North Adams, Massachusetts

North Adams, Massachusetts
City
The north side of Main Street in 2012
Location in Berkshire County in Massachusetts
Land	Vereinigte Staaten
State	Massachusetts
County	Berkshire
Settled	1745
Incorporated	1878
Regierung
• Type	Mayor-council city
• Mayor	Richard Alcombright (D)
Area
• Total	20.6 sq mi (53.4 km2)
• Land	20.3 sq mi (52.7 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation	707 ft (215 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	13,708
• Density	674/sq mi (260.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	01247
Area code	413
FIPS code	25-46225
GNIS feature ID	0607610
Website	www.northadams-ma.gov

North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its population was 13,708 as of the 2010 census, making it the least populous city in the state. Best known as the home of the largest contemporary art museum in the United States, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams has in recent years become a center for tourism, culture and recreation.

History

Bird's eye view of North Adams in 1905

The Norad Mill in 2012

North Adams was first settled in 1745 during King George's War. During the war, the Canadians and Indians laid siege to Fort Massachusetts (located at the present-day Price Chopper Supermarket). Thirty prisoners were taken to Quebec and half died in captivity.

The town was separately incorporated from Adams in 1878. The city is named in honor of Samuel Adams, a leader in the American Revolution, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and governor of Massachusetts.

For much of its existence, North Adams was a mill town. Manufacturing began in the city before the Revolutionary War, as its location at the confluence of the two branches of the Hoosic River provided water power for diverse, small-scale industries. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, businesses included wholesale shoe manufacturers; a brick yard; a saw mill; cabinet-makers; hat manufacturers; machine shops for the construction of mill machines; marble works; wagon and sleigh-makers; and an ironworks, which provided the pig iron for armor plates on the Civil War ship, the Monitor. North Adams would be headquarters for construction of the Hoosac Tunnel.

In 1860, the O. Arnold and Company was established with the latest equipment for printing cloth. Large government contracts to supply fabric for the Union Army helped the business prosper. During the next four decades, Arnold Print Works became one of the world's leading manufacturers of printed textiles. It also became the largest employer in North Adams, with some 3,200 workers by 1905. Despite decades of success, however, falling cloth prices and the lingering effects of the Great Depression forced Arnold Print Works to close its Marshall Street operation in 1942, consolidating at smaller facilities in Adams.

Later that year, the Sprague Electric Company bought the former print works site. Sprague physicists, chemists, electrical engineers, and skilled technicians were called upon by the U.S. government during World War II to design and manufacture crucial components of some of its most advanced high-tech weapons systems, including the atomic bomb.

With state-of-the-art equipment, Sprague was a major research and development center, conducting studies on the nature of electricity and semi-conducting materials. After the war, its products were used in the launch systems for Gemini moon missions, and by 1966 Sprague employed 4,137 workers in a community of 18,000, existing almost as a city within a city. From the post-war years to the mid-1980s, Sprague produced electrical components for the booming consumer electronics market, but competition from abroad led to declining sales and, in 1985, the company closed operations on Marshall Street.

MASS MoCA

The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), formerly the Arnold Print Works and a facility of Sprague Electronics

The closure of Sprague Electric devastated the local economy. Unemployment rates rose and population declined. In 1986, just a year after the factory's closing, the business and political leaders of North Adams were seeking ways to creatively re-use the vast complex. Williams College Museum of Art director Thomas Krens, who would later become Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, was looking for space to exhibit large works of contemporary art that would not fit in conventional museum galleries. When Mayor John Barrett III (serving 1983-2009) suggested the vast Marshall Street complex as a possible exhibition site, the idea of creating a contemporary arts center in North Adams began to take shape.

The campaign to build political and community support for the proposed institution, which would serve as a platform for the creation and presentation of contemporary art, and develop links to the region's myriad cultural institutions, began in earnest. The Massachusetts legislature announced its support for the project in 1988. Subsequent economic upheaval in Massachusetts threatened the project, but broad-based support from the community and the private sector, which pledged more than $8 million, ensured that it continued to move forward.

The eventual proposal utilized the unparalleled scale and versatility of the complex's industrial spaces, while establishing a dialogue between the facility's past and the new life it would have as the country's largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts.

Since its opening, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) has provided the catalyst and anchor for a larger economic transformation in the region centered on cultural, recreational, and educational offerings. North Adams has become home for several new restaurants, contemporary art galleries and cultural organizations. In addition, once shuttered area factories and mills have been rehabilitated as lofts for artists to live and work in.

Geography

The Hoosic River runs through the city and was essential to its growth, providing power for the mills that were built along the banks of it and its branches.

According to the United States Census Bureau, North Adams has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²), of which 20.3 square miles (52.7 km²) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km²), or 1.31%, is water. North Adams is bordered by Clarksburg to the north, Florida to the east, Adams to the south, and Williamstown to the west.

North Adams is located in the valley created by the Hoosic River, which has been walled and floored with concrete in portions to prevent floods. The city's Natural Bridge State Park contains the only natural white marble bridge in North America. Formed by glacial melt by 11,000 BC, the arch and abandoned quarry have long attracted attention from hikers, including Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1838, who wrote of it (among other local features) in his An American Notebook. To the east, the city is bordered by the western face of the Hoosac Range, with visibility on its West Summit extending throughout the tri-state area. To the southwest, the city has the northern end of Mount Greylock State Reservation, ending at Mount Williams, which at 2,951 feet (899 m) above sea level is the highest point in the city. The Appalachian Trail passes through the western part of the city, crossing the summit of Mount Williams and briefly passing through Williamstown before heading north towards Vermont.

North Adams is the western terminus of the Mohawk Trail, which ascends to the West Summit along a steep, curving road. While the trail ends here, Massachusetts Route 2, which the trail is coextensive with, continues westward into Williamstown and towards New York. Route 8 also passes through the city, passing from Adams through the city and northward into Clarksburg. Route 8A, also known as 8A-U (for "upper"), runs parallel to Route 8 east of the main route, and is located entirely within city limits.

The city is the northern terminus of several lines of the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority and also has regional service. The freight rail line which passes through the city extends through the Hoosac Tunnel towards the east. North Adams is also home to Harriman-and-West Airport, a small regional airport. The nearest interstate highway is Interstate 91 to the east, almost an hour away, and the nearest airport with national service is Albany International Airport.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1880	10,191	—
1890	16,074	+57.7%
1900	24,200	+50.6%
1910	22,019	−9.0%
1920	22,282	+1.2%
1930	21,621	−3.0%
1940	22,213	+2.7%
1950	21,567	−2.9%
1960	19,905	−7.7%
1970	19,195	−3.6%
1980	18,063	−5.9%
1990	16,797	−7.0%
2000	14,681	−12.6%
2010	13,708	−6.6%
2011*	13,632	−0.6%
2012*	13,583	−0.4%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

A house on East Main Street

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2010, there were 13,708 people, 5,652 households, and 3,156 families residing in the city. The city, which is the smallest in Massachusetts, ranks second (after Pittsfield) out of 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County by population. The population density was 665.4 people per square mile (257.2/km²), ranking it 2nd in the county. There were 6,523 housing units at an average density of 316.7 per square mile (122.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% White, 1.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 5,652 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.74% under the age of 18, 16.9% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.75 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,020, and the median income for a family was $57,522. The per capita income for the city was $19,857. About 9.0% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Regierung

North Adams is governed by the mayor-council form of government. The city has its own services, including police, fire and public works. The city is also home to North Adams Regional Hospital. The city's public library is the largest in northern Berkshire County, and also has access to the regional library networks.

On the state level, North Adams is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by the First Berkshire district, which covers northern Berkshire County, as well as portions of Franklin County. In the Massachusetts Senate, the city is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin counties. The city is patrolled by the Fourth (Cheshire) Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police.

On the national level, North Adams is represented in the United States House of Representatives as part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district, and is represented by Richard Neal of Springfield. Massachusetts is currently represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator Elizabeth Warren and junior Senator Ed Markey.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 15, 2008
Party		Number of Voters	Prozentualer Anteil	Democratic	3,168	34.99%	Republican	696	7.69%	Unaffiliated	5,091	56.22%	Minor Parties	100	1.10%
Total		9,055	100%

Bildung

North Adams operates its own public school system, with three elementary schools (Brayton Elementary School, Greylock Elementary School and Sullivan Elementary School), Conte Middle School, and Drury High School, which also serves several neighboring towns. The city is also home to Charles H. McCann Technical High School, as well as several private and parochial schools.

North Adams Public Schools Enrollment
School	2000-2001	2001-2002	2002-2003	2003-2004	2004-2005	2005-2006	2006-2007	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014
Drury High School	613	651	608	625	622	583	593	544	499	616	578	552	518	495
Conte Middle School	526	499	509	511	475	417	352	323	318	K.A.	K.A.	K.A.	K.A.	K.A.
Brayton Elementary	499	471	466	429	400	342	356	364	336	458	467	510	511	532
Sullivan Elementary	320	316	311	286	269	256	253	224	214	270	265	244	260	276
Greylock Elementary	237	213	230	226	231	221	235	229	225	268	247	248	236	225
Total:	2,195	2,150	2,124	2,077	1,997	1,819	1,789	1,684	1,592	1,612	1,557
Avg. students per grade:	156.79	153.57	151.71	148.36	142.64	129.93	127.79	120.29	113.71	115.14	111.21

Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District Enrollment
School	2001-2002	2002-2003	2003-2004	2004-2005	2005-2006	2006-2007	2007-2008	2008-2009	2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013
Charles H. McCann Technical High School	440	427	427	440	468	491	516	511	510	491	474	506
Avg. students per grade:	110	106.75	106.75	110	117	122.75	129	127.75	127.5	122.75	118.5	126.5

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) enrolls about 1,980 students. The most popular programs are English/Communications, Business, Education, History, Fine & Performing Arts, Psychology, and Sociology. Founded in 1894 as North Adams Normal School, in 1932 the Normal School became the State Teachers College of North Adams. In 1960, the college changed its name to North Adams State College and added professional degrees in Business Administration and Education. In 1997, the name changed to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, reflective of specialty school status within the Massachusetts State College system. In recent years, MCLA has begun to develop more academic programming in the fields of fine arts and arts management, reflecting the region's growth as a center of arts and cultural affairs.

Beyond MCLA, the nearest state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The nearest private college is Williams College, in neighboring Williamstown.

Culture

Some of the windows of the Greylock (Cariddi) Mill are being used as an art gallery.

North Adams Public Library is located in the Church Street-Caddy Hill Historic District.

The Boardman apartment buildings were built in 1899 in the Colonial Revival style.

The Johnson School in 2012

The Hathaway Tenement was built in 1850.

The Eclipse Mill was converted into lofts for artists to live and work in.

Arts

Due to North Adams being the location of MASS MoCA, there are numerous art galleries spread throughout the city, and some old mills have been converted to lofts for artists to live and work in.

Sports

The city is home to the North Adams SteepleCats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). The SteepleCats play at Joe Wolfe Field in North Adams. The SteepleCats hold the NECBL record for highest single-game attendance. The record was made on July 4, 2006, in a game against the Holyoke Giants in front of 6,714 fans. Holyoke won the game 3-2.

There are many athletic complexes and recreational fields scattered throughout the city, including the Noel Field Athletic Complex, just south of the downtown, and the newly built Alcombright Athletic Complex, in the city's west end.

Sites and events of interest

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
• Natural Bridge State Park
• North Adams Museum of History and Science -- North Adams Historical Society
• Western Gateway Heritage State Park

Events

• Fall Foliage Festival
• Solid Sound Festival

National Register of Historic Places

• Armstrong House
• Beaver Mill
• Blackinton Historic District
• The Boardman
• Charles Browne House
• Church Street-Caddy Hill Historic District Template:Nb10
• H. W. Clark Biscuit Company
• Crowley House
• Freeman's Grove Historic District
• Freight Yard Historic District

• Hathaway Tenement
• Hillside Cemetery
• Hoosac Tunnel
• Johnson Manufacturing Company
• Johnson School
• Monument Square-Eagle Street Historic District
• Norad Mill
• Wells House
• Windsor Print Works

Notable people

• Caleb Atwater (1778–1867), archeologist, politician
• Andrea Barrett, novelist
• Jonah Bayliss, baseball player
• Daniel E. Bosley, state representative
• Jack Chesbro (1874–1931), Hall of Fame pitcher
• Martha Coakley, Massachusetts attorney general
• Jeremiah Colegrove (1758–1836), early leading citizen
• John M. Darby, botanist, chemist
• Will Durant (1885–1981), philosopher, historian
• Paul Farmer, physician, anthropologist
• Joseph F. Finnegan (1904–1964), labor mediator
• Van Hansis, actor
• John Henry Haynes, (1849–1910) archaeologist and photographer
• Peter Laird, comic book artist
• Amy Lee, saxophonist
• Allan Rockwell McCann (1896–1978), vice admiral, USN
• Martin Melcher (1915–1968), film producer and husband of Doris Day
• Harrison Potter (1891–1984), classical pianist
• John Henry Schwarz, theoretical physicist
• Hiram Sibley (1807–1888), industrialist, philanthropist
• Frank J. Sprague (1857–1934), electrical engineer, inventor
• Jane Swift, governor
• Oswald Tower, basketball official
• Frank Vincent, actor
• Ashley B. Wright (1841–1897), U.S. representative

References

Notes

Sources

• History of Monument Square
• History of North Adams, Massachusetts (1749-1885)
• History of North Adams Public Library
• History of Sprague Electric/MASS MoCA site

External links

• City of North Adams official website
• Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
• North Adams Public Library
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• MCLA Berkshire Cultural Resource Center
• North Adams Transcript (newspaper)
• Northern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
• American Notes -- Nathaniel Hawthorne travelogue (1838)
• North Adams SteepleCats
• Articles about North Adams and photos of the city by author and historian Joe Manning
• North Adams Neighborhoods History (pdf)
• North Adams History, Old Newspaper Articles, Genealogy