Hawley is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 353 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Hawley was first settled in 1760 as Plantation Number 7, by a group from Hatfield. The town was called the “Hatfield Reserve” until it was officially incorporated in 1792. The town was named for Joseph Hawley of Northampton, a local leader in the American Revolution. Hawley’s main industries were forestry and, eventually, recreation. The town originally included the land of its neighbor, Plainfield, which split off in the early nineteenth century.
Today, the town has very little industry. There are a few remaining farms, artisans and small businesses, though most people commute from the town, work from home or work for municipalities. The town has no gas stations, convenience stores, or liquor stores. Hawley does not have a police department, but does have a fire department.
Explore 35 miles of mixed-use trail throughout this 7,882-acre woodland. You can hike, mountain bike, and snowmobile. Keep a lookout for remains of the past, such as cellarholes from the abandoned village of South Hawley