Hatfield, MA

Hatfield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,914 at the 2010 census. Hatfield is home to the Hatfield-McCoy House and Green Hill Farm.

The area that now comprises Hatfield was first settled by Europeans in 1630 as part of the town of Northampton. The area was then part of the large tract granted to John Winthrop in 1636 as part of his settlement on behalf of the Pilgrims who had landed at Plymouth Rock two years earlier. Winthrop's grant included much of what is now metropolitan Boston, including present-day Arlington and Belmont. In 1716, a portion of Hatfield that lay south of present-day Main Street (Route 9) was set off and incorporated as Southborough.

Hatfield began to grow rapidly after the opening of the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1849, making it an attractive location for commuters working in downtown Boston. The town's first commercial building – a general store – was erected on Main Street in 1850, and by 1860 there were already six businesses operating in Hatfield. By 1870 there were twenty businesses operating in Hatfield; by 1890 this number had increased to fifty-eight businesses. In 1900 there were ninety-one businesses operating in Hatfield; by 1920 this number had increased to one hundred and thirty-six businesses. By 1930 there were one hundred and seventy-seven businesses operating in Hatfield; by 1940 this number had increased to two hundred and forty-four businesses; and by 1950 there were three hundred and seventy-two businesses operating in Hatfield.

Today, Hatfield continues to be an economically prosperous town with a diversified economy based largely on its role as a commuter community for workers living within commuting distance of downtown Boston. However, despite its strong economic base, Hatfield has experienced significant demographic changes over the past several decades due largely to suburbanization within Massachusetts as well as growth outside Massachusetts into nearby Connecticut and Rhode Island which has resulted in decreased demand for housing within commuting distance of downtown Boston . As such , while Hatfields retains its status as an economically prosperous community with a diversified economy based largely on its role as a commuter community for workers living within commuting distance from downtown Boston , it faces significant challenges related to population aging , decreasing demand for housing within commuting distance from downtown Boston , increasing costs associated with maintaining infrastructure such as roads , schools , utilities etc.,and limited land available for development .