Haberman Insurance proudly serves the personal and business insurance needs of the Holyoke community. Whether you are in the market to find coverage for your business, or are a homeowner looking to protect your investment, our specialized insurance agents are here for you.
Holyoke is a special place and to live and work and we love serving the great people in this town. Below, you can find some cool background information about awesome community!
Holyoke, Massachusetts is located in Hampden County. It lies between the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains, giving it unique and beautiful scenery. Covering 22.8 square miles, the city is neighbored by Southampton, Westfield, Easthampton, Hadley, South Hadley, Chicopee, and West Springfield. Its population is approximately 40,000.
Holyoke’s location along the Connecticut River has played a distinct role in the city’s history. A dam and series of canals allowed Holyoke to grow into a thriving industrial community. The nearly 60 foot drop in the river in Holyoke allows for a significant amount of energy to be harnessed. Once used for mills, the dam is now used for hydroelectric power, with 2/3 of the electricity produced by the Holyoke Gas & Electric Company coming from this renewable resource. Independent of the larger electric grids, Holyoke was one of few areas that was unaffected by the Northeast blackout in 1965.
First settled in 1745, the village of Holyoke was known as the Third Parish of West Springfield. It was also called Ireland Parish or North Parish. The area attracted few inhabitants until the dam and Holyoke canal system were constructed in 1849, bringing industrial mills to the area. It was then incorporated in 1850.
Holyoke is the first planned industrial community in the nation. In contrast to many cities and towns in Massachusetts, the streets here are laid out in a grid-like fashion. The mills provided housing and other amenities to its employees, from which the city grew.
The largest industry in Holyoke was paper production. For a time, Holyoke was the largest paper producer in the world with over 25 mills devoted to the production of paper. One of the employees went on to found the American Pad & Paper Company, in Holyoke, which grew to become one of the largest office supply providers in the world. Holyoke derived its nickname, The Paper City, from this industry.
Though many of the mills in Holyoke, like those all across Massachusetts, have closed, the city has made great efforts to preserve and restore these historic buildings, which can be seen all around the city. In addition to these, Holyoke has much to offer visitors and residents including:
Holyoke was “Ireland’s Parish” with Irish immigrants making up the majority of the workers in the city. Though other cultures then began to thrive and the city is now quite diverse, the Irish heritage remains strong. Each year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Holyoke, with the largest years topping out around 1,000,000 spectators, topping other parades in Massachusetts including Boston’s famed St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Holyoke, Massachusetts, the Paper City, is distinct among area cities and towns due to its planned industrial formation. With grid-like streets, canals, and a dam, Holyoke attracts residents and businesses alike for its unique location and offerings.
