It’s the birthplace of basketball, Breck shampoo and Webster’s dictionary. But when folks who live in Springfield, Massachusetts consider its biggest claim to fame, it all comes down to Dr. Seuss.

Yes, Dr. Seuss—the pen name of world-famous author/illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel, who created such iconic characters as the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and Horton the Elephant.

He was born in Springfield on March 2, 1904, and over a long career during which he created 44 children’s classics, he charmed his way into the national consciousness, helped millions of kids learn to read and immortalized the buildings, streets and people of his hometown in titles ranging from “Yertle the Turtle” and “To Think That It Happened on Mulberry Street” to “Horton Hears a Who!”and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“Dr. Seuss drew much of his inspiration from his own neighborhood in Springfield. It’s all still here, just waiting for creative minds to discover it,” said Joseph Carvalho, the president of the Springfield Museums Association at the dedication of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in 2002.

Cultural Amenities

Nearly a decade later, a sculpture garden—with its endearing bronze sculptures of the doctor at his drawing board, the Cat in the Hat, a 14-foot Horton stepping out of an open book, the Grinch and others—is the focal point of the Springfield Museums Quadrangle, where four museums are neatly clustered.

The museums are part of the State Street Corridor, the revitalized area along Main and State streets that is the crowning point of Springfield’s flourishing downtown, noted Jeff Ciuffreda, president of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. .

While Springfield isn’t as large as Boston, which is 90 minutes to the east down the Massachusetts Turnpike, it has cultural amenities to rival it—and the museums are one example, said Deb Kozikowski, a licensed real estate agent.

“Springfield has a symphony orchestra, professional theater and numerous community theater groups. The museums and library are wonderful. There’s decent public transportation, although we’re a driving region,” said Kozikowski, who is associated with Borys & Adams Real Estate in neighboring Chicopee.

A Historic Past

Springfield, the largest city on the Connecticut River, is the seat of Hampden County. It’s one of two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, with the other being Greater Boston.

The city’s population was 153,060 in the 2010 U.S. Census and Greater Springfield was home to nearly 694,000 people, according to the latest count.

It’s the largest city in Western New England and the urban, economic and cultural capital of the Connecticut River Valley, known colloquially as the Pioneer Valley.

Founded in 1635 after a group of business-minded Puritans headed by William Pynchon, an original settler of Roxbury, Massachusetts, led a scouting expedition there and returned with news of fertile farmland and the “great river” that helped to support it.

The city played a prominent role during several historic confrontations, including King Phillip’s War and Shays’ Rebellion, with the most crucial battle fought at the Springfield Armory in 1787.

City Pride

Through the years, Springfield has gone by several nicknames, including The City of Homes, due to its attractive Victorian architecture; the City of Progress, coined during the Industrial Revolution; and Hoop City, since basketball, the world’s second most popular sport, was invented here in 1891, by theology student James Naismith.

But its most popular, longstanding nickname is The City of Firsts, bestowed since Springfield and its people have produced many of America’s most significant innovations. The long list includes Merriam Webster’s first American-English dictionary in 1805, Thomas Blanchard’s first American horseless car in 1825 and Charles Goodyear’s discovery and patent of vulcanized rubber in 1844.

Today, Springfield is made up of 17 distinct neighborhoods, including Forest Park, home to Frederick Law Olmsted’s 735-acre Forest Park and Forest Park Heights Historic District, and the McKnight Historic District, which encompasses a large array of historic Victorian architecture, most notably 900 “painted ladies” preserved historic homes.

Resiliency is a key theme these days as the city rebounds from the devastating tornado that struck on June 1, 2011, killing three persons, injuring 200 and destroying 1,600 homes.

“It primarily struck the South End, which was currently undergoing $3.5 million in revitalization, including sidewalks, widened intersections and period lighting. We are now trying to forge a new path and have hired a firm to create a master plan for redevelopment. While we would never wish a tornado on anyone, our recovery is going well and we are making the most of it,” said Ciuffreda.

Industry and Education

Springfield is the region’s leader in trade and transportation, education and health services, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality and government.

Along with nearby Hartford, Connecticut, Springfield is home to the education-based Knowledge Corridor. Six colleges are located in the city proper and the corridor itself is home to 25 universities and colleges, including some of the most prestigious schools in the country.

Besides its cultural amenities, Springfield is the headquarters to many businesses from the American Hockey League and Merriam-Webster to Smith & Wesson, Spalding Sporting Goods, Breck Shampoo and the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Real Estate Bargains

There are bargains to be found in real estate here, said Kozikowski.

“Houses in Springfield proper are bargains in this depressed economy,” she said. “And while the city has been hit hard economically, for folks with jobs, there are nice homes and condos to be had at a fraction of the price of other cities,” she said.

Condos currently on the market range from downtown efficiencies at less than $35,000 to large three-bedroom, two-bath family units in a residential setting in the mid-$100,000s.

Two important developments in the downtown include one condominium in the old Classical High School and another underway in the adjacent school headquarters.

“The downtown area is opening up for condominium living and these developments are making use of the old buildings and are in walking distance to City Hall and the museums. They will add a lot to the downtown,” said Ciuffreda.

Springfield and its residents have banded together to rebuild, making it one of the best places to live in New England.

“We are accentuating the good that is happening here, with festivals and a great quality of life,” said Ciuffreda.

“I love living in Western Massachusetts and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” added Kozikowski.

Nancye Tuttle is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to New England Condominium.