Ludlow, town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States
Ludlow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, situated on the north bank of the Chicopee River, just east of Springfield. The town is made up of residential neighborhoods, a main commercial strip along East Street, and open land near the river to the south.
Ludlow was founded in 1775 and grew quickly after the Civil War as textile mills along the Chicopee River produced yarn, twine, and jute webbing. The mills closed in the 1960s, and their brick buildings along the southern riverbank were later converted into housing and small businesses.
Ludlow has a strong Polish and Portuguese community, whose presence shapes the local food scene, with bakeries and restaurants serving traditional dishes. In September, the Festa dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima fills the streets with music, food stands, and families celebrating together.
The area around East Street is easy to walk, with shops, cafes, and restaurants all within a short distance of each other. Those who want to see the old mill buildings should head south toward the riverbank, where the converted complex sits near the water.
The Ludlow Clock Tower, built in 1886, still stands inside a former mill complex that now houses a craft brewery alongside apartments and workshops. The tower is visible from the street and gives a sense of how closely the industrial past and everyday present sit together in this town.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
