city of working-class immigrants (and the rich business owners who have employed them,) the first wave of mill workers was predominantly Irish. Holyoke is still home to the second-largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States, surpassed only by the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
parade. Held annually since 1952 on the Sunday following St. Patrick's Day, the parade draws hundreds of thousands of people from across New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and the United States. In the 1850s, mills began to recruit French-Canadians
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
, who were viewed as more docile and less likely to form labor unions. Later waves of immigration and migration led to significant communities of Germans, Poles, Jews, and then, starting in the 1950s, Puerto Ricans, and other Latino groups. Today Latinos form the largest minority group in the city, with the largest percentage-wise Puerto Rican population of any city in the US outside Puerto Rico proper, at 36.5%. The entire Latino population of Holyoke, as of the 2010 census, was 19,313, or 48% of the city's population of 39,880.
Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Holyoke holds the second largest annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the nation, attracting 350,000 to 450,000 people every year.Puerto Rican Day Parade
The Latino community of Holyoke holds an annual Puerto Rican Day parade on the third weekend of July as part of an Annual Hispanic Family Festival held by La Familia Hispana, inc. Every year the parade grows in popularity, attracting Latinos from across the northeast.Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The 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 city has a total area of 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²), of which, 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (6.70%) is water. The city is bordered by Southampton, Westfield, and Easthampton to the west, Northampton to the north, Hadley, South Hadley and Chicopee as river borders to the east, and West Springfield to the south.
Holyoke is the location of East Mountain
East Mountain (Hampden County, Massachusetts)
East Mountain is a traprock mountain ridge located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border...
, the Mount Tom Range
Mount Tom Range
The Mount Tom Range is a traprock mountain range located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to nearly the Vermont border...
, and Mount Tom
Mount Tom (Massachusetts)
Mount Tom, , is a steep, rugged traprock mountain peak on the west bank of the Connecticut River 4.5 miles northwest of downtown Holyoke, Massachusetts. The mountain is the southernmost and highest peak of the Mount Tom Range and the highest traprock peak of the long Metacomet Ridge...
, 1202 feet (363 m), the highest traprock peak on the Metacomet Ridge
Metacomet Ridge
The 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...
, a linear mountain range that extends from Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
to the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
border. Mount Tom is characterized by its high cliffs, sweeping vistas, and microclimate
Microclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
ecosystems. The 110 miles (177 km) Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail is a hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts and the central uplands of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire...
traverses the Mount Tom Range and East Mountain.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A 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 39,838 people, 14,967 households, and 9,474 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,871.4 people per square mile (722.5/km²). There were 16,210 housing units at an average density of 761.5 per square mile (294.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.76% White, 3.71% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 26.41% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race 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 2.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.38% of the population.
There were 14,967 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage 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, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,441, and the median income for a family was $36,130. Males had a median income of $34,849 versus $26,652 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per 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 city was $15,913. About 22.6% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
The city of Holyoke has a large Irish and Latino population—both demographics well-known to patronize the Roman Catholic Church. This, and political tradition, contribute to Holyoke being viewed as one of the Pioneer Valley's most conservative cities, along with Westfield, Agawam, and Palmer. Interestingly, the nearby City of Springfield, which also features a large Catholic population, is overwhelmingly liberal, politically and socially.
According to the 2003 FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement Holyoke's crime rate in most categories was above the national average, in some categories, significantly. Most of these crimes are placed in the category of property theft, with a property crime count of 2,822.
Points of interest
- Holyoke Canal SystemHolyoke Canal SystemThe Holyoke Canal System is a system of power canals in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Its major canals are called the First Level Canal, Second Level Canal, and Third Level Canal.- History :...
- Mount TomMount Tom (Massachusetts)Mount Tom, , is a steep, rugged traprock mountain peak on the west bank of the Connecticut River 4.5 miles northwest of downtown Holyoke, Massachusetts. The mountain is the southernmost and highest peak of the Mount Tom Range and the highest traprock peak of the long Metacomet Ridge...
of the Mount Tom RangeMount Tom RangeThe Mount Tom Range is a traprock mountain range located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to nearly the Vermont border... - Holyoke Mall at Ingleside
- Metacomet-Monadnock TrailMetacomet-Monadnock TrailThe Metacomet-Monadnock Trail is a hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts and the central uplands of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire...
- East MountainEast Mountain (Hampden County, Massachusetts)East Mountain is a traprock mountain ridge located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border...
- Holyoke Heritage State ParkHolyoke Heritage State ParkHolyoke Heritage State Park celebrates the history and culture of the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts. It is operated and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Park features include a visitor center with exhibits about paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial...
- Mackenzie StadiumMackenzie StadiumMackenzie Stadium is a baseball venue located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was home to the Holyoke Millers and today is used by both the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Elms College Blazers of the New England Collegiate Conference...
, home of the Holyoke Blue SoxHolyoke Blue SoxThe Holyoke Blue Sox are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games at Mackenzie Stadium...
of the New England Collegiate Baseball LeagueNew England Collegiate Baseball LeagueThe New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 42-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August... - Holyoke Merry-Go-RoundHolyoke Merry-Go-RoundThe Holyoke Merry-Go-Round is a carousel in Holyoke, Massachusetts.In 1929, Louis Pellissier ran the Holyoke Street Railway Company and managed Mountain Park, an amusement park on the side of Mount Tom...
- WistariahurstWistariahurstWistariahurst is a historic site located at 238 Cabot Street in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was built in 1868 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973....
Museum - Victory TheaterVictory TheaterThe Victory Theater is a theatre in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was built in 1920 by the Goldstein Brothers Amusement Company. The architecture is in the Art Deco style and is considered the last of its type between Boston and Albany....
- Dinosaur Footprints Reservation - preserved dinosaur footprints along the Connecticut RiverConnecticut 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...
- Robert E. Barrett Fishway - lift system to allow fish to swim upstream of the Holyoke Dam
Education
Holyoke School DepartmentHolyoke School Department
Holyoke Public Schools is a school district serving the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States.-Middle & Elementary Schools:* William R. Peck Full-Time Community School*Maurice A. Donahue School*Dr. Marcella R. Kelly School...
serves the city of Holyoke. Holyoke High School and William J. Dean Technical-Vocational High School are the city's two high schools. Holyoke Community College
Holyoke Community College
Holyoke Community College is a state-funded public two-year community college located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
serves Holyoke as well as the western Massachusetts area. Holyoke Catholic High School was located in Holyoke for 5 decades but is now in Chicopee.
Notable residents
(B) denotes that the person was born there.- Arthur Adams (born 1963), Comic book artist known for his work on LongshotLongshotLongshot is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero best known as a member of the X-Men. He was created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Art Adams.-Publication history:...
and Monkeyman and O'BrienMonkeyman and O'BrienMonkeyman and O'Brien is an American comic book series created by artist Art Adams in 1993. The series was published from 1993 to 1999 by Dark Horse Comics in various types of installments including short features in anthologies, backup stories in other series, a three issue limited series, a two...
.(B) - Paul AzingerPaul AzingerPaul William Azinger is an American professional golfer and occasional on air golf analyst. He spent almost 300 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1988 and 1994.-Early years:...
(born 1960), Professional golfer, winner of 1993 PGA Championship1993 PGA ChampionshipThe 1993 PGA Championship was the 75th PGA Championship held from August 12-15 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Paul Azinger won his first major championship on the second hole of a sudden death playoff with Greg Norman...
, and captain of the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, was born in Holyoke. - Jack BuckJack BuckJohn Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
(1924–2002), Sportscaster.(B) - Jerome ConnorJerome ConnorJerome Connor was an Irish sculptor.-Life:...
(1874–1943), Recognized world class sculptor - Fran HealyFran Healy (baseball)Francis Xavier Healy , is a former Major League Baseball catcher best known for his long tenure calling television broadcasts for the New York Mets on the MSG Network and Fox Sports Net New York....
(born 1946) Former Major League Baseball catcher for the Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. - Hal HolbrookHal HolbrookHarold Rowe "Hal" Holbrook, Jr. is an American actor. His television roles include Abraham Lincoln in the 1976 TV series Lincoln, Hays Stowe on The Bold Ones: The Senator and Capt. Lloyd Bucher on Pueblo. He is also known for his role in the 2007 film Into the Wild, for which he was nominated for...
(born 1925), Actor known for his portrayal of Mark Twain in a one-man show. - Raymond KennedyRaymond KennedyRaymond Kennedy was an American novelist. He was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts to James Patrick Kennedy and Orise Belanger and was the youngest of three brothers. Kennedy spent his formative years in Belchertown and Holyoke...
(1934–2008), Novelist, who set many of his books in a fictionalized Holyoke that he called "Ireland Parish" and "Hadley Falls". - Mike LaPlanteMike LaPlanteMichael McCormick LaPlante is an American college basketball coach, who coached Jacksonville State University for eight seasons. His contract was not renewed following the 2007-08 season. Before becomong the head men's basketball coach at JSU, LaPlante served as an assistant coach at Auburn...
(born 1966), college basketball head coach, NBA scout and lawyer. Known internationally as an excellent recruiter with contacts with the Senegalese Basketball Federation and is credited with bringing many players into the NBA from Africa and Europe. - Billy MitchellBilly Mitchell (gamer)Billy L. Mitchell, born July 16, 1965, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, is best known for recording high scores in classic video games from the Golden Age of Arcade Games. He has been claimed by some as the "greatest arcade-video-game player of all time". His achievements include the first perfect score...
, Classic arcade gamer.(B) - Neil SheehanNeil SheehanCornelius Mahoney "Neil" Sheehan is an American journalist. As a reporter for The New York Times in 1971, Sheehan obtained the classified Pentagon Papers from Daniel Ellsberg. His series in the Times revealed a secret U.S. Department of Defense history of the Vietnam War and resulted in government...
(born 1936), Author of A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam.(B) - David E. SweetDavid E. SweetDavid E. Sweet, , academic, was the founding president of innovative Metropolitan State University and later president of Rhode Island College, where he spearheaded the Leadership Rhode Island program.-Early life and education:...
(1933–1984), Founding president of Metropolitan State UniversityMetropolitan State UniversityMetropolitan State University is a four-year public university located in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, United States. It is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.-History:...
and later president of Rhode Island CollegeRhode Island CollegeRhode Island College is a nationally ranked, coeducational, state-supported comprehensive college founded in 1854, located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA...
.(B) - Eva TanguayEva TanguayEva Tanguay was a Canadian-born singer and entertainer who billed herself as "the girl who made vaudeville famous".-Early life:...
(1879–1947), The "I Don't Care Girl", vaudevillian. - William Fairfield Whiting, Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
- William WhitingWilliam Whiting II (politician)William Whiting was an American businessman and politician from Holyoke, Massachusetts. Whiting descended from an English family who first settled in Lynn, Massachusetts 1636....
, Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts. - Mark WohlersMark WohlersMark Edward Wohlers is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Atlanta Braves from to...
(born 1970), Former MLB relief pitcher who won a World Series in 1995 with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.(B)