Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is split into the "South Side" and the "North Side" by the Westfield River, and the northwestern section of town is known as Wyben. Westfield is situated at the western edge of the downfaulted Connecticut River Valley where the Westfield River emerges from the Berkshire Hills and flows through the center of the city on its way to the Connecticut River some ten miles (15 km) downstream. Westfield is on the fringe of the greater Northeast megalopolis, the most densely populated region of the United States, and has experienced substantial land development for suburban residential and commercial uses for the past six decades. Yet it borders hilltowns to the west that were depopulated of subsistence farmers in the 19th century as land became readily available on the western frontier. With population dipping below ten per square kilometer in some upland townships, forests are reverting almost to pre-settlement conditions with wild turkey, bears, coyotes and even moose returning after absences perhaps measured in centuries. This transition over a few kilometers from the 21st century urbanization to populations densities nearly as low as early colonial times is notable if not unique. Amon the city’s points of interest are the Amelia Park Ice Rink and Memorial Garden, the Stanley Park of Westfield, the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail

Accommodation in Westfield’s university residences

Most of the student accommodations in the city are found at the Westfield State University and availability is mostly during the summer vacation period. It should be understood that these student residences are designed primarily for students and not children or adults expecting a high level of luxury. However, with this in mind, the halls do meet a level of comfort that we expect most visitors to be happy with, and we will welcome any feedback where this is not the case.

Getting to Westfield MA

The Massachusetts Turnpike crosses Westfield just north of the central business district. The "Mass Pike" is part of I-90 extending east to Boston and west to Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, and across the Upper Midwest, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho to Spokane and Seattle. About 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Westfield, the turnpike intersects I-91 which generally follows the Connecticut River Valley south to Springfield, Hartford and New Haven or north to Canada (Quebec). Westfield's main north-south thoroughfare is US 202/Route 10, The main east-west thoroughfare is US 20. Route 187 also ends in Westfield. The city is presently served by two PVTA bus routes to Springfield and Holyoke. Bus and rail service to all points is available at Springfield. The Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield has charter passenger services; the Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, within 40 minutes driving time, has scheduled flights by most airlines. Albany International Airport is a practical alternative to Bradley, offering similar flights and about a 90-minute drive west via I-90.

The area was originally inhabited by the Pocomtuc tribe, and was called Woronoco, meaning "the winding land". Trading houses were built in around 1639-40 by settlers from the Connecticut Colony. Massachusetts asserted jurisdiction, and prevailed after a boundary survey. In 1647, Massachusetts made Woronoco part of Springfield, Massachusetts. Land was incrementally purchased from the Indians and granted by the Springfield town meeting to English settlers, beginning in 1658. The area of Woronoco or "Streamfield" began to be permanently settled in the 1660s. In 1669, Westfield was incorporated as an independent town; it would be re-incorporated as a city in 1920. From its founding until 1725, Westfield was the westernmost settlement in Massachusetts Colony and portions of it fell within the Equivalent lands. Town meetings were held in a church meeting house until 1839 when Town Hall was erected on Broad Street. This building also served as City Hall from 1920 to 1958. Due to its alluvial lands, the inhabitants of this area were entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits for about 150 years. Early in the 19th century manufacture of bricks, whips, and cigars became economically important. At one point in the 19th century, Westfield was a prominent center of the buggy whip industry, and the city is still known as the "Whip City." South of the river, the intersecting trends of growth of Westfield State University and declining manufacturing changed the city's character. Students comprise some 15% of Westfield's population and the old downtown business district caters increasingly to them. In the early 20th century, Westfield was at the center of the Pure Food movement, an effort to require stricter standards on the production of food. In 1906, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.