The largest city in western Massachusetts, has a long and rich history of innovation and culture. Founded in 1636 as Agawam Plantation by William Pynchon and a group of settlers from Roxbury, the city was renamed Springfield in 1641 and became the northernmost settlement of the Connecticut Colony¹. The city survived a devastating attack by Native Americans during King Philip’s War in 1675 and rebuilt itself as a prosperous trading post and agricultural center¹.

In 1794, Springfield became the site of the first and only National Armory, which produced firearms and ammunition for the U.S. military until 1968¹.  Springfield is the birthplace of many inventions and discoveries, such as the first American-English dictionary, the first gasoline-powered car, the first motorcycle, vulcanized rubber, the assembly line, and the sport of basketball¹². Today, Springfield is a vibrant and diverse city, with a population of 153,606 as of 2010³.  It is also the birthplace and inspiration of the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss, whose whimsical characters and stories are celebrated throughout the city².