Chicopee, Massachusetts

Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, with a population over 55,000 people. The median household income of residents is estimated at $35,672, and the median income for a family is estimated at $44,136.

Chicopee is a Nipmuck (native residents of the region before the arrival of the British) name from chekee ("violent") and pee ("waters") that makes reference to river rapids. The city is made up of several neighborhoods, the result of the city's initial origins as a collection of villages. The main neighborhoods of Chicopee are Aldenville, Willimansett, Chicopee Center (Cabotville), Chicopee Falls, Fairview, and the Burnett Road Neighborhood. Chicopee is equally divided between a large Polish-American community and a large French American community. The Chicopee Provision Company is a major employer who produces Polish kielbasa under the Blue Seal brand. The city once held an annual kielbasa festival during which time they would unveil the World's Largest Kielbasa.

In the 19th century Chicopee Massachusetts was noted for its cotton mills, woolen mills, brass foundries and iron foundries. The Ames Manufacturing Company made many machines and bronze cannons, and more swords than any other manufacturer in the U.S. at the time. Chicopee was also the first place a gas-powered automobile was made in the U.S. Additionally, Chicopee is home to Westover Air Reserve Base, built in 1940. It has one of the largest runways on the east coast at 12,000 feet and was at one time an alternate landing site for the space shuttle. Elms College is also located in Chicopee.