Editing Northampton, Massachusetts (section)

=== Decline ===
During the mid-20th century, Northampton experienced several decades of economic decline, bottoming in the 1970s,{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} related to the emergence of the [[Rust Belt]] phenomenon. Though western Massachusetts lies outside of the Rust Belt geographically, the centrality of commerce and the arts to Northampton's economy left it economically vulnerable, in particular when compounded with the decline of Springfield's manufacturing sector, Holyoke's paper industry, and massive plant closures in the [[Capital District, New York|New York Capital District]].

[[File:IMG 3811-On-the-Norwottuck-bridge.jpg|thumb|The [[Norwottuck Rail Trail]] Bridge across the Connecticut River]]