View source for Amherst, Massachusetts

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Amherst, Massachusetts
| official_name      = Town of Amherst
| nickname           = "The People's Republic of Amherst"<ref name=pilgrims>{{cite book |last=Hollander |first=Paul |title=Political Pilgrims: Western Intellectuals in Search of the Good Society |location=Piscataway, New Jersey | quote=Brentlinger, a professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, was robustly and proudly alienated from American society and culture ... he has probably benefited from living amidst like-minded people in what has been jestingly called 'the people's republic of Amherst, Mass.' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pGiOK2dgDpMC&pg=PR25 |page=xxv |year=1981 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=9781412831208 |access-date=2013-04-07}}</ref><ref name=futureofcities>{{Cite book | last = Arkes| first = Hadley | contribution = Response to Fund | year = 1996 |title = The future of cities |editor1-last = Schaefer |editor1-first = David Lewis |editor2-last = Schaefer |editor2-first = Roberta Rubel |page = 9 | quote=I come to you from one of those places that is in America, but not quite of it...In my case it is the People's Republic of Amherst |place = Lanham, Maryland | publisher = University Press of America | isbn = 9780761802709 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwGvsMCedbAC&pg=PA9 |access-date=2013-04-07}}</ref><ref name=justschools>{{Cite book | last = Sarat| first = Austin | contribution = Contested Terrain: Visions of Multiculturalism in an American Town | year = 2008 |title = Just Schools: Pursuing Equality in Societies of Difference |editor1-last = Minow |editor1-first = Martha |editor2-last = Shweder |editor2-first = Richard A. |editor3-last = Markus |editor3-first = Hazel |page = 102 | quote=I live in a place whose liberal tendencies have earned it various nicknames. For example, it has been called 'The People's Republic of Amherst' | place = New York | publisher = Russell Sage Foundation | isbn = 9781610447263 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfoWAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 |access-date=2013-04-07}}</ref>
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 290
| image_style              = border:1;
| perrow                   = 1/2/1
| caption_align            = center
 |image1 = Amherst, MA (cropped).jpg
 |caption1 = Downtown Amherst
 |image2 = Town Hall, Amherst MA.jpg
 |caption2 = Town Hall
 |image3 = Emily Dickinson Museum, Amherst, MA - front.JPG
 |caption3 = [[Emily Dickinson Museum]]
 |image4 = Umass Amherst Skyline.jpg
 |caption4 = [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
}}
| image_seal         = Seal of Amherst, Massachusetts.svg
| image_flag         = Flag of Amherst, Massachusetts.png
| image_map          = Hampshire County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Amherst highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in Hampshire County in Massachusetts
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Massachusetts#USA#North America
| pushpin_label      = Amherst
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Massachusetts]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire]]
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1703
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2  = February 13, 1759
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| named_for          = [[Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst]]
| government_type    = [[Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = <!--[[Town Manager]]-->
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = <!--Board of <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
| leader_name1       = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 71.8
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_km2      = 71.5
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_km2     = 0.3
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| population_as_of   = 2020
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in Massachusetts|City]]
| population_total   = 39263
| population_density_km2 = 549.1
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| elevation_m        = 90
| elevation_ft       = 295
| timezone           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| coordinates        = {{Coord|42|23|N|72|31|W|region:US-MA_type:city(39300)|display=inline,title}}
| website            = {{URL|www.amherstma.gov}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 01002 (Amherst)<br/>01003 ([[University of Massachusetts|UMass]])<br/>01004 (post office boxes)<br/>01059 ([[North Amherst, Massachusetts|North Amherst]])
| area_code          = [[Area code 413|413]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 25-01325
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0618195
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Amherst''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Amherst.ogg|ˈ|æ|m|ər|s|t|}})<ref name=Dictionary-Amherst-Pronounce>{{cite web|title=Amherst |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/amherst|website=Dictionary.com|access-date=9 November 2014}}</ref> is a city in [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts]], United States, in the [[Connecticut River]] valley. Amherst has a [[council–manager]] form of government, and is considered a city under Massachusetts state law. Amherst is one of several Massachusetts municipalities that have city forms of government but retain "The Town of" in their official names.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cisctlist/ctlistalph.htm|title=CIS: Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates|website=www.sec.state.ma.us|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 39,263,<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2501370| title=Census - Geography Profile: Amherst Town city, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=September 25, 2021}}</ref> making it the highest populated municipality in Hampshire County (although the county seat is [[Northampton, Massachusetts|Northampton]]). The town is home to [[Amherst College]], [[Hampshire College]], and the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]], three of the [[Five College Consortium|Five Colleges]].

Amherst has three [[census-designated place]]s: [[Amherst Center, Massachusetts|Amherst Center]], [[North Amherst, Massachusetts|North Amherst]], and [[South Amherst, Massachusetts|South Amherst]].

Amherst is part of the [[Springfield, Massachusetts]] [[Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. Lying {{convert|22|mi}} north of the city of Springfield, Amherst is considered the northernmost town in the [[Hartford–Springfield]] Metropolitan Region, "The Knowledge Corridor".  Amherst is also located in the [[Pioneer Valley]], which encompasses Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties.

== Name ==
The name of the town is pronounced without the ''h'' ("AM-erst") by natives and long-time residents, giving rise to the local saying, "only the 'h' is silent", in reference both to the pronunciation and to the town's politically active populace.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==History==
[[File:Amherst & Sunderland streetcar, Amherst, 1903.jpg|left|thumb|A streetcar for the [[Amherst and Sunderland Street Railway]] crosses Amherst Center, in front of the town hall, {{circa|1903}}.]]The earliest known document of the lands now comprising Amherst is the deed of purchase dated December 1658 between John Pynchon of Springfield and three native inhabitants, referred to as Umpanchla, Quonquont, and Chickwalopp.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carpenter |first1=Edward Wilson |last2=Charles Frederick Morehouse |year=1896 |title=The History of the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts |location=Amherst, Mass. |publisher=Press of Carpenter & Morehouse |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historytownamhe01moregoog/page/n15 1]–2 |oclc=11223569 |url=https://archive.org/details/historytownamhe01moregoog |access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> According to the deed, "ye Indians of Nolwotogg (Norwottuck) upon ye River of Quinecticott (Connecticut)" sold the entire area in exchange for "two Hundred fatham of [[Wampam]] & Twenty fatham, and one large Coate at Eight fatham wch Chickwollop set of, of trusts, besides severall small giftes" {{sic}}.

Amherst was first visited by Europeans no later than 1665, when [[Nathaniel Dickinson (pioneer)|Nathaniel Dickinson]] surveyed the lands for its mother town [[Hadley, Massachusetts|Hadley]]. The first permanent English settlements arrived in 1727.  It remained a part of Hadley, even when it gained precinct status in 1734, before becoming a [[Township (United States)|township]] in 1759.

When it incorporated, the colonial governor assigned the town the name "Amherst" after [[Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst]]. Many a colonial governor at the time scattered his name during the influx of new town applications, which is why several towns in the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] bear the name. Amherst was Commander-in-Chief of the forces of North America during the [[French and Indian War]] who, according to popular legend, singlehandedly won Canada for the British and banished France from North America. Popular belief has it that he supported the American side in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] and resigned his commission rather than fight for the British. Baron Amherst actually remained in the service of the Crown during the war—albeit in Great Britain rather than North America—where he organized the defense against the proposed Franco-Spanish [[Armada of 1779]]. Nonetheless, his previous service in the French and Indian War meant he remained popular in New England. Amherst is also infamous for recommending, in a letter to a subordinate, the use of [[smallpox]]-covered blankets in warfare against the Native Americans along with any "other method that can serve to Extirpate this Execrable Race".<ref>{{Cite web |first=Peter |last=d'Errico |title=Jeffrey Amherst and Smallpox Blankets |publisher=Peter d'Errico's Law Page |url=http://people.umass.edu/derrico/amherst/lord_jeff.html |access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> For this reason, there have been occasional ad hoc movements to rename the town.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Merzbach |title=Belchertown man wants Amherst's town name banished|url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Belchertown-man-suggests-Amherst-change-its-offensive-name-11947746 |newspaper=[[Daily Hampshire Gazette]] |access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>

Amherst celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2009. The Amherst 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee and Amherst Historical Society organized events, including a book published by the Historical Society and written by Elizabeth M. Sharpe, ''Amherst A to Z''.

In 2021 the City Council voted to establish the [[Amherst African Heritage Reparation Assembly]] to study reparations for the town's black residents. In 2022, at the Assembly's suggestion, the City Council approved $2,000,000 of initial funding for reparations.

===History of town government ===
The Town converted from an [[open town meeting]] to a [[representative town meeting]] form in 1938.<ref name="ALWV-YAG">Amherst League of Women Voters, [http://www.lwvamherst.org/sites/default/files/YourAmherstGovernment-reduced.pdf "Your Amherst Government"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305063826/http://www.lwvamherst.org/sites/default/files/YourAmherstGovernment-reduced.pdf |date=March 5, 2018 }} (2009).</ref> In 1953, Amherst voters passed the "Town Manager Act", which established the office of a town manager and reduced a number of elected positions.<ref name="ALWV-YAG" /> In 1995, a charter commission was approved to study Amherst's government; the charter majority recommended a seven-person Council and a mayor, while also maintaining a reduced size representative Town Meeting (150).<ref>[http://www.votenooncharter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/1996-Charter-Commission-Report.pdf 1996 Charter Commission Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802200348/http://www.votenooncharter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/1996-Charter-Commission-Report.pdf |date=2018-08-02 }}.</ref> This proposal failed in two successive votes.<ref name="ALWV-YAG" />

In 2001, the [[League of Women Voters]] Amherst made a number of recommendations that were adopted in 2001 in the form of a revised "Amherst Town Government Act".<ref>[http://www.lwvamherst.org/sites/default/files/75thProgramBook.pdf League of Women Voters of Amherst 75th Anniversary Program"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304173503/http://www.lwvamherst.org/sites/default/files/75thProgramBook.pdf |date=March 4, 2018 }}, p.11.</ref> An effort shortly thereafter to amend the charter to eliminate the town meeting, and establish an elected mayor and a nine-member Town Council,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votenooncharter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2002-Charter-Commission-Report.pdf|title=2002 Charter Commission Report|publisher=votenooncharter.org|access-date=2018-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802200356/http://www.votenooncharter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2002-Charter-Commission-Report.pdf|archive-date=2018-08-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> was rejected by voters twice, first in spring 2003 by fourteen votes and again on March 29, 2005 by 252 votes.

In 2016, a charter commission was approved to study Amherst's government. A majority of commissioners proposed a charter that would establish a 13-member council with no mayor.<ref>Amherst League of Women Voters, [http://www.lwvamherst.org/sites/default/files/LWV_final_version.pdf "League of Women Voters Offers Evaluative Criteria"].</ref><ref>Amherst Charter Commission, [https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/41986 "Final Report and Home Rule Charter"].</ref> This proposal was voted on the March 27, 2018 local ballot,<ref>Amherst, Massachusetts, town website, [https://www.amherstma.gov/2248/Charter-Commission "Charter Commission"] (last visited March 4, 2018).</ref> and was passed by over 1,000 votes, a 58% majority.<ref>[https://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-residents-decide-fate-of-charter-proposal-16453548 "Amherst voters approve charter change in historic election"], ''[[Daily Hampshire Gazette]]'' (last visited August 18, 2018).</ref> The new town council was sworn in on December 2, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amherstma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=15612 |title=Amherst Town Council Inauguration Celebration |access-date=April 25, 2019 }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Mount Norwottuck in Autumn.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Norwottuck]]]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Amherst has a total area of {{convert|71.8|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|71.5|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 0.48%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US2501501325| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Amherst town, Hampshire County, Massachusetts| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 7, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213155516/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US2501501325| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> The town is bordered by [[Hadley, Massachusetts|Hadley]] to the west, [[Sunderland, Massachusetts|Sunderland]] and [[Leverett, Massachusetts|Leverett]] to the north, [[Shutesbury, Massachusetts|Shutesbury]], [[Pelham, Massachusetts|Pelham]], and [[Belchertown, Massachusetts|Belchertown]] to the east, and [[Granby, Massachusetts|Granby]] and [[South Hadley, Massachusetts|South Hadley]] to the south. The highest point in the town is on the northern shoulder of [[Mount Norwottuck]] at the southern border of the town; the peak is in Granby but the town's high point is a few yards away and is about {{convert|1100|ft}}. This point is located in the [[Mount Holyoke Range State Park|Mount Holyoke Range]], which forms the so-called "[[Tofu Curtain]]". Amherst is nearly equidistant from Massachusetts' borders with [[Connecticut]] and [[Vermont]].[[File:View of Amherst MA in 1886 - LOC 00406u.jpg|thumb|right|Listing of sights in Amherst, 1886]]

Amherst's [[ZIP Code]] of 01002 is the second-lowest number in the continental United States after [[Agawam, Massachusetts|Agawam]] (not counting codes used for specific government buildings such as the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]).

===Climate===
Amherst has a [[humid continental climate]] that under the [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen system]] marginally falls into the warm-summer category (''Dfb''). It is interchangeable with the hot-summer subtype ''Dfa'' with July means hovering around {{convert|71.7|F|C}}. Winters are cold and snowy, albeit daytime temperatures often remain above freezing. Under the 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone system, Amherst (ZIP Code 01002) is in zone 5b;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|access-date=August 28, 2018|archive-date=May 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502182923/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> however, Amherst closely borders zone 6a, which penetrates into Massachusetts in the Connecticut River Valley, and climate change may be shifting those zones.<ref>[https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ Massachusetts Plant Hardiness Zone Map] , USDA.</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Amherst, Massachusetts, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 72

|Jan avg record high F = 55.4
|Feb avg record high F = 57.1
|Mar avg record high F = 66.4
|Apr avg record high F = 80.6
|May avg record high F = 87.9
|Jun avg record high F = 94.6
|Jul avg record high F = 93.2
|Aug avg record high F = 91.2
|Sep avg record high F = 88.1
|Oct avg record high F = 78.3
|Nov avg record high F = 68.9
|Dec avg record high F = 58.5
|year avg record high F = 95.0

|Jan high F = 34.0
|Feb high F = 37.0
|Mar high F = 45.2
|Apr high F = 58.2
|May high F = 69.5
|Jun high F = 78.0
|Jul high F = 83.1
|Aug high F = 81.5
|Sep high F = 74.4
|Oct high F = 64.9
|Nov high F = 49.7
|Dec high F = 39.2
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 23.9
|Feb mean F = 26.2
|Mar mean F = 34.7
|Apr mean F = 46.3
|May mean F = 57.5
|Jun mean F = 66.5
|Jul mean F = 71.7
|Aug mean F = 69.9
|Sep mean F = 62.3
|Oct mean F = 50.2
|Nov mean F = 39.4
|Dec mean F = 30.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 13.8
|Feb low F = 15.3
|Mar low F = 24.1
|Apr low F = 34.4
|May low F = 45.4
|Jun low F = 55.0
|Jul low F = 60.2
|Aug low F = 58.3
|Sep low F = 50.3
|Oct low F = 38.6
|Nov low F = 29.1
|Dec low F = 20.8
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -5.7
|Feb avg record low F = -2.6
|Mar avg record low F = 6.5
|Apr avg record low F = 22.3
|May avg record low F = 30.3
|Jun avg record low F = 40.5
|Jul avg record low F = 49.5
|Aug avg record low F = 46.0
|Sep avg record low F = 35.5
|Oct avg record low F = 24.7
|Nov avg record low F = 14.5
|Dec avg record low F = 3.4
|year avg record low F = -8.4

|Jan record low F = -30
|Feb record low F = -27
|Mar record low F = -17
|Apr record low F = 8
|May record low F = 24
|Jun record low F = 29
|Jul record low F = 39
|Aug record low F = 32
|Sep record low F = 25
|Oct record low F = 12
|Nov record low F = -4
|Dec record low F = -22

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.36
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.93
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.47
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.79
|May precipitation inch = 3.71
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.46
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.12
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.12
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.62
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.74
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.38
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.89
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.8
|Feb precipitation days = 9.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.5
|Apr precipitation days = 11.1
|May precipitation days = 12.6
|Jun precipitation days = 11.3
|Jul precipitation days = 11.0
|Aug precipitation days = 10.0
|Sep precipitation days = 8.9
|Oct precipitation days = 10.8
|Nov precipitation days = 9.5
|Dec precipitation days = 10.6

|Jan snow inch = 8.1
|Feb snow inch = 11.0
|Mar snow inch = 7.3
|Apr snow inch = 1.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 1.6
|Dec snow inch = 7.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.6
|Feb snow days = 5.0
|Mar snow days = 3.1
|Apr snow days = 0.6
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 0.9
|Dec snow days = 3.7
|year snow days = 19.0

|Jan snow depth inch = 7.3
|Feb snow depth inch = 8.9
|Mar snow depth inch = 7.0
|Apr snow depth inch = 0.9
|May snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.3
|Nov snow depth inch = 1.2
|Dec snow depth inch = 5.7
|year snow depth inch = 11.8

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00190120&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Amherst, MA
|access-date = February 18, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=box
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boston
|access-date = February 18, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA
 | 1790|1233
 | 1800|1258
 | 1810|1469
 | 1820|1917
 | 1830|2631
 | 1840|2550
 | 1850|3057
 | 1860|3206
 | 1870|4035
 | 1880|4298
 | 1890|4512
 | 1900|5028
 | 1910|5112
 | 1920|5550
 | 1930|5883
 | 1940|6410
 | 1950|10856
 | 1960|13718
 | 1970|26331
 | 1980|33229
 | 1990|35228
 | 2000|34874
 | 2010|37819
 | 2020|39263
 | 2024*|40989
 | footnote= * = population estimate<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2017/PEPANNRES/0400000US25.06100| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Massachusetts Minor Civil Divisions| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 7, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183043/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2017/PEPANNRES/0400000US25.06100| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amherstma.gov/about_amherst/population.pdf|title=amherstma.gov|website=amherstma.gov|access-date=2006-12-08|archive-date=2008-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626132810/http://www.amherstma.gov/about_amherst/population.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}

As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 37,819 people, 9,259 households, and 4,484 families residing in the town. There were 9,711 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 76.9% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 10.9% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.4% some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. 7.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="Census 2010 DP">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US2501501325| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Amherst town, Hampshire County, Massachusetts| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 7, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213235006/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US2501501325| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 9,259 households in the town, 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. Of all households, 27.3% were made up of individuals, and 9.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.88.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

In the town, 10.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 55.7% were from 18 to 24, 13.3% were from 25 to 44, 13.6% were from 45 to 64, and 7.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP"/>

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $48,059, and the median income for a family was $96,005. Male full-time workers had a median income of $64,750 versus $39,278 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,905. About 8.7% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US2501501325| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Amherst town, Hampshire County, Massachusetts| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 7, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213160404/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US2501501325| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of residents 25 years old or older, 41.7% have a graduate or professional degree, and only 4.9% did not graduate from high school. The largest industry is education, health, and social services, in which 51.9% of employed persons work.

These statistics given above include some but not all of the large [[student]] population, roughly 30,000 in 2010, many of whom only reside in the town part of the year. Amherst is home to thousands of part-time and full-time residents associated with the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]], [[Amherst College]], and [[Hampshire College]].

===Income===
{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}
Data is from the 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150117113227/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-01-17|title=SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2015-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150105011252/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-01-05|title=ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=2015-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_S1101&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212210258/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_5YR_S1101&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-02-12|title=HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=2015-01-12}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign=bottom
! Rank
! ZIP Code (ZCTA)
! Per capita<br />income
! Median<br />household<br />income
! Median<br />family<br />income
! Population
! Number of<br />households
|-
| 
| ''[[Massachusetts]]''
| $35,763
| $66,866
| $84,900
| 6,605,058
| 2,530,147
|-
| 
| ''[[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]]''
| $29,460
| $61,227
| $81,385
| 159,267
| 58,828
|-
| 
| ''[[United States]]''
| $28,155
| $53,046
| $64,719
| 311,536,594
| 115,610,216
|-
| 1
| 01002
| $27,691
| $54,422
| $96,929
| 29,266
| 9,248
|-
| 
| ''Amherst''
| $19,796
| $53,191
| $96,733
| 38,651
| 8,583
|-
| 2
| 01003 (UMass Amherst Campus)
| $3,531
| $N/A
| $N/A
| 11,032
| 16
|-
|}

==Economy==
Major employers in Amherst include [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]], [[Amherst College]], [[William D. Mullins Memorial Center]], [[Hampshire College]], and [[Amherst-Pelham Regional School District]].<ref>Search Results – Amherst, Massachusetts- [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081115005149/http://www.referenceusa.com/ ReferenceUSA] Current Businesses</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===Points of interest===
<!-- This list is alphabetized, please keep it that way -->
* Amherst Center Cultural District, formed in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.amherstdowntown.com/amherst-center-cultural-district/|title=Amherst Center Cultural District - Amherst Downtown Business Improvement District|work=Amherst Downtown Business Improvement District|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226231114/http://www.amherstdowntown.com/amherst-center-cultural-district/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce]]
* Amherst Cinema Arts Center: a local non-profit theater showing mostly arthouse and independent films<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://amherstcinema.org/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Amherst Cinema |access-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref>
* Amherst History Museum, which opened in 1916 and is governed by the Amherst Historical Society<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amherst Historical Society {{!}} Connecting people to the town of Amherst, MA |url=https://amhersthistory.org/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Beneski Museum of Natural History]], including the [[Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet]]
* [[Dickinson Homestead|Emily Dickinson Museum]], birthplace and lifelong residence of poet [[Emily Dickinson]], now a museum. 
* [[Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art]]
* [[Hitchcock Center for the Environment]], an environmental education center on the grounds of [[Hampshire College]] 
* [[Jones Library]] 
* [[Mead Art Museum]] at [[Amherst College]]: 18,000 items with a particular strength in American art
* [[W. E. B. Du Bois Library]] at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]: the tallest academic library in the United States

==Sports==
* Games were played in town during the [[1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships]].
* Amherst Regional High School's 1992–93 girls' basketball team inspired the book ''In These Girls, Hope is a Muscle'' by [[Madeleine Blais]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Review: In These Girls Hope is a Muscle |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/madeleine-blais/in-these-girls-hope-is-a-muscle/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |work=Kirkus Review |date=1994-10-15}}</ref>
* The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Ultimate Frisbee Team was ranked first in the Division 1 Men's Ultimate league for the 2017 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ultiworld.com/college-rankings/|title=College Rankings, Presented by NUTC |work=Ultiworld|access-date=2017-09-25|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.umass.edu/zoodisc/zoodisc/|title=ZooDisc {{!}} UMass Ultimate Frisbee|publisher=blogs.umass.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-20}}</ref>
* The Amherst Invitational, founded in 1992, is the oldest high school Ultimate Frisbee tournament in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-05-11 |title=Amherst Invitational 2017: Tournament Preview |url=https://ultiworld.com/2017/05/11/amherst-invitational-2017-tournament-preview/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Ultiworld}}</ref>

==Government==
[[Image:Town Hall, Amherst MA.jpg|thumb|right|Town Hall]]

Amherst has a [[town council#Massachusetts|town council]] for its legislative branch and a [[town manager]] for its executive branch. The town manager is appointed by the town council.<ref name="amherst-home-rule-charter">{{Citation |url=https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/41987/Amherst-Home-Rule-Charter |format=PDF |title=Amherst Home Rule Charter |access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref>

Amherst's town council consists of ten district councilors and three councilors-at-large. Two district councilors are elected from each of five districts in Amherst. The three councilors-at-large are elected by the whole town. Each councilor serves a two-year term, except for the first council, where each member will serve a three-year term.<ref name="amherst-home-rule-charter" />

Amherst also has the following elected bodies:<ref name="amherst-home-rule-charter" />

* A five-member School Committee with two-year terms.
* A six-member library board of trustees with two-year terms.
* A single Oliver Smith Will Elector with a two-year term.

Amherst also has a five-member housing authority in which three of the five members are elected by voters. Each member serves a two-year term.<ref name="amherst-home-rule-charter" />

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=4 | Town Council Members<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/45823/Nov-6-2018-Town-Election-Unofficial-Results |format=PDF |title=Town Election Unofficial Results |access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
! Title !! Name !! District !! First elected
|-
| Councilor-at-Large || Mandi Jo Hanneke || At-Large || 2018
|-
| Councilor-at-Large || Ellisha Walker || At-Large || 2021
|-
| Councilor-at-Large || Andrew Steinberg || At-Large || 2018
|-
| District Councilor || Michele Miller || 1 || 2021
|-
| District Councilor || Cathy Schoen || 1 || 2018
|-
| District Councilor || Lynn Griesemer || 2 || 2018
|-
| District Councilor || Patricia De Angelis || 2 || 2018
|-
| District Councilor || Dorothy Pam || 3 || 2018
|-
| District Councilor || Jennifer Taub || 3 || 2021
|-
| District Councilor || Anika Lopes || 4 || 2021
|-
| District Councilor || Pam Rooney || 4 || 2021
|-
| District Councilor || Shalini Bahl-Milne || 5 || 2018
|-
| District Councilor || Ana Devlin Gauthier || 5 || 2021
|}

=== State and federal representation ===
In the [[Massachusetts Senate]] Amherst is in the "Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester" district,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eledist/sen11idx.htm |title=Massachusetts Senatorial Districts |access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> represented by Democratic State Senator [[Jo Comerford]] since January 2019. In the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] Amherst is in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives's 3rd Hampshire district|3rd Hampshire]] district,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eledist/reps11idx.htm |title=Massachusetts Representative Districts}}</ref> represented by Democratic State Representative [[Mindy Domb]] since January 2019.  Amherst is part of the Eighth [[Massachusetts Governor's Council]] district and has been represented by Tara Jacobs since January 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/councillors |title=Councillors | author=Mass.gov | access-date=2023-09-13}}</ref>

Amherst is represented at the federal level by an all-Democratic delegation, including Senators [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[Ed Markey]], and by Representative [[Jim McGovern (American politician)|Jim McGovern]] of the [[Second Congressional District of Massachusetts]].

===Voter registration===
[[File:Amherst Massachusetts Voter Turnout vs Registered Voters.svg|thumb|250px|Voter turnout versus voter registration over time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/ |title=Every election at your fingertips |access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>]]

Voter registration data is from the state election enrollment statistics.

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 8 | Registered Voters and Party Enrollment<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleregistrationstats/registrationstats.htm |title=Registration Statistics |author=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>
|- 
! Year
! {{party shading/Democratic}} colspan = 2 | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! {{party shading/Republican}} colspan = 2 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! {{party shading/Independent}} colspan = 2 | Unenrolled
! Total
|-
| 2004
| 8,522
| {{percentage|8522|17816|1}}
| 1,231
| {{percentage|1231|17816|1}}
| 7,623
| {{percentage|7623|17816|1}}
| 17,816
|-
| 2006
| 8,350
| {{percentage|8350|16980|1}}
| 1,076
| {{percentage|1076|16980|1}}
| 7,228
| {{percentage|7228|16980|1}}
| 16,980
|-
| 2008
| 9,343
| {{percentage|9343|18956|1}}
| 1,076
| {{percentage|1076|18956|1}}
| 8,257
| {{percentage|8257|18956|1}}
| 18,956
|-
| 2010
| 8,675
| {{percentage|8675|17501|1}}
| 948
| {{percentage|948|17501|1}}
| 7,661
| {{percentage|7661|17501|1}}
| 17,501
|-
| 2012
| 10,324
| {{percentage|10324|22425|1}}
| 1,219
| {{percentage|1219|22425|1}}
| 10,665
| {{percentage|10665|22425|1}}
| 22,425
|-
| 2014
| 9,645
| {{percentage|9645|21431|1}}
| 1,156
| {{percentage|1156|21431|1}}
| 10,454
| {{percentage|10454|21431|1}}
| 21,431
|-
| 2016
| 10,414
| {{percentage|10414|22196|1}}
| 1,146
| {{percentage|1146|22196|1}}
| 10,202
| {{percentage|10202|22196|1}}
| 22,196
|-
| 2018
| 10,249
| {{percentage|10249|21993|1}}
| 1,025
| {{percentage|1025|21993|1}}
| 10,331
| {{percentage|10331|21993|1}}
| 21,993
|-
| 2020
| 8,562
| {{percentage|8562|16551|1}}
| 575
| {{percentage|575|16551|1}}
| 7,166
| {{percentage|7166|16551|1}}
| 16,551
|-
| 2022
| 7,222
| {{percentage|7222|14243}}
| 414
| {{percentage|414|14243}}
| 6,441
| {{percentage|6441|14243}}
| 14,243
|}

===Politics===
Like many college towns, Amherst leans heavily Democratic. In each of the presidential elections from 2012 to 2020, more than 80% of Amherst's votes went to the Democratic candidate. The last Republican to win Amherst on the Presidential level was [[Richard Nixon]] in [[1960 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|1960]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/electionstatisti19591960mass/page/344|title = Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}</ref>

In the [[2020 United States presidential election]], Democrat [[Joe Biden]] received 90.3 percent of the vote to incumbent Republican [[Donald Trump]]'s 7.4 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2020&fips=25015&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=2020 Presidential General Election Results - Hampshire County, MA|last=Leip|first=Dave|website=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907160348/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2020&fips=25015&f=0&off=0&elect=0|archive-date=Sep 7, 2022}}</ref> In the [[2000 United States presidential election]], Amherst was one of a small number of places that delivered more votes for Green Party candidate [[Ralph Nader]] (who took 24% of the vote) than Republican candidate [[George W. Bush]], who received just 13%.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fujiwara |first1=Daigo |title=Map: How Your Mass. City Or Town Voted In Dozens Of Recent Elections |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/03/19/massachusetts-past-election-results |website=WBUR |publisher=WBUR |access-date=2022-12-17}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Image:UMass Amherst campus aerial view.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]]]
[[File:National_Yiddish_Book_Center,_Amherst_MA.jpg|thumb|The [[Yiddish Book Center]], located on the campus of [[Hampshire College]]]]

The town is part of the Amherst Regional School District along with [[Leverett, Massachusetts|Leverett]], [[Pelham, Massachusetts|Pelham]], and [[Shutesbury, Massachusetts|Shutesbury]]. Amherst has three elementary schools: Crocker Farm Elementary School, Fort River Elementary School, and Wildwood  Elementary School serving K–6. Students in Amherst then attend Amherst Regional Middle School for grades 7–8. High school students then attend [[Amherst Regional High School (Massachusetts)|Amherst Regional High School]].

There are three tertiary institutions located in the town: the public [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] (the flagship of the [[University of Massachusetts|UMass system]]), and two private liberal arts colleges—[[Amherst College]] and [[Hampshire College]].

==Infrastructure==
=== Transportation ===
====Bus====
The [[Pioneer Valley Transit Authority]], funded by local governments and the [[Five College Consortium]], provides public transportation in the area, operated by [[University of Massachusetts Transportation Services]]. Service runs well into the early morning hours on weekends when school is in session. Students attending any colleges in the [[Five Colleges Consortium]] have a fee included in their tuition bills (service fee for UMass Amherst students and student activity fees for the other colleges) for each semester that prepays their bus fares for the semester. UMass Transit buses operate via a [[proof-of-payment]] system, in which there are random inspections of student identification cards and bus passes and transfers.

[[Peter Pan Bus Lines]] provides service between Amherst and [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], and other locations in New England.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://peterpanbus.com/|title=Welcome|work=Peter Pan Bus Lines|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]] provides service between [[New York City]], Amherst, and [[Burlington, Vermont]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://us.megabus.com/burlington.aspx|title=Bus from Burlington to Boston and from Boston to Burlington {{!}} megabus|last=megabus.com|website=us.megabus.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330092052/http://us.megabus.com/Burlington.aspx|archive-date=2017-03-30|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Rail====
[[Amtrak]] rail service is available in nearby [[Union Station (Northampton, Massachusetts)|Northampton]] on the ''[[Vermonter (train)|Vermonter]]'' service between [[Washington D.C.|Washington, D.C.]], and [[St. Albans (city), Vermont|St. Albans, Vermont]]. More frequent Amtrak service to [[New York City]] and Washington, D.C., is available from [[Springfield Union Station (Massachusetts)|Union Station]] in [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]].

====Airports====
The closest major domestic and limited international air service is available through [[Bradley International Airport]] (BDL) in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]]. Bradley is located approximately one hour's driving time from Amherst. Major international service is available through [[Logan International Airport]] (BOS) in Boston, {{convert|90|mi|km}} away.

General aviation service is close by, at [[Northampton Airport]], [[Westover Metropolitan Airport]], and [[Turners Falls Airport]].

==Police report==
Since 1997, the local newspaper, the ''Amherst Bulletin'', has published a weekly log of phone calls received by the Amherst Police Department.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grabbe |first1=Nick |title=Only-in-Amherst stories as two newspapers merge, 1988-2003 |url=https://theamherstcurrent.org/2022/06/06/only-in-amherst-stories-as-two-newspapers-merge-1988-2003/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |work=The Amherst Current |date=June 6, 2022}}</ref> This police report, whose tone is deadpan and often unintentionally humorous, has been the subject of at least two books<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ericson |first1=Corwin |title=Checked Out OK |date=2013 |publisher=Factory Hollow Books |location=Amherst, Massachusetts |isbn=978-0-9795905-6-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Schuman |first1=Aaron |title=Slant |date=2019 |publisher=Mack Books |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-912339-38-9}}</ref> and a 2002 article in ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'', "Gone When Police Got There".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ericson |first1=Corwin |title=Gone when police got there |url=https://harpers.org/archive/2002/02/gone-when-police-got-there/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |work=Harper's Magazine |date=February 2002}}</ref> For example, an entry from the March 27, 2015 police report reads: "2:48 a.m.—An Ann Whalen Apartments resident awoke to find someone on her balcony looking into her bedroom. The woman later told police she thinks she may have been dreaming prior to calling 911."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Merzbach |first1=Scott |title=Arrests & summons |url=https://www.amherstbulletin.com/Archives/2015/03/m27copper-hg-032715 |access-date=January 4, 2023 |work=Amherst Bulletin |date=March 27, 2015}}</ref>

==Notable people==
===Historical===
<!-- LIST IS ALPHABETIZED BY LAST NAME -->
* [[Chinua Achebe]] (1930–2013), was a professor at the University of Massachusetts from 1972 to 1976
* [[Osmyn Baker]] (1800–1875), born in Amherst, [[United States Congressman]] and lawyer<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | year = 1967}}</ref>
* [[Ray Stannard Baker]] (1870–1946), newspaperman, biographer of Woodrow Wilson
* [[William S. Clark]] (1825–1886), Academician, politician, businessman; principal founder of the [[Massachusetts Agricultural College]] (now the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]), founder of the [[Sapporo Agricultural College]] (now the [[Hokkaido University]])
* [[Mason Cook Darling]] (1801–1866), born in Amherst, United States Congressman from [[Wisconsin]] and first mayor of [[Fond du Lac, Wisconsin]]<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Melvil Dewey]] (1851–1931), devised the Dewey Decimal System while an assistant librarian at Amherst College in 1876
* [[Edward Dickinson]] (1803–1874), born in Amherst, lawyer, United States Congressman, and father of Emily Dickinson<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Emily Dickinson]] (1830–1886), born and lived in Amherst, one of the most prominent and celebrated American poets<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Eugene Field]] (1850–1895), raised in Amherst by cousin, Mary Field French; poet and humorist who wrote children's poem ''[[Wynken, Blynken, and Nod]]''
* [[Robert Francis (poet)|Robert Francis]] (1901–1987), poet
* [[Robert Frost]] (1874–1963), Pulitzer prize-winning poet who taught at [[Amherst College]] and retired there
* [[Howard Roger Garis]] (1873–1962), children's author who wrote the Uncle Wiggily book series
* [[Lilian Garis]] (1873–1954), author of juvenile fiction who under the pseudonym [[Laura Lee Hope]] wrote early volumes in the [[Bobbsey Twins]] series
* [[Edward Hitchcock]] (1793–1864), educator, early geologist and a founder of the science of [[ichnology]]
* [[Helen Hunt Jackson]] (1830–1885), born in Amherst, noted author best known for ''[[A Century of Dishonor]]'' and her novel ''[[Ramona]]''<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Arthur Lithgow]] (1915–2004), lived and died in Amherst, noted actor, producer and director of Shakespeare plays, founder of the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Ohio (today known as the Great Lakes Theatre Festival), former director of the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ, father of actor [[John Lithgow]]
* [[Ebenezer Mattoon]] (1755–1843), born in North Amherst, Lieutenant in Continental Army during American Revolution, US Congressman (1801–1803).<ref>"Mary Mattoon and her hero of the revolution" by Alice M. Walker, Carpenter and Morehouse, 1902</ref>
* [[Paul Nitze]] (1907–2004), born in Amherst, diplomat who helped shape defense policy over numerous presidential administrations
* [[Julius Hawley Seelye]] (1824–1895), Amherst college professor, united States Representative (1875–1877), 5th President of Amherst College
* [[Harlan Fiske Stone]] (1872–1946), attended public schools in Amherst and [[Amherst College]]; dean of the [[Columbia Law School]], 52nd [[Attorney General of the United States]], and [[Chief Justice of the United States]]
* [[Mabel Loomis Todd]] (1856–1932), world traveler, edited and published the first volume of Emily Dickinson's poetry
* [[Noah Webster]] (1758–1843), Author of ''An American Dictionary of the English Language''

===Born or raised in Amherst===
<!-- LIST IS ALPHABETIZED BY LAST NAME -->
* [[Annie Baker]], playwright
* [[Thomas Bezucha]], film & television director, writer, & producer
* [[Emily Dickinson]], poet
* [[P. D. Eastman]], children's author, illustrator, and screenwriter 
* [[Helen Palmer Geisel]], children's author and first wife of [[Dr. Seuss]]
* [[Michael Hixon]], U.S. Olympic Athlete Rio 2016, men's individual 3 meter springboard; 3 meter springboard synchro
* [[James D. Hornfischer]], military historian and author
* [[James Ihedigbo]], Detroit Lions defensive back
* [[Martin Johnson (musician)|Martin Johnson]], of rock band [[Boys like Girls]]
* [[John Leonard (ice hockey)|John Leonard]], ice hockey player
* [[Ryan Leonard (ice hockey)|Ryan Leonard]], ice hockey player
* [[Amory Lovins]], scientist and environmentalist
* [[Michael E. Mann]], climatologist
* [[J Mascis]], singer, guitarist and songwriter for alternative rock band [[Dinosaur Jr.]]
* [[Eric Mabius]], star of ABC show ''[[Ugly Betty]]'', attended Amherst schools
* [[Makaya McCraven]], musician
* [[Julie McNiven]], actress with recurring roles on ''[[Mad Men]]'' and ''[[Supernatural (U.S. TV series)|Supernatural]]''
* [[Ilan Mitchell-Smith]], actor starring in 1985 film ''[[Weird Science (film)|Weird Science]]'', attended Amherst public schools
* [[Ebon Moss-Bachrach]], actor with roles on ''[[The Bear (TV series)|The Bear]]'' and ''[[Girls (TV series)|Girls]]'', raised in Amherst and attended Amherst public schools
* [[Henry Addison Nelson]] (1820–1906), Presbyterian clergyman
* [[Eli Noyes]], animator, film producer, director
* [[Gil Penchina]], Former CEO of [[Wikia, Inc.]], attended the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[John Pettes]], US Marshal for Vermont, born in Amherst<ref>{{cite news |last=M. D. |date=April 11, 1868 |title=The Late Maj. John Pettes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45319424/the_late_maj_john_pettes/ |work=Vermont Journal and Farmer |location=Windsor, VT |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |page=4 |ref={{sfnRef|"The Late Maj. John Pettes"}}}}</ref>
* [[Steve Porter (producer)|Steve Porter]], music producer
* [[Allen St. Pierre]], executive director of [[NORML]], attended public schools in Amherst and graduated from the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Matt Reid (baseball)|Matt Reid]], head baseball coach at [[Army University|Army]]
* [[Timothy Tau]], writer and filmmaker, attended public schools in Amherst including [[Amherst Regional Middle School]] and [[Amherst-Pelham Regional School District#Crocker Farm Elementary School|Crocker Farm Elementary School]]
* [[Uma Thurman]], [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-nominated actress, whose father, [[Robert Thurman]], taught at Amherst College
* [[Martin M. Wattenberg]], artist and computer scientist
* [[Zoe Weizenbaum]], child actress
* [[Jamila Wideman]] (born 1975), female left-handed point guard basketball player, lawyer and activist
* [[Elisha Yaffe]], comedian, actor, and producer
* [[Kevin Ziomek]], American professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] in the [[Detroit Tigers]] organization
<!-- LIST IS ALPHABETIZED BY LAST NAME -->

===Live/lived in Amherst===
<!-- LIST IS ALPHABETIZED BY LAST NAME -->
* [[Gavin Andresen]], [[Bitcoin Foundation]] founder and former [[Bitcoin]] contributor
* [[Christian Appy]], author of ''Patriots'' and ''Working-Class War'', professor at [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Christopher Benfey]], author of ''The Great Wave'', professor at [[Mount Holyoke College]]
* [[Holly Black]], author of ''[[Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale|Tithe]]'', ''[[Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie|Valiant]]'', ''[[Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale|Ironside]]'', and co-author of the ''[[Spiderwick|Spiderwick Chronicles]]''
* [[Augusten Burroughs]], author of ''[[Running with Scissors (memoir)|Running with Scissors]]''
* [[Michelle Chamuel]], singer, songwriter, producer
* [[Cassandra Clare]], author of ''[[The Mortal Instruments]]'' and ''[[The Infernal Devices]]''
* [[Arda Collins]], poet and winner of the [[Yale Series of Younger Poets Competition]]
* [[Tony DiTerlizzi]], author of ''[[The Spider and the Fly (poem)|The Spider and the Fly]]'' and co-author/illustrator for ''[[Spiderwick|Spiderwick Chronicles]]''
* [[Peter Elbow]], compositionist and professor emeritus at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Joseph Ellis]], historian and author of ''[[Founding Brothers]]''
* [[Martín Espada]], poet, professor at the University of Massachusetts and author of the 2006 ''The Republic of Poetry'', among others
* [[Black Francis]], singer/guitarist of the [[alternative rock]] band the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]], attended UMass Amherst
* [[Rebecca Guay]], artist specializing in watercolor painting and illustration
* [[Norton Juster]], author of ''[[The Phantom Tollbooth]]''
* [[John Katzenbach]], author of ''[[The Madman's Tale]]''
* [[Julius Lester]], author and professor at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Michael Lesy]], author of ''[[Wisconsin Death Trip]]'', professor at Hampshire College
* [[Cale Makar]], professional ice hockey player for the [[Colorado Avalanche]] and former [[University of Massachusetts]] defenseman.
* [[Charles C. Mann]] (born 1955), journalist and author of ''[[1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus]]'' and ''[[1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created]]''
* [[Catherine Newman]], memoirist and novelist
* [[John Olver]], politician who served in the [[US House of Representatives]]
* [[John Elder Robison]], author of ''[[Look Me in the Eye]]''; older brother of [[Augusten Burroughs]]
* [[Joey Santiago]], lead guitarist of the [[alternative rock]] band the [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]], attended UMass Amherst
* [[Archie Shepp]], jazz musician and professor emeritus at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Chris Smither]], folk/blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter
* [[James Tate (writer)|James Tate]] (born 1943), poet and professor at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Carl Vigeland]], author of ''In Concert'' and many other books
* [[John Edgar Wideman]], novelist and writer
* [[Dara Wier]], poet and professor in the [[MFA Program for Poets & Writers]] at the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]
* [[Roman Yakub]], composer
<!-- LIST IS ALPHABETIZED BY LAST NAME -->

==Sister cities==
* [[Kanegasaki]], [[Japan]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Kanegasaki Sister City Committee | url = http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=1222 | access-date =2010-06-06| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528074739/http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=1222| archive-date= 28 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* [[La Paz Centro]], [[Nicaragua]]<ref>{{cite web|title = La Paz Centro Sister City Committee | url = http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=1210 | access-date =2010-06-06| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528084321/http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=1210| archive-date= 28 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* [[Nyeri]], [[Kenya]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Nyeri Sister City Committee | url = http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=1049 | access-date =2010-06-06| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528052237/http://www.amherstma.gov/index.aspx?NID=1049| archive-date= 28 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Amherst Regional High School (Amherst, Massachusetts)|Amherst Regional High School]]
* [[Amherst-Pelham Regional School District]]
* [[Tofu Curtain]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage|Amherst (Massachusetts)|Amherst, Massachusetts}}
{{Americana Poster|Amherst (Massachusetts)|Amherst, Massachusetts}}
* [http://www.amherstma.gov/ Town of Amherst official website]
* {{Osmrelation-inline|1839150}}
* [http://www.digitalamherst.org/ Digital Amherst], an online repository of historic information about Amherst
* [https://archivesspace.amherst.edu/repositories/2/resources/309 Town of Amherst Collection] at the Amherst College Archives & Special Collections

{{Hampshire County, Massachusetts}}
{{Northeast Megalopolis}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Amherst, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Academic enclaves]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Hampshire County, Massachusetts]]