Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is made up of several neighborhoods, the result of the city's origin as a collection of villages in the northern-most part of Springfield, which it seceded from in 1848. These villages are now represented by the neighborhoods of Aldenville, Willimansett, Chicopee Center (Cabotville), Chicopee Falls, and Fairview. Although once defined by the predominant nationality of its immigrant occupants, historically largely Polish and French Canadian, these neighborhoods are now occupied by people of many cultures while still maintaining their historical, ethnic charm.
The city has since filled in most of its open space resulting in a number of new neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include Chicomansett (often referred to as part of Willimansett, this area is located at the southern intersection of Meadow and Chicopee Streets northward to Meetinghouse Road), Ferry Lane (an offshoot of Chicomansett surrounding Ferry Lane), Sandy Hill (the area overlooking Chicopee Center, connecting Cabotville and Aldenville), and the geographically isolated Burnett Road neighborhood.
Another neighborhood - Smith Highlands - has had some independent recognition. By 1858, the Smith family owned over 70 acres bordering Roberts Pond. Roberts Pond is located at the foot of Smith Highlands. During the Civil War, the Smith's had one of the community's largest farms. The farm and the highlands became synonymous and the name Smith Highlands stuck. At the turn of the century, the city built a Smith Highlands School. Geography notwithstanding, the highlands are not part of the Fairview Section of Chicopee. In 1953, the development of the Chartier Sub-division on Prospect Street led to a public debate as to the actual boundaries between Fairview and the Smith Highlands. The highlands were officially declared part of Willimansett. The middle of Allen Street is the boundary between Fairview and the Smith Highlands.
Chicopee is home to Westover Air Reserve Base, built in 1940. It has one of the largest runways on the east coast at 11,597 x 301 feet. Elms College is located in Chicopee. The Chicopee River flows through the southern part of the city.
Housing Cost
Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $187,942
Demographics
Population in July 2008: 54,941. Chicopee covers 22.9 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 200 feet above sea level. Zip codes: 01013, 01014, 01020, 01021, 01022 - Area code: 413
Weather
Chicopee, MA climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 84.90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 17.20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 17 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Chicopee is 45.17 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 4.18 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
ville), Chicopee Falls, and Fairview. Although once defined by the predominant nationality of its immigrant occupants, historically largely Polish and French Canadian, these neighborhoods are now occupied by people of many cultures while still maintaining their historical, ethnic charm.