Wilbraham Town

Hampden County, Massachusetts

   

Wilbraham Town Hall is located at 240 Springfield Street, Wilbraham, MA 01095.
Phone: 413‑596‑2800.

Overview [1]

Wilbraham is located on the western periphery of the rugged uplands of central Massachusetts. These uplands cover the eastern portion of the town. They are considerably more variable in elevation than those to the north and south of Wilbraham ranging between 300 feet and over 900 feet above sea level. Western Wilbraham consists of marshy lowlands and moderate, rolling uplands. The town is situated within the Chicopee River drainage. The Chicopee is the dominant local water source and forms the boundary between Wilbraham and Ludlow. Only a handful of freshwater ponds are located within Wilbraham. Local soils are basically a sandy loam in western Wilbraham and a stony, glacial till in the eastern uplands.

Affluent suburban town along original Springfield-Boston corridor. Located at the edge of upland hills with commanding vistas of the Connecticut Valley and suspected native sites along Chicopee River around Nine Mile Pond in North Wilbraham. Early axis of development from Springfield along Bay Path during Plantation period. Initial settlement at base of mountains by mid- 18th century with abandoned meeting house site on Wigwam Hill and well preserved early burying ground at Adams Cemetery. Authentic Colonial houses remain along Mountain Road in North Wilbraham and along north-south highways of Main Street and Stony Hill Road on alluvial plain. Relocation of Wilbraham town center to Main Street during Federal period created extended village street, anchored by Wilbraham Academy with original brick buildings intact. Agricultural potential uplands developed by early 19th century with surviving village center at Glendale. Economic activity remained focused a t North Wilbraham with location of Western Railroad and textile mills along Chicopee River, including Early Industrial housing and factory ruins. Development further expanded during Late Industrial period by suburban expansion from Springfield with Victorian residential district in North Wilbraham, and Early Modern highway development along Route 20 corridor, including surviving motor courts and poultry farms. Early electric hydro station remains on Chicopee River at Red Bridge. Present development is centered along attractive suburban vistas of Ridge Road and commercial strip of Route 20, posing potential erosive threats to the Wilbraham and North Wilbraham town centers respectively.

  1. Massachusetts Historical Commission, Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Wilbraham, 1982, www.sec.state.ma.us, accessed December, 2013.

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