Hampden County was split from Hampshire County in 1812, because Northampton, Massachusetts, was made Hampshire County’s “shire town”, or County Seat in 1794; however, Springfield—theretofore Hampshire County’s traditional shire town, dating back to its founding in 1636—grew at a pace far quicker than Northampton and was granted shire town-status over its own, southerly jurisdiction. It was named for parliamentarian John Hampden.
