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The Town Amherst is Located
in the fertile and scenic Connecticut River Valley, Amherst enjoys views
of hills and mountains in all directions. Although originally a farming
community, Amherst's main industry is now education, since it is the home
of the main campus of the University of Massachusetts as well as two private
colleges, Amherst College and Hampshire College. Consequently, the town's
population varies from about 35,000 during the academic year to the mid-20's
during the summer.
While the town's commercial, social
and cultural life benefit from the liveliness and diversity stimulated
by the colleges and the University, the town suffers financially from the
fact that over half its land is tax-exempt. Amherst has long supported
excellent public schools, libraries and town services; it has also worked
hard both to preserve farming and open space and to provide affordable
housing.
Amherst is one of the few towns in
the State to have met the State's goal of having 10% of its housing stock
affordable. Amherst is located in West central Massachusetts, bordered
by Hadley on the west; Sunderland and Leverett on the north; Shutesbury,
Pelham, and Belchertown on the east; and Granby and South Hadley on the
south. Amherst is 17 miles south of Greenfield, 23 miles north of Springfield,
86 miles west of Boston. |