Chicopee is a city located in Western Massachusetts, surrounded by Ludlow, Springfield, South Hadley and Holyoke.

Joshua Gendron

Expository Essay

CHICOPEE MASSACHUSETTS

Chicopee is a city located in Western Massachusetts, surrounded by Ludlow, Springfield, South Hadley and Holyoke. Chicopee, Massachusetts, is a city that is rich in history, from the time of the industrial revolution to the present time. It was once home to many industrial parks that were the main source of pay for the people of “Cabotville,” Chicopee’s former name.

Cabotville Industrial Park still stands today, in the center of town. It is now home to Westover Air Force Base and several war memorials for WWI, WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans. In the old center of town stands an odd memorial, known as McArthur’s Ball. This ball stands in memorial of World War One hero General Arthur McArthur, who was born in Chicopee. Westover Air Force Base has been an impressive fixture in Chicopee for years. In the 1970’s President Nixon cut down the base from a full Air Force Base to a Reserve Base cutting the size almost in half, but it still did not cut the pride of the people in Chicopee. There are many other things in Chicopee that are worthy of a look at for history, specifically, the Bellamy House. This was the home of the writer, Edward Bellamy, who was born and raised in Chicopee and lived here until the day he died. Edward Bellamy Middle School was erected in his honor.

Chicopee is a city of 54,653 people. It is the second largest city in western Massachusetts, second only to its neighbor Springfield, Massachusetts. The residents are mostly white middle-class citizens. Minority population is in small numbers. Chicopee is set up into little “sub-cities” such as, Aldenville, Willimansett, Willimansett Heights, Chicopee Falls, Fairview and Westover Air Force Base. These areas seem to show the economic split with the people in the city. Chicopee Falls is home to the lower middle class, until you reach the Burnette Road Area of the City, and that is a richer area, and that is composed ...

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Chicopee is home to several elementary schools. There are two middle schools, Edward Bellamy Middle School and Fairview Memorial Middle School. There are also two high schools, Chicopee Comprehensive High School containing a vocational section and Chicopee High School. There is also one alternative or magnet school, Horizon Academy. There is also a private college, Our Lady of the Elms, located on Springfield Street.

The Mayor is Richard J. Kos, Jr. He is a lawyer who has held his practice in Chicopee. He graduated from Chicopee High School. He has done a lot for our city. He is currently working on the women’s prison project. A state environmental impact study has cleared the way for construction of a $25 million Hampden County jail for women on twenty acres of parkland off Center Street near the Springfield line. It is going to be built at the old Thomas J. O’Conner dog pound site. There had been plans at one time to use the Charles River West Hospital site, located on memorial drive, but those plans were shot down by the residents in that area. Two new high schools are in the plans for the city. The first is already underway. The new Chicopee High School is currently being built at the old Chicopee Municipal Home, which was located on Front Street. The plan is to open it January of 2004.