Northampton, Massachusetts Relocation Guide
Northampton's Premier Real Estate Agent
Sally MalschABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, e-PRORealty World Sawicki
ABR: Accredited buyer's representative means a smooth real estate transaction. Also visit: Amherst, Belchertown & South Hadley |
Population: 28,978 Located in Hampshire County
A city of 30,000 people, Northampton is nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires and bordered by the banks of the Connecticut River. Once a quaint New England village, it continues to thrive as a full-blown city, and so it is unique in that it can offer visitors an elegant metropolis or sprawling rural splendor. Downtown Northampton is home to the prestigious Smith College, making the city one that is vibrant from the presence and influence of young women and the professors that lead them in their academic journey. Another well-respected women's college, Mount Holyoke College, is across the river in South Hadley. Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts are also located across the Connecticut River, in Amherst. In Northampton, you'll find museums, theaters with performers of New York City caliber, and art offerings so diverse and so prevalent that Northampton was dubbed the "Number One Best Small Arts Town in America" by author John Villani. You'll visit eclectic shops and restaurants so sophisticated they've been featured in the New York Times and Bon Appetit magazine. If you're a shopper, there's no better place to be than Northampton, with wares that cover the bases from classical to whimsical, from teapots to toys. And you'll have the opportunity to view nature - on a bicycle seat rolling along a city rail trail, on a boat on the Connecticut, or in the woods, on foot or cross-country skis. The area's natural world offers vistas, valleys, rivers, and streams. Venture outside Northampton's city lines and enjoy the country comforts. Browse in antique shops, country markets or artists' studios. Pick apples or berries at one of the many farms or simply stop at a roadside stand and select from the harvest. Climb the many hills and mountains. Roar down the Connecticut on a raft. Visit a farm where llamas, camels, and yaks are raised for fiber, which is then dyed on site and transformed into rugs and sweaters. To get a better idea of what you might discover in what many call "The Happy Valley," click on "what to see," "where to stay," etc. If you want specific ideas on what you might do once you actually get here, peruse the suggested itineraries - one featuring arts, entertainment, and shopping, and the other featuring recreation, agriculture, and the natural world. The Northampton of today; where artists and writers, merchants and farmers, scholars and professionals live in unique cooperation began as a Puritan settlement purchased from the Nonotuck Indians in 1654. For the price of 100 fathom of wampum, ten coats and a few trinkets, the Puritans acquired the area of rich farm land. Yet, for all its change there is still a balance in Northampton between old and new, between nature and humanity, between the simple and the exotic. Ask people why they moved here and many will tell you that this balance attracted them. Northampton is one of the only spots in New England offering the rich diversity of an urban center with a rural beauty that restores the soul. Northampton, and the surrounding Pioneer Valley, is a great place to head for a mini or full-blown vacation any time of year. There is something for everyone to do and see and enjoy. New York City, Boston, Hartford, Conn., and the Berkshires are all within driving distance for a day trip, but you won't want to leave after just one day. |
Buying Your First HomeBuying A Second HomeTips For Every Buyer
Financing Tips
After You Buy
Building & Remodeling Tips
Tax Advantages |
