Chicopee Massachusetts MA Warrant Search

Chicopee, Massachusetts Chicopee (pronounced /ˈtʃɪkəpi/ CHIK-ə-pee) is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 54,653, making it the second largest city in Western Massachusetts. The current mayor is Michael D. Bissonnette.Chicopee uses the nickname “Crossroads of New England” as part of a business-development marketing campaign. The name reflects the city's convenient location amongst a number of metropolitan areas and its transportation network. Four highways run through its boundaries: I-90, I-91, I-291, and I-391. State routes such as Route 33, 116, and 141, are major providers of regional linkage. Name The city is named after the river, whose mouth empties into the Connecticut River on in its boundaries. 'Chicopee' is a Nipmuc name, probably from chekee - 'violent', and pe - 'waters' in most Algonquin dialects, with reference to rapids. The Nipmucs are the native residents of the region and have been here since before the arrival of the English. Alternatively, chikkuppee ('of cedar') is the adjective form of chickkup ('cedar'). History The area comprising Chicopee was first settled by English colonialists in 1640, but it was a part of Springfield, Massachusetts until 1848 when it became a separate town. It was granted a charter as a city by the Massachusetts General Court on April 18, 1890. George Sylvester Taylor (1822–1910) became Chicopee's first mayor on January 5, 1891.Chicopee adopted the motto 'Industriae Variae', which means 'Industry Varies'. Chicopee was home to many types of industries which include cotton mills, woolen mills, textiles, brass foundries and iron foundries, paper making, leather products like boots and shoes, the first lucifer matches, and ship building for the nearby South Hadley Canal, firearms company Crescent-Davis, which specialized in double barrel shotguns. The Ames Manufacturing Company made many machines and bronze cannons, and more swords than any other American manufacturer at the time. Ames cast Thomas Ball's monumental bronze equestrian statue of George Washington, installed in Boston's Public Garden. The Stevens Arms plant (later Savage) was responsible for most of the Number 4 Enfields manufactured for the British under Lend-Lease. Chicopee was home to the first gasoline-powered automobile made in the United States, Duryea. In 1991, St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church, located on Front Street, was proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II.Chicopee was the first city west of Boston to form a publicly funded public library. The Chicopee Public Library was formed by a donation to the city by the Cabotville Institute.Former Mayor Richard Goyette was sentenced October 2007 to one year community confinement in addition to two years in prison for extortion. Geography Chicopee is located at 42°10′13″N 72°35′19″W / 42.17028°N 72.58861°W / 42.17028; -72.58861 (42.170159, -72.588630).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.9 km²), of which, 22.9 square miles (59.2 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²) of it (4.31%) is water. The Chicopee River flows through the south part of the city. The city is bordered by Holyoke to the northwest, West Springfield to the southwest, Springfield to the south, Ludlow to the east, Granby to the northeast, and South Hadley to the north. Chicopee is located 29 miles away from Hartford, 92 miles away from Boston, 90 miles from Albany, and 140 miles from New York City.The city is made up of several neighborhoods; the result of the city's origin as a collection of villages in the northern-most part of Springfield, which have seceded from it in 1848. These villages are now represented by the neighborhoods of Aldenville, Willimansett, Chicopee Center (Cabotville), Chicopee Falls (Skipmuck), and Fairview. The city has since filled in most of its open space resulting in a number of new neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include Chicomansett (often referred to as part of Willimansett, this area is located at the southern intersection of Meadow and Chicopee Streets northward to Meetinghouse Road), Ferry Lane (an offshoot of Chicomansett surrounding Ferry Lane), Sandy Hill (the area overlooking Chicopee Center, connecting Cabotville and Aldenville), and, the geographically isolated, Burnett Road neighborhood. Ames Tower Tower in Cabotville that was formerly part of the Ames Manufacturing facilities and is now part of the Ames Privilege Apartment complex. Westover Joint Air Reserve Base Westover Air Reserve Base, was built here in 1940. It has one of the largest runways on the east coast at 11,597 x 301 feet (92 m). This is also home to Westover Metropolitan Airport. Chicopee Memorial State Park Located in the Burnett Road neighborhood and formerly known as the Cooley Brook Reservoir and Watershed, the Chicopee Memorial State Park has been developed into a high use active recreation area. The total area is 575 acres (2.33 km2) including two 25-acre (100,000 m2) ponds. Activities include swimming, fishing, picnicking, jogging and biking. Chicopee War Memorial The Chicopee War Memorial is located off of the intersection of Bonneville Avenue and Front Street. It is home to several statues and monuments to World War II veterans and Vietnam War veterans. Frank J. Szot Memorial Park Chicopee is home to Szot Park located off of Front Street. It it a fairly large park and has accommodations for baseball, basketball, and picnicking. Features include a pond, two WWII tanks, and a fountain. Szot Park hosts the Chicopee Fest of All; a free event which celebrates the Fourth of July and usually features live bands, fun events, food, and fireworks at the end of each night . City Hall The Chicopee City Hall was built in 1871 in the Romanesque style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Place on July 30, 1974. Edward Bellamy House The Edward Bellamy House is a National Historic Landmark at 91-93 Church Street in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. The house was built in 1852 and was the home of journalist Edward Bellamy. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. Emerson Gaylord Mansion The historic Emerson Gaylord Mansion is located at the north edge of the Elms College campus on the corner of Springfield and Fairview Streets. It currently houses the college's Division of Business and Law, as well as the Institute for Theology and Pastoral Studies. Facemate Tower The historic tower in Chicopee Falls (Skipmuck) is part of the former Facemate Industrial Complex along the Chicopee River. The Tower is under preservation consideration in the city as part re-development. Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr The second St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church, located on Front Street, was built in 1908. The brownstone, cathedral-like church was built in the Baroque Revival Style of architecture and has been regarded as one the most imposing churches in the area. The spacious interior of the church can accommodate at least 800 worshipers in the main and two side naves. A pipe organ was installed in the choir loft in 1920. It was designated a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1991, the year the parish celebrated its centennial. Chicopee Canal Walk and Bike Path The first phase was dedicated on May 21, 2010. The 1,100 foot walkway begins fairly close to the historic Sycamore trees downtown and follows the canal next to Ames Privilege, ending at Grape Street. The project included a re-designed area on Front Street with benches and tables overlooking the walkway.The second phase will link to the library, the elderly housing on Front Street and the entrance to Szot Park. The third phase of the path would bring it past the former Uniroyal site and to the Deady Bridge. The Cabotville Historic Sycamore Trees The trees were present in 1848 when Chicopee became a town and were mature trees by 1890 when Chicopee became a city. They were designated Heritage Trees in 1999 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Willimansett Dike The Willimansett Dike is an elevated, artificial levee that protects the Willimansett section of Chicopee from flooding from the Connecticut River. It was built in response to the Hurricane of 1938 that flooded most of Willimansett, and stretches from (approximately) Nash Field to the mouth of the Chicopee River. Uniroyal Office Building The historic building is part of the former Uniroyal Industrial Complex along the Chicopee River. The building is under preservation consideration in the city as part re-development. Demographics Although once defined by the predominant nationality of its immigrant occupants, historically largely Polish and French Canadian, the city is now occupied by people of many cultures while still maintaining their historical, ethnic charm.Reflecting the Polish background of many of its residents, a number of Polish-American businesses are based in Chicopee. These include the Chicopee Provision Company, a major producer of Polish sausage kielbasa under the Blue Seal brand and Millie's Pierogi Company, a producer of traditional Polish dumplings pierogi. Chicopee held an annual kielbasa festival at the Fairfield Mall (now the site of Chicopee Crossing on Memorial Drive) until the mid-1990s. The festival featured the World's Largest Kielbasa for a number of years (several times the city's kielbasa lost to a kielbasa in Krakow, Poland).As of the census of 2000, there were 54,653 people, 23,117 households, and 14,147 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,389.7 people per square mile (922.7/km²). There were 24,424 housing units at an average density of 1,067.9/sq mi (412.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.82% White, 2.28% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.90% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.76% of the population. Chicopee is the second largest municipality in Western Massachusetts, after Springfield (defining Western Massachusetts as Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties).There were 23,117 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96.In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.The median income for a household in the city was $35,672, and the median income for a family was $44,136. Males had a median income of $35,585 versus $25,975 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,646. About 9.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over. Public Schools The City of Chicopee operates fifteen public schools within the Chicopee School District, serving 7800 students. Richard W. Rege is the superintendent. There are nine elementary schools, two middle schools, one early childhood center, and three high schools (Chicopee High School, Chicopee Comprehensive High School and Chicopee Academy). Every fall the football teams from the two secondary schools maintain the competitive athletic rivalry between them, competing for a sword. Chicopee Comp won in 2006 and 2008 while Chicopee High won in 2007 and 2009. Chicopee Comp won the very first Sword Game in 1964. Preschool Szetela Early Childhood Center Elementary schools Anna E. Barry Elementary School Belcher Elementary School Patrick Bowe Elementary School Bowie Memorial Elementary School Lambert-Lavoie Elementary School Robert R. Litwin Elementary School Selser Memorial Elementary School Stefanik Memorial Elementary School Streiber Memorial Elementary School Middle schools Edward Bellamy Middle School Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School Hampden Charter School of Science High schools Chicopee Comprehensive High School Chicopee High School Chicopee Academy Holyoke Catholic High School Hampden Charter School of Science Higher education Elms College Private Schools Chicopee has a multitude of Catholic schools that are operated under the Diocese of Springfield. These schools include: Holy Name School which serves Holy Name Church & Assumption Church: St. Joan of Arc/St. George School which serves St. Rose de Lima Church on Grattan Street; and St. Stanislaus School which serves the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr on Front Street.Holyoke Catholic High School opened its doors at its new Chicopee location in September 2008. Notable residents Edward Bellamy, author Duryea brothers,Charles Duryea(1861–1938) andFrank Duryea(1869–1967), were the first to build anautomobilein the United States Ray Fitzgerald, Major League Baseball player Damien Fahey, Television and Radio Personality, former host of MTV'sTRL Philip Labonte, musician, vocalist forAll That Remains Richard R. Lavigne, former Catholic priest Arthur MacArthur, Jr.,ArmyGeneral Scott Barnes, Minor League Baseball Player currently playing for theAkron Aeros The Acacia Strain, musical group