Greenfield | |
|---|---|
 The Civil War Memorial on Court Square | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts | |
  Greenfield Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°35′15″N72°36′00″W / 42.58750°N 72.60000°W /42.58750; -72.60000 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Franklin |
| Settled | 1686 |
| Incorporated | 1753 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council city |
| • Mayor | Ginny Desorgher |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.87 sq mi (56.65 km2) |
| • Land | 21.41 sq mi (55.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,768 |
| • Density | 829.8/sq mi (320.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Code | 01301 |
| Area code | 413 |
| FIPS code | 25-27060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618166[2] |
| Website | greenfield-ma |
Greenfield is thecounty seat, and sole city, ofFranklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Greenfield was first settled in 1686. The population was 17,768 at the2020 census.[3] Greenfield is home toGreenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Franklin County Fair, and the Green River Festival.[4] The city has a Main StreetHistoric District containing fine examples ofFederal,Greek Revival, andVictorian architecture.
Greenfield anchors the Greenfield Town, MAMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in theSpringfield-Greenfield Town, MACombined Statistical Area.
PocumtuckIndians first settled and originally inhabited the Greenfield area. Native American artifacts found in the area have been dated between 7,000 and 9,000 BCE.[5] The Pocumtucks planted field crops and fished local rivers. Some sources claim that they were wiped out by theMohawks in 1664 and that the land was left unoccupied.[6] Other sources show that the Pocumtucks joined theWampanoag chiefMetacom in August 1675 in the fight against English encroachment, indicating a continued presence in the area.[7] The Pocumtuck also played an important role in theBattle of Turner's Falls on May 19, 1676, and tribal oral tradition indicates that following the battle, elements of the Pocumtuck fled to and were incorporated into theAbenaki people to the north and theMahican people to the west.[7]
The area was colonized as part ofDeerfield by theEnglish in 1686. In 1753, Greenfield, named for theGreen River, was incorporated as a separate town from Deerfield.
In 1795, theSouth Hadley Canal opened, enabling boats to bypass theSouth Hadley falls and reach Greenfield via theConnecticut River. Located at theconfluence of theDeerfield and Green rivers, and not far from where they merge into the Connecticut River, Greenfield developed into a trade center. Falls providedwater power for industry, and Greenfield grew into a prosperousmill town. John Russell established the Green River Works in 1834, hiring skilledGerman workers at what was the country's firstcutlery factory. TheConnecticut River Railroad was the first of several railways to enter the town, replacing the former canal trade. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Greenfield was one of the most important American centers of thetap and die business and was the home ofGreenfield Tap & Die Company (GTD).
It was designated the county seat when Franklin County was created fromHampshire County in 1811.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22 square miles (56.7 km2), of which 21 square miles (55.5 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km2), or 2.08%, is water.[8] Greenfield is located at the center of the county and is bordered byColrain,Leyden, andBernardston to the north;Gill to the east;Montague to the southeast;Deerfield to the south; andShelburne to the west. Greenfield is located 39 miles (63 km) north ofSpringfield and 90 miles (145 km) west-northwest ofBoston.
Greenfield lies at the confluence of theDeerfield,Green, andConnecticut 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 thePocumtuck Range, the northernmost subridge of theMetacomet Ridge, and is surrounded by hills, with the town center lying on an elevated point above the rivers.
Like most of New England, Greenfield has ahumid continental climate, exactly on the border betweenKöppenDfa andDfb with its warmest-month (July) mean of 71.6 °F (22.0 °C), with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Extreme temperatures range from 100 °F (37.8 °C), recorded on July 22, 1926, and August 26, 1948,[9][10] to −30 °F (−34.4 °C), recorded on January 22, 1961.[11] Precipitation is abundant and well distributed (every month except February receives over three inches) and averages 41.3 inches per year.
| Climate data for Greenfield, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) | 34.5 (1.4) | 44.2 (6.8) | 57.3 (14.1) | 70.0 (21.1) | 78.4 (25.8) | 83.0 (28.3) | 80.6 (27.0) | 73.2 (22.9) | 62.2 (16.8) | 48.3 (9.1) | 35.7 (2.1) | 58.3 (14.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 14.0 (−10.0) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 35.2 (1.8) | 45.8 (7.7) | 55.1 (12.8) | 60.2 (15.7) | 58.2 (14.6) | 50.8 (10.4) | 40.1 (4.5) | 30.7 (−0.7) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 37.4 (3.0) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.2 (81) | 2.8 (71) | 3.5 (89) | 3.4 (86) | 3.6 (91) | 3.7 (94) | 3.7 (94) | 3.8 (97) | 3.6 (91) | 3.0 (76) | 3.6 (91) | 3.5 (89) | 41.3 (1,050) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 15.3 (39) | 15.1 (38) | 8.8 (22) | 2.0 (5.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2.3 (5.8) | 9.5 (24) | 53.0 (135) |
| Average precipitation days | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 113 |
| Source: Weatherbase[12] | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,580 | — |
| 1860 | 3,198 | +24.0% |
| 1870 | 3,589 | +12.2% |
| 1880 | 3,903 | +8.7% |
| 1890 | 5,252 | +34.6% |
| 1900 | 7,927 | +50.9% |
| 1910 | 10,427 | +31.5% |
| 1920 | 15,462 | +48.3% |
| 1930 | 15,500 | +0.2% |
| 1940 | 15,672 | +1.1% |
| 1950 | 17,349 | +10.7% |
| 1960 | 17,690 | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 18,116 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 18,436 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 18,666 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 18,168 | −2.7% |
| 2010 | 17,456 | −3.9% |
| 2020 | 17,768 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 17,656 | −0.6% |
Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[23] | ||
By the 2010 census, the population had decreased to 17,456. Greenfield, as the only community in the county with a population over 10,000, is the largest community by population or population density in the county. It is also the smallest mainland county seat in the Commonwealth, as only the island towns ofEdgartown andNantucket are smaller.
As of thecensus[24] of 2000, there had been 18,168 people, 7,939 households, and 4,374 families residing in the city. The population density was 836.2 inhabitants per square mile (322.9/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 orAfrican American, 0.32%Native American, 1.10%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.41% fromother races, and 2.43% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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% weremarried couples 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. Theper capita income for the town was $18,830. About 11.4% of families and 14.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Greenfield was one of several Massachusetts municipalities that applied for, and were granted, city forms of government but wished to retain "The Town of" in their official names.[25] In December 2017, the Town Council voted to remove "The Town of" designation, making Greenfield known as the City of Greenfield.[26] Since the charter change in 2003 Greenfield has been governed by atown council and amayor. The former town council is now called the city council and consists of fourat-large councilors and nine councilors that are each elected from one of the city's nineelectoral precincts.[27] The other city boards are appointed, with the exception of the seven-memberschool committee, which consists of the mayor plus six members elected at-large.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 15, 2008[28] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
| Independent | 6,335 | 54.96% | |||
| Democratic | 3,831 | 33.24% | |||
| Republican | 1,243 | 10.78% | |||
| Libertarian | 117 | 1.02% | |||
| Total | 11,526 | 100% | |||
Greenfield's first mayor, Christine Forgey, served until 2009 when she was defeated in aprimary election. Greenfield's second mayor, Bill Martin, took second place in the 2009 primary as a write-in candidate and went on to win thegeneral election in June. Martin's tenure began with a formalinauguration ceremony, the city's first, which also featured a mayoral fanfare,Long Live Our Mayor, written for the occasion in the style ofHail to the Chief. At the inauguration, Martin read a proclamation declaring July 1 as "Inauguration Day" in all following years. After Martin's retirement in 2019, Roxann Wedegartner became Greenfield's third mayor. Virginia "Ginny" Desorgher was sworn in as mayor on January 2, 2024.[29]
In Greenfield, the Mayor appoints most of the members of the various city boards, with the city council approving appointments. The mayor also serves as a voting member of the school committee, but is forbidden to serve as itschairman or vice-chair. In addition, the mayor sits as anex officio non-voting member on all the other city boards.
The City Council[30] consists of 13 members: four "Councilors at Large" and nine "Precinct Councilors" elected to represent each of the nine voting precincts. As of 2025[update], Lora Wondolowski is the Council President, and John Garrett is the Vice-President.
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Greenfield operates its own police and fire departments. The town is also patrolled by the Second (Shelburne Falls) Barracks of Troop "B" of theMassachusetts State Police.[31] It runs a sizeablepublic works department and is the home base of the regional waste management system. The Greenfield Public Library had many years in the historicLeavitt–Hovey House built in 1797, but recently moved next door to a brand new building. The July 13, 2023 grand opening was attended by over 500 people, with over 1,000 visiting the library on its first day alone. 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 area on the Green River.
As county seat, Greenfield is home to many different state offices, including courthouses and one of the offices of the Northwest District Attorney, Dave Sullivan. The Franklin CountySheriff 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 ofZIP Codes, which extends through Franklin County and several towns in Worcester County. Greenfield is home to the privately runBaystate Franklin Medical Center, which serves much of the northernPioneer Valley.
Greenfield is divided between theFirst Franklin andSecond Franklin districts of theMassachusetts House of Representatives. DemocratNatalie Blais and IndependentSusannah Whipps are the State Representatives. In theMassachusetts Senate, the town is part of theHampshire and Franklin district, which includes much of eastern Franklin and Hampshire counties. State SenatorJo Comerford represents this district.[32] Greenfield is part of the EighthMassachusetts Governor's Council district, represented by Tara Jacobs.[33]
Nationally, Greenfield is represented in theUnited States House of Representatives as part ofMassachusetts's 2nd congressional district, and is represented in the113th United States Congress byJames McGovern.
As of 2014[update], Massachusetts is represented in theUnited States Senate by SenatorsElizabeth Warren andEd Markey.
For many years, Greenfield was the home ofLorenzo Langstroth, known as the "Father of Modern Beekeeping," and the city celebrates Langstroth's life and contributions with bee-themed events and attractions.
The Bee Fest was launched in 2010 by Greenfield's Second Congregational Church, where Langstroth was pastor during the late 1840s. The first Bee Fest served to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Langstroth's birth and to highlight the importance of the honeybee in sustaining the environment and in human agriculture. Bee Fest, now an annual celebration held in the spring, overlooks the center of town and Court Square and offers fun and learning for all ages.[34]
Greenfield has nine large bee sculptures, six of them installed in 2021 and three in 2022.[35] Local artist Rachael Katz designed the sculptures and was a motive force in the overall project. Other local artists painted the bees in colorful themes.[36] The project received support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, local businesses and non-profit organizations, and the community.[37]
Greenfield has a pocket park with educational installations, a painted crosswalk, lamppost signage, and parking garage banners, all themed around and celebrating Langstroth and honeybees. In 2021, the entire Franklin County Fair Kick-Off Parade was bee-themed, with many bee-decorated floats and marchers in bee costumes.[38]
| This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Greenfield lies at the junction of four highways.Interstate 91 travels north and south through the western stretch of the city and is duplexed for a 3-mile (5 km) stretch withMassachusetts Route 2. Route 2, which follows the rough path of (and is nicknamed after) theMohawk Trail, enters over the Fall River as a surface road before becoming a limited-access highway until its concurrence with 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 43, the Mohawk Trail followsMassachusetts Route 2A, which uses Route 2's former right of way through the center of Greenfield. At the town center, Route 2A meets the duplexedU.S. Route 5 andMassachusetts Route 10, which comes over the Deerfield River in the south before heading northward through town, with another interchange along the highway portion of Route 2. In October 2016, the administration ofMassachusetts GovernorCharlie Baker announced a $7.5 million grant to the town government to build a new downtown parking garage.[40]
The nearest general aviation airport is located in theTurners Falls section ofMontague, and the nearest national air service is atBradley International Airport inWindsor Locks,Connecticut.
The town is served byGreyhound bus lines and is the hub of theFranklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), whose local service extends from Bernardston toNorthampton and fromOrange toCharlemont. TheJohn W. Olver Transit Center is the hub for FRTA bus service, as well as the local depot for Greyhound intercity service.[41]
Greenfield lies at the junction of two rail lines, an east–west line heading from the northern points ofWorcester County towards theHoosac Tunnel andAlbany, New York, and the north–south line heading fromSpringfield in the south towardsVermont in the north. Freight service on both lines is operated byPan Am Railways.
Passenger rail service resumed in Greenfield on December 29, 2014, with the rerouting of Amtrak'sVermonter, with all trains serving the Olver Transit Center. The former Greenfield train station (torn down in 1966) was located across the tracks from the current train platform, in the present-day Energy Park. In June 2018, it was announced that Greenfield would become the terminus for an extension of theNew Haven–Springfield Shuttle, in a pilot program being launched byCT Rail and theMassDOT. The newcommuter rail service, now dubbed theValley Flyer, made its first run August 30, 2019. It runs twice in each direction on weekdays and once on weekends, to and fromNew Haven, Connecticut, with connections toNew York City.[42][43] There is a proposal known as "Northern Tier Passenger Rail" in the early stages of planning, which would extendMBTA'sFitchburg Line westward through Greenfield and terminate atNorth Adams.[44]
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 fromkindergarten throughfourth grade, the Greenfield Middle School for students fromfifth grade throughseventh grades, and Greenfield High School foreighth throughtwelfth grades. 8th grade is separate and not part of the official high school. Greenfield's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Green Wave", and their school colors are green and white.
Greenfield operates the Poet Seat School, an alternative middle and high school forspecial needs students. On July 9, 2009, Greenfield's localschool committee approved creation of the Virtual Academy or "MAVA @ Greenfield", the only kindergarten-through-twelfth gradedistance learning school of its kind in the state.[citation needed] 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.
Greenfield's oldest private school is theStoneleigh-Burnham School, a private 7th–12th grade boarding school for girls. The Center School, established in 1981, serves students from preschool through eighth grade with a progressive approach to education.[45]
As of 2014[update] there are no religious schools in Greenfield; the Cornerstone Christian School closed in 2013, and Holy Trinity School, a K–8 parochial school, closed in 2011.
Greenfield is home toGreenfield Community College, which serves the northernPioneer Valley and offers some courses to Greenfield High students seeking advanced learning opportunities.
The nearest state university is theUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst. There are also several private colleges, including members of theFive Colleges andSeven Sisters, in the region, as well asKeene State College inKeene, New Hampshire.
Greenfield has fiveFM radio stations, oneFM Translator, oneAM radio station, onecable television station, and one daily local newspaper.
FM stations
¹ – WMCB-LP/WLPV-LP operate under a "share time" agreement with the U.S.Federal Communications Commission.
AM stations
Cable stations
Newspapers
The City Council consists of thirteen (13) members: four (4) "Councilors at Large" and nine (9) "Precinct Councilors" elected to represent each of the nine (9) voting precincts in City.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
Media from Commons
Texts from Wikisource
Travel information from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofFranklin County, Massachusetts,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
