5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Springfield, Mass

Before assembly lines transformed America, before interstates connected New England, and before most U.S. cities even existed, Springfield was already shaping how this country works.

Here are five things that make Springfield one of the most influential cities in America.

1. It Helped Standardize How America Manufactures

When the Springfield Armory developed interchangeable parts in the early 1800s, it didn’t just improve weapon production - it revolutionized how products were built nationwide. The “American System of Manufacturing” traces back here.

Your car. Your appliances. Assembly lines.
Springfield had a hand in that.

2. It Was Once One of the Most Important Railroad Hubs in New England

Springfield became a transportation crossroads in the 19th century. North–south, east–west - rail lines converged here, turning the city into a center of commerce and movement long before highways existed.

This wasn’t random geography. It was strategic positioning.

3. It’s One of the Oldest Cities in the U.S.

Founded in 1636, Springfield is older than the country itself. That means nearly 400 years of layered history - colonial trade, industrial growth, architectural evolution - all within a compact, walkable downtown.

4. It Quietly Anchors Western Mass

Springfield isn’t trying to compete with Boston or New York.

It anchors a region. (See Western Mass)

From the Berkshires to the Connecticut River corridor, business, sports, arts, and community converge here. It’s where regional momentum gathers - and where it often begins.

5. It’s Still a Gathering Place

For centuries, people have come to Springfield to build, to trade, to connect.

That hasn’t changed.

Today, the MassMutual Center sits in the heart of downtown - a modern version of what Springfield has always been: a place where people come together.

Different century.
Same instinct.

Learn More About The MassMutual Center Today.