Holland

History

In 1730, the area that would become the town of Holland was settled by Joseph Blodgett, whose descendants still live in the town today. The town was named after Lord Holland, an English statesman who lobbied for independence for the American colonies. The town was incorporated on July 5, 1783. It separated from the town of Wales, which had in turn separated from Brimfield a few years earlier, in 1775. Holland separated from Wales because the town center of Wales was up through a mountain which made it hard to get through. Throughout the years, Holland has remained an example of the charm and beauty of the traditional New England village. At different times, it has sustained industries such as farming, the manufacturing of cloth, and brickmaking. Holland is now known most for its recreational opportunities. There are extensive recreational facilities at the Hamilton Reservoir, which is stocked with trout each year by the state of Massachusetts. There is also a park and a swimming area at the picturesque Lake Siog. The 200-year-old town hall was destroyed in a fire in December 1995. The new town hall was dedicated on July 11, 1998, by Congressman Richard Neal of Springfield, whose congressional district includes Holland.

Geography

Holland is located in the southeastern corner of Hampden County in western Massachusetts. It is drained by the Quinebaug River and contains the Hamilton Reservoir, one of the largest reservoirs in southern New England. The town is nestled amongst two hill ranges, where elevations reach up to greater than , for example on Rattlesnake Mountain in the northwest part of town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and , or 5.88%, are water. Holland is bounded on the east by Sturbridge in Worcester County, on the south by Union, Connecticut, on the west by Wales, and on the north by Brimfield. Holland is by road east of Springfield, southwest of Worcester, and northeast of Hartford, Connecticut. Interstate 84 touches the southeastern corner of Holland at the Massachusetts–Connecticut border; the closest access is from Exit 74 in Union, Connecticut.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,997
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,740
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,580
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,196
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  4,124
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,507
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,499
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,384

Largest nearby schools

• Granite Valley School
  Elementary · Monson · 396 students · 10.2:1 ratio
• Monson High School
  High · Monson · 295 students · 8.7:1 ratio
• Brimfield Elementary
  Elementary · Brimfield · 287 students · 10.6:1 ratio
• Holland Elementary
  Elementary · Holland · 231 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Quarry Hill Community School
  Elementary · Monson · 130 students · 11.8:1 ratio
• Wales Elementary
  Elementary · Wales · 96 students · 10.7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2015-01-13
  2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 3.3 — 2015-01-12
  0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 2.66 — 2014-08-14
  6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut
• M 2.5 — 2007-10-19
  2 km WSW of Littleton Common, Massachusetts
• M 2.8 — 2002-09-28
  2 km N of Wilton, New Hampshire
• M 2.5 — 2002-06-07
  3 km NNW of Hopedale, Massachusetts