South Hadley, Colonial town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States.
South Hadley is a town in Hampshire County that extends along the Connecticut River with the Mount Holyoke Range forming its northern boundary. The area contains multiple water reservoirs and features a mix of riverine and mountain landscape.
The town was founded in 1721 by English colonists from Hadley and gained formal incorporation in 1775. It played a key role in developing the first successful navigable canal in North America.
Mount Holyoke College shapes the town's identity as an educational hub for women, drawing visitors and giving the community its scholarly character.
The town center is easily walkable with streets organized logically around the college and business district. There is ample public parking and the river offers pleasant paths for walking.
In 1802 Pliny Moody discovered the first confirmed dinosaur evidence in North America here on a sandstone slab. This finding marked the beginning of paleontology in the region and still draws natural history enthusiasts today.
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