Satan's Kingdom is an
unincorporated village in the
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
of
Northfield,
Franklin County,
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, United States. Satan's Kingdom is northwest of the
Northfield CDP and is near the
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...
border.
Name
Satan's Kingdom has been noted for its
unusual place name.
Stories say that it was named Satan's Kingdom after a resident of Northfield walked out of a church where a
sermon about the fires of hell had just been given and saw a forest fire across the
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges into Long Isl ...
, and observed that Satan's Kingdom was burning.
It has also been suggested that the name originated from the village's reputation for dangerous wildlife, such as venomous snakes.
Satan's Kingdom is not a census designated or incorporated place having an official federally recognized name.
History
Satan's Kingdom was the site of multiple attacks in the
King Philip's War
King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War, Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, Pometacomet's Rebellion, or Metacom's Rebellion) was an armed conflict in 1675–1678 between a group of indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodland ...
during the 1670s.
Geography
Much of Satan's Kingdom is occupied by the Satan's Kingdom Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife management area set aside by the
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
The area is 1,800 acres,
and is popular with hikers.
See also
*
Satans Kingdom, Vermont
References
{{authority control
Villages in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Villages in Massachusetts