Hampden County is a non-governmental
county located in the
Pioneer Valley of the U.S. state of
Massachusetts. As of the
2010 census, Hampden County's population was 463,490. Its traditional county seat is
Springfield, the
Connecticut River Valley's largest city, and economic and cultural capital. Hampden County was split from
Hampshire County in 1812, because
Northampton, Massachusetts was made Hampshire County's "
shire town" 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
John Hampden. To the north of Hampden County is modern-day Hampshire County; to the west is
Berkshire County; to the east is
Worcester County; to the south is
Hartford County, Connecticut.