Historical Markers in
Hampshire County, Massachusetts

BPOE Veterans Monument Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski Calvin Coolidge Cornet Joseph Parsons Daley & Halligan Easthampton Korean War Memorial Easthampton Vietnam War Memorial Easthampton World War I Monument Easthampton World War II Monument Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists First Meeting House First Meeting House Flood Levels Florence Manufacturing Fred M. Smith Memorial Green General LaFayette Hadley Hadley Hadley Veterans Monument Hampshire County Hatfield Holyoke Range and Skinner State Parks Hooker School Hopkins Academy Hopkins Academy Memorial Park In Honor Of In Memoriam Jonathan Edwards Liberty Tree Memorial Nonotuck Northampton Gulf War Monument Northampton Remembers Pomeroy Pomeroy Terrace Porter-Phelps-Huntington Historic House Museum Pulaski Pulaski Park Shay’s Rebellion Shop Row South Hadley Civil War Monument South Hadley Korean Conflict Monument South Hadley Vietnam Monument South Hadley World War II Monument The Abolition Era: Elm Street & Round Hill The Anti-Slavery Community The First Church The Florence Eagles The Manse The Musante Mile The Old Bank Third Hadley Meeting House Third Meeting House Step Town Center Town of Worthington Honor Roll Upper Main Street USS Northampton Village of Hockanum West Main Street Westfield River
Boston's Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball. It opened in 1912 and is still in use today.
Massachusetts random facts
Hampshire County, Massachusetts, has a rich history dating back to colonial times. It was originally inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Pocumtuc and Nipmuc peoples. In 1659, the Massachusetts Bay Colony granted a charter to a group of settlers known as the Hampshire Proprietors, who established the area as a frontier settlement.

During the 18th century, Hampshire County became an important center for agriculture and industry. The fertile Connecticut River Valley allowed for the cultivation of crops such as wheat and tobacco, while mills and factories sprang up along the riverbanks to harness water power. The town of Northampton, in particular, became a hub of activity with its bustling marketplaces and thriving trade.

The 19th century brought significant social and cultural changes to Hampshire County. It became a center for abolitionist activity, with influential figures such as Sojourner Truth and David Ruggles advocating for the end of slavery. The area also gained prominence in the fields of education and the arts, with the establishment of prestigious institutions like Amherst College and Mount Holyoke College.

In the 20th century, Hampshire County continued to evolve as an intellectual and cultural hub. The town of Amherst became renowned for its connection to the literary giants of the time, including Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. The county also played a key role in the countercultural movements of the 1960s and 1970s, with Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst attracting students seeking alternative forms of education.

Today, Hampshire County maintains its reputation as a vibrant and progressive area, known for its beautiful landscapes, top-notch educational institutions, and rich cultural heritage.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Hampshire County, Massachusetts.

  • 1662: Hampshire County established as one of three original counties in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  • 1665: Northampton becomes the county seat.
  • 1761: Amherst is incorporated as a separate town.
  • 1774: Mount Tom in Holyoke witnesses Shay's Rebellion, a major uprising against perceived economic and civil rights injustices.
  • 1821: The Hampshire and Hampden Canal is completed, connecting Northampton to the Connecticut River.
  • 1851: Hampshire County's first railroad, the Northampton and Springfield Railroad, commences operations.
  • 1861-1865: Hampshire County residents actively participate in the American Civil War.
  • 1879: Smith College is founded in Northampton as a private, liberal arts college exclusively for women.
  • 1938: The Great New England Hurricane, one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history, causes significant damage in Hampshire County.
  • 1974: Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2004: Hampshire County experiences a devastating flood caused by heavy rain from a tropical storm.