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is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,209 at the 2000 census. It is located in western Massachusetts, north of Springfield, southwest of Belchertown, and is considered part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ludlow Company (whose clock tower is depicted on the town seal), formed in 1868, helped shaped the town by providing housing, a library, schools, playgrounds, and even a clubhouse for the diverse community. Ludlow was home to many sawmills and gristmills, utilizing the power from several sources of water nearby, including the Chicopee River, Broad Brook, Higher Brook, and Stony Brook. The town is most noted, however, for its factory mills and production of jute yarns, twine, and webbing. Less well known was the glass-making business that was prevalent in the early 1800s. John Sikes manufactured glass bottles and other glassware and the Ludlow.
The late John F. Thompson, representented Ludlow in the Mass. General court, where he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, known as the "Iron Duke", he weilded much influence in state and local politics, during the late 50's and early 60's.
Ludlow High graduate Maura West of "As The World Turns" won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2007. Dean Lombardi, a 1976 graduate of Ludlow High and star hockey player for the high school and Springfield Olympics, is the current president and general manager of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.