Amherst, Massachusetts

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Town in Massachusetts, United States

Amherst, Massachusetts

General Information
Name	Amherst, Massachusetts
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	Town
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates	42°22 49°N
Map
Population
Total	39,263
Density	auto per km²
Area
Total	71.9 km²
Land	71.5 km²
Water	0.4 km²
Government
Type	Representative town meeting
Leader	Paul Bockelman
Time Zone
Standard	UTC-5
DST	UTC-4

Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The town is home to University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. Amherst is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Amherst was first settled in 1703 and was officially incorporated in 1759. The town was named after Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, a British military officer. Amherst played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War and has a rich history of abolitionism and education.

Geography

Amherst is located in the Pioneer Valley and is bordered by Hadley to the west, Pelham to the east, Shutesbury to the north, and Belchertown to the south. The town covers an area of 27.8 square miles (71.9 km²), of which 27.6 square miles (71.5 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) is water.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Amherst had a population of 39,263. The town has a diverse population, with a significant number of students from the three colleges. The median household income is $50,063, and the per capita income is $22,977.

Education

Amherst is known for its educational institutions, including:

• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Amherst College
• Hampshire College

The town also has a public school system, which includes Amherst Regional High School.

Culture and Recreation

Amherst has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, theaters, and galleries. Notable cultural institutions include the Emily Dickinson Museum, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and the Mead Art Museum.

The town also offers various recreational activities, including hiking, biking, and skiing in the nearby Holyoke Range.

Notable People

• Emily Dickinson, poet
• Noah Webster, lexicographer
• Robert Frost, poet

Related Pages

• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Amherst College
• Hampshire College
• Pioneer Valley
• Hampshire County, Massachusetts
• Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area

External Links

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