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Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is made up of several neighborhoods, the result of the city's origin as a collection of villages in the northern-most part of Springfield, which it seceded from in 1848. These villages are now represented by the neighborhoods of Aldenville, Willimansett, Chicopee Center (Cabotville), Chicopee Falls, and Fairview. Although once defined by the predominant nationality of its immigrant occupants, historically largely Polish and French Canadian, these neighborhoods are now occupied by people of many cultures while still maintaining their historical, ethnic charm.
The city has since filled in most of its open space resulting in a number of new neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include Chicomansett (often referred to as part of Willimansett, this area is located at the southern intersection of Meadow and Chicopee Streets northward to Meetinghouse Road), Ferry Lane (an offshoot of Chicomansett surrounding Ferry Lane), Sandy Hill (the area overlooking Chicopee Center, connecting Cabotville and Aldenville), and the geographically isolated Burnett Road neighborhood. Another neighborhood, Smith Highlands, has had some independent recognition. Roberts Pond is within the area. Smith Highlands once had its own elementary school, as did Willimansett.
Chicopee is home to Westover Air Reserve Base, built in 1940. It has one of the largest runways on the east coast at 11,597 x 301 feet. Elms College is located in Chicopee. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,653. The mayor is Richard J. Kos.
Chicopee is located at 42°10′13″N, 72°35′19″W (42.170159, -72.588630).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.9 km²), of which, 22.9 square miles (59.2 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (4.31%) is water. The Chicopee River flows through the southern part of the city.
Within Chicopee lies the Chicopee Memorial State Park in the Burnett Road neighborhood. Formerly known as the Cooley Brook Reservoir and Watershed, the area has been developed into a high use active recreation area. The total area is 575 acres including two 25 acre ponds. Activities include swimming, fishing, jogging and biking, and the area is popular for picnics.
As of the 2000 census, there were 54,653 people, 23,117 households, and 14,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,389.7 people per square mile (922.7/km²). There were 24,424 housing units at an average density of 1,067.9/sq mi (412.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.82% White, 2.28% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.90% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.76% of the population.
There were 23,117 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,672, and the median income for a family was $44,136. Males had a median income of $35,585 versus $25,975 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,646. About 9.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
- Information taken from:
http://www.mass.gov/ , Wikipedia , http://www.pvpc.org/
The information about Smith Highlands is provided courtesy of Steve Jendrysik.
