Springfield Metropolitan Area | |
|---|---|
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Massachusetts |
| Principal municipalities | Springfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,904 sq mi (4,930 km2) |
| Population | |
| • Density | 367.9/sq mi (142.0/km2) |
| • MSA (2020) | 465,825(117th) |
| • CSA (2020) | 699,162(74th) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | $40.110 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| Area code | 413 |
TheSpringfield metropolitan area, also known asGreater Springfield, is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City ofSpringfield, Massachusetts. The U.S.Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as consisting of three counties inWestern Massachusetts. As of 2023, the metropolitan area's population was estimated at 460,291, making it the117th-largest metropolitan area in theUnited States.[2]
Historically, the census has also identified the region as "Springfield–Holyoke, Mass.–Conn." as those cities were the area's population centers as recently as 1980; since that time the population has become further distributed, including new growth inAmherst,Westfield, andWest Springfield, and Northern Connecticut.[2][3] Greater Springfield is one of twocombined statistical areas in Massachusetts; the other isGreater Boston.
An alternative system of measuringNew England metropolitan areas was developed, called theNew England city and town area (NECTA) because, inNew England,towns are a much more important level of government than counties. County government in New England is weak at best, and inConnecticut,Rhode Island, and most ofMassachusetts, does not exist at all. In addition, major cities and surrounding towns are often much smaller in land area than in other parts of the United States. For example, Springfield is 33.2 sq. miles, whereasFort Worth, Texas, is 298.9 sq. miles, nearly 10 times larger in land area than Springfield.
Because of the sizable discrepancy in land area, New England cities like Springfield feature much higher population densities. In addition, New England cities and towns have developed allegiances that transcend state borders; cities in Connecticut are included in Springfield's NECTA. This system is thought to better approximate New England's metropolitan areas because it uses New England's geographically smaller building blocks. In Springfield's case, its NECTA consists of 51 additional cities and towns surrounding the city.
| County | 2021 Estimate | 2020 Census | Change | Area | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampden County | 462,718 | 465,825 | −0.67% | 617.14 sq mi (1,598.4 km2) | 508/sq mi (196/km2) |
| Hampshire County | 161,572 | 162,308 | −0.45% | 527.26 sq mi (1,365.6 km2) | 450/sq mi (174/km2) |
| Franklin County | 71,015 | 71,029 | −0.02% | 699.32 sq mi (1,811.2 km2) | 229/sq mi (88/km2) |
| Total | 695,305 | 699,162 | −0.55% | 1,843.72 sq mi (4,775.2 km2) | 377/sq mi (146/km2) |
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As of thecensus[4] of 2010, there were 692,942 people, 269,091 households, and 168,758 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 81.10%White, 6.7%African American, 0.30%Native American, 2.5%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 6.6% fromother races, and 2.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 15.4% of the population.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 680,014 people, 260,745 households, and 167,924 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 83.50%White, 5.96%African American, 0.25%Native American, 1.74%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 6.35% fromother races, and 2.13% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 11.15% of the population. In the 2010 census, the metropolitan area had the highest percentage ofPuerto Ricans of any metropolitan statistical area in the continental United States.[4]
The median income for a household in the MSA was $42,195, and the median income for a family was $52,551. Males had a median income of $37,784 versus $28,404 for females. Theper capita income for the MSA was $20,633.
The median age for the MSA was 38.9 in 2010 overall, with a median age of 37.4 for males and 40.1 for females.[5] The estimated median age in 2017 was 38.2 overall with a median age 36.6 for males and 39.6 for females.[6] Among the 100 most populous MSAs in the United States, the Springfield metropolitan area had the 10th highest life expectancy in 2016 for the top quartile of income earners, adjusted for race and ethnicity, with an overall life expectancy of 87.2.[7]
ThePioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is the primary operator ofpublic transportation services in the Springfield Metropolitan Area. Headquartered in Springfield, the PVTA maintains a fleet of approximately 174 buses, 144 vans, and "is the largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts."[8] Founded in 1974 with the enactment ofMassachusetts General Law Chapter 161B, the PVTA serves 24 member communities inHampden,Hampshire, andFranklin counties. Each member community pays an assessment fee to the PVTA based "on the number of miles served in that city or town."[8] Alternative sources of revenue mostly originate fromfederal andstategovernments.[8] The PVTA itself is governed by anadvisory board.[8]
From the late 1800s until June 1940, theSpringfield Street Railway served much of the greaterSpringfield metropolitan area with its 208+ mile streetcar system, which connected Springfield with its various neighborhoods likeForest Park andIndian Orchard, nearby cities such asChicopee,Westfield,Holyoke,Agawam,West Springfield,Ludlow,Longmeadow,East Longmeadow,Palmer,Monson,Wilbraham andWare and even nearby regions likeWorcester,Hartford and theBerkshires.[9]
The Northern portion of the Greater Springfield metro region was similarly served by theHolyoke Street Railway and the closely affiliatedNorthampton Street Railway which together served their namesake cities along withSouth Hadley,Chicopee,Northampton,Amherst,Easthampton,Hadley and other nearby cities along with theConnecticut Valley Street Railway which also served Northampton, Amherst and Hadley as well asGreenfield,Turners Falls,Deerfield,Hatfield,Whately and other cities within and outside the metropolitan area. Smaller local street railways like theShelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway and an even smaller one inConway operated in other outlying parts of the greater Springfield region.[10]
Today, bus transportation is offered in various parts of the Greater Springfield metropolitan Area as described above by thePioneer Valley Transit Authority as well as theFranklin Regional Transit Authority in the northern portion of the metropolitan statistical area. Intercity bus service to various cities within and outside of the commonwealth is available from the locally ownedPeter Pan Bus Lines.
Passenger rail service on theVermonter and, since 2019, theValley FlyerAmtrak trains are available fromJohn W. Olver Transit Center inGreenfield,Union Station in Northampton,Holyoke, andSpringfield Union Station, the last of which is served also by theHartford Line, aCT Rail route offering frequent service fromSpringfield toHartford andNew Haven, Connecticut, wherein a connection to theNew York MTA and theAcela is possible.[11]
A new state-supported Amtrak service that will connect Springfield and its greater metropolitan area withPittsfield,Worcester, andBoston known asEast-West Passenger Rail is in the development phase and has received some initial funding, as has a long-underway effort to reinstate Vermonter (previouslythe Montrealer) service toMontreal, which has been truncated toSt. Albans, Vermont since 1995.[12]
Another similar project, calledNorthern Tier Passenger Rail which would reactivate the formerFitchburg Railroad and reconnect the northernmost portion of the metro region withFitchburg,Gardner,North Adams,Orange,Pittsfield,Albany and the cities of the existingMBTA Fitchburg Line inGreater Boston has also been proposed and studied, and is presently awaiting funding following the release ofMassDOT's final report in 2024.[13]
The Springfield metropolitan area is tabulated byNielsen as the Springfield-Holyokedesignated market area, and is the111th largest television market in the United States, with viewership comparable toTallahassee andFort Wayne.[14] The area's local news is characterized by 2 operations, the local NBC affiliateWWLP 22, and the consolidated WesternMassNews, representing CBS affiliateWSHM 3, joint ABC affiliate and FOX affiliateWGGB.[15] In 2019 local NPR affiliateWFCR and PBSWGBY merged operations to formNew England Public Media.
