Career Education in Springfield, MA: Universities and Colleges in Massachusetts

Springfield, located in southwest Massachusetts, is the state's third-largest city. The county seat of Hampden County, Springfield was founded in 1636 by an official of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During the Revolutionary War, Springfield was chosen by General George Washington to house the National Armory.

The 2000 Census reported 152,082 residents in Springfield, contributing to the 1.5 million residents in what is known as the Springfield-Hartford (Connecticut) metropolitan area. Its proximity to Hartford is Springfield's economic saving grace. As Springfield's local businesses felt the downturn of the '90s digital economy, the Massachusetts city lured powerful, long-standing insurance companies from the Connecticut region.

Springfield is the celebrated birthplace of basketball, the location of the first American-owned motorcycle manufacturer, and the hometown of Dr. Seuss. The reported median income in Springfield is $29,922, well below the national average of $46,242.

The 20th-century decline of Massachusetts' textile and manufacturing sectors hit Springfield especially hard. The local economy struggled along for decades as companies pulled out of western Massachusetts, one after the other. Residents caught a break in 2004 when the state answered Springfield's plea to appoint a Finance Control Board to oversee expenditures and balance the budget. Top Springfield employers now include:

• MassMutual
• Western Massachusetts Hospital
• Amherst College
• Mount Holyoke College
• Holyoke Mall

The greater Springfield area is home to the famous five colleges of western Massachusetts: Smith College, Hampshire College, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Sources:

• City of Springfield
• Springfield Mass
• Western Massachusetts Small Business Development