Deerfield

Town in Cook and Lake counties, northeast Illinois; population (1990) 17,300. It is situated on the north branch of the Chicago River, 40 km/25 mi northwest of Chicago. It is a largely residential suburb, with some industries producing earth-moving equipment and pharmaceutical and hospital supplies. Deerfield is home to Trinity College (1897).

Settled in 1835 as Cadwell's Corners, Deerfield was the site of an unsuccessful attempt at integrating a public housing project in the late 1950s; Harry and David Rosen describe the effort in But Not Next Door.

Deerfield

Town in Franklin County, northwest Massachusetts; population (1998 est) 5,000. It is situated on the Connecticut and Deerfield rivers, 56 km/35 mi north of Springfield.

Founded in the 1660s, Deerfield still retains a Colonial flavour; the town has carefully preserved its period architecture and tone, and its centre is listed on the national register of historic places. Deerfield was the target of repeated attacks during King Philip's War (1675), including the Bloody Brook massacre. During an Indian raid of 1704, 49 were killed, more than 100 taken prisoner, and the town was burned. Many of those buildings left standing still have bullet marks. After peace resumed, the town prospered as an agricultural community, growing tobacco and vegetables.

The Deerfield Academy (1797), a noted preparatory school, is located here.