Springfield

The city spreads across several hills and valleys near the Connecticut River, with downtown office buildings, residential streets, parks, and former industrial areas each occupying different sections. Older brick row houses stand near the center, while suburban homes and shopping districts fill the outer neighborhoods connected by wide avenues and narrow side streets.

William Pynchon founded the settlement in 1636, creating one of the first inland trading posts in New England. Industrial growth during the 19th and early 20th centuries brought factories, rail yards, and workers from many countries, shaping the neighborhoods that exist today.

Basketball culture runs deep here, with courts in most neighborhoods and local teams practicing in gyms throughout the city. Immigrant communities from Puerto Rico, Poland, Vietnam and other countries shape daily life with family-run restaurants, street festivals, and neighborhood groceries that give each district its own character.

Interstate 91 runs through the center, making the city easy to reach by car from Boston, Hartford, or Albany. Local buses connect downtown with most neighborhoods, though some residential areas require walking up slopes or waiting for less frequent service.

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, grew up here and later set several of his stories in places inspired by local streets and parks. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial in the Quadrangle displays sculptures of characters from his books, placed in a garden visitors can walk through year-round.