Editing Hampden, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|19.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|19.6|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.05% is water. Hampden is located at the eastern edge of the [[Connecticut River]] Valley. Hills rise up to over {{convert|1000|ft}} above sea level, from the valley elevation of {{convert|150|to|250|ft}}. The highest peaks are Pine Mountain and Rattlesnake Peak, both at {{convert|1070|ft|m}}. The town has no large bodies of water, but has several brooks which eventually drain into the Connecticut River.

Hampden is located on the [[Connecticut]] border, just north of [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]]. It is bordered on the north by [[Wilbraham, Massachusetts|Wilbraham]], on the east by [[Monson, Massachusetts|Monson]], on the south by [[Stafford, Connecticut]] and [[Somers, Connecticut]], and on the west by [[East Longmeadow, Massachusetts|East Longmeadow]].  From the town's center, Hampden is {{convert|11|mi|km}} southeast of downtown [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], {{convert|28|mi|km}} north-northeast of [[Hartford, Connecticut]] and {{convert|78|mi|km}} west-southwest of [[Boston]].

===Transportation===
Hampden is one of sixteen towns in Massachusetts that has no numbered highways or state routes. Of these, half are on islands, and one is the [[North Shore (Massachusetts)|North Shore]] town of [[Nahant, Massachusetts|Nahant]]. Of the remainder, Hampden is the easternmost town to have this distinction. The town does not have stoplights. The nearest state route, [[Massachusetts Route 83|Route 83]], misses the town by less than one-tenth of a mile. The town lies {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of two exits of [[Massachusetts Turnpike|Interstate 90]], and approximately {{convert|9|mi|km}} east of [[Interstate 91]]. There are no means of mass transportation in the town. The nearest rail service is in Springfield, and the nearest national air service is at [[Bradley International Airport]] in [[Connecticut]].

===Climate===

Winters are variable, sometimes fairly mild, with daytime high temperatures in the 30s, though sometimes rather cold. A record cold temperature of −40 degrees Fahrenheit (−40&nbsp;°C) was recorded at the Hampden Post Office, and at other points in the village of Hampden, on an early morning in January 1960. In late July 2006, the temperature reached 100 degrees on a hot afternoon. These are the known recent extremes of temperature in Hampden. On March 14, 1995, after several snowstorms and little melting, a snow depth of 28" was recorded. However, some winters there is little snow. In the summer there are hot and humid periods, which alternate with warm and dry periods.