About Northampton

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Welcome to "Paradise City," Northampton, Massachusetts. As residents of the Pioneer Valley, we enjoy the great natural beauty that surrounds us, from the winding Connecticut River that defines our eastern border, to the gentle mountains of the nearby Mount Holyoke and Mount Tom Ranges. 

Northampton offers a lifestyle rich in cultural, artistic, academic, and business resources. Our downtown center is one of the most vibrant in New England. The superb quality of life in Northampton contributes to a strong and diversified economic base. Northampton is unique in the number of independently owned businesses that make up our business community. 

Northampton's blend of traditional neighborhoods, forged by the great care of generations of good neighbors, and a lively and sophisticated cultural community would make any great city proud. The city has been recognized in recent years by numerous publications as a top rated town for the arts, for families, for historic preservation and for outdoor activities. Located in the heart of the Five-College area, and home to prestigious Smith College for women, education has always been a priority here. You will find not only a great public school district but also a plethora of opportunities for lifelong learning in Northampton.

We have worked hard to blend the needs of a growing economy with our many buildings of historic significance. We honor our traditions, retaining the historic character of downtown and the mill villages of Florence, Leeds, and Bay State. We are proud to have been home to many generous and thoughtful individuals, whose legacies continue to inspire us: Jonathan Edwards, Sojourner Truth, Leonard Baskin, Lydia Maria Child, Amelia Earhart, Calvin Coolidge, Sylvia Plath and Richard Yarde, among others who have called this city home. 

As you browse through our website, in addition to information about city government, I hope you will find what many of us have found - a lively, caring community where people from all walks of life feel welcome and empowered to participate in the work of maintaining this remarkable, diverse city.

In short, Welcome to Paradise!

David J. Narkewicz
Mayor