The valley is approximately 20 miles wide at the Connecticut state line but narrows northward. It holds much of New England's best farmland and thus was settled early in New England's colonial history. Since that time, the farms have been encroached on by urban and suburban development, but many still exist. The Connecticut River Valley is mostly urban in the Knowledge Corridor region surrounding the cities of Springfield and Hartford (the two of which lie only 24 miles apart.) The northern end of the Knowledge Corridor by Northampton and Amherst is a mix of urban and rural, featuring several prominent college towns. The northernmost section of Massachusetts' valley is rural, with many opportunities for outdoor activities.
The Connecticut River Valley's fine farmland and abundant water-power made the it Industrial Revolution's version of "Silicon Valley." Many industrial innovations took place at the Springfield Armory, including the discovery of interchangeable parts. America's first gasoline-powered car, motorcycle, and fire engine were all produced in Springfield. Holyoke became America's center of the paper industry. Industrialization encouraged growth of a string of cities from Northampton in the north to New Haven, Connecticut, in the south. From the early 1800s until the 1960s, the Connecticut River Valley was one of the most prosperous regions in the United States. Today this region is known as the Knowledge Corridor because of its numerous, prestigious universities and colleges.
The Connecticut River Valley remains one of the United States' major centers of higher education. Several of the United States' most prominent universities and colleges are located in the valley, including Amherst College, Smith College, and Mount Holyoke College. Mount Holyoke College was the first women's college founded in the United States. There are 14 colleges and universities located in the 20 miles from Springfield to Amherst.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Pioneer Valley
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Pioneer Valley - updated May 2024
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Pioneer Valley Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
