McKnight, Springfield, Massachusetts (and Mason Square)

The McKnight National Historic District in Springfield, Massachusetts is known worldwide to urban-planners as the first planned residential neighborhood in the United States of America. McKnight is located one mile from the urban Metro Center and is one of the smallest of the city's seventeen neighborhoods. It contains 306 acres of land, plus streets and railroads. Its boundaries are Armory and Federal Streets to the west; the Boston & Albany Railroad to the north; the Highland Division Railroad and St. James Avenue to the east; and State Street to the south. ^[1]

History

In 1881, brothers William and John McKnight planned the McKnight district; most of it was constructed between 1881 and 1900. [1] McKnight contains Massachusetts' largest array of Victorian Houses outside of Greater Boston. The neighborhood's 900 ornate homes are part of a district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Much of its western half is also a local historic district with homes lovingly restored and preserved by residents.^{[2] [3]}

Several small decorative open spaces grace the neighborhood. To its west are the Springfield Armory and the Springfield Technical Community College and Downtown. I-291 skirts its northern edge, providing easy access to McKnight.

Mason Square is the commercial heart of the McKnight District. It features a brand new (as of 2011) branch library, the Indian Motorcycle Company building, American International College, and a monument to the first game of basketball placed on the site of the first-ever game.

References

1. ^ http://www.springfieldcityhall.com/planning/neighborhood-mcknight.0.html
2. ^ http://choosespringfieldmass.com/city_neighborhoods/mcknight_01109.html
3. ^ http://www.springfield375.org/