City Spotlight: South Hadley, MA

Here we head back to look at one of Massachusetts's most famous and beautiful towns, South Hadley. It maintains its picturesque town status as it's pretty small compared to other towns and is nearly covered in forestry, and nature abound.

About South Hadley, MA

The town of South Hadley is a sparse suburb, considered part of the greater Springfield, MA area. This is the case, even though technically South Hadley is in Hampshire County, which is different from Springfield, MA.

It’s near Easthampton, and the Connecticut River defines the border. This element puts it into the same Pioneer Valley category as the surrounding towns and cities. It's closer to Brattleboro, Vermont, than it is to its capital city of Boston.

The current Town Administrator is Lisa Wong, who is also the first Asian American town administrator/mayor of a Massachusetts municipality. She went into the position at the end of 2021.

Her focus is making the town more amicable to seniors while at the same time shoring up the capital spend and budgets to ensure there are enough financial resources to maintain the town. She's also working with the current supply chain issues that have affected many municipalities during the pandemic.

Demographics and Industry breakdown in South Hadley, MA

The future job market of South Hadley is ahead of the national curve, at around 37% growth over the next ten years. The median household income hovers at about $62,000 a year, above the national average as well.

The demographics are over 90% white, with the next highest demographic at over 2.5% Asian, and growing in that town and the surrounding area.

South Hadley also has a strong housing market, with 73% of people living there being homeowners and having an average home price of ~$318,000

The industry is diverse and trying to expand away from its leading employer, Mount Holyoke College, and the related services businesses around the College. The industry has a small agricultural sector and a strong independent manufacturing sector. One of the significant manufacturing jobs available is with E-Ink corporation.

Historical Significance of South Hadley, MA

Originally a manufacturing town and with roots of incorporation well before the Revolutionary War, South Hadley was a part of Hadley. Hadley itself was settled back in 1684. The southern part broke off and eventually, in 1775, incorporated into the town it is today.

Being a town of industry and there to produce, it was home to one of the earliest canals connected to the Connecticut River. This canal would allow steamboats and the massive freight to easily navigate outside of the town and get those goods where they needed to be.

There must be some famous people or interesting discoveries in South Hadley?

Of course, there is. As it's one of the oldest settlements of the New World, it has a rich history of notable people. One of them, of course, is George Herbert Mead, considered to be one of the leading sociologists and psychologists ever.

His focus was on the human self and behaviorism. Without turning this into a psychology lesson, although very interesting, his focus was on how society would affect behavior and many more complicated theories.

South Hadley is also home to Daniel Barry, a successful Astronaut who flew several missions with both the Endeavour and Discovery, with the latter being his ride to the International Space Station (I.S.S).

In addition, Pliny Moody discovered actual dinosaur fossils in America in South Hadley! These discoveries were also found in the early 19th century and are still a topic of research and discussion.

How many Schools does South Hadley, MA have?

South Hadley has a robust school presence, with 14 current schools. But what it’s really known for is Mount Holyoke College. One of the oldest and top-tier schools, it's currently ranked 30th best liberal arts college. It's also the most senior member of the Seven Sisters colleges, which is the equivalent of Ivy Leagues but regarding women-only higher education establishments.

Its educational range is not focused on any area but entirely on developing opportunities through higher education for highly intellectual women. Whether attempting to create the future Nobel Peace Prize winners or award-winning journalists, Mount Holyoke strives to do it all.

Things to do when in South Hadley, MA

If there's only one place you have time for in South Hadley, then make time for the Village Commons. This is what New England is all about. So grab that selfie stick and soak in the vibrance, architecture, and that old-timey feel we sometimes forget still exists.

This isn't a one museum town either, and there's plenty to see at Mount Holyoke’s Art Museum or go to the other museum it runs, when it opens up again, the Skinner Museum. This one is not as scary as it sounds and is named after the man who created a silk empire, Joseph Skinner.

Although not a native of South Hadley, he did relocate there later in life. This museum houses some traditional equipment and antiques collected by him, and by some antiques, it’s almost 7000 items to peruse through.

Maybe you’re all full-on culture or education, and you want to just escape from it all. Then look no further than Skinner State Park. You can hike, ski, sit down and enjoy a book alone, and do anything but look at your smartphone. Instead, appreciate that breath of brisk New England air.

I'm getting hungry; where to eat in South Hadley, MA? 

Being a college town means numerous places to get your food game on. If there are not enough options, there's always a short ride to the next town or city to expand your selection. Before spending the money on gas, look at Food 101 Bistro.

When you're looking for a fulfilling meal that enhances the senses combined with quality products, this is the place for you. With something for everyone, this is a great place to go solo or with a group of friends. They work with local farms and bring it straight to the table, offering a sample of high-end American menu items.

A college town wouldn't be complete without a proper sushi offering. Iya Sushi fulfills that demand. However, they don't stop at sushi and expand their menu to offer hot ramen and hibachi grill menu items on those cold New England days that are bound to happen. You won't be disappointed, and with Massachusetts' access to fresh fish, you know the sushi quality will be top tier.

Maybe you're just looking for a local college town sports bar. There's plenty of those, too, such as The Whiskey Barrel. It offers typical pub food, with some quality brews and spirits. There’s even ice cream for those that have a sweet tooth craving.

Final Thoughts on South Hadley, MA

South Hadley is precisely what one thinks of when they think of New England Town. The hospitality, the integration with nature, and year-round healthy outdoor activities are possible. Of course, this is combined with the fact that it is host to one of the premier colleges out there, giving it a typical New England college town vibe as well. It's always worth a visit and even a place to move to one day eventually.