Ludlow

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Ludlow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,209 at the 2000 census. It is located in western Massachusetts, north of Springfield and is considered a suburb of Springfield.

Ludlow (originally named Stoney Hill) was first settled around 1750 originally as the northeast precinct of Springfield, Massachusetts. Later incorporated as a separate town on February 28, 1774. The origin of the name remains a mystery, though the most probable explanation is that it was named after Roger Ludlow, an early prominent New England citizen.

"The Ludlow Manufacturing Company (whose clock tower is dipicted on the town seal), formed in 1868 by Charles T. Hubbard, helped shaped the town by providing housing, a library, schools, playgrounds, and even a clubhouse for the diverse community. Ludlow was home to many sawmills and gristmills, utilizing the power from several sources of water nearby, including the Chicopee River, Broad Brook, Higher Brook, and Stony Brook. The town is most noted, however, for its factory mills and production of jute yarns, twine, and webbing. Less well known was the glass-making business that was prevalent in the early 1800s. John Sikes manufactured glass bottles and other glassware and the Ludlow Manufacturing Company glass works operated for only a short time before closing in the depression years following the War of 1812. Today Ludlow remains a culturally diverse community made of Portuguese, Polish, French, and Irish residents" (Pilon, Karen E. Ludlow. Charleston SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1999.).

Ludlow is also known for soccer. Its high school has won numerous Massachusetts State Division 1 titles and it is a home to the Western Mass Pioneers of the USL Second Division, and the Western Mass Lady Pioneers of the W-League. They also have a championship high school wrestling team that has won several state titles.In Addition, the highschool's Track and Cross Country teams are leading competators.

See also www.ludlow.ma.us/