Agawam, Massachusetts | ||
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City | ||
Capt. Charles Leonard's house
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Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts |
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Location in the United States | ||
Coordinates: 42°04′10″N 72°36′55″W / 42.06944°N 72.61528°WCoordinates: 42°04′10″N 72°36′55″W / 42.06944°N 72.61528°W | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Massachusetts | |
County | Hampden | |
Settled | 1636 | |
Incorporated | May 17, 1855 | |
Government | ||
• Type | Mayor-council city | |
Area | ||
• Total | 24.2 sq mi (62.8 km2) | |
• Land | 23.2 sq mi (60.2 km2) | |
• Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) | |
Elevation | 90 ft (27 m) | |
Population (2010) | ||
• Total | 28,438 | |
• Estimate (2016) | 28,718 | |
• Density | 1,200/sq mi (450/km2) | |
Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
• Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
ZIP code | 01001 | |
Area code(s) | 413 | |
FIPS code | 25-00840 | |
GNIS feature ID | 0608970 | |
Website | www |
Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from Springfield, Massachusetts. It is considered part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is contiguous with the Knowledge Corridor area, the 2nd largest metropolitan area in New England. Agawam contains a subsection, Feeding Hills.
The Six Flags New England amusement park is located in Agawam, on the banks of the Connecticut River. Agawam's ZIP code of 01001 is the lowest number in the continental United States (not counting codes used for specific government buildings such as the IRS).
The Native American village originally sited on the west bank of the Connecticut River was known as Agawam, or Agawanus, Aggawom, Agawom, Onkowam, Igwam, and Auguam. It is variously speculated to mean "unloading place" and "fishcuring place", perhaps in reference to fish at Agawam Falls being unloaded from canoes for curing on the flats at the mouth of the Westfield River.
Ipswich, Massachusetts was also known as Agawam during much of the 17th century, after the English name for the Agawam tribe of northeastern Massachusetts.
On May 15, 1636, William Pynchon purchased land on both sides of the Connecticut River from the local Pocomtuc Indians known as Agawam, which included present-day Springfield, Chicopee, Longmeadow, and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The purchase price for the Agawam portion was 10 coats, 10 hoes, 10 hatchets, 10 knives, and 10 fathoms of wampum. Agawam and West Springfield separated from Springfield to become the parish of Springfield in 1757; Agawam and West Springfield split in 1800. Agawam incorporated as a town on May 17, 1855.