Holyoke, Massachusetts, is historically significant as one of the very first fully planned industrial cities in the United States, built specifically to harness the power of the Connecticut River. In the late 19th century, investors constructed a massive dam and an ingenious three-level system of canals to power a vast array of mills, quickly turning Holyoke into an industrial powerhouse. The city earned the nickname “The Paper City” because it became the world’s leading producer of fine paper, at one point manufacturing an estimated 80% of all writing paper used in the country. This rapid industrial growth attracted enormous waves of immigrants, including large populations of Irish, French Canadian, and Polish workers, and later, a substantial migration from Puerto Rico, which gives the city its unique modern culture. In a bit of trivia, the global sport of Volleyball was invented at the local YMCA in 1895.

Although the traditional paper and textile industries declined significantly by the mid-20th century, Holyoke’s unique infrastructure continues to shape its present-day economy. The municipally owned hydroelectric dam and canal system still operate, providing the city with some of the lowest-cost and greenest energy in Massachusetts. This power source has become the key to Holyoke’s current revitalization efforts, successfully attracting high-tech businesses, including the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC), a major research data center. Today, while it is still a “Gateway City” focused on economic recovery and managing its preserved industrial architecture, Holyoke is leveraging its 19th-century ingenuity to rebuild a 21st-century technology and service-based economy.