Knowledge Corridor
Encyclopedia
The Knowledge Corridor is term for the area comprising north-central Connecticut
and the south-central Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts
(also known as Hartford-Springfield or the Hartford-Springfield Metropolitan Area). Initially, the term was used primarily by groups such as the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership to foster an economic, cultural, and civic partnership between New England
's two major cities on the Connecticut River
: Springfield, Massachusetts
and Hartford, Connecticut
. The term Knowledge Corridor has gained currency in local parlance, with businesses using the name, (e.g. Knowledge Corridor Productions in Springfield,) universities promoting their ties to the Knowledge Corridor, and even the White House recognizing the region as the Knowledge Corridor.
The two cities' urban cores lie only 23.9 miles (38.5 km) apart, making them geographically closer than many American twin cities
, (e.g. Dallas-Ft. Worth;) however, Hartford's and Springfield's efforts to cooperate have long been hampered by state border issues, beginning with a lawsuit in 1638. Hartford and Springfield share Bradley International Airport
, which sits equidistant between them in Windsor Locks, Connecticut
- land that originally belonged to Massachusetts. The Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor Partnership was formalized by regional civic, business, and education leaders in 2000 at the Big E
in West Springfield
. Hartford-Springfield is New England's second most populous region following Greater Boston
, with approximately 1.9 million residents and 160,000 university students. The region also features "a dense concentration" of hospitals and over 29 universities and liberal arts colleges, including a large number of the United States' most prestigious higher education institutions. The Knowledge Corridor includes surrounding cities such as Northampton
and Amherst
in the north, and Middletown, Connecticut
in the south.
heritage - both were among the original four settlements of the Connecticut Colony
; however, an early legal dispute between two of the cities' Founding Fathers led the settlements to side with different colonies. In 1638, Springfield founder William Pynchon
became embroiled in a legal dispute with one of the Connecticut Colony
's leading citizens, Captain John Mason. Mason charged Pynchon -- and the settlement of Springfield -- with dominating the corn and beaver pelt trade with the Natives, to the detriment of Hartford and the Connecticut Colony. The dispute, which Pynchon and Springfield lost in 1638, led to Springfield annexing itself to Massachusetts
instead of aligning with its more geographically and ideologically compatible neighbor, Connecticut
. Only within the first decade of the new millennium have Hartford and Springfield - the two great cities on the Connecticut River
- started to collaborate closely, i.e. with the Knowledge Corridor Partnership.
Both Hartford and Springfield were prosperous from the early 19th century through the 1960s as cultural, technological, and industrial centers. Hartford became the center of the United States' insurance industry, while Springfield became the United States' first epicenter of precision manufacturing, producing innovations like America's first gasoline-powered car, motorcycle, and commercial radio station, among many others. Both cities were especially wealthy - at one point in the late 1800s, they were the two wealthiest cities per capita in the United States. Both cities still feature the elegant Victorian architecture built during that period - Springfield's sobriquet "The City of Homes" could just as easily apply to its southern neighbor, Hartford; however, to no other city in New England.
During the mid-20th century, both Hartford and Springfield experienced a loss of manufacturing during economic restructuring. The growth of the highway system -- particularly Interstate 91
-- engendered white flight
to the suburbs, where currently, a disproportionate amount of both cities' wealthy citizens live, (e.g. in Longmeadow, Massachusetts
and West Hartford, Connecticut
). During the 1960s and 1970s, when the Connecticut River was considered to be polluted and to have seen its best days long ago, Hartford - and later Springfield, in effort to keep pace with Hartford - opted to build Interstate 91 on their riverfronts - slicing through riverfront neighborhoods and effectively amputating both cities from their greatest potential economic and recreational asset. During this period, Hartford, which had, historically, always been slightly more populous than Springfield, hemorrhaged residents. Springfield became more populous than Hartford in 1980, and remains more populous as of 2011.
During the first decade of 21st century, both Hartford's and Springfield's fortunes improved considerably -- especially during the latter portion of the decade, while much of the United States weathered the Great Recession. Both cities have seen an increase in public and private investment, and a general increase in culture, vitality, and civic pride. The Knowledge Corridor high speed intercity rail line
is one such project, intended to unite the region and ease residents' dependence on Interstate 91
. Also, both cities are pursuing different strategies to reconnect with the Connecticut River
for economic and recreational opportunities.
; and a walkable, lively Metro Center
. Journalists note that the Knowledge Corridor features culture that far outsizes its metropolitan population of 1.9 million (see below.)
The Knowledge Corridor region has a workforce of 1.1 million people and over 41,000 businesses. Its two major cities, Hartford and Springfield, have a combined GDP exceeding $100 billion per year, more than 16 U.S. States. This figure does not include the smaller cities and towns of the Knowledge Corridor, (e.g. Northampton, Massachusetts and Middletown, Connecticut, but only the two principle cities.) The Knowledge Corridor, collectively, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the United States.
As of its ten year anniversary in 2010, the Knowledge Corridor Partnership has been cited for both increasing jobs and keeping jobs in the Hartford-Springfield region, e.g. Eppendorf
in Enfield, Connecticut
brought over 200 jobs to the Corridor, and Liberty Mutual
in Springfield brought over 300 new jobs. Reportedly, "officials in Connecticut don’t get jealous if they lose a prospect to Massachusetts and vice versa... Because if the [cities] weren't working together, these companies wouldn't even consider us."
Connecticut
Connecticut 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...
and the south-central Connecticut River Valley 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...
(also known as Hartford-Springfield or the Hartford-Springfield Metropolitan Area). Initially, the term was used primarily by groups such as the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership to foster an economic, cultural, and civic partnership between 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...
's two major cities on 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...
: 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...
and Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The term Knowledge Corridor has gained currency in local parlance, with businesses using the name, (e.g. Knowledge Corridor Productions in Springfield,) universities promoting their ties to the Knowledge Corridor, and even the White House recognizing the region as the Knowledge Corridor.
The two cities' urban cores lie only 23.9 miles (38.5 km) apart, making them geographically closer than many American twin cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
, (e.g. Dallas-Ft. Worth;) however, Hartford's and Springfield's efforts to cooperate have long been hampered by state border issues, beginning with a lawsuit in 1638. Hartford and Springfield share Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport
Bradley 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....
, which sits equidistant between them in Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor 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...
- land that originally belonged to Massachusetts. The Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor Partnership was formalized by regional civic, business, and education leaders in 2000 at the Big E
The Big E
The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as "New England's Great State fair". The Big E serves as the de facto state fair for all six of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Each of the New England states is...
in West Springfield
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...
. Hartford-Springfield is New England's second most populous region following Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
, with approximately 1.9 million residents and 160,000 university students. The region also features "a dense concentration" of hospitals and over 29 universities and liberal arts colleges, including a large number of the United States' most prestigious higher education institutions. The Knowledge Corridor includes surrounding cities such as 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...
and Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst 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...
in the north, and Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
in the south.
History
Since their respective foundings in 1635 and 1636, Hartford and Springfield have shared a common Connecticut RiverConnecticut 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...
heritage - both were among the original four settlements of the Connecticut Colony
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
; however, an early legal dispute between two of the cities' Founding Fathers led the settlements to side with different colonies. In 1638, Springfield founder 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...
became embroiled in a legal dispute with one of the Connecticut Colony
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
's leading citizens, Captain John Mason. Mason charged Pynchon -- and the settlement of Springfield -- with dominating the corn and beaver pelt trade with the Natives, to the detriment of Hartford and the Connecticut Colony. The dispute, which Pynchon and Springfield lost in 1638, led to Springfield annexing itself to 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...
instead of aligning with its more geographically and ideologically compatible neighbor, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut 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...
. Only within the first decade of the new millennium have Hartford and Springfield - the two great cities on 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...
- started to collaborate closely, i.e. with the Knowledge Corridor Partnership.
Both Hartford and Springfield were prosperous from the early 19th century through the 1960s as cultural, technological, and industrial centers. Hartford became the center of the United States' insurance industry, while Springfield became the United States' first epicenter of precision manufacturing, producing innovations like America's first gasoline-powered car, motorcycle, and commercial radio station, among many others. Both cities were especially wealthy - at one point in the late 1800s, they were the two wealthiest cities per capita in the United States. Both cities still feature the elegant Victorian architecture built during that period - Springfield's sobriquet "The City of Homes" could just as easily apply to its southern neighbor, Hartford; however, to no other city in New England.
During the mid-20th century, both Hartford and Springfield experienced a loss of manufacturing during economic restructuring. The growth of the highway system -- particularly Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 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...
-- engendered white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
to the suburbs, where currently, a disproportionate amount of both cities' wealthy citizens live, (e.g. in Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,633 people, 5,734 households, and 4,432 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.42% White, 0.69% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.90%...
and West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
). During the 1960s and 1970s, when the Connecticut River was considered to be polluted and to have seen its best days long ago, Hartford - and later Springfield, in effort to keep pace with Hartford - opted to build Interstate 91 on their riverfronts - slicing through riverfront neighborhoods and effectively amputating both cities from their greatest potential economic and recreational asset. During this period, Hartford, which had, historically, always been slightly more populous than Springfield, hemorrhaged residents. Springfield became more populous than Hartford in 1980, and remains more populous as of 2011.
During the first decade of 21st century, both Hartford's and Springfield's fortunes improved considerably -- especially during the latter portion of the decade, while much of the United States weathered the Great Recession. Both cities have seen an increase in public and private investment, and a general increase in culture, vitality, and civic pride. The Knowledge Corridor high speed intercity rail line
New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Line
The New Haven–Hartford–Springfield commuter rail line is a planned commuter rail line with a southern terminus at Union Station in New Haven, Connecticut, and a northern terminus at Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States...
is one such project, intended to unite the region and ease residents' dependence on Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 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...
. Also, both cities are pursuing different strategies to reconnect with 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...
for economic and recreational opportunities.
Complementary strengths
For decades after the decline of New England manufacturing, Hartford and Springfield competed for similar businesses. During the early 1990s, a former Springfield mayor even went so far as to launch a campaign for Hartford businesses to "leave Hartford behind" for Springfield, touting Springfield's "quality of life." Since the two cities started to work collaboratively in 2000, both Hartford and Springfield have consciously defined themselves in different but complementary ways, (like Minneapolis-St. Paul or Dallas-Ft. Worth.) Both cities still feature many of the same strengths, (e.g. prestigious universities and healthcare centers;) however, increasingly Hartford is being defined as the Knowledge Corridor's business center, with its postmodern skyline, numerous corporate headquarters, government district, and relatively wider main thoroughfares, while Springfield is being defined as the Knowledge Corridor's recreational center, with numerous amusements sites for both children and adults; renovated, human-scale Victorian architectureVictorian architecture
The 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...
; and a walkable, lively Metro Center
Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Metro Center is the original colonial settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts, located beside a bend in the Connecticut River. As of 2011, Metro Center features a majority of Western Massachusetts' most important cultural, business, and civic venues...
. Journalists note that the Knowledge Corridor features culture that far outsizes its metropolitan population of 1.9 million (see below.)
Economy
As of its ten year anniversary in 2010, the Knowledge Corridor Partnership has been cited for both increasing jobs and keeping jobs in the Hartford-Springfield region, e.g. Eppendorf
Eppendorf
Eppendorf can refer to:*Eppendorf, Saxony, a German town in the Freiberg district in Saxony*Hamburg-Eppendorf, a quarter of Hamburg*Eppendorf, Bochum*Eppendorf , a biotechnology company in Hamburg-Eppendorf...
in Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
brought over 200 jobs to the Corridor, and Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual Group, more commonly known by the name of its primary line of business Liberty Mutual, is a diversified global insurer and the third largest property and casualty insurer in the United States based on 2010 net written premium. It is the 82nd company on the Fortune 500 list for 2011...
in Springfield brought over 300 new jobs. Reportedly, "officials in Connecticut don’t get jealous if they lose a prospect to Massachusetts and vice versa... Because if the [cities] weren't working together, these companies wouldn't even consider us."
Notable Companies
- AetnaAetnaAetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
- Hartford, CT - The American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
- Springfield, MA - American Saw and Manufacturing CompanyAmerican Saw and Manufacturing CompanyThe American Saw and Manufacturing Company is an American hand tool manufacturer. It largely produces saws, saw blades, utility knives, snips, and other cutting tools under the Lenox Industrial Tools brand name with which it is synonymous....
-- East Longmeadow, MassachusettsEast Longmeadow, MassachusettsAs of the census of 2010, there were 16,187 people, 5,248 households, and 3,988 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,087.1 people per square mile . There were 5,363 housing units at an average density of 413.5 per square mile... - Baystate HealthBaystate HealthBaystate Health is a not-for-profit health care system headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, serving Western Massachusetts and the Knowledge Corridor Region of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The system has 4 hospitals, over 80 medical practices, and 25 reference laboratories...
- Springfield, MA - Big Y - Springfield, MA
- ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
- Bristol, CT - Friendly Ice Cream CorporationFriendly'sFriendly Ice Cream Corporation is the owner and operator of the Friendly's restaurant chain on the United States' East Coast. Founded in 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts by brothers Curtis Blake and S. Prestley Blake, 20, their first shop served double-dip cones for 5 cents...
- Wilbraham, MA - Gerber ScientificGerber ScientificGerber Scientific Inc. , located in Tolland, Connecticut, is the parent of companies which provide end-to-end customer solutions to the world's sign making and specialty graphics, ophthalmic lens processing, and apparel and flexible materials industries. They also supply purpose-built software to...
- South Windsor, CT - Hampden BankHampden BankHampden Bank is currently one of two banks headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, Established in 1852, Hampden Bank is a full-service bank that serves both families and businesses in Hampden County, Massachusetts, and in surrounding communities...
- Springfield, MA - HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
- East Longmeadow, MA - The HartfordThe HartfordThe Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. , usually known as The Hartford, is a Fortune 500 company and one of America’s largest investment and insurance companies...
- Hartford, CT - Health New EnglandHealth New EnglandHealth New England is a managed care organization that has been serving western Massachusetts since 1985. Because of its commitment to accountable, personal service, more than 100,000 members and 5,000 employers select HNE as their choice for health care coverage, administrative services and...
- Springfield, MA - HSB Insurance - Hartford, CT
- Kaman AircraftKaman AircraftKaman Aircraft is a U.S. aerospace company, with headquarters in Bloomfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1945 by Charles Kaman. During the first ten years the company operated exclusively as a designer and manufacturer of several helicopters that set world records and achieved many aviation...
- Bloomfield, CT - Marox- Holyoke, MA
- MassMutual- Springfield, MA
- Merriam Webster - Springfield, MA
- Northeast UtilitiesNortheast UtilitiesNortheast Utilities is a publicly-traded, Fortune 500 energy company headquartered in Berlin, Connecticut, with several regulated subsidiaries offering retail electricity and natural gas service to more than 2.1 million customers in New England....
- Berlin, CT - Peter Pan Bus - Springfield, MA
- Phoenix Wealth Management- Hartford
- Pratt-Whitney- East Hartford
- Smith & WessonSmith & WessonSmith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
- Springfield, MA - SpaldingSpalding (sports equipment)Spalding is a sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago, Illinois, in 1876 and now headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company specializes in the production of balls for many sports, but is most-known for its basketballs...
- Springfield, MA - The Stanley Works- New Britain, CT
- United Technologies- Hartford, CT
- Yankee Candle- South Deerfield, MA
Higher education institutions
Public college and universities
- University of ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
- University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity 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...
- Eastern Connecticut State UniversityEastern Connecticut State UniversityEastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
- Central Connecticut State UniversityCentral Connecticut State UniversityCentral Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
- Charter Oak State CollegeCharter Oak State CollegeCharter Oak State College is a public liberal arts college in New Britain, Connecticut and is named for Connecticut's famous Charter Oak. The college is located across Paul Manafort Drive from Central Connecticut State University...
- Westfield State University
Community and technical colleges
- Asnuntuck Community CollegeAsnuntuck Community CollegeAsnuntuck Community College is a community college in Enfield, Connecticut. It offers associate degree and certificate programs.-History:...
- Capital Community CollegeCapital Community CollegeCapital Community College is a community college in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. The only public undergraduate institution in the City of Hartford, Capital's roots date to 1967 with the founding of Greater Hartford Community College. In 1992 Capital merged with Hartford State Technical...
- Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield 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...
- Holyoke Community CollegeHolyoke Community CollegeHolyoke 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...
- Manchester Community CollegeManchester Community CollegeManchester Community College is a community college in Manchester, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1963, it is the third-oldest of the twelve community colleges governed by the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Community-Technical Colleges and has graduated more than 23,000...
- Middlesex Community College
- Springfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield Technical Community College was built on the site of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. The armory, established by George Washington was an important supplier of US armaments for over a century and a half before closing in 1968...
- Tunxis Community CollegeTunxis Community CollegeNamed after the Tunxis Native American Tribe, Tunxis Community College is a two-year public college located in Farmington, Connecticut. It opened 1969 and is currently one of the twelve colleges in the Connecticut Community Colleges system.-Accreditation:...
Private college and universities
- American International CollegeAmerican International CollegeAmerican International College is a private, co-educational liberal-arts college located in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:...
- Springfield, MA - Amherst CollegeAmherst CollegeAmherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
- Amherst MA - Bay Path CollegeBay Path CollegeBay Path College is a private undergraduate women's college located in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The College offers online and on campus Graduate Programs for both men and women, and One-Day-A-Week Saturday College for adult women....
- Longmeadow, MA - Cambridge CollegeCambridge CollegeCambridge College is a private, non-profit college based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in adult education.It offers distance learning and blended learning programs toward undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, counseling, psychology, management, health care management, and...
- Springfield, MA - Elms CollegeElms CollegeThe College of Our Lady of the Elms, often called Elms College, is a Catholic liberal arts college located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, near Springfield.- History :...
- Chicopee, MA - Goodwin CollegeGoodwin CollegeGoodwin College is a private, nonprofit, four year institution located on One Riverside Drive, East Hartford, Connecticut. The college offers a variety of certificate and associate degree programs along with bachelor degree programs in child study, health science, organizational studies, and...
- Hartford, CT - Hampshire CollegeHampshire CollegeHampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
- Amherst, MA - Hartford SeminaryHartford SeminaryHartford Seminary is a theological college in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.-History:Seminaries in the city of Hartford date back to 1833. In 1913, the current Hartford Seminary came into existence through the combination of three Hartford-based schools affiliated with the city's Congregationalist...
- Hartford, CT - Mount Holyoke CollegeMount Holyoke CollegeMount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
- South Hadley, MA - Smith CollegeSmith CollegeSmith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
- Northampton, MA - Springfield CollegeSpringfield CollegeSpringfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
- Springfield, MA - Western New England UniversityWestern New England CollegeWestern New England University is a private university in Springfield, Massachusetts. Academic programs are provided through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Engineering, School of Law, and College of Pharmacy....
- Springfield, MA - Rensselaer at HartfordRensselaer at HartfordRensselaer at Hartford is the Hartford, Connecticut branch of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, NY. Until 1997, it was known as the Hartford Graduate Center. The primary focus of the institution is still to offer graduate-level education for working professionals...
- Hartford, CT - Saint Joseph College - West Hartford, CT
- Trinity CollegeTrinity College (Connecticut)Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
- Hartford, CT - Tufts University School of MedicineTufts University School of MedicineThe Tufts University School of Medicine is one of the eight schools that constitute Tufts University. Located on the university's health sciences campus in the Chinatown district of Boston, Massachusetts, the medical school has clinical affiliations with thousands of doctors and researchers in the...
- Springfield, MA - University of HartfordUniversity of HartfordThe University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
- Hartford, CT - Wesleyan UniversityWesleyan UniversityWesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
- Middletown, CT
Cultural institutions and attractions
- The Academy of Music in Northampton, MA
- The Avenue of the States - replicas of each of the 6 New EnglandNew EnglandNew 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...
states' State Houses - in West Springfield, MA - The Basketball Hall of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
in Springfield - Bushnell ParkBushnell ParkBushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut is the oldest publicly funded park in the United States. It was conceived by the Reverend Horace Bushnell in the mid-1850s at a time when the need for open public spaces was just starting to be recognized....
in Hartford, CT - The Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College in Amherst, MA
- "Bright Nights" holiday light show at Forest ParkForest Park (Springfield)Forest Park, on the banks of the Connecticut River in Springfield, Massachusetts, is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, lying on of land. During the holiday season it features the nationally renowned Bright Nights light festival, a 2.6 mile high-tech lighting...
in Springfield - The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and MuseumCalvin Coolidge Presidential Library and MuseumThe Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library of 30th U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. The library is located at the Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts, where Coolidge practiced law and served as mayor. The Coolidge Library began in 1920 when Coolidge...
at Forbes Library in Northampton, MA - The Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA
- City Stage Theater in Springfield
- Club QuarterClub QuarterThe Club Quarter is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the Metro Center district surrounding historic Stearns Square. Stearns Square is bordered by Worthington Street to the north and Bridge Street to the south; however, the Club Quarter extends for several city blocks north, south, east,...
in Springfield - The Connecticut Science CenterConnecticut Science CenterThe Connecticut Science Center is a nine-story museum located on the Connecticut River in Hartford, Connecticut designed by César Pelli & Associates. It opened on June 12, 2009...
in Hartford - The Connecticut State CapitolConnecticut State CapitolThe Connecticut State Capitol is located north of Capitol Avenue and south of Bushnell Park in Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. The building houses the Connecticut General Assembly; the upper house, the State Senate, and lower house, the House of Representatives, as well as the office of the...
in Hartford - 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...
- The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT
- Court SquareCourt SquareCourt Square in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, is a park and National Historic District in the heart of Springfield's urban Metro Center neighborhood. Court Square is the City of Springfield's only topographical constant since its founding in 1636...
in Springfield - Dinosaur State Park in Holyoke, MA
- Dr. Seuss MemorialDr. Seuss MemorialThe Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a sculpture garden in Springfield, Massachusetts. Located at The Quadrangle – an extraordinary cultural grouping that features three world-class museums and two regional history museums – the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden honors the...
in Springfield - The Eastern States Exposition ("Big E") in West Springfield, MA
- The Emily Dickinson House in Amherst, MA
- Enfield Falls in Windsor Locks, CT
- The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA
- Forest ParkForest Park (Springfield)Forest Park, on the banks of the Connecticut River in Springfield, Massachusetts, is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, lying on of land. During the holiday season it features the nationally renowned Bright Nights light festival, a 2.6 mile high-tech lighting...
- a 735-acre urban park, designed by NYC Central Park's Frederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law OlmstedFrederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
- in Springfield - Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT
- Historic DeerfieldHistoric DeerfieldHistoric Deerfield is an open-air living history museum dedicated to the heritage and preservation of Deerfield, Massachusetts and the Connecticut River Valley. Its historic houses, museums and programs provide visitors with an understanding of New England's historic villages and countryside...
in Deerfield, MA - Holyoke RangeHolyoke RangeThe Holyoke Range or Mount Holyoke Range is a traprock mountain range located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is a sub-range of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut north through the Connecticut River Valley of...
in Holyoke, MA - Look Park in Northampton, MA
- The Mark Twain HouseMark Twain HouseThe Mark Twain House and Museum was the home of Mark Twain from 1874 to 1891 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Before 1874, Twain had lived in Hannibal, Missouri. The architectural style of the 19-room house is Victorian Gothic...
in Hartford - The MassMutual CenterMassMutual CenterThe MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be the largest arena in the...
in Springfield - The Mead Art Museum at Amherst CollegeAmherst CollegeAmherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in Amherst, MA - The Merriam Webster Dictionary Company, in Springfield
- The Mount Holyoke CollegeMount Holyoke CollegeMount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
Art Museum in South Hadley, MA - 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...
in Holyoke, MA - The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT
- The Old State House in Hartford
- The OxbowThe Oxbow (Connecticut River)The Oxbow is an extension of the Connecticut River, located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is famous for its appearance in the 1836 painting The Oxbow by Thomas Cole.-History:...
in Northampton, MA - The QuadrangleThe QuadrangleThe Quadrangle is a cluster of five museums in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Chestnut Street in Metro Center. Five museums and the Springfield City Library surround the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden...
in Springfield, features 5 distinct museums, including the United States' first planetariumPlanetariumA planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
- in Springfield - Six Flags New EnglandSix Flags New EnglandSix Flags New England , formerly Riverside Amusement Park, is a Six Flags theme park, named for the New England region, in which it is located. Located off of Massachusetts State Route 159, Six Flags New England is located less than from the major City of Springfield, Massachusetts, in the nearby...
in Agawam, MA - The Skinner Museum of Curiosities at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA
- Skinner State Park in Hadley, MA
- The Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, MA
- The Springfield ArmorySpringfield ArmoryThe Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
National ParkNational parkA national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Springfield - The Springfield Municipal GroupSpringfield Municipal GroupThe Municipal Group of Springfield, Massachusetts is a collection of three prominent municipal buildings in the city's Metro Center district. Consisting of a concert hall, City Hall, and a clocktower, the Group is a center of government and culture in the city.-Layout:Bounded by Court and Pynchon...
- includes the 300 ft. tall Campanile and Springfield Symphony Hall - in Springfield - The Springfield Symphony OrchestraSpringfield Symphony OrchestraThe Springfield Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Springfield, Massachusetts. It performs at Symphony Hall, a part of the Springfield Municipal Group....
in Springfield - The Harriet Beecher Stowe HouseHarriet Beecher Stowe HouseThe Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a historic home in Ohio which was once the residence of influential antislavery author Harriet Beecher Stowe , writer of Uncle Tom's Cabin.- History :...
in Hartford - The Volleyball Hall of FameVolleyball Hall of FameThe 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...
in Holyoke, MA - The Wisteriahurst Museum in Holyoke, MA
- The Wadsworth AtheneumWadsworth AtheneumThe Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest public art museum in the United States, with significant holdings of French and American Impressionist paintings, Hudson River School landscapes, modernist masterpieces and contemporary works, as well as extensive holdings in early American furniture and...
in Hartford - The Noah WebsterNoah WebsterNoah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
House in West Hartford - The Yankee Candle CompanyYankee Candle CompanyThe Yankee Candle Company is the largest U.S. manufacturer of scented candles. The company is located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.-History:...
in South Deerfield, MA