Holyoke earned the nickname "The Paper Capital of the World" in the late 1800s, as paper mills fueled by the Connecticut River flourished in the city. Production has moved away, but there are still some smaller-scale suppliers in the city. Today, the area, which is 10 miles north of Springfield, is a transient city that's developing its historic buildings downtown and supporting new businesses as they're added to the area. Outdoor recreational opportunities are also popular, creating a more laidback lifestyle in the Pioneer Valley. "People really started coming to the area after Covid-19 because they wanted more space. New Yorkers started pouring into the area in 2020," says Julie Held, an associate broker with Delap Real Estate who’s lived in the area for over 30 years.
Holyoke Heritage State park is a beautiful park with a playground and sculptures throughout.
Holyoke is known as the paper city since they manufactured most of the paper used in the 1800's
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Mountain hiking and municipal parks
There's a major focus on outdoor recreation in Holyoke, as the community has access to sloping mountain ranges and public parks. Located in the Connecticut River Valley, the Mount Tom State Reservation provides a wilderness escape of over 2,000 acres of land in the northern portion of Holyoke. People can hike and bike up trails leading to the summit of Mount Tom, with scenic views of cliffs and the river. At Community Field, residents can visit one of the city’s most popular municipal parks with 25 acres of green space. It features renovations completed in 2012 intended to make it a year-round recreation area, including an ice-skating rink, a splash pad and Holyoke Dog Park.
The views around Holyoke are second to none.
The entrance up Mountain Rd. reveals the entrance to Mt. Tom Reservation in Easthampton.
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Homes from the late 1800s to new construction
The community’s heart lies in downtown Holyoke on the Connecticut River. Surrounding this business district, there are walkable gridded blocks lined with Victorian rowhouses and cottages from the early 1900s. Some condos have been added to the historic brick buildings around this area, too. To the south and west, there's a more suburban feel, with winding roads and cul-de-sacs, predominantly ranch-style homes from the mid-20th century mixed in with modern new builds. The median listing price in Holyoke is about $280,000, which is lower than the national median of about $406,000. Due to its location on the Connecticut River, the area has a major flood risk, and prospective buyers should consider getting flood insurance.
There are many different home styles that are present in Holyoke.
There are many home styles through out Holyoke some include these modern apartments.
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Downtown Holyoke has restaurants and shops
To shop at specialty stores and eat at local restaurants, residents can visit historical downtown Holyoke—about 10 blocks of walkable storefronts on High Street. From there, residents can stroll to multiple parks and museums. There are also retail stores in the southern half of the community, including an indoor mall called Holyoke Mall, where people can find clothing stores, department stores, and entertainment like bowling. Shops like Ulta Beauty, Barnes & Noble and T.J. Maxx are housed in shopping plazas in southern Holyoke.
Francie's Tavern is a go to spot for residents in Holyoke.
Holyoke mall is a marvel and residents love the ease of access off of the nearby highway.
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Community parades and cultural centers
One of the largest community events, the St. Patrick’s Day parade dates back to 1952, continuing a legacy of bands, floats and participants like President John F. Kennedy. "People paint shamrocks in their driveways," says Julie Warzecka, a Realtor with Neilsen Realty LLC who has been selling homes in the city for over 14 years. "There's a big Irish cultural draw here. The parade is huge. It draws a ton of people from in and out of the city." At Holyoke Heritage State Park, there is a cultural center including the Children's Museum at Holyoke, the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, since the sport was invented in Holyoke in 1895.
Higher education in the Five Colleges area
About 5,100 students are served by Holyoke Public Schools, which earns a C-minus grade from Niche. Holyoke is in the Five Colleges area, as Mount Holyoke College, a private college with about 2,400 students is part of the Five College Consortium. The city also has Holyoke Community College, which has about 7,300 students.
STEM Academy is located in Holyoke.
Higher-than-average crime and cold winters
According to FBI statistics, violent and property crime rates in Holyoke are significantly above the national average. Holyoke experiences all four seasons, including temperature summers and frigid winters, when snowfall is fairly common.
Commutes to Springfield and further travel
Springfield is about 10 miles south of Holyoke, and residents can get there via Interstate 391, which takes 15 minutes or longer during rush hour. Hartford is about 30 miles away, which can take 40 minutes or more. Some commuters head to Worcester is 50 miles away, which can take about an hour on Interstate 90. Public transportation in the area includes Pioneer Valley Transit Authority for bus services and Amtrak for rail services. For a nearby hospital, residents can go to Holyoke Medical Center. The closest major airport is the Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut.
After graduating from Smith College with a B.A. in Art, I began my real estate career in 2004. Having worked my way through college in the restaurant business, I developed my strengths in customer service and people skills, as well as built a strong connection to my community members. After college, I spent 10 years working as a Practice Manager in the medical field supporting providers, and problem solving on a daily basis. This work afforded me the opportunity to grow and gain confidence in my skills as a professional. It is in all this work that I found my passion for helping people. Working as a real estate professional affords me the opportunity to help my clients navigate their way through a successful real estate transaction, something I find very rewarding. Having been a Pioneer Valley resident my whole life, I now live in South Hadley, where my husband and I have built a home for the past 20 years. With strong family connections to the area, I love all that the Pioneer Valley has to offer, from its cultural and artistic diversity, to its varied scenic landscapes, to its broad sense of community. I enjoy giving back to my community through support and participation in organizations like the Western Mass Food Bank and Prospect Meadow Farms, which works to empower people with developmental challenges. In my spare time, my husband and I travel as much as we can, always eager to experience the cultures and culinary traditions of places far and wide. At home, I endeavor to “save the bees” as an assistant beekeeper to my husband at our small apiary (The Backyard Buzz). The work is often hard, occasionally painful, but the fruits of the labor are enjoyed by all.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
