History of Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

1703 - Amherst settled

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1839 - Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Hampshire county. The college and village in this town are on elevated ground and command a very beautiful prospect of the surrounding country. Amherst was taken from Hadley and incorporated in 1759. Population, 1837, 2,602. It lies 7 miles E. by N. from Northampton, 108 S. from Dartmouth college, and 82 miles W. from Boston. There are good mill sites in this town on two streams, which empty into the Connecticut at Hadley. Its manufactures are various, consisting of woollen cloth, boots, shoes, leather, hats, paper, chairs, cabinet ware, tin ware, axes, ploughs, palm-leaf hats, carriages, wagons, (large and small) joiners' planes, stoves, steel hammers, pistols, and bowie knives. Total annual amount of manufactures, about $200,000.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1845 - AMHERST. [Pop. 2,550 Inc. 1759]
Amherst was once the eastern part of Hadley.

A flourishing college was established here in 1821.

Two small streams that fall into the Connecticut afford excellent
mill-sites, and the manufactures are valuable and numerous.

The town was probably named in honor of the celebrated British General Amherst, who was commander-in-chief of the British forces
in America, and who conquered Canada from the French in 1760.

Distance from Northampton, 7 miles ; from Boston, 82.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
Get it HERE!

1854 - Amherst
Amherst, a post-township of Hampshire county, Massachusetts, 82 miles W. of Boston, intersected by two branches of the Connecticut river, affording good water-power. It contains a number of manufactories of cloth, leather, ploughs, &c. Amherst College, a very flourishing institution, incorporated in 1821, is situated in this township ; the buildings are on an elevation commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding country. 2 papers are issued here. Pop. 8057.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1857 - AMHERST COLLEGE fire.
Amherst College, Mass., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1857.

Last evening, (Monday), Amherst was the scene of a sadly destructive fire. At twenty minutes past 8, P.M., it was discovered that the room, southeast corner, third story, North College, was on fire. The alarm was immediately given, and forthwith the hall was thronged with students, whose first attempts were to extinguish the fire. But all to no purpose. The flames bursting out through the opened door into the hall, soon set on fire the castings of the door opposite, and in less than three minutes the smoke had so filled the halls, in the third and fourth stories of the east end of the building, and the loft above -- the all communication between the rooms above and the students assembled below was entirely cut off. Seeing that the building must go, the students next directed their efforts to the saving of property. In half or three quarters of an hour after the alarm was given, the halls in the west end were filled with smoke, and, no ... Read MORE...

1859
AMHERST, a township in Hampshire, co., Massachusetts, 7 m. E by N of Northampton, 82 m. W of Boston; in N lat. 42 22 15, W long. 72 31 28. Pop. 2,550. It is the seat of Amherst college, founded in 1821.
A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859

1863 - UMASS
University of Massachusetts chartered at Amherst.

www.e-referencedesk.com/ resources/ state-history-timeline/ massachusetts.html

1879 - THE FIRE AT AMHERST. THE BUILDINGS BURNED, WITH A LIST OF SOME OF THE INSURANCES.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 5. - The incendiary fire at Amherst yesterday morning burned propery[sic] valued at from $75,000 to $100,000. The property destroyed is the Amherst House, the Post Office, the Savings Bank, town offices, the Public Library, one of the largest livery stables in Western Massachusetts, two college secret society lodge-rooms, and the stores of a number of mercantile firms. The fire leveled everything between the north-east corner of the Amherst House, and W. W. Hunt's tin shop, near the Baptist Church. The distance burned over is about 20 rods in length. The Amherst House was a large building of three stories and basement. Attached to it by a shed were three large barns, one for the accommodation of Stebbins's livery stable, where 38 horses were kept. These barns formed, with the hotel, three sides. The Savings Bank block helped to make up a square. The bank building was occupied: First floor, Post Office; E. Nelson, books; J. H. Starbuck, jeweler; second floor,... Read MORE...

Amherst Massachusetts, 1890
Amherst, territorially, is a long narrow township in the northern part of Hampshire County, 84 miles west of Boston. It is bounded on the north by Sunderland and Leverett, east by Shutesbury, Pelham and Belchertown, south by Granby and west by Hadley ; being 9 miles in length by 3½ in width. The area in acres is stated at 16,865, of which 2,656 are woodland. The geological formation consists of lower sandstone, middle shales and sandstones and calcareous gneiss. Steatite, or soapstone, appears in one or two localities. There are several medicinal springs in the easterly part of the town, of which practical use is made by one or more local sanitariums.

The scenic aspect of the town is very beautiful, it being diversified by valleys, plains and swelling eminences. Forests of oak and maple constitute about a twentieth of the area, and the town has nearly 25,000 fruit trees. From College Hill, as well as other points, extensive and enchanting prospects are obtained. Pulpit Hill is an... Read MORE...

1895 - Amherst
Amherst, a township of Hampshire co., Mass., is noted for its beautiful scenery and educational institutions. It contains villages named Amherst (which is the seat of Amherst College), East Amherst, North Amherst, and South Amherst, and has 10 churches. Pop. (1890), 4512.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1901 - October 29 - In Amherst, Massachusetts, nurse Jane Toppan is arrested for murdering the Davis family of Boston with an overdose of morphine.

historyorb.com

1916
Amherst, a banking post-village of Amherst township (town), Hampshire co., Mass., on the Central Vermont and the Boston and Maine Rs., 9 miles NE. of Northampton and 4 miles E. of the Connecticut River. It is the seat of Amherst College, founded in 1821. This college, one of the leading institutions of learning in New England, is situated on an eminence which commands an extensive and beautiful view. It has an annual attendance of about 400 students, a library of over 70,000 volumes, important Assyrian collections, geological cabinets, etc. Associated with the university is the Lawrence Observatory, in lat. 42° 22' 17" N., Ion. 72° 31' 10" W. Amherst has manufactures of palm- leaf, leather, etc. Here is the Massachusetts State Agricultural College, founded in 1867. Amherst was the home of Emily Dickinson.

Amherst, a township (town) of Hampshire co., Mass., is noted for its beautiful scenery and educational institutions. It contains villages named Amherst (which is the seat of... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in and around Amherst:
Amherst College: Start your exploration with a visit to Amherst College, a prestigious liberal arts college with a beautiful campus. Take a leisurely stroll through the grounds, and don't miss the Mead Art Museum, which features an impressive collection of artworks.

University of Massachusetts Amherst: Explore the sprawling campus of UMass Amherst, the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. The campus is lively, and you can check out events, sports games, or simply walk around and soak in the academic atmosphere.

Emily Dickinson Museum: Visit the home of the famous poet Emily Dickinson. The museum consists of the Dickinson Homestead and The Evergreens, the home of Emily's brother. It's a unique opportunity to learn about the life and work of one of America's most celebrated poets.

Amherst Farmers' Market: If you're in town on a Saturday, be sure to check out the Amherst Farmers' Market. It's a great place to explore local produce, crafts, and delicious... Read MORE...