Editing Springfield, Illinois (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Springfield by Sentinel-2, 2020-08-06.jpg|left|thumb|Satellite image of Springfield taken from ESA Sentinel-2]]
Located within the [[central Illinois|central section]] of Illinois, Springfield is {{convert|80|mi}} northeast of [[Greater St. Louis|St. Louis]]. The [[Champaign/Urbana]] area is to the east, [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] is to the north, and [[Bloomington–Normal]] is to the northeast. [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]] is {{convert|40|mi}} due east.

===Topography===
The city is at an elevation of {{convert|558|ft}} [[above sea level]].<ref name="gnis"/> According to the 2010 census, Springfield has a total area of {{convert|65.764|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|59.48|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 90.44%) is land and {{convert|6.284|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 9.56%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1772000 |title=G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1 |access-date=December 27, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213050438/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1772000 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city is located in the Lower [[Illinois River]] Basin, in a large area known as Till Plain. Sangamon County, and the city of Springfield, are in the Springfield Plain subsection of Till Plain. The Plain is underlain by glacial [[till]] that was deposited by a large continental ice sheet that repeatedly covered the area during the [[Illinoian (stage)|Illinoian Stage]].<ref name="WillmanOthers1970">Willman, H.B., and J.C. Frye, 1970, ''Pleistocene Stratigraphy of Illinois.'' Bulletin no. 94, Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois.</ref><ref name="McKay2007">McKay, E.D., 2007, ''Six Rivers, Five Glaciers, and an Outburst Flood: the Considerable Legacy of the Illinois River.'' Proceedings of the 2007 Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System: Our continuing Commitment, 11th Biennial Conference, Oct. 2–4, 2007, 11 p.</ref>

The majority of the Lower Illinois [[River basin|River Basin]] is flat, with relief extending no more than {{convert|20|ft}} in most areas, including the Springfield subsection of the plain. The differences in topography are based on the age of drift. The Springfield and Galesburg Plain subsections represent the oldest drift, Illinoian, while Wisconsinian drift resulted in [[Moraine|end moraines]] on the Bloomington Ridged Plain subsection of Till Plain.<ref name=usgs>{{cite web |last=Warner |first=Kelly L. |url=http://il.water.usgs.gov/proj/lirb/pubs/esr/Environ03.html |title=Lower Illinois River Basin – Physiography – Water-Quality Assessment of the Lower Illinois River Basin: Environmental Setting, USGS Water Resources of Illinois |publisher=Il.water.usgs.gov/ |work=United States Geological Survey |page=3 |access-date=April 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924210559/http://il.water.usgs.gov/proj/lirb/pubs/esr/Environ03.html |archive-date=September 24, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Lake Springfield]] is a {{convert|4200|acre|adj=on}} human-made reservoir owned by [[City Water, Light & Power]],<ref name=lake/> the largest municipally owned utility in Illinois.<ref name=about>[http://www.cwlp.com/about_cwlp/about.htm About CWLP] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203205738/http://www.cwlp.com/about_cwlp/about.htm |date=February 3, 2007 }}, City Water, Light & Power, City of Springfield. Retrieved February 20, 2007.</ref> It was built and filled in 1935 by damming [[Lick Creek (Sangamon River tributary)|Lick Creek]], a tributary of the [[Sangamon River]] which flows past Springfield's northern outskirts.<ref name=levels>[http://www.cwlp.com/Lake_Springfield/Lake_Levels/lake_water_levels.htm Lake Water Levels] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203235333/http://www.cwlp.com/lake_springfield/lake_levels/lake_water_levels.htm |date=February 3, 2007 }}, City Water, Light & Power, City of Springfield. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> The lake is used primarily as a source for drinking water for the city of Springfield, also providing cooling water for the condensers at the power plant on the lake. It attracts approximately 600,000&nbsp;visitors annually and its {{convert|57|mi|0}} of shoreline is home to over 700&nbsp;lakeside residences and eight public parks.<ref name=lake>[http://www.cwlp.com/lake_springfield/lake.htm Lake Springfield] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824162327/http://www.cwlp.com/Lake_Springfield/lake.htm |date=August 24, 2000 }}, City Water, Light & Power, City of Springfield. Retrieved February 20, 2007.</ref>

The term "full pool" describes the lake at {{convert|560|ft|m}} above sea level and indicates the level at which the lake begins to flow over the dam's [[spillway]], if no gates are opened.<ref name=levels/> Normal lake levels are generally somewhere below full pool, depending upon the season. During the drought from 1953 to 1955, lake levels dropped to their historical low, {{convert|547.44|ft|2}} [[Sea level#AMSL|AMSL]].<ref name=levels/> The highest recorded lake levels were in December 1982, when the lake crested at {{convert|564|ft|0}}.<ref name=levels/>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Springfield falls within either a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') if the {{convert|0|°C}} isotherm is used or a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') if the {{convert|-3|°C}} isotherm is used. In recent years, winter temperatures have increased substantially while summer temperatures have remained equal to the period 30 years before. Hot, humid summers and cold, rather snowy winters are the norm. Springfield is located on the farthest reaches of [[Tornado Alley]], and as such, [[thunderstorms]] are a common occurrence throughout the spring and summer. From 1961 to 1990 the city of Springfield averaged {{convert|35.25|in|mm|0}} of precipitation per year.<ref name=precip>[http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normrain.html Normal Monthly Precipitation, Inches] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901073251/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normrain.html |date=September 1, 2006 }}, Department of Meteorology, University of Utah. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> During that same period the average yearly temperature was {{convert|52.4|°F|1}}, with a summer maximum of {{convert|76.5|°F|1}} in July and a winter minimum of {{convert|24.2|°F|1}} in January.<ref name=temp>[http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normtemp.html Normal Daily Temperature, °F] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212033926/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/normtemp.html |date=February 12, 2007 }}, Department of Meteorology, University of Utah. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref>

From 1971 to 2000, NOAA data showed that Springfield's annual mean temperature increased slightly to {{convert|52.7|°F|1}}. During that period, July averaged {{convert|76.3|°F|1}}, while January averaged {{convert|25.1|°F|1}}.

From 1981 to 2010, NOAA data showed that Springfield's annual mean temperature increased slightly to {{convert|53.1|°F|1}}. During that period, July averaged {{convert|76.0|°F|1}}, while January averaged {{convert|26.9|°F|1}}.

From 1991 to 2020, NOAA's latest dataset showed a continued increase in the annual mean to {{convert|54.0|°F|1}}. During that period, July averaged {{convert|76.5|°F|1}}, while January averaged {{convert|27.9|°F|1}}.

On June 14, 1957, a tornado hit Springfield, killing two people.<ref name=nws/> On March 12, 2006, the city was struck by [[March 2006 tornado outbreak sequence|two F2 tornadoes]].<ref name=nws>{{cite web |url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/?n=spi-tornado |title=Springfield Tornadoes of March 12, 2006 |publisher=[[National Weather Service Lincoln, Illinois]] |date=May 11, 2009 |access-date=September 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718011448/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/?n=spi-tornado |archive-date=July 18, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The storm system which brought the two [[tornado]]es hit the city around 8:30pm; no one died as a result of the weather.<ref name=nws/> Springfield received a federal grant in February 2005 to help improve its tornado warning systems and new sirens were put in place in November 2006 after eight of the sirens failed during an April 2006 test, shortly after the tornadoes hit.<ref name=release>[http://www.springfield.il.us/RELEASES/2006%20Releases/NewSirens.htm New City Tornado Sirens are Fully Operational] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928084117/http://www.springfield.il.us/RELEASES/2006%20Releases/NewSirens.htm |date=September 28, 2007 }}, Press Release, City of Springfield. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref><ref name=lahood>[http://www.house.gov/lahood/20050223Fire.htm Springfield and Quincy Fire Department Awarded $146,646 in Homeland Security Grants] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304162058/http://www.house.gov/lahood/20050223Fire.htm |date=March 4, 2007 }}, Press Release, Office of Congressman Ray Lahood, February 23, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref><ref name=minutes>[http://www.springfield.il.us/cityclerk/Minutes/2006%20Minutes/April%204%2006%20Final%20Minutes.pdf Minutes of the Springfield City Council – April 4, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927201809/http://www.springfield.il.us/CityClerk/Minutes/2006%20Minutes/April%204%2006%20Final%20Minutes.pdf |date=September 27, 2006 }}, ([[PDF]]), City of Springfield, City Clerk. Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref> The cost of the new sirens totaled $983,000.<ref name=release/> Although tornadoes are not uncommon in central Illinois, the March 12 tornadoes were the first to hit the actual city since the 1957 storm.<ref name=nws/> The 2006 tornadoes followed nearly identical paths to that of the 1957 tornado.<ref name=nws/>

{{Weather box
| location = Springfield, Illinois ([[Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1879–present
| single line = Y
| collapsed = Y
| Jan record high F = 73
| Feb record high F = 80
| Mar record high F = 91
| Apr record high F = 90
| May record high F = 101
| Jun record high F = 104
| Jul record high F = 112
| Aug record high F = 108
| Sep record high F = 102
| Oct record high F = 93
| Nov record high F = 83
| Dec record high F = 74
| year record high F = 112

|Jan avg record high F = 58.1
|Feb avg record high F = 63.8
|Mar avg record high F = 74.9
|Apr avg record high F = 83.5
|May avg record high F = 89.5
|Jun avg record high F = 93.8
|Jul avg record high F = 94.5
|Aug avg record high F = 94.4
|Sep avg record high F = 91.9
|Oct avg record high F = 85.8
|Nov avg record high F = 72.0
|Dec avg record high F = 62.3
|year avg record high F = 96.5

| Jan high F = 35.9
| Feb high F = 41.1
| Mar high F = 53.1
| Apr high F = 65.6
| May high F = 75.7
| Jun high F = 84.0
| Jul high F = 86.8
| Aug high F = 85.4
| Sep high F = 80.2
| Oct high F = 67.4
| Nov high F = 52.7
| Dec high F = 40.7
| year high F = 64.1
| Jan mean F = 27.9
| Feb mean F = 32.4
| Mar mean F = 43.2
| Apr mean F = 54.4
| May mean F = 65.1
| Jun mean F = 73.7
| Jul mean F = 76.5
| Aug mean F = 74.9
| Sep mean F = 68.0
| Oct mean F = 56.0
| Nov mean F = 43.5
| Dec mean F = 32.9
| year mean F = 54.0
| Jan low F = 19.9
| Feb low F = 23.7
| Mar low F = 33.2
| Apr low F = 43.3
| May low F = 54.4
| Jun low F = 63.3
| Jul low F = 66.2
| Aug low F = 64.3
| Sep low F = 55.8
| Oct low F = 44.6
| Nov low F = 34.2
| Dec low F = 25.2
| year low F = 44.0

|Jan avg record low F = -4.2
|Feb avg record low F = 2.4
|Mar avg record low F = 12.6
|Apr avg record low F = 27.3
|May avg record low F = 38.1
|Jun avg record low F = 49.4
|Jul avg record low F = 54.5
|Aug avg record low F = 52.4
|Sep avg record low F = 39.6
|Oct avg record low F = 26.6
|Nov avg record low F = 16.3
|Dec avg record low F = 4.1
|year avg record low F = -8.4

| Jan record low F = −22
| Feb record low F = −24
| Mar record low F = −12
| Apr record low F = 16
| May record low F = 28
| Jun record low F = 39
| Jul record low F = 48
| Aug record low F = 43
| Sep record low F = 31
| Oct record low F = 13
| Nov record low F = −3
| Dec record low F = −21
| year record low F = −24
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.03
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.93
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.76
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.97
| May precipitation inch = 4.52
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.61
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.85
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.37
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.86
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.26
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.71
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.15
| year precipitation inch = 38.04
| Jan snow inch = 6.7
| Feb snow inch = 6.1
| Mar snow inch = 3.1
| Apr snow inch = 0.3
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.1
| Nov snow inch = 1.2
| Dec snow inch = 4.3
| year snow inch = 21.8
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 9.7
| Feb precipitation days = 8.9
| Mar precipitation days = 10.5
| Apr precipitation days = 11.5
| May precipitation days = 12.6
| Jun precipitation days = 10.6
| Jul precipitation days = 8.5
| Aug precipitation days = 8.2
| Sep precipitation days = 7.3
| Oct precipitation days = 9.1
| Nov precipitation days = 8.8
| Dec precipitation days = 9.0
| year precipitation days = 114.7
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 5.2
| Feb snow days = 4.2
| Mar snow days = 1.9
| Apr snow days = 0.3
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 1.0
| Dec snow days = 3.6
| year snow days = 16.3
| Jan humidity = 73.4
| Feb humidity = 74.0
| Mar humidity = 71.3
| Apr humidity = 65.3
| May humidity = 65.6
| Jun humidity = 66.6
| Jul humidity = 70.4
| Aug humidity = 74.0
| Sep humidity = 71.9
| Oct humidity = 68.4
| Nov humidity = 73.8
| Dec humidity = 77.6
| year humidity = 71.0
| Jan sun = 160.7
| Feb sun = 158.7
| Mar sun = 186.5
| Apr sun = 225.8
| May sun = 281.2
| Jun sun = 308.0
| Jul sun = 320.7
| Aug sun = 291.0
| Sep sun = 248.4
| Oct sun = 214.0
| Nov sun = 140.2
| Dec sun = 129.3
| year sun = 2664.5
| Jan percentsun = 53
| Feb percentsun = 53
| Mar percentsun = 50
| Apr percentsun = 57
| May percentsun = 63
| Jun percentsun = 69
| Jul percentsun = 70
| Aug percentsun = 68
| Sep percentsun = 66
| Oct percentsun = 62
| Nov percentsun = 47
| Dec percentsun = 44
| year percentsun = 60
|source 1 = [[NOAA]] (sun and humidity 1961–1990)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx |title=NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318054551/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00093822&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203755/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00093822&format=pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=NOAAsun>
{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72439.TXT |title=WMO Climate Normals for Springfield/Capital ARPT, IL 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=September 10, 2015 }}</ref>
}}

===Cityscape===
[[File:Illinois State Capitol at sunset.jpg|thumb|Illinois State Capitol and East Capitol Avenue in 2019]]
Springfield proper is largely based on a grid street system, with numbered streets starting with the longitudinal First Street (which leads to the Illinois State Capitol) and leading to 32nd Street in the far eastern part of the city. Previously, the city had four distinct boundary streets: North, South, East, and West Grand Avenues. Since expansion, West Grand Avenue became MacArthur Boulevard and East Grand became 19th Street on the north side and 18th Street on the south side. 18th Street has since been renamed after [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=2166 |title=The Grand Avenues |date=October 26, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804052454/https://sangamoncountyhistory.org/wp/?p=2166 |url-status=live }}</ref> North and South Grand Avenues (which run east–west) have remained important corridors in the city. At South Grand Avenue and Eleventh Street, the old "South Town District" lies, with the City of Springfield undertaking a significant redevelopment project there.

Latitudinal streets range from names of presidents in the downtown area to names of notable people in Springfield and Illinois to names of institutions of higher education, especially in the Harvard Park neighborhood.

'''City neighborhoods'''

Springfield has at least twenty separately designated [[neighborhood]]s, though not all have neighborhood associations. They include: Benedictine District, Bunn Park, Downtown, Eastsview, Enos Park, Glen Aire, Harvard Park, Hawthorne Place, Historic West Side, Lincoln Park, Mather and Wells, Medical District, Near South, Northgate, Oak Ridge, Old Aristocracy Hill, Pillsbury District, Shalom, Springfield Lakeshore, [[Toronto, Illinois|Toronto]], Twin Lakes, UIS Campus, Victoria Lake, Vinegar Hill, and Westchester neighborhoods.<ref name="neigh">[http://www.springfield.il.us/Oped/neighborhoods.htm Neighborhood Associations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212190831/http://www.springfield.il.us/Oped/neighborhoods.htm |date=February 12, 2007 }}, Office of Planning & Economic Development, City of Springfield. Retrieved March 11, 2007.</ref>

The Lincoln Park Neighborhood is an area bordered by 3rd Street on its west, Black Avenue on the north, 8th street on the east and North Grand Avenue. The neighborhood is not far from Lincoln's Tomb on Monument Avenue.<ref name=lp>"[http://www.lpnaspringfield.org/boundry.asp Boundaries] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929171437/http://www.lpnaspringfield.org/boundry.asp |date=2007-09-29 }}", ''Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association''. Retrieved May 20, 2007.</ref>

Springfield completely surrounds four suburbs that have their own municipal governments: [[Jerome, Illinois|Jerome]], [[Leland Grove, Illinois|Leland Grove]], [[Southern View, Illinois|Southern View]], and [[Grandview, Illinois|Grandview]]. It also surrounds various unincorporated enclaves, including the neighborhoods of [[Laketown, Illinois|Laketown]] and [[Cabbage Patch, Illinois|Cabbage Patch]].<ref>{{Cite map |url=https://countyclerk.sangamonil.gov/Elections/Information/documents/Spfld_WardFinal_D.pdf |access-date=May 24, 2023 |title=City of Springfield Ward Map |date=September 16, 2022 |author-first=Don |author-last=Gray |publisher=Sangamon County }}</ref>