Springfield, Missouri
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Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri. It is the county seat of Greene CountyTemplate:GR.
Contents |
Geography
Springfield is located at 37°11'42" North, 93°17'10" West (37.195098, -93.286213)Template:GR.
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 censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 151,580 people, 64,691 households, and 35,709 families residing in the city. The population density was 800.0/km² (2,072.0/mi²). There were 69,650 housing units at an average density of 367.6/km² (952.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 64,691 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was 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 were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,563, and the median income for a family was $38,114. Males had a median income of $27,778 versus $20,980 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,711. 15.9% of the population and 9.9% of families were below the poverty line. 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Education
High schools in Springfield include Central High School, which was attended by Bob Barker and civil rights figure Linda Brown, Kickapoo High School, which was attended by actor Brad Pitt, 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 Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, 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, Springfield College and Bryan College.
Famous Natives and Residents
Politics
- John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General
- Matt Blunt, Governor of Missouri
- Roy Blunt, U.S. House Majority Whip
Arts, Literature, Humanities and Entertainment
- Bob Barker, TV game show host
- Aaron Buerge, "The Bachelor" in 2002
- Richard Christy, comedian and musician
- Kim Crosby, Broadway performer
- John Goodman, Actor
- Lucas Grabeel, Actor
- Tess Harper, Actress
- Don Johnson, Actor
- Jay Kenneth Johnson, Actor
- Robin Luke, musician
- Brad Pitt, Actor
- Jake Simpson, "Star Search" winner and Branson performer
- Kathleen Turner, Actress
- Robert Westenberg, Broadway Performer
Sports
- Lori Endicott, Olympic volleyball player
- Jason Pyrah, Olympic runner
- Payne Stewart, professional golfer
Business
- John Q. Hammons, Hammons Hotels founder
- Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops founder
Other
- Janet Kavandi, astronaut
- Kristi Capel, Miss Missouri USA 2006
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, MO.
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.
Image:Wilsonscreek.jpg 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.
2005: Southwest Missouri State University becomes Missouri State University.
Issues
In 2003, the city council of Springfield prohibited smoking in restaurants except for specific listed exceptions. [1]
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.
Attractions
The Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, located on St. Louis Street, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Assemblies of God International Headquarters is in Springfield.
Bass Pro Shops' Outdoor World, the first and largest Bass Pro in the country, is 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.
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.
Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts on the Missouri State University campus, is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose performing arts center.
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 just east of Springfield.
The Mizumoto Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene Park features Japanese-style landscaping, teahouse, moonbridge, moon deck and pagoda. The garden was built in commemoration of Springfield's sister-city, Isesaki (Gunma, Japan).
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.
The Railroad Historical Museum is located in the 1300 block of North Grant Street in Grant Beach Park. There is a static display of equipment consisting of a St. Louis San Francisco steam locomotive,Burlington baggage car,Chicago and Northwestern commuter car and a Burlington Northern caboose. Hundreds of artifacts from the Frisco Railroad and other railroads. Many hands on things for children to do and a museum is located next to the swimming pool and picnic area in Grant Beach Park.
Springfield Cardinals AA baseball team.
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.
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 Park 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.
Name
The origin of the name Springfield remains unclear. Writing in 1883 the historian R. I. Holcombe states, "The town took its name from the circumstance of there being a spring under the hill, on the creek, while on top of the hill, where the principal portion of the town lay, there was a field." He goes on to note, "This version of the origin of the name is disputed by the editor of the Springfield Express, Mr. J. G. Newbill, who, in the issue of his paper, November 11, 1881, says: 'It has been stated that this city got its name from the fact of a spring and field being near by just west of town. But such is not a correct version. When the authorized persons met and adopted the title of the "Future Great" of the Southwest, several of the earliest settlers had handed in their favorite names, among whom was Kindred Rose, who presented the winning name, "Springfield," in honor of his former home town, Springfield, Robertson county, Tennessee.'"[2]
The most common view is that the city was named for Springfield, Massachusetts. One story is a man from the city, James Wilson, offered everyone free whiskey who would vote for naming it after his home town of Springfield, Massachusetts.Template:Ref
Nicknames
Springfield has the nickname of "The Queen City 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.
Sister cities
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 Bypass, Chestnut Expressway, and Kearney Street.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has a major hub operation in Springfield. Mainlines to and from Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis and Tulsa converge at the railroad's yard facility in the north part of the city. The Missouri and Northern Arkansa Railroad also operates several miles of (former Missouri Pacific) industrial trackage within the city. 65-plus freight trains travel to, from, and through the city each day. Passenger trains have not served Springfield since 1967.
Springfield-Branson National Airport serves the city; nearly 700,000 passengers used the facility in 2005. Construction on a major new passenger terminal has begun.
References
Template:Note Dark, Phyllis & Harris. Springfield of the Ozarks: An Illustrated History. Windsor Publications, 1981. ISBN 0897810287.
External links
- Official Site of Springfield, Missouri
- Springfield, Missouri, Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
- Springfield Public Schools
- Springfield News-Leader - Local news and information source
- Springfield, MO informational site
- All the best of the 417 Area Code at Best of 417
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