Southwick, Massachusetts

Southwickis atowninHampden County,Massachusetts,United States. The population was 9,232 at the2020 census,down from 9,502 at the2010 census.It is part of theSpringfield, MassachusettsMetropolitan Statistical Area.

Southwick, Massachusetts
Town
Southwick Congregational Church
Seal
Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Coordinates:42°03′17″N72°46′15″W
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Hampden
Settled	1690
Incorporated	November 7, 1770
Government
• Type	Opentown meeting, Board of selectmen
Area
• Total	31.7 sq mi (82.0 km2)
• Land	30.8 sq mi (79.8 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Elevation	244 ft (74 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	9,232
• Density	290/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4(Eastern)
ZIP Code	01077
Area code	413
FIPS code	25-65825
GNISfeature ID	0618191
Website	www.southwickma.org

History

Southwick was originally inhabited by either the Matitacooke, Mayawaug, or WoronoakeNative Americantribes.

Early history

In the mid-17th century, pioneering English explorers moving up theConnecticut River Valleyin search of fertile farmlands and game discovered the area and settled Southwick. It became a farming community, defined as the Southern(South-)village(-wick)part of the town ofWestfield.Early on, it was nicknamed "Poverty Plains" because the land was thought to be infertile. Its first residential home was built bySamuel Fowlerand his wife Naomi Noble on what is now College Highway (US 202andMA 10), approximately one-quarter mile (0.4 km) north of the current town center.

In colonial times, church attendance was mandatory. The 800 Christian residents of Southwick in the 1760–1770s were required to travel to Westfield to congregate. Their envisioned parish could only be established by first building their church community. On November 7, 1770, Southwick was incorporated as a separate district of Westfield. The area of Southwick became somewhat smaller in 1770. The southernmost portion of Southwick joinedSuffield, Connecticut,as the result of a simultaneous secession of citizens in that part of the village.

Independence

Southwick became a fully independent town in 1770. The town remained divided until 1793 when Massachusetts claimed the area (known as the "jog" ). A border dispute continued until 1804 when the current boundary was established through a compromise betweenConnecticutand Massachusetts. As a result of this border resolution, Southwick is the southernmost town inwestern Massachusetts.

A stake marks the southernmost point in the "Southwick jog" of the Massachusetts-Connecticut boundary. Seen from East Street inGranby, CT.

Early 1800s

In the early 19th century, theFarmington Canaland theHampshire and Hampden Canalwere built to linkNew Haven, ConnecticuttoNorthamptonthrough Southwick.Irish immigrantscame to the area to labor on this project. Developers spoke of Southwick's potential, calling it the "Port of the World". Traces of the canal can still be found in the Great Brook and Congamond Lakes area. Due to winter freezing, summer drought, and wildlife impact (beaver dams, etc.), the canal was phased out in favor of a railroad.

Laflin-Phelps Homesteadwas built soon after the area was settled and remains the oldest standing structure in Southwick.

Completed in the late 1840s, theNew Haven and Northampton Company's railroad was built alongside the canal. With the railroad came the ice industry and tourist resorts around the Congamond Lakes (which were namedWenekeiamaugby the previous native peoples). Along with the construction of a small amusement park, numerous elaborate hotels and dance halls were constructed. During the Industrial Era, summer vacationers and day-trippers would escape to Southwick from cities connected by the Northeast Railroad Corridor includingNew York City,Albany,Boston,Worcester,Hartford,and especiallySpringfield.There was a special stop near the lakes where visitors would disembark to swim and/or pile into canopied pleasure boats.

DuringWWIandWWII,trains loaded with soldiers would pass through town. It has been noted that local girls would gather letters thrown by the soldiers from the train and forward them to the intended recipients at the post office. The last train to pass along these tracks wascirca1976. As of 2022, the old railway was converted into a rail trail leading toGranby, Connecticut,known as the Farmington Canal Rail Trail.

All of Southwick's grand hotels and ornate train stations have since been torn down. Babb's Roller Skating Rink on theSuffieldside of Congamond Lakes is all that remains of the amusement park.

Industry

Tobacco farming

The farmland of Southwick is well-suited to growtobacco,which is widely grown as acash crop.

Ice harvesting

Ice collectedfrom the Congamond Lakes was once stored in largeice housesin blocks and delivered via railway for food storage from New York City toBoston,before electric refrigerators were widely available.

Geography

View fromProvin Mountainover the Southwick countryside (along theMetacomet-Monadnock Trail)

The M&M Trail skirts Harts Pond and its associated wetland before ascending to Provin Mountain.

Southwick is the southernmost town in westernMassachusetts,as a result of the "jog" in the Massachusetts-Connecticut border (seeHistory of Massachusetts: Connecticut border). Southwick is bordered on the north byWestfield,on the east byAgawam, MassachusettsandSuffield, Connecticut,on the south by Suffield andGranby, Connecticut,and on the west by Granby and byGranville, Massachusetts.

U.S. Route 202(College Highway) crosses the town, leading north from the town center 5 miles (8 km) to Westfield and south 7 miles (11 km) to Granby, Connecticut.Massachusetts Route 57crosses Southwick east to west, leading east 12 miles (19 km) to downtownSpringfieldand west intothe Berkshires.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town of Southwick has a total area of 31.7 square miles (82.0 km²), of which 30.8 square miles (79.8 km²) are land and 0.85 square miles (2.2 km²), or 2.63%, are water.

The 114-mile (183 km)Metacomet-Monadnock Trail(a hiking trail) passes through wetlands near Harts Pond before ascending overProvin Mountain,atrap rockridge and cliff line that forms the eastern border of Southwick.Provin Mountainis part of theMetacomet Ridge,a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches fromLong Island Soundto near theVermontborder.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1850	1,120	—
1860	1,188	+6.1%
1870	1,100	−7.4%
1880	1,104	+0.4%
1890	914	−17.2%
1900	1,040	+13.8%
1910	1,020	−1.9%
1920	1,194	+17.1%
1930	1,461	+22.4%
1940	1,579	+8.1%
1950	2,855	+80.8%
1960	5,139	+80.0%
1970	6,330	+23.2%
1980	7,382	+16.6%
1990	7,667	+3.9%
2000	8,835	+15.2%
2010	9,502	+7.5%
2020	9,232	−2.8%
2022	9,190	−0.5%
Source:United States censusrecords andPopulation Estimates Programdata.

As of the census of 2000,there were 8,835 people, 3,318 households, and 2,418 families residing in the town. The population density was 285.4 inhabitants per square mile (110.2/km²). There were 3,533 housing units at an average density of 114.1 per square mile (44.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.41%White,0.51%African American,0.20%Native American,0.37%Asian,0.01%Pacific Islander,0.34% fromother races,and 1.15% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.72% of the population.

There were 3,318 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. Of all households, 21.9% were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,296, and the median income for a family was $64,456. Males had a median income of $41,863 versus $30,889 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,756. About 3.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Southwick is part of the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District, along withGranvilleandTolland.Students attend Woodland School from gradesKto 2, and Powder Mill School from grades 3 to 6. High school students attendSouthwick Regional Schoolfrom grades 7 to 12. A vote in May 2012 in Southwick approved a $62 million school renovation and construction project that was completed in 2015.

Select Board (formerly called Board of Selectmen)

• Jason Perron, Chairman
• Diane Gale, Vice-Chair
• Doug Moglin, Clerk

Library

The Southwick Free Public Library was established in 1892.In fiscal year 2008, the town of Southwick spent 2.03% ($316,544) of its budget on its public library—approximately $33 per person, per year ($43.49 adjusted for inflation to 2022).

Notable people

• Amasa Holcomb,(1787-1875) first telescope fabricator and manufacturer in the United States
• Matthew Laflin,(1803–1897) American businessman, philanthropist, and a founder ofChicago
• Rebecca Lobo,television basketball analyst and former player in the professionalWomen's National Basketball Association(W NBA )
• Jerri Nielsen,a physician who self-treated her breast cancer while stationed atAmundsen–Scott South Pole StationinAntarctica.

External links

• Town of Southwick official website
• MHC Survey Reconnaissance Town Report: Southwick,Massachusetts Historical Commission, 1982
• The Southwick Jog: Take Back the Notch!– atongue-in-cheekwrite-up of this Connecticut–Massachusetts border curiosity