Amherst
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Amherst is a town located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Three of the Five Colleges call it home: the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the flagship of the UMass system, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. As of the 2000 census, Amherst's population was 34,874, with a full 50% between the ages of 18 and 24. The median household income is $40,017, and the median family income is $61,237. 41.7% of residents aged 25 and over have a graduate or professional degree.
"Amherst" is pronounced without the h: "Ammerst".
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[edit] Geography and Location
Amherst is located in the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts, north of Springfield and close to the Connecticut River. On the map, Amherst is roughly twice as long north-south as it is wide east-west. It is bordered by the towns of Hadley, Sunderland, Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham, Belchertown, Granby and South Hadley.[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.9 km² (27.8 mi²).
[edit] History
Amherst's history dates back to December 1658, when a deed of purchase between colonist John Pynchon of Springfield and three native inhabitants referred to as Umpanchla, Quonquont and Chickwolopp was signed. It followed the usual colonial pattern of Native Americans "selling" huge areas of land for trinkets, in this case "two Hundred fatham of Wampam & Twenty fatham, and one large Coate at Eight fatham wch Chickwollop set of, of trusts, besides severall small giftes."
Amherst's land area was originally part of Hadley by 1727. It became a township in 1776. When it was incorporated, the colonial governor named the town Amherst after Jeffrey Amherst. According to legend, Amherst was a hero of the French and Indian War who singlehandedly won Canada for the English and chased the French out of North America. Jeffery Amherst also is on record, in letters, considering the use of smallpox-covered blankets to infect Native Americans. Amherst College is also named after Jeffrey Amherst; this is why students there refer to themselves as "lord Jeffs" and why the Amherst College Livejournal community is called 
lordjeffs.
Amherst is also the birthplace and of Emily Dickinson. The Mobil gas station downtown has replaced the house where she was born. Her lifelong home, the Dickinson Homestead, is now a museum; she is buried in West Cemetery.
[edit] Government
Despite its size, Amherst maintains its town meeting form of government. The town meeting serves as the legislative branch and the select board as the executive. This form of government withstood a ballot measures attempting to replace it with a mayor in 2003 (by 14 votes) and 2005 (by 252 votes).
[edit] Points of Interest
[edit] Downtown
Amherst has a small but thriving downtown commercial zone which is very close to UMass Amherst and Amherst College and is convenient by bus from many other area. There are a number of restaurants, shops and salons and a town green on which events are held. When clear, the green is a great place to hang out and many people can be seen lounging on the grass and playing frisbee or catch on nice days.
[edit] Restaurants
- Antonio's Pizza (open after ABC closes!)
- Bueno y Sano
- Pasta e Basta
- See also: List of area restaurants
[edit] Bars
- Amherst Brewing Company
- The Moan and Dove
- The Spoke
- The Harp
- Monkey Bar
- See also: List of bars and clubs
[edit] Nature
- Mill River Recreation Area in North Amherst has trails winding alongside a large stream, as well as a public pool and recreation area with tennis courts and a baseball field.
- Puffer's Pond is adjacent to Mill River; the pond is behind a stone and earth dam about 30 feet high which blocks the stream.
[edit] Transit
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, funded by local governments and the Five Colleges, provides public transportation in the area.
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