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Springfield Background
Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri. It is the county seat of Greene County. The city was
named after Springfield, Massachusetts.
Geography
Springfield is located at 37°11’42" North, 93°17’10" West (37.195098, -93.286213).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 191.1 km² (73.8 mi²). 189.5 km²
(73.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.7 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.87% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 151,580 people, 64,691 households, and 35,709 families residing in
the city. The population density is 800.0/km² (2,072.0/mi²). There are 69,650 housing units at an average
density of 367.6/km² (952.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.69% White, 3.27% African American,
0.75% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.95% from two or
more races. 2.31% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 64,691 households out of which 24.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7%
are married couples living together, 10.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8%
are non-families. 35.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.6% have someone living alone
who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.82.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 17.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from
25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For
every 100 females there are 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,563, and the median income for a family is $38,114.
Males have a median income of $27,778 versus $20,980 for females. The per capita income for the city is
$17,711. 15.9% of the population and 9.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population,
19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
High schools in Springfield include Kickapoo High School, which was attended by actor Brad Pitt, and Central
High School, which was attended by Bob Barker and civil rights figure Linda Brown and Hillcrest High School
which was attended by John Ashcroft. Other high schools include Glendale High School, Parkview High School,
Greenwood Laboratory School and Springfield Catholic High School.
Colleges and universities located in Springfield include Baptist Bible College, Central Bible College, Drury
University, Evangel University, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, Missouri State University, Ozarks
Technical Community College, St. John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences of Southwest Baptist University,
Vatterott College, and Bryan College.
Famous People
- Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is from Springfield.
- Hotelier John Q. Hammons of Hammons Hotels resides in Springfield.
- Bass Pro Shops founder John L. Morris resides in Springfield.
- 1950’s rock n' roll singer Robin Luke resides in Springfield.
- Aaron Buerge, "The Bachelor" of 2002 resides in Springfield.
- Actor Brad Pitt grew up in Springfield and many of his family members still live there.
- Actor Jay Kenneth Johnson grew up in Springfield.
- Broadway performer Kim Crosby grew up and currently resides in Springfield.
- Astronaut Janet Kavandi was raised in Springfield.
- The late pro golfer Payne Stewart grew up in Springfield.
- "Star Search" winner Jake Simpson, Olympian runner Jason Pyrah, Olympian volleyball team member Lori Endicott
and actor Don Johnson were raised in the Springfield area.
- Game show host Bob Barker attended college at Drury University in Springfield.
History
1829: Future site of Springfield designated by John Polk Campbell. The first settlers (the brothers Fulbright and
their families) follow in 1830.
1833: The state legislature designated most of the southern portion of Missouri a single county.
1835: Springfield becomes the county seat of Greene County.
February 18, 1838: Springfield is first incorporated with a population of 300.
1838: The Trail of Tears traveled through the Springfield area via what is known as The Old Wire Road.
1858: The first westbound stagecoach, the Butterfield Overland Mail, reaches Springfield.
1861: American Civil War - Union troops under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon take control of the city soon after war
breaks out.
August 10, 1861: American Civil War Battle of Wilson’s Creek - Confederate forces under Brig. Gen. Benjamin
McCulloch and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price march on the city. Confederate and Union forces meet 12 miles outside the
city. In the bloody fighting which ensues, Gen. Lyon is killed and Col. Franz Sigel leads a Union retreat to
Springfield and then Rolla. Confederate troops occupy Springfield.
1862: American Civil War - Confederates abandon Springfield to Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis.
January 8, 1863: American Civil War Battle of Springfield - A Union garrison under Brig. Gen. Egbert Brown repels
a Confederate attack led by Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke.
July 21, 1865: Wild Bill Hickok shoots Dave Tutt dead in the town square over a gambling dispute. The shootout
reported nationwide is regarded as the first true western showdown.
1870: First railroad, the St. Louis-San Francisco line.
1887: Springfield merges with North Springfield.
January, 1888: First mail delivery.
1905: Three African-American men are lynched in the town square for allegedly raping a white woman, though guilt
was never established. This event sparked a mass exodus of African-Americans from the area, who still remain a
vast minority.
1910: First electric lights installed.
1926: AASHTO settles dispute over U.S. Highway 60. Cyrus Avery (head of the group), who is in Springfield at the
time, accepts the number 66 for the new Chicago-Los Angeles route. Springfield gains the nickname "Birthplace of
Route 66".
1927: First radio station.
1947: Red’s Giant Hamburgs, world’s first drive-thru restaurant, is opened.
January, 1955: First color television broadcast in the city by KOLR-TV.
1963: Cashew chicken created and served for the first time at Leong’s Tea House.
1990: First "Historic Route 66" marker on US 66 is placed in Springfield.
Issues
In 2003, the city council of Springfield prohibited smoking in restaurants except for specific listed exceptions.
In November 2004, voters turned down a plan to fund a new coal fired power plant in the city. Many voters who were
polled stated concerns about the pollution that a new coal power plant would cause. The local utility company has
started a comprehensive study to come up with a new solution to meet the communities growing power needs.
In August, 2005, Springfield announced plans to annex a large chunk of southeastern Greene County. Plans called, if
necessary, to force the area into the city. The annexation was called off after an agreement was reached with Rogersville
to the east which also filed to annex the same area. The previous couple of years of annexation has become a controversial
issue and included a lawsuit with neighboring Brookline.
Landmarks
The Assemblies of God International Headquarters is in Springfield.
Bass Pro Shops, the first and largest Bass Pro in the country, is headquartered in Springfield.
Dickerson Park Zoo is famous for its Asian elephant breeding program.
Discovery Center of Springfield is an interactive hands-on science center for kids.
Historic U.S. Highway 66 - also known as "The Mother Road" - passes through the city (nicknamed "The Birthplace of Route
66") on Kearney Street, Glenstone Avenue, St. Louis Street, College Street, and Chestnut Expressway.
Springfield Cardinals AA baseball team.
Fantastic Caverns, the only cave in North America large enough to ride through, is just north of Springfield. The
privately-owned cave is open to the public and visitors can tour the cave in a Jeep-drawn tram.
The 562-foot Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, a more than 100-year-old bridge, allows pedestrians to cross 13 sets of
railroad tracks. Trainwatching from the bridge is a popular activity.
The beautifully restored Baroque Renaissance/Napoleon style Landers Theatre, built in 1909, is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is in Springfield.
The Mizumoto Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene Park features Japanese-style landscaping, teahouse, moonbridge, moon
deck and pagoda.
The 14 acre (57,000 m²) Springfield National Cemetery is the only cemetery in the United States where the dead on both
sides of the American Civil War are buried side by side. The dead of the North and South, however, are separated by a
low stone wall. Veterans of all U.S. Wars - including the Revolutionary War - are buried in the cemetery.
Pythian Castle was originally built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias and later owned by the U.S. Military. It is now
open to the public and the owners offer swing and ballroom dance lessons, dances, murder mystery nights and other activities.
The castle is certified as haunted.
Springfield’s Incredible Pizza Company was the first Incredible Pizza Company in the nation.
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, site of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, is a few miles southwest of Springfield.
The Hulston Civil War Library, with one of the largest collections of softbound volumes on the Civil War in the National
Parks Service is located at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. General Sweeny’s Museum of Civil War History was
acquired by the National Parks Service and added to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in 2005.
Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium showcases more than 225 species of live animals, fresh and saltwater aquariums,
interactive displays and educational programs. WOW opened in 2001.
Nicknames
Springfield is known as "The Queen City of the Ozarks." The reason for this is unknown. One theory is that the city is the
"gem" of the Ozarks.
It is also known as "The Birthplace of Route 66," due to its early connection with the designation of that highway. A plaque
in Park Central Square was dedicated to the city by the Route 66 Association of Missouri for just that.
Transportation
Springfield is served by Interstate 44 which connects it with St. Louis and Tulsa, Oklahoma. U.S. Highway 60, U.S. Highway
65, and U.S. Highway 160 pass through the city, and formerly U.S. Highway 66 and U.S. Highway 166 also passed through the
city. Portions of the historic U.S. 66 can still be seen in portions of the city. U.S. 166’s eastern terminus was once
located in the northeast section of the city, and U.S. 60 originally ended (westbound) in downtown Springfield. U.S. 60 now
goes through town on James River Freeway. Missouri State Highway 13 carries traffic north towards Kansas City.
Major streets include Glenstone Avenue, Sunshine Street, Kansas Expressway, Battlefield Road, Republic Road, West By-pass,
Chestnut Expressway, and Kearney Street.
The Burlington Northern Railway also goes through the city.
Springfield-Branson Regional Airport serves the city.
Source: wikipedia.org
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