1636History
== History ==
On May 15, 1636, William Pynchon purchased land on both sides of the Connecticut River from the local Pocomtuc Indians known as Agawam, which included present-day...
1757History
Agawam and West Springfield separated from Springfield to become the parish of West Springfield in 1757; Agawam and West Springfield split in 1800.
1771Government
In 1771, John Porter moved to Agawam and founded a gin distillery nine years later.
1801History
== Historical commercial operations ==
1801 – E.
1810Economy
1810 – A cotton mill was erected on the site of present-day Six Flags New England.
1812Government
1812 – Agawam Woolen Mill was established on Elm Street.
1840History
Six Flags New England, formerly Riverside Amusement Park, began as a picnic grove as early as 1840.
1855Government
Agawam incorporated as a town on May 17, 1855.
1874Education
The original town hall, built in 1874 at the corner of Main and School Streets, housed the town government divisions as the current one does today, as well as the original town ...
1889Disaster
After a fire, the building was rebuilt in brick in 1889 and still exists.
1891Government
== Library ==
The Agawam Free Public Library was established in 1891.
1904Disaster
After a 1904 fire destroyed the Mittenague School and all the books in it, Fred P.
1906Architecture
The Feeding Hills town hall, built in 1906, was almost identical to the Agawam town hall and was located at the corner of Springfield and South Westfield Streets.
1917Architecture
The plant was sold in 1917, and during Prohibition, the main products produced in the building were potato chips and cider.
1925Architecture
In 1925, Minerva Porter Davis donated a building in Agawam Center to serve as the library in that section of town, replacing the Agawam Town Hall rooms.
1930Military
May 29, 1930, and June 1, 1931, saw "grand openings" of Bowles Agawam Airport with the latter date including a visit from 100 biplanes of the United States Army Air Corps Easter...
1935Sports
Seabiscuit won the Springfield Handicap at Agawam in track record time in October 1935.
1938Economy
After the Volstead Act was repealed, the mill began producing gin again but closed permanently in 1938.
1940History
It became a full-fledged amusement park in 1940.
1946Education
Granger Elementary School opened in 1946 now occupies that land.
1948Culture
Riverside Park Speedway, a NASCAR racing track, was part of Riverside park from 1948 to 2000.
1949Economy
The Agawam Woolen Company folded in 1949.
1950Architecture
The building was demolished in 1950, and the Clifford M.
1952Economy
1952 – Stacy Machine Co, came to a new plant located on Main Street is best known for producing specialized printing presses.
1953History
1953 – WWLP an NBC affiliate television station began operation with studios and transmitting facilities on Provin Mountain in Feeding Hills.
1973History
Agawam adopted a city form of government effective January 1, 1973, comprising a 15-member city council and a town manager.
1978Education
In 1978 the libraries were consolidated in a new building adjacent to the High School on Cooper Street.
1982Infrastructure
The airport continued to operate as a civil airport until 1982.
1989Government
Since May 1989 a mayor is the elected leader of the city.
1996History
Riverside was sold to Six Flags in 1996.
2008Culture
In fiscal year 2008, the city of Agawam spent 1.39% ($923,113) of its budget on its public library—some $32 per person.
2010History
== Demographics ==
As of the census of 2010, there were 28,144 people, 11,260 households, and 7,462 families residing in the city.
2012History
On May 5, 2012, an Agawam officer shot a woman in the face when she answered her door.
2017History
In early January 2017, the head of the Agawam Police Patrolman's Association was indicted on charges relating to stealing from the group.