About our area
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The majestic Connecticut River is the centerpiece of the Greater Springfield area, with the cities of Agawam and West Springfield located on its west banks, and Springfield on the east bank. To the east are the towns of Ludlow, Wilbraham, Hampden, East Longmeadow and Longmeadow.
The communities of the Affiliated Chambers embrace the entire spectrum of New England lifestyles, from urban living in the Victorian brick row homes on Springfield's picturesque Mattoon Street to a simple log cabin set beneath rolling hills in Hampden. Supporting the nearly 280,000 people in the eight communities we represent, the business community includes high tech manufacturing, insurance, tourism, health care providers, and an astounding variety of retail goods and services designed to meet the needs of every lifestyle.
Contributing to our thriving economy is New England's Knowledge Corridor, with proximity to 32 institutions of higher education, including the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Our communities take great pride in both public and private education in the region, as businesses and industry work together with parents, teachers and educators to help our children learn and thrive in today's highly technical world.
The Greater Springfield area enjoys a superb network of highways, giving access in every direction. The Massachusetts Turnpike, with exits in Ludlow and Springfield, connects residents to the cities of Boston and Worcester to the east and the Berkshires and Albany to the west. I-91, our north/south artery with six centrally located exits to the area, connects the region to northern New England, Canada, and the southern Atlantic states.
Two major highways, I-291 and I-391, promote congestion-free travel within the metropolitan region.
Bradley International Airport, one of the most convenient and efficient airports in the nation, is located in Connecticut a short drive south on I-91. Bus service is available to all points in the nation, and Amtrak trains, both north/south and east/west stop here.
Communication within the region helps us thrive as a community. The Springfield Newspapers publish the daily Republican with several editions addressing the individual interests of local towns, and the Sunday Republican. Several weekly newspapers address local issues and provide shopping guides and information. BusinessWest is a bi-weekly business publication. Bravo is a monthly with a staggering list of cultural events. Four television stations, 22News, ABC 40, FOX 6 and CBS 3, provide local news. Nine local radio stations accommodate our varied lifestyles.
Culturally, Greater Springfield offers everything anyone could wish for. The museum complex at The Quadrangle includes the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, the Museum of Fine Arts, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum and the Springfield Science Museum. Symphony Hall and CityStage have joined forces to bring some of the best professional theatre to the Pioneer Valley. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra also calls Symphony Hall “home” and plays to ever-larger audiences. The newly expanded and renovated MassMutual Center, hosts the Springfield Falcons ice hockey team, and will welcome thousands of trade show visitors this year.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in a beautiful riverside complex, is an international tribute to the great heroes of the game which began here.
The Zoo at Forest Park (whose hundreds of acres of greenery are a jewel of the city) includes over 200 different animals.
We are a region of fairs and festivals, capped with the Big E. The Eastern States Exposition is New England's county fair, and attracts more than one million people to West Springfield every September. Community festivals and fairs abound, from the Peach Festival, which celebrates the orchards in Wilbraham, to the now world famous Bright Nights, a holiday light display in Forest Park which rivals any in the world.
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Medical facilities here are second to none. Between Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, Noble Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children, area residents receive the most advanced medical care, technologies and services available.
In the City of Homes, as Springfield is often called, and its surrounding communities, beautiful housing, available for every taste and lifestyle, is available at a cost significantly less than in the eastern part of Massachusetts. Victorian homes, farm houses, contemporary palaces, condominiums and apartments are found in every community. Special complexes to accommodate the elderly are also available.
Come to Greater Springfield and discover what our 280,000 residents call home: a region filled with the blessings of life, community, culture, economic health and the joy of living well.
