The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence and Leeds) was 28,549. Northampton is known as an academic, artistic, musical, and countercultural hub. It features a large politically liberal community along with numerous alternative health and intellectual organizations. The city has a high proportion of residents who identify as gay and lesbian, a high number of same-sex households, and is a popular destination for the LGBT community. Northampton is part of the Pioneer Valley in the Connecticut River Valley and is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area, and is approximately 19 miles north of the city of Springfield. Northampton is home to Smith College and the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech.—Wikipedia
