page_title: Amherst, Massachusetts
section_title: Government
hierarchical_section_title: Amherst, Massachusetts / Government
caption_attribution_description: English: Town Hall, Amherst Massachusetts, August 2010
context_page_description: Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the highest populated municipality in Hampshire County. The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, three of the Five Colleges. The name of the town is pronounced without the h by natives and long-time residents, giving rise to the local saying, "only the 'h' is silent", in reference both to the pronunciation and to the town's politically active populace.
  Amherst has three census-designated places; Amherst Center, North Amherst, and South Amherst.
  Amherst is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lying 22 miles north of the city of Springfield, Amherst is considered the northernmost town in the Hartford-Springfield Metropolitan Region, "The Knowledge Corridor". Amherst is also located in the Pioneer Valley, which encompasses the Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties.
context_section_description: Amherst has a town council for its legislative branch and a town manager for its executive branch. The town manager is appointed by the town council.
  Amherst's town council consists of ten district councilors and three councilors-at-large. Two district councilors are elected from each of five districts in Amherst. The three councilors-at-large are elected by the whole town. Each councilor serves a two year term, except for the first council where each member will serve a three year term.
  Amherst also has the following elected bodies:
  A five member School Committee with two year terms.
  A six member Library Board of Trustees with two year terms.
  A single Oliver Smith Will Elector with a two year term.
  Amherst also has a five member Housing Authority where three of the five members are elected by voters. Each member serves a two year term.
caption: Town Hall
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