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Northampton, Massachusetts

42 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1885 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Northampton City. It lies in ZIP code area 01060. It lies near Round Hill. The Survey maps it on the Easthampton quadrangle. 29,571 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 194 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Northampton within Hampshire County

Then and now

1885 to 1985

The same ground, surveyed 100 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet of Northampton, surveyed 1985
Topographic sheet of Northampton, surveyed 1885

On record in Northampton

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 16 shown

Every listing in Hampshire County

Surveyed buildings and structures 12 of 14 shown

Every surveyed structure in Hampshire County

Businesses named in the fire insurance atlases 12 of 25 shown

Every atlas business in Hampshire County

Population over time

2 figures

Northampton grew from 28,549 to 29,571 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201028,549
202029,571+1,022 (+4%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

22 surveys from 42 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 of 11 photographs shown, 1938 to 1942

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

New England hurricane. Onion, corn stalks, and debris washed across the road by the Connecticut River near Northampton, Massachusetts
New England hurricane. Onion, corn stalks, and debris washed across the road by the Connecticut River near Northampton, Massachusetts
Dick, Sheldon, photographer, 1938. Library of Congress
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Hep, two, three, four clipping of a brisk cadence, enlisted WAVES cross their first bridge enroute to their initial drill session on the Smith College Campus, Northampton, Massachusetts. The gals didn't even have time to change from their street clothes before the WAVE ensign on the right started them off for their exercise
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Hep, two, three, four clipping of a brisk cadence, enlisted WAVES cross their first bridge enroute to their initial drill session on the Smith College Campus, Northampton, Massachusetts. The gals didn't even have time to change from their street clothes before the WAVE ensign on the right started them off for their exercise
United States. Office of War Information, 1942. Library of Congress
New England hurricane. Onions, corn, and a mixture of debris brought in by the Connecticut River flood near Northampton, Massachusetts
New England hurricane. Onions, corn, and a mixture of debris brought in by the Connecticut River flood near Northampton, Massachusetts
Dick, Sheldon, photographer, 1938. Library of Congress
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on a heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. G.I. textbooks are distributed to the Midshipmen
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on a heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. G.I. textbooks are distributed to the Midshipmen
United States. Office of War Information, 1942. Library of Congress
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Chow! The girls eat "twice as much" as in civilian life. But they keep too busy to take on weight
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Chow! The girls eat "twice as much" as in civilian life. But they keep too busy to take on weight
United States. Office of War Information, 1942. Library of Congress
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Officers on parade. Ensigns march in the regimental review
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Officers on parade. Ensigns march in the regimental review
United States. Office of War Information, 1942. Library of Congress
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. First uniform. Getting into uniform is one of the WAVES biggest thrills. Here a comely officer candidate tries hers on
Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, becomes the home for WAVES in training. Here, midshipmen take on heavy schedule to learn the duties of an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. First uniform. Getting into uniform is one of the WAVES biggest thrills. Here a comely officer candidate tries hers on
United States. Office of War Information, 1942. Library of Congress
Isaac Damons House, 46 Bridge Street, Northampton, Hampshire County, MA
Isaac Damons House, 46 Bridge Street, Northampton, Hampshire County, MA
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Hampshire County

Fires near this place

82 since 2001

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 82 fires within 5 miles of Northampton between 2001 and 2020, burning about 296 acres in total. 7 started naturally. 4 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined27
Equipment and vehicle use20
Debris and open burning14
Recreation and ceremony10
Natural7
Arson/incendiarism4

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2015Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
3 September 2016Debris and open burningunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
27 September 2015Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
2 September 2016Debris and open burningunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Controlnot named
18 September 2020Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreSylvio O. Conte National Wildlife RefugeMILL RV DIV MA-SCR #4
18 September 2020Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreSylvio O. Conte National Wildlife RefugeMILL RV DIV MA-SCR #3
17 September 2020Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreSylvio O. Conte National Wildlife RefugeMILL RV DIV MA-SCR #2
15 September 2020Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreSylvio O. Conte National Wildlife RefugeMILL RV DIV MA-SCR #1

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Hampshire County

Specimens collected near this place

12 of 6,155 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. Museums hold 6,155 specimens collected within 10 miles of Northampton between 1781 and 1975: 3,172 Plantae, 1,538 Fungi, 1,237 Animalia, 134 Chromista, 64 Protozoa, 9 Unrecorded, 1 Bacteria. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A V Osmun, A., A. Albee and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Image SpeciesYear Collected by Where, as recorded
Specimen of Cercospora violae Sacc.Cercospora violae Sacc.1895Ralph E. SmithHothouse, Mass. Agr. College, Amherst
Specimen of Actias luna Linnaeus, 1758Actias luna Linnaeus, 17581896not recorded
Specimen of Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1773)Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1773)1896not recorded
A photograph of the species Carex argyrantha, not of this specimenCarex argyrantha Tuck. ex Dewey1781H. G. JesupAmherst in Hampshire Co., and Leverett in Franklin Co., Massachusetts. [Inferred counties from precise loc.]
A photograph of the species Carex foenea, not of this specimenCarex foenea Willd.1781H. G. JesupAnd Leverett
A photograph of the species Ustilago nuda, not of this specimenUstilago nuda (C.N.Jensen) Kellerm. & Swingle1810J.E. Humphrey
A photograph of the species Carex bromoides, not of this specimenCarex bromoides Willd.1831Collector unknown
A photograph of the species Ranunculus ambigens, not of this specimenRanunculus ambigens S.Watson1831S. Shurtleff
A photograph of the species Carex vesicaria, not of this specimenCarex vesicaria L.1836Collector unknown
A photograph of the species Carex vestita, not of this specimenCarex vestita Willd.1836Collector unspecified
A photograph of the species Kalmia angustifolia, not of this specimenKalmia angustifolia f. angustifolia1838L. DeWetteNorthampton.
A photograph of the species Kalmia latifolia, not of this specimenKalmia latifolia var. latifolia1838L. DeWetteNorthampton.

All 6,155 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 22 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 22 workings within 5 miles of Northampton: 11 producers, 11 past producers. 11 still produce. What was taken out: Brick Clay, Clay, Stone, Dimension, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Hatfield Lead MineBarium-Barite, Lead, ZincPast ProducerVein
Hatfield Lead MineBarium-Barite, Zinc, LeadProducerBarite, Galena, Sphalerite
Hatfield Lead MineBarium-Barite, Lead, ZincPast Producer
Sandstone QuarryFlagstonePast Producer
Wzorek PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Granite Rock QuarryGranitePast Producer
Granite Rock QuarryGranitePast Producer
Bill Willard IncSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast ProducerSedimentary
Florence PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Granite Rock QuarryStone, DimensionProducer

Every working recorded in Hampshire County

Storms near this place

36 since 1995

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Northampton in 36 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 18 thunderstorm wind, 6 flood, 4 hail, 4 lightning. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2000Thunderstorm WindNorthampton1 hurtno account filed
April 2007FloodNorthampton$1,500,000Record flooding along the Mill River caused extensive flooding in Northampton. The river crested at 15.6 feet on the 16th, which was the highest crest on record, and well above the previous record crest of 13.7 feet which occurred in October, 2005. Many roads near the river were closed and some evacuations took place as flood waters threatened nearby homes and businesses.|Minor flooding also affected the mainstem Connecticut River through Northampton. A crest of 119 feet was recorded at 430 pm on the 17th (flood stage is 112 feet).
August 2011FloodNorthampton$400,000After receiving roughly four and a half inches of rain from Tropical Storm Irene, an overtopped dike resulted in the closure of West Street in Northampton. At exit 24 on Route 5, there was five to six feet of water flooding the road, with two cars floating down the road.
January 2010FloodNorthampton$150,000Numerous backyards and basements throughout Northampton were flooded. Three streets were closed due to flooding from small streams out of their banks.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$51,000In the Florence section of Northampton, a 50 foot by 50 foot wooden permanent pavilion structure was blown crooked at a landmark restaurant/tavern. The footings, which were lifted and bent, were attached by a metal bracket to concrete. The pavilion can accomodate 18 tables with 4 people per table. The building inspector classified the damage as $20,000. Slightly farther to the southeast, a 50 ft by 75 ft. section of roofing, including insulation and rubber membrane, was peeled off of the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. There was little in the way of water damage inside the school. The Northampton building inspector rated the roof damage as $30,000. Still farther to the southeast, a tree was down on Washington Avenue, as reported by amateur radio.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$10,000Numerous trees were downed in Northampton, including several on Summer Street and one on Massasoit Street which fell on wires. Large trees also were downed in Easthampton, including one that fell on a house and a car on Chestnut Street.
June 2005LightningNorthampton$10,000no account filed
September 2003Flash FloodNorthampton$10,000no account filed
August 2003Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$10,000no account filed
July 2002Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$8,000no account filed
June 2025LightningNorthampton$7,000In Northampton, a house caught fire due to lightning on Moser Rd.
May 2006FloodNorthampton$5,000Mill River
June 2004Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$5,000no account filed
July 2021Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$2,500In Northampton, a tree was down on Audubon Road. Trees and wires were down on Easthampton Road.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$1,000In Northampton, trees were down in the Leeds section.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$500In Northampton, there were wires down on Jackson St.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindNorthampton$300There was a tree down on I-91 southbound near Northampton.
July 2025Flash FloodNorthampton-Torrential rain caused flooding on I-91 requiring DOT assistance.
September 2023HailNorthampton-In Northampton, there was a report of 0.75 inch hail.
October 2017FloodNorthampton-Intersection of Main and Market Streets in Northampton was closed. West Street near Smith College was flooded with trapped car.
June 2011HailNorthampton-Half dollar to golf ball size hail fell across Northampton.
February 2008FloodNorthampton-Route 10 in Northampton was flooded.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-Numerous trees and power poles downed. A microburst likely occurred with a small areas of winds of 70 to 80 mph.
February 1997Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-A peak wind gust to 60 mph was reported in Northampton.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-no account filed
May 2000LightningNorthampton-no account filed
June 2000Heavy RainNorthampton-no account filed
June 2000HailNorthampton-no account filed
June 1999LightningNorthampton-no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-no account filed
July 1997Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-no account filed
July 1997Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-no account filed
August 1996Thunderstorm WindNorthampton-no account filed
August 1996Flash FloodNorthampton-no account filed
June 1995HailNorthampton-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Hampshire County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Bay State1.2 miles42
Florence1.8 miles42
Laurel Park2.3 miles42
Pine Grove2.3 miles42
Hockanum3.0 miles44
Mount Tom3.0 miles44
Hadley3.0 miles44
West Hatfield3.2 miles42

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on NorthamptonAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q49186The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 606674. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.