North Center School District (Hatfield, Mass.)

Incorporated in 1670, the town of Hatfield, Massachusetts was originally that part of Hadley west of the Connecticut River, settled by people from Hartford, Wethersford, and Windsor, Connecticut.

Hatfield, whose motto is "Industry & Prosperity," was an unusually prosperous community, thanks to the richness of the Connecticut River Valley and its ability to support agriculture and livestock. While the insularity of the community may have contributed to its prosperity as well, farmers were quick to capitalize on new industries, and around 1816, Hatfield began manufacturing brooms based on a technique developed in Hadley. As the demand for this product decreased, Hatfield turned to tobacco growing.

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