Editing South Hadley, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
South Hadley is located in the [[Western Massachusetts|western]] part of Massachusetts, specifically in the [[Pioneer Valley]].  It is bordered on the north by [[Hadley, Massachusetts|Hadley]] and [[Amherst, Massachusetts|Amherst]], on the east by [[Granby, Massachusetts|Granby]], and on the south by [[Chicopee, Massachusetts|Chicopee]].  The [[Connecticut River]] defines the town's western border and separates it from the cities of [[Holyoke, Massachusetts|Holyoke]] and Easthampton.  South Hadley is {{convert|45|mi|km}} south of [[Brattleboro, Vermont]], {{convert|87|mi|km}} west of [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], and {{convert|145|mi|km}} from New York City.

Although no [[interstate highway]]s cross South Hadley's borders, [[U.S. Route 202 in Massachusetts|U.S. Route 202]] and [[List of Massachusetts State Highways|Massachusetts Highways]] [[Massachusetts Route 33|33]], [[Massachusetts Route 47|47]], and [[Massachusetts Route 116|116]] provide primary routes of transportation. [[Interstate 91]] can be accessed in [[Holyoke, Massachusetts|Holyoke]] while [[Interstate 90]] is accessible through [[Chicopee, Massachusetts|Chicopee]]. Westover Metropolitan Airport is located in neighboring Chicopee and offers air services throughout the region. [[Bradley International Airport]], serving the greater [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]]–[[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] area, is located {{convert|17|mi|km}} to the south. The closest [[Amtrak]] station is the [[Holyoke station]].
{{multiple image
   | direction = vertical
   | width = 230
   | align = left
   | footer = Commercial blocks in the Village Commons by Mount Holyoke College (''top'') and South Hadley Falls (''bottom'')
   | image2 = South Hadley Falls, South Hadley, Massachusetts.jpg
   | image1 = Village Commons, South Hadley MA.jpg}}

The Village Commons, a center for dining, shopping, and leisure, is located at the juncture of Massachusetts Routes 116 and 47, in the area commonly called South Hadley Center. Additional commercial centers are located on Massachusetts Route 33 and farther south on Route 116, including South Hadley Falls, which is across the river from Holyoke. South Hadley is also the home of [[Mount Holyoke College]], the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education for women, founded in 1837.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|18.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|17.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}} (3.70%) is water. The mountain range called the [[Holyoke Range]] or Mount Holyoke Range passes through the north of the town and separates it from Hadley and Amherst. There are 12 reservoirs in the town fed by eight distinct streams and six natural ponds.

===Geology===
The first confirmed evidence of a [[dinosaur]] to be found in North America was unearthed in South Hadley by Pliny Moody while plowing in 1802, 40 years before dinosaurs were identified as a fossil group. The sandstone slab bearing large, mysterious footprints was later purchased by Elihu Dwight, who gave the prints the name of "Noah's Raven". Professor [[Edward Hitchcock]] then obtained the slab, which is now on prominent display in the [[Beneski Museum of Natural History]] at [[Amherst College]]. Hitchcock believed the fossils were made by gigantic ancient birds, long before scientists accepted that modern birds and dinosaurs are related.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory/collections/ichnology|title=Collections {{!}} Ichnology |publisher=Amherst College|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/edward-hitchcock-dinosaur-fossils-footprints-birds-amherst|title=The First Scientist to Study Dinosaur Footprints Thought Giant Birds Made Them|last=Meszaros|first=John|date=December 12, 2017|work=Atlas Obscura|access-date=March 21, 2018|language=en}}</ref>