Easthampton’s downtown is built around the brick mill complexes along the Manhan River. Most of the mills have been repurposed (Eastworks and Keystone Mill are the largest) and now hold artist studios, small manufacturers, a community radio station, breweries, and cafés. The shift from industrial town to arts community happened over the past two decades, and the scale is still comfortably human.
Mill buildings and makers
Eastworks on Pleasant Street is the anchor: a million square feet of former elastic-webbing factory converted into studios, offices, and apartments, with a restaurant and gallery on the ground floor. Open studio events in the spring and fall are the easiest way to see inside more than a few doors at once.
Trails and water
The Manhan Rail Trail runs straight through the heart of downtown and connects (via the 2017 Northampton–Easthampton tunnel) to the Norwottuck Rail Trail. Nashawannuck Pond, at the foot of downtown, has a walking loop and a summer boat rental.
Mount Tom State Reservation borders the city to the east, and Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary sits along the Connecticut River on the Northampton line.
Getting there
Easthampton is about ten minutes south of Northampton on Route 10. There’s no regular train service, but PVTA buses connect to both Northampton and Holyoke.
Sources
- City of Easthampton, Massachusetts
- Easthampton, Massachusetts — Wikipedia (2020 U.S. Census population: 16,211)