Brightwood, Springfield, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
The Brightwood neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts
is located in the northwest corner of the city, along the Connecticut River
; however, it is separated from the rest of Springfield by the Interstate 91
elevated highway. Many recent academic papers at the University of Massachusetts
' School of Urban Design have focused on the detrimental physical and sociological effects that Interstate 91 has had on the Brightwood neighborhood, and on Springfield in general.
Much of Brightwood was destroyed during the 1936 and 1938 Connecticut River Floods, thus it features housing stock from the WPA
rebuilding period. Geographically, Brightwood is the second smallest of the Springfield's seventeen neighborhoods. It contains 234 acres of land, plus streets and railroads. Its boundaries are well defined: the Chicopee
city line to the north; Clinton Street to the south; the B & M Railroad to the east; and the Connecticut River
to the west. Its demographics have changed exponentially during the last two Censuses. It is now over 80% Puerto Rican
, and a center of Springfield's Puerto Rican community.
Brightwood is scheduled to receive a stop on Springfield's new, northbound, intercity commuter rail, headquartered at Union Station and headed north through Chicopee
, Holyoke, Northampton
, South Deerfield, and Greenfield
, to Brattleboro, Vermont
.
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
is located in the northwest corner of the city, along the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
; however, it is separated from the rest of Springfield by the Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
elevated highway. Many recent academic papers at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
' School of Urban Design have focused on the detrimental physical and sociological effects that Interstate 91 has had on the Brightwood neighborhood, and on Springfield in general.
Much of Brightwood was destroyed during the 1936 and 1938 Connecticut River Floods, thus it features housing stock from the WPA
WPA
- Agencies and organizations :*World Pool-Billiard Association*World Psychiatric Association- United States :*Washington Project for the Arts*Women's Prison Association...
rebuilding period. Geographically, Brightwood is the second smallest of the Springfield's seventeen neighborhoods. It contains 234 acres of land, plus streets and railroads. Its boundaries are well defined: the Chicopee
Chicopee
Chicopee is the name of several communities in the United States:*Chicopee, Georgia*Chicopee, Kansas*Chicopee, Massachusetts*Chicopee, MissouriChicopee is also the name of a ski area in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada:*Chicopee...
city line to the north; Clinton Street to the south; the B & M Railroad to the east; and the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
to the west. Its demographics have changed exponentially during the last two Censuses. It is now over 80% Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, and a center of Springfield's Puerto Rican community.
Brightwood is scheduled to receive a stop on Springfield's new, northbound, intercity commuter rail, headquartered at Union Station and headed north through Chicopee
Chicopee
Chicopee is the name of several communities in the United States:*Chicopee, Georgia*Chicopee, Kansas*Chicopee, Massachusetts*Chicopee, MissouriChicopee is also the name of a ski area in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada:*Chicopee...
, Holyoke, Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, South Deerfield, and Greenfield
Greenfield
-Engineering:* Greenfield land, a piece of undeveloped land * One of several related terms:* Greenfield project, a project which lacks any constraints imposed by prior work...
, to Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
.