The City of Northampton, known as "Paradise City" is situated between the Connecticut River and the foothills of the Berkshires 20 miles north of Springfield. Offering a sophisticated rural lifestyle rich in cultural, artistic, academic, and business resources, with one of the most vibrant downtown centers in New England, the Town of Northampton (originally the town of Nonotuck) was granted its Charter in 1654, and incorporated as a city in 1884. The city has been recognized in recent years by numerous publications as top rated for the arts, for families, for historic preservation and for outdoor activities. Northampton is home to Smith College and is strongly influenced by Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts as part of the five-college system in the region. The superb quality of life in Northampton contributes to its strong economic base with growing manufacturing, technology and service sectors. The local labor force is diverse, well educated and highly skilled. Northampton's blend of traditional neighborhoods, forged by the great care of generations of good neighbors, and a lively and sophisticated cultural community would make any great city proud. We have worked hard to blend the needs of a growing economy with our many buildings of historic significance. We honor our traditions, retaining the historic character of downtown and the mill villages of Florence, Leeds, and Bay State. We are proud to have been home to many generous and thoughtful individuals, whose legacies continue to inspire us: Jonathan Edwards, Sojourner Truth, Leonard Baskin, Lydia Maria Child, Amelia Earhart, Calvin Coolidge, Sylvia Plath and Richard Yarde, among others who have called this city home. Here, you will find what many of us have found - a lively, caring community where people from all walks of life feel welcome and empowered to participate in the work of maintaining this remarkable, diverse city. Welcome to Paradise!