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Wilbraham, MA

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Wilbraham, MA

Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb of the City of Springfield and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,613 at the 2020 census. Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Wilbraham.

Wilbraham was originally divided between North Wilbraham and Wilbraham. North Wilbraham was home to the industrial side of the town, along with the Boston & Albany Railroad Line, which is still in use today. Wilbraham is home to the Wilbraham & Monson Academy.

Wilbraham is made up of several neighborhoods, known as Wilbraham Center, North Wilbraham, East Wilbraham, Wilbraham Mountain, South Wilbraham, Boston Road Corridor, and the Pines Section. In 1878, the south end of Wilbraham officially broke away from Wilbraham and formed the Town of Hampden.

The name of Wilbraham comes from the villages of Little Wilbraham and Great Wilbraham, located near Cambridge, England. The name originates from Wilburgham, a name indicating "Wilburga's homestead," Wilburga being the daughter of the seventh-century King Penda of the Mercians who gave her the land. In the 10th century (975 CE), it was still known as Wilburgeham; however, in the Domesday Book, it is known as Wiborgham. By the 1260s, it was known as Great Wilbraham, and just before that, King's Wilbraham. During the Middle Ages, the Knights Templar established a preceptory in 1226 in the villages. The manor house of Great Wilbraham was their temple and today it is still standing and is a house. Their regional headquarters was Denny Abbey in nearby Peterborough.

From its beginning, the Town of Wilbraham was divided between North Wilbraham and Wilbraham, which each had its own post office. After the launch of Zip codes by the USPS in 1963, the zip code of North Wilbraham was 01067, though this is no longer used. North Wilbraham was considered the industrialized area of town, while Wilbraham was considered the agricultural area of town. The term North Wilbraham is now rarely used by town residents and has since been replaced simply by Wilbraham.

The area today known as the Town of Wilbraham first became of interest in 1636 when a young man named William Pynchon (founder of Springfield) purchased the area from the Nipmuc starting at the Connecticut River in Springfield and extending to the foot of the Wilbraham Mountain Range by 1674. Wilbraham was first settled in 1730 by Nathaniel Hitchcock along with what is now Hampden, Massachusetts, as the Fourth District of Springfield. It was also known as the Outward Commons, Mountains or Springfield Mountain. Hitchcock built a log hut along what is now Main Street. Hunting and logging took place in the late 17th century.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.4 square miles (58.1 km2), of which 22.2 square miles (57.5 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.5 km2) (0.89%) is water. Wilbraham is bordered by Springfield on the west, Ludlow on the north, Palmer on the northeast, Monson on the east, Hampden on the south, and East Longmeadow on the southwest.

Wilbraham is situated in such a way that its area lies within two broad physiographic provinces that cross Massachusetts from north to south. The Wilbraham Mountains which dominate the geography of the town are part of the Central Upland of Massachusetts, while the portion of town west of the mountains lies within the Connecticut Valley Lowland. Millions of years ago, the flat area of Wilbraham west of the mountains was once part of a shallow inland sea. Wilbraham also has the Wilbraham Mountains range, which starts at the north end of town and extends into Hampden. The highest point in town is Mt. Chapin at 937 feet above sea level. Other high peaks are Mount Vision (formerly Rattlesnake Peak) and Wigwam Hill.

Wilbraham places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Ludlow Medical Center offers a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. Rob Thomas Fitness provides a comprehensive gym experience with a variety of fitness classes and personal training options. For outdoor enthusiasts, Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary provides beautiful trails for hiking and bird-watching. Golf lovers can practice their swing at Fenway Golf, featuring a driving range and mini-golf. Families can enjoy gymnastics at Pioneer Gymnastics. For those looking for a good workout, Asylum Fitness offers a variety of fitness classes and personal training sessions, while the Scantic Valley YMCA provides a comprehensive wellness center with fitness facilities and programs.
 

Top Sites in Wilbraham, MA are Wilbraham Children's Museum, Interskate 91 South, and Fountain Park.
 

ZIP Code: 01095. Area: 22.4 sq mi (58.1 km2). Elevation: 290 ft (88 m). Area code: 413. Population: 14,613 (2020).
 

FAQs

What is Wilbraham, MA famous for?

Wilbraham at one time was very famous for its peach orchards and some are still grown on the slope of the Wilbraham Mountain Range. Apples were also grown on the slopes. Wilbraham Center was the farming area of town and was home to Bennett's Turkey Farm, Pheasant Farm, and Rice's Fruit Farm which grew the peaches later celebrated during the Peach Festival. Wilbraham had several potato farms in the south end of town around the time of World War II. None of those farms remain in operation today. Wilbraham was once the home of a speakeasy called "Worlds End" on Burleigh Road. It was destroyed by a fire in the mid-1930s.

Is Wilbraham, MA a good place to live?

Wilbraham is in Hampden County and is one of the best places to live in Massachusetts. Living in Wilbraham offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Wilbraham, there are a lot of parks. The public schools in Wilbraham are above average.

What is the average income in Wilbraham, MA?

Wilbraham is a city located in Hampden County Massachusetts. Wilbraham has a 2024 population of 4,167. Wilbraham is currently growing at a rate of 4.1% annually and its population has increased by 28.18% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 3,251 in 2020. The average household income in Wilbraham is $119,427 with a poverty rate of 8.51%. The median age in Wilbraham is 54.3 years: 46.3 years for males, and 60.5 years for females.

Sources

Town of Wilbraham

Wikipedia

Niche

World Population Review

Wilbraham Children's Museum 

Interskate 91 South 

Fountain Park

Ludlow Medical Center

Rob Thomas Fitness

Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Fenway Golf

Pioneer Gymnastics

Asylum Fitness

Scantic Valley YMCA

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