The Pioneer Valley is many things a key piece to New Englands Knowledge Corridor, home to many internationally-recognized educational institutions, a resilient economic powerhouse, and a scenic beauty.
At the center of the region (geographically, at least) is the Connecticut River, which is the longest and largest in New England. With the river, surrounding mountains, and lush forests, the valley is truly a sight to see. But its not just the scenery thats flourishing. One of the Valleys greatest assets is its diverse economy thats seen a recent increase in both private and public investment.
Whats it like to live here? Each of the Valleys three counties has its own character ranging from a rural agrarian community to a collection of college towns and even a booming urban landscape.
As Massachusettss most rural county, Franklin is reminiscent of Southern Vermont in many ways. Here, agriculture is the center of the economy with sweet corn and asparagus as the major crops. Increasingly, people are retreating to the quiet life in this county and commuting to jobs in cities like Springfield and Chicopee. Although, theres no need to go too far from home for some. Channing Bete and Yankee Candle both call South Deerfield home.
There are a few institutions, known as the Five Colleges, you should probably get familiar with if youre making the move to Hampshire County: UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Hampshire College. Amherst and Northampton are college towns through-and-through and are the center of action in the county. Around here, youll find many independent bookstores and stationary shops as well as a great food scene. Many consider Northampton the culinary capital of Western Massachusetts. Be close to town and Smith College at Hilltop House.
91 Round Hill Rd91 Round Hill Rd
The Pioneer Valleys most highly urbanized county is Hampden. Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke all help drive the countys economic resurgence. Around them, wealthy suburbs and rural exurbs have grown. Springfield especially is a major transportation hub in addition to being a medical, government, and high- education center. MassMutual is headquartered here, too. And, of course, you can thank Springfield for basketball; it was created here and the citys now home to the NBA Hall of Fame.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, CC BY-ND 2.0Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Photo by Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, CC BY-ND 2.0
What to see in the Pioneer Valley?
Theres no shortage of sights to see and places to visit in the Valley. For the literary enthusiasts, youll find Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, the Emily Dickinson House in Agawam, and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst. Spend time outside at Six Flags New England in Agawam, the Big E fairgrounds in West Springfield (where New Englands collective state fair is held every autumn), and skiing at places like Berkshire East and Blandford Ski.
Have we convinced you to move here yet? Look through our Pioneer Valley listings or contact one of our local experts for more information: Cindy Welch | cwelch@landvest.com or Stanley Edwards | jsedwards@landvest.com.
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