Northampton dates to 1654, and 41% of its homes were built before 1940
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns · #30 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
15 places in town are on the National Register, among them seven historic districts with 373 buildings between them. Below: 6 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1792.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Northampton’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Northampton is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #30 of 283 in Massachusetts. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Northampton’s overall grade.
Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Northampton’s 130 sits above most of its state (68% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 404 historic buildings outnumber those of 96% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1654.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Northampton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Northampton was known as "Norwottuck", or "Nonotuck", meaning "the midst of the river", named by its original Pocumtuc inhabitants. According to various accounts, Northampton was given its present name by John A. King (1629–1703), one of the first white settlers in Northampton, or possibly in King's honor, since it is supposed that he came to Massachusetts from Northampton, England, his birthplace.
Passages that mention Northampton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Florence, Massachusetts1895 · page 46Read the page →
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proprietors. Their advertisement appearing in an old Gazette reads : — " The Stages leave Boston and Albany, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of every week, at five o'clock in the morning. The stage from Boston, on its way to Northampton, tarries the first night at Spencer, and the second at Northampton. The stage from Albany on its way to Northampton, (passes by New Lebannon Springs,) tarries the first night at Pittsfield, and the second night at Northampton, where they exchange passengers — and the next morning, at five o'clock [the hour was changed later to three] leave Northampton for Boston and Albany.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Cornet Joseph Parsons one of the founders of Springfield and Northampton, Massachusetts1898 · page 44Read the page →
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lectmen, and on the 11th of March William Holton, Arthur Lyman, and Eichard Lyman were elected Commissioners to end small causes. A court had been established, composed of the six Commissioners from Springfield and Northampton, and a session was called to be held at the former place on the 29th of March. Among the cases presented was that of " Edward Elmer, Samuel Wright, Sen'", Alexander Edwards, and John Stebbins, Plant, of Northampton, against the town of
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Historical localities in Northampton1904 · page 39Read the page →
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ground of great interest, where Lieutenant William Clark built his log house in 1659. It was founded by Miss Sophia Smith of Hatfield in 1870, with an endowment of $386,608, to which the town of Northampton added $25,000. The college was dedicated July 14, 1875. The first entering class numbered thirteen. The college has grown with astonishing rapidity until the present number of students is upward of eleven hundred. Financially, also, the col-
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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 16541898 · page 66Read the page →
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"Walter Lee of Northampton PlantifE agt Edward Elmer of y" same town defendant in an action of review of the case whereby the said Edward by snte at Law in the Town of Northampton recovered of y" said Walter, a hogg wth damage to j" valine of six pounds.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Northampton, decade by decade
2 decades in the archive, from the 1790s to the 1830s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Northampton. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1886Northampton sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Northampton.
Every building
Northampton, building by building, 1884–1915
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1654, according to Wikidata. Northampton’s post office opened in 1792, and the first U.S. census counted 1,628 people here in 1790.
How does Northampton rank for history?
Northampton is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, #30 of 283 in Massachusetts. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Northampton?
15 listings: 8 buildings, among them the Smith Alumnae Gymnasium (listed 1976, the first), and 7 historic districts with 373 contributing buildings. 404 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Northampton?
41% of Northampton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1955.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), the National Register of Historic Places (15), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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