Talk:Springfield, Massachusetts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is supported by WikiProject Cities, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to cities, towns, and various other settlements on Wikipedia. For more information, or to get involved, visit the project page.
??? This article has not yet received a rating on the Project's quality scale. Please rate the article and then leave a short summary here to explain the ratings and/or to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the article.
??? This article has not yet been assigned a rating on the importance scale.
Flag of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Portal
Springfield, Massachusetts is part of WikiProject Massachusetts, an effort to create, expand, and improve Massachusetts-related articles to a feature-quality standard. For more information on this project or to get involved see the WikiProject Massachusetts project page.
B rated as B-Class on the assessment scale

Very nice page on Springfield, Massachusetts--such an interesting city!

Contents

[edit] Climate?

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2007)

Does anyone know the statistics reagarding Springfield's climate/weather patterns? That would be an interesting addition to the page. 24.2.244.245 21:24, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

The Celsius figures for the average daily temperature ranges in summer and winter are wrong. How can the temperature range be negative? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.57.98.71 (talk) 01:11, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bus Terminal

Springfield's current bus terminal is a very unique building, does anyone think they could snap a picture of it? (preferably a daylight one)

I hope we can revive this bedrock of Massachusetts.


Hello, I'm not sure, exactly, if I'm doing this edit thing right, but are you talking about the Peter Pan bus station? I'm not sure what, exactly, you mean when you say that it is "unique". It seems rather average to me, perhaps maybe a little crowded, if anything.

If we could get a picture of Bright Nights for the article, that would probably be a bit better. When I read the current information about the event in the article, it didn't do too much to explain what it is like. Considering there can be a two hour long wait to get inside the event due to people flocking to Springfield while it is in operation, I think it would be relevant to have more information on it.

I also think there could be more information on current politcs (corruption etc.) and something about the night life/entertainment industry, the article would be more informative. I would try to do it myself, but I'm unfamiliar with anything Wiki and I don't think I could be an unbiased source. --TOLLMASTER

You, personally, can't be a source; that would be a violation of Wikipedia:No original research. You can add any relevant information for which you can provide a reputable and reliable published source per Wikipedia:Verifiability. For the current local scene, that probably means articles in newspapers or regional magazines. If the articles are also available on-line, that is even better. Now, go for it! -- Donald Albury(Talk) 12:20, 5 April 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Most dangerous city in MA

"Springfield is known to be the most dangerous city in all of Massachusetts. Its the 18th most dangerous city in America." Why did sum1 remove this? its 100% true....

Here a source, if i even need one: http://www.answers.com/topic/springfield-massachusetts

Answers.com is a Wikipedia mirror, and not verifiable in of itself. And yes, you do need a source. The standard on Wikipedia isn't whether a fact is true; it's whether it is verifiable. Please see WP:V if you want to know more. RGTraynor 00:47, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

omg.....ok if you dont believe me y dont u just find a source ur self, cuz im tellin u its true!

The onus is on the editor making an assertion to provide proper sources, not on others to do your research for you. I strongly suggest you look over WP:V. In any event, that this Morgan Quitno guy makes an assertion doesn't make it fact, and his methodology is seriously flawed. (And just as an FYI, since this is an encyclopedia, we use proper English and grammar here; "chatspeak" will turn a lot of folks off.) RGTraynor 06:46, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

i dunno wth ur talkin about but springfield is the most dangerous city in MA and you dont believe me so u deleted the sentence that i add sayin that and make me have to go and get source but then i get a source and it aint good enough for u, yet i cant find good source but you cant go look for a source for me!? it was even on a local commerial the other month about springfield being the msot dangerous city in MA

It almost seems that you're proud of that fact. Trust me, nothing scary about the small town of Springfield, MA - NYJAY
Trust me, it is a very dangerous and violent place. I live near it, and the dents in the top of my car from bystanders dropping rocks from the two office buildings show it. I think it has had about half a dozen murders or so just through the beginning of this year. -Nclark —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.151.142.241 (talk) 01:17, 29 March 2007 (UTC).

In addition, it must be pointed out that this information, however flawed is now out of date. Morgan Quitno, still as wrong as they ever were, has busted Springfield down from 18 to outside the top 20. The issue is moot now.

The Springfield area has been regarded as one of the most dangerous areas in Massachuetts, but it is not the most dangerous area. rgoodermote 09:52, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

I found a source which might be acceptable. According to data from a page on the FBI website, Springfield has (or at least had) the highest rate of violent crime per capita in the state: 2691 violent crimes per 151,670 citizens, for a rate of 1.77%. Boston was second at 1.31%. Nationwide, the figures are a little skewed because it includes very small communities. (For example, 17 crimes in 314-person Dewey Beach, NJ, resulted in a rate of about 5%.) For cities with populations over 100,000, the "worst" was St Louis, MO. Springfield, MA came in at #7. Keep in mind, math is only based upon the data in the category of "violent crime." The results may be different if another category (murder, rape, etc) was used instead. Furthermore, I believe these are 2005 figures. The URL for that FBI page is: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_08_ma.html

One of the problems with using that data is that for much of the last 10 years, Springfield was reporting it's UCR data incorrectly. IIRC, UCR treats multiple crimes at one occurrence as one crime (for example, and armed robbery suspect might be charged with aggravated assault for each victim at the robbery, carrying an illegal firearm, illegal detainment, etc but UCR would count that as one crime). Springfield was reporting those incidents using all applicable violations which inflated the crime numbers. Anechoic Man 15:12, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Picture

The existing picture has text in the middle of it, as well as a concrete highway barrier obscuring the view of downtown. It would be nice to find or create a better one. -- Beland 02:42, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

  • The picture is gone, so I am removing this tag. --Sbrools (talk . contribs) 02:05, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Map requests

Map needed
 It is requested that a map or maps be included in this article to improve its quality.
Wikipedians in Massachusetts may be able to help!
  • It would be nice to have a map showing neighborhoods and streets mentioned in the article. -- Beland 07:41, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
  • It would also be nice to have map showing the original jurisdiction of the territory, and deannexations to other municipalities at various times. -- Beland 07:41, 27 November 2006 (UTC)
I'll see if I can dredge something up from my closet. -Nclark —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.151.142.241 (talk) 01:18, 29 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Control board section

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2007)

Isn't Albano, the former Mayor, under federal investigation, and aren't his misdeeds frequently cited as a cause of the fiscal meltdown? -- Beland 07:48, 27 November 2006 (UTC)


O, yes mr.beland guy, ITS ALL HIS FAULT BLAME HIM

[edit] Recent Vandalism

I really regret suggesting this, but this recent vandalism, though minor has been steady for some time. Is it possible to put a block up that requires only logged in editors can edit the page (or if this function exists, delay edits until they can be approved as not vandalism)? I feel bad, but this is getting ridiculous. I'm from the area and find it depressing and unfortunate, despite the prompt correcting of the vandalism. -- Mski2005 12:08, 5 December 2006 EST

[edit] healthcare

any resources on the net on how the condition of springfield's heatlhcare is? compared with the rest of the state. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 62.232.156.44 (talk) 20:57, 10 December 2006 (UTC).

[edit] Recent Demographics Changes

I do not mean to be a jerk, but the changes to the Census information cannot be taken as accurate. It still lists the amended data as being from the 2000 Census, which it is not. The 2000 Census data is the old information, not anything new. Any data from 2005 or 2006 is not considered complete and I think that it should not be changed until the next Census. I know the Census keeps tabs, but that is done with sampling, not the actual head count. Comments? I'd like to reverse the change if people don't disagree. Mski2005

For anybody complaining about how the current demographic information doesn't add up, the 27 or so% for Hispanic is on the population as a whole. Hispanic is not considered a race, per se by the Census bureau. It is a designation that Census takers may put on top of the tradtional ones (Caucasion, black, Asian, Native American/Hawaiian). So the numbers do in fact add up to 100%. -- Mski2005 4:27, 1 May 2007 EST

[edit] Largest Springfield?

The article said Springfield, MA was the second-largest Springfield in the U.S. Recently, that was changed pending further data. I found these in Google: http://www.demographia.com/db-2000city50kr.htm , http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/00ccdb/cc00_tabC1.pdf , and of course List of United States cities by population it appears to be THE largest Springfield in the U.S. - my question: why did someone say it's the second largest? Stev0 06:14, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

Some facts appear to be unclear about the city's relative size to the rest of new england cities, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester%2C_MA. Disagreement on what spot this city sits in as far as population size is according to this

Boston, Worcester, Providence, Springfield. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England#Urban_New_England. Worcester was behind Providence in 2000, but it's currently estimated to be larger. Quentinisgod (talk) 17:28, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Area Annexed By Chicopee?

I've found a few of the comments to be extremely strange, specifically:

In 1893, two Springfielders named Charles and J. Frank Duryea built the first ever gasoline powered commercial car in Springfield. The Duryea Motor Wagon was put on the streets of Springfield on September 20, 1893. This part of the city was later annexed by Chicopee, Massachusetts.

and

WWLP's studios are in nearby Chicopee a former section of Springfield.

Chicopee developed separately. To the best of my knowledge they've been separate for centuries, if they were even unified in someway in the first place. I am rather skeptical when it comes to this claim and would prefer to see it sourced. Furthermore, Channel 22 / WWLP's studio is located *north* of downtown Chicopee between 1-391, 1-90, and the Chicopee / Connecticut Rivers. Prior to this location it was in Agawam! Why does including a reference to Chicopee as a former section of Springfield even relevant when it comes to this station studios? The station, albeit a "Springfield" one, has never even had a studio in the city to the best of my knowledge. --80.219.74.157 19:21, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

Well, but none of the major Boston TV stations (with the exception of WLVI-56) have studios in the Boston city limits. It's called advertising.  RGTraynor  23:21, 2 November 2007 (UTC)
My post had nothing to do with what your response addresses. I found the mention of Chicopee as a former part of Springfield within the discription of WWLP to be extraneous. It seems that we would agree given your comment on Boston television stations (WCVB is the one that comes to mind first). I was apparently mistaken about the history of Chicopee, although I am still rather surprised to have not known that the "cities" separated so late in their own individual development given that I was born on the border between the two.--80.219.74.121 (talk) 15:21, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merriam-Webster

Does Marriam-Webster not warrant a mention on this page?


When was Merriam-Webster founded?

In 1831, brothers George and Charles Merriam opened a printing and bookselling operation in Springfield, Massachusetts which they named G. & C. Merriam Co. The company, which was renamed Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, in 1982, has been in continuous operation since that time[1]--80.219.74.121 (talk) 15:24, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Springfield MA Flag.jpg

Image:Springfield MA Flag.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 19:33, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Springfield-ma-seal.jpg

Image:Springfield-ma-seal.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 05:35, 24 January 2008 (UTC)