Editing Springfield, Illinois

{{Short description|Capital city of Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Springfield, Illinois
| settlement_type          = [[List of capitals in the United States|Capital city]]
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
 |border                   = infobox
 |perrow                   = 1/2/3/1
 |total_width              = 280
 |caption_align            = center
 |image1                   = Illinois State Capitol distance.jpg
 |caption1                 = Downtown Springfield and the [[Illinois State Capitol]]
 |image2                   = Lincoln Home 1.jpg
 |caption2                 = [[Lincoln Home National Historic Site|Lincoln Home Site]]
 |image3                   = Vachel Lindsay House in Springfield, IL.jpg
 |caption3                 = [[Vachel Lindsay House]]
 |image4                   = Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, IL.jpg
 |caption4                 = [[Abraham Lincoln's Tomb]]
 |image5                   = OldStateCapitol051916a.jpg
 |caption5                 = [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Old State Capitol]]
 }}
| imagesize                =
| image_alt                =
| image_flag               = Flag of Springfield, Illinois.svg
| flag_alt                 = [[Flag of Springfield, Illinois|Flag]]
| image_seal               = File:Springfield_IL_Seal.svg
| seal_alt                 = [[Seal of Springfield, Illinois|Seal]]
| etymology                =
| nickname                 =
| motto                    = Home of President Abraham Lincoln<ref name="Springfield">{{Official website|http://www.springfield.il.us/ }}</ref>
| anthem                   =
| image_map                = {{maplink
 |frame                    = yes
 |plain                    = yes
 |frame-align              = center
 |frame-width              = 270
 |frame-height             = 270
 |frame-coord              = {{coord|qid=Q28515}}
 |zoom                     = 10
 |type                     = shape
 |marker                   = city
 |stroke-width             = 2
 |stroke-color             = #0096FF
 |fill                     = #0096FF
 |id2                      = Q28515
 |type2                    = shape-inverse
 |stroke-width2            = 2
 |stroke-color2            = #5F5F5F
 |stroke-opacity2          = 0
 |fill2                    = #000000
 |fill-opacity2            = 0
 }}
| map_caption              = Interactive map of Springfield
| pushpin_map              = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_label            = Springfield
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| coordinates              = {{Wikidatacoord|Q28515|type:city_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            =
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
| grid_name                =
| grid_position            =
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Illinois}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Illinois|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Sangamon County, Illinois|Sangamon]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Illinois|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Capital Township, Sangamon County, Illinois|Capital]], [[Springfield Township, Sangamon County, Illinois|Springfield]], [[Woodside Township, Sangamon County, Illinois|Woodside]]<ref name="portions"/>
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = {{start date|1821|04|10}}<ref name="Online-Springfield">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070501060557/http://www.online-springfield.com/firsts.html Springfield Online]}} Retrieved on April 13, 2007</ref>
| established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated Town]]
| established_date1        = {{start date|1832|04|02}}<ref name="Online-Springfield" />
| established_title2       = [[Municipal charter|City Charter]]
| established_date2        = {{start date|1840|02|03}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Name of Local Government: Springfield |url=https://apps.ilsos.gov/isa/localGovNameIndexSearch.do |publisher=Illinois State Archives |access-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409092759/https://apps.ilsos.gov/isa/localGovNameIndexSearch.do |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| named_for                =
| government_footnotes     =
| government_type          = [[Mayor council government|Mayor-Council]]
| governing_body           =
| leader_party             = [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| leader_title             = [[List of mayors of Springfield, Illinois|Mayor]]
| leader_name              = [[Misty Buscher]]
| leader_title1            =
| leader_name1             =
| total_type               =
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web |title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315130646/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 174.79
| area_total_sq_mi         = 67.49
| area_land_km2            = 158.41
| area_land_sq_mi          = 61.16
| area_water_km2           = 16.38
| area_water_sq_mi         = 6.33
| area_rank                =
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Geographic Names Information System |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/426595 |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=edits.nationalmap.gov |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505204423/https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/426595 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}
| elevation_ft             = 600
| elevation_m              = 183
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     =
| population_total         = 114394
| population_density_km2   = 722.16
| population_density_sq_mi = 1870.37
| timezone1                = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1              = −6
| timezone1_DST            = [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = −5
| utc_offset2_DST          =
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = {{collapsible list
 |title=ZIP codes<ref name="zip code 1">{{cite web |url=https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?items=30&page=1&companyName=&address1=&address2=&city=Springfield&state=IL&zip= |title=Look Up a ZIP Code |website=[[United States Postal Service|USPS.com]] |page=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170512025444/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=1&companyName=&address1=&address2=&city=Springfield&state=IL&urbanCode=&postalCode=&zip= |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |access-date=May 12, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="zip code 2">{{cite web |url=https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?items=30&page=2&companyName=&address1=&address2=&city=Springfield&state=IL&zip= |title=Look Up a ZIP Code |website=[[United States Postal Service|USPS.com]] |page=2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170512025612/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?items=30&page=2&companyName=&address1=&address2=&city=Springfield&state=IL&zip= |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |access-date=May 12, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 |frame_style=border:none; padding: 0;
 |list_style=text-align:center;display:none
 |62701–62708, 62711, 62712, 62715, 62716, 62719, 62722, 62723, 62726, 62736, 62739, 62756, 62757, 62761–62767, 62769, 62776, 62777, 62781, 62786, 62791, 62794, 62796
 }}
| area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code                = [[Area code 217|217/447]]
| geocode                  =
| iso_code                 =
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 17-167-11046
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2395940<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395940 }}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.springfield.il.us/}}
}}

'''Springfield''' is the [[List of capitals in the United States|capital city]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. Its population was 114,394 at the [[2020 United States census]], which makes it the state's [[List of cities in Illinois|seventh-most populous city]],<ref name="quickfacts">{{cite web |title=Springfield (city), Illinois |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1772000.html |website=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=September 15, 2014 |date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703033243/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1772000.html |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the second-most populous outside of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] (after [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]]), and the most populous in [[Central Illinois]]. Approximately 208,000 residents live in the [[Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area|Springfield metropolitan area]], which consists of all of [[Sangamon County, Illinois|Sangamon]] and [[Menard County, Illinois|Menard]] counties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Estimates of Resident Population Change and Rankings: July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNCHG.US24PR |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202113/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2013/PEPANNCHG.US24PR |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division |access-date=September 16, 2014 |date=March 2014 }}</ref> The city lies in a plain near the [[Sangamon River]] north of [[Lake Springfield]]. Springfield is the [[county seat]] of Sangamon County and is located along historic [[Route 66]].

Springfield was settled by European-Americans in the late 1810s, around the time Illinois became a state. The most famous historic resident was [[Abraham Lincoln]], who lived in Springfield from 1837 until 1861, upon becoming [[President of the United States]]. Major tourist attractions include multiple sites connected with Lincoln including the [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]], [[Lincoln Home National Historic Site|Lincoln Home]], [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Old State Capitol]], [[Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site|Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices]], and the [[Lincoln Tomb]]. Largely on the efforts of Lincoln and other area lawmakers, as well as its central location, Springfield was made the state capital in 1839.

As the state capital, the [[government of Illinois]] is based in Springfield. Springfield's economy is dominated by government agencies and adjacent firms that work with state and county governance, in addition to healthcare and medicine. State government institutions include the [[Illinois General Assembly]], the [[Illinois Supreme Court]], the office of the [[Governor of Illinois]] and historic [[Illinois Governor's Mansion]]. The [[University of Illinois Springfield]] has its campus near Lake Springfield. Weather is fairly typical for middle-latitude locations, with four distinct seasons. The city has a [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] form of government and governs the [[#Township|Capital Township]]. [[Public school (government funded)|Public schools]] in Springfield are operated by District No. 186.

==History==
===Pre-Civil War===
Settlers originally named this community as "Calhoun", after Senator [[John C. Calhoun]] of [[South Carolina]], expressing their cultural ties.<ref name="Callhoun">[http://www.usacitiesonline.com/ilcountyspringfield.htm#history Springfield history] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103004432/http://www.usacitiesonline.com/ilcountyspringfield.htm#history |date=January 3, 2007 }} Retrieved on February 21, 2007</ref> The land that Springfield now occupies was visited first by trappers and [[fur traders]] who came to the [[Sangamon River]] in 1818.<ref name="Quincynet.com">{{citation <!--EXISTING REFERENCE--> |url=http://www.quincynet.com/daytrips/springfieldNOlincoln/index.htm |title=Springfield, Illinois |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401190814/http://www.quincynet.com/daytrips/springfieldNOlincoln/index.htm |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first cabin was built in 1820, by John Kelly, after discovering the area to be plentiful of deer and wild game. He built his cabin upon a hill, overlooking a creek known eventually as the Town Branch. A stone marker on the north side of Jefferson street, halfway between 1st and College streets, marks the location of this original dwelling. A second stone marker at the NW corner of 2nd and Jefferson, often mistaken for the original home site, marks instead the location of the first county courthouse, which was later built on Kelly's property. In 1821, Calhoun was designated as the county seat of Sangamon County due to its location, fertile soil and trading opportunities.

Settlers from [[Kentucky]], [[Virginia]], and [[North Carolina]] came to the developing settlement.<ref name="Quincynet.com" /> By 1832, Senator Calhoun had fallen out of the favor with the public and the town renamed itself as Springfield.<ref name="Visit Springfield">{{citation <!--EXISTING REFERENCE--> |url=http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/About/Sketch.asp |title= A Brief Sketch of Springfield, Illinois |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305143316/http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/About/Sketch.asp|archive-date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to local history, the name was suggested by the wife of John Kelly, after Spring Creek, which ran through the area known as "Kelly's Field".<ref>John C. Powers, Jr. ''History of the Early Settlers of Springfield, Illinois'', 1876, reprinted 1998, {{ISBN|9780788410185 }}</ref>

[[Kaskaskia, Illinois|Kaskaskia]] was the first capital of the [[Illinois|Illinois Territory]] from its organization in 1809, continuing through statehood in 1818, and through the first year as a state in 1819. [[Vandalia, Illinois|Vandalia]] was the second state capital of Illinois, from 1819 to 1839. Springfield was designated in 1839 as the third capital, and has continued to be so. The designation was largely due to the efforts of [[Abraham Lincoln]] and his associates; nicknamed the "Long Nine" for their combined height of {{convert|54|ft|m}}.<ref name="Quincynet.com" /><ref name="Visit Springfield" />

The [[Potawatomi Trail of Death]] passed through here in 1838. The Native Americans were forced west to Indian Territory by the government's [[Indian Removal]] policy.

[[File:Lincoln Home Springfield 1865.jpg|thumb|[[Lincoln Home National Historic Site|Abraham Lincoln's Springfield home]] in 1865 during [[Funeral and burial of Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln's funeral]]]]
Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Springfield area in 1831 when he was a young man, but he did not live in the city until 1837.<ref name=amer/> He spent the ensuing six years in [[New Salem, Menard County, Illinois|New Salem]], where he began his legal studies, joined the [[state militia]], and was elected to the [[Illinois General Assembly]].

In 1837, Lincoln moved to Springfield, where he lived and worked for the next 24 years as a lawyer and politician. Lincoln delivered his [[Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum address|Lyceum address]] in Springfield. His farewell speech when he left for Washington is a classic in American oratory.<ref name=amer>{{Cite journal |title=Springfield, Illinois |journal=American History |volume=32 |issue=4 |page=60 |date=September–October 1997 |url=http://www.ulib.niu.edu:4513/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9710070017&site=ehost-live |issn=1076-8866}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Academic Search Premier, ([[EBSCO Information Services|EBSCO]]). {{dead link|date=March 2017 }}</ref>

Historian Kenneth J. Winkle (1998) examines the historiography concerning the development of the [[Second Party System]] (Whigs versus Democrats). He applied these ideas to the study of Springfield, a strong Whig enclave in a Democratic region. He chiefly studied poll books for presidential years. The rise of the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] took place in 1836 in opposition to the presidential candidacy of [[Martin Van Buren]] and was consolidated in 1840. Springfield Whigs tend to validate several expectations of party characteristics as they were largely native-born, either in New England or Kentucky, professional or agricultural in occupation, and devoted to partisan organization. Abraham Lincoln's career reflects the Whigs' political rise but, by the 1840s, Springfield began to be dominated by Democratic politicians. Waves of new European immigrants had changed the city's demographics and they became aligned with the Democrats, who made more effort to assist and connect with them. By the 1860 presidential election, Lincoln was barely able to win his home city.<ref>Winkle, (1998)</ref>

====Population====
Winkle earlier had studied the effect of migration on residents' political participation in Springfield during the 1850s.<ref name="winkle"/> Widespread migration in the 19th-century United States produced frequent population turnover within Midwestern communities, which influenced patterns of voter turnout and office-holding. Examination of the manuscript census, poll books, and office-holding records reveals the effects of migration on the behavior and voting patterns of 8,000 participants in 10 elections in Springfield. Most voters were short-term residents who participated in only one or two elections during the 1850s. Fewer than 1% of all voters participated in all 10 elections.<ref name="winkle"/>

Instead of producing political instability, however, rapid turnover enhanced the influence of the more stable residents.<ref name="winkle"/> Migration was selective by age, occupation, wealth, and birthplace. Longer-term or "persistent" voters, as he terms them, tended to be wealthier, more highly skilled, more often native-born, and socially more stable than non-persisters. Officeholders were particularly persistent and socially and economically advantaged. Persisters represented a small "core community" of economically successful, socially homogeneous, and politically active voters and officeholders who controlled local political affairs, while most residents moved in and out of the city. Members of a tightly knit and exclusive "core community", exemplified by [[Abraham Lincoln]], blunted the potentially disruptive impact of migration on local communities.<ref name="winkle">Kenneth J. Winkle, "The Voters of Lincoln's Springfield: Migration and Political Participation in an Antebellum City." ''Journal of Social History'' 1992 25(3): 595–611. {{ISSN|0022-4529}} Fulltext: [[EBSCO Information Services|Ebsco]]</ref>

====Business====
The case of John Williams illustrates the important role of the merchant banker in the economic development of central Illinois before the Civil War. Williams began his career as a clerk in frontier stores and saved to begin his own business. Later, in addition to operating retail and wholesale stores, he acted as a local banker. He organized a national bank in Springfield. He was active in railroad promotion and as an agent for farm machinery.<ref>Robert E., Coleberd, Jr. "John Williams: a Merchant Banker in Springfield, Illinois." ''Agricultural History'' 1968 42(3): 259–265. {{ISSN|0002-1482 }}</ref>

====Religion====
During the mid-19th century, the spiritual needs of German [[Lutherans]] in the Midwest were not being tended. There had been a wave of migration after the 1848 revolutions, but without a related number of clergy. As a result of the efforts of such missionaries as Friedrich Wyneken, Wilhelm Loehe, and Wilhelm Sihler, additional Lutheran ministers were sent to the Midwest, Lutheran schools were opened, and [[Concordia Theological Seminary]] was founded in [[Ft. Wayne, Indiana]] in 1846.

The seminary moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri]], in 1869, and then to Springfield in 1874. During the last half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] succeeded in serving the spiritual needs of Midwestern congregations by establishing additional seminaries from ministers trained at Concordia, and by developing a viable synodical tradition.<ref>Roger Howard Dallmann, "Springfield Seminary." ''Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly'' 1977 50(3): 106–130. {{ISSN|0010-5260 }}</ref>

===Civil War to 1900===
[[File:Gfp-illinois-springfield-capitol-and-sky.jpg|thumb|Present Capitol building, built {{Circa|1868}}–1888]]

Springfield became a major center of activity during the American Civil War. Illinois regiments trained there, the first ones under [[Ulysses S. Grant]]. He led his soldiers to a remarkable series of victories in 1861–62. The city was a political and financial center of Union support. New industries, businesses, and railroads were constructed to help support the war effort.<ref name="Visit Springfield" /> The war's first official death was a Springfield resident, Colonel [[Elmer E. Ellsworth]].

Camp Butler, located {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} northeast of Springfield, Illinois, opened in August 1861 as a training camp for Illinois soldiers. It also served as a camp for Confederate prisoners of war through 1865. In the beginning, Springfield residents visited the camp to take part in the excitement of a military venture, but many reacted sympathetically to mortally wounded and ill prisoners. While the city's businesses prospered from camp traffic, drunken behavior and rowdiness on the part of the soldiers stationed there strained relations. Neither civil nor military authorities proved able to control disorderly outbreaks.<ref>Camilla A. Quinn, "Soldiers on Our Streets: the Effects of a Civil War Military Camp on the Springfield Community", ''Illinois Historical Journal'' 1993 86(4): 245–256. {{ISSN|0748-8149 }}</ref>

After the war ended in 1865, Springfield became a major hub in the Illinois railroad system. It was a center of government and farming. By 1900 it was also invested in coal mining and processing.<ref name="Visit Springfield" />

===20th century===
[[File:Springfield 5th and Adams.jpg|thumb|Intersection of 5th and Adams {{circa|1905}}]]

====Utopia====
Local poet [[Vachel Lindsay]]'s notions of utopia were expressed in his only novel, ''The Golden Book of Springfield'' (1920), which draws on ideas of [[Social anarchism|anarchistic socialism]] in projecting the progress of Lindsay's hometown toward utopia.<ref>Ron Sakolsky, "Utopia at Your Doorstep: Vachel Lindsay's Golden Book of Springfield." ''Utopian Studies'' 2001 12(2): 53–64. {{ISSN|1045-991X}} Fulltext: [[EBSCO Information Services|Ebsco]]</ref>

The [[Dana–Thomas House]] is a [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] design built in 1902–03. Wright began work on the house in 1902. Commissioned by Susan Lawrence Dana, a local patron of the arts and public benefactor, Wright designed a house to harmonize with the owner's devotion to the performance of music. Coordinating art glass designs for 250&nbsp;windows, doors, and panels as well as over 200 light fixtures, Wright enlisted Oak Park artisans. The house is a radical departure from [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] architectural traditions. Covering {{convert|12000|sqft|m2}}, the house contained vaulted ceilings and 16 major spaces. As the nation was changing, so Wright intended this structure to reflect the changes. Creating an organic and natural atmosphere, Wright saw himself as an "architect of democracy" and intended his work to be a monument to America's social landscape.<ref name="Hallmark"/>

It is the only historic site later acquired by the state exclusively because of its architectural merit. The structure was opened to the public as a museum house in September 1990; tours are available, 9:00&nbsp;a.m.–4:00&nbsp;p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.<ref name="Hallmark">Donald P. Hallmark, "Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana–Thomas House: Its History, Acquisition, and Preservation", ''Illinois Historical Journal'' 1989 82(2): 113–126. {{ISSN|0748-8149 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dana-thomas.org/ |title=Welcome to the Dana–Thomas House |publisher=Dana-thomas.org |date=August 23, 1983 |access-date=March 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222191328/http://www.dana-thomas.org/ |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Alexander O. Boulton, "Pride of the Prairie", ''American Heritage'' 1991 42(4): 62–69. {{ISSN|0002-8738}} Fulltext: [[EBSCO Information Services|Ebsco]]</ref>

====1908 race riot====
{{main|Springfield race riot of 1908}}
Sparked by the alleged rape of a white woman by a black man and the murder of a white engineer, supposedly also by a black man, in Springfield, and reportedly angered by the high degree of corruption in the city, rioting broke out on August 14, 1908, and continued for three days in a period of violence known as the [[Springfield race riot of 1908|Springfield race riot]]. Gangs of white youth and blue-collar workers attacked the predominantly black areas of the city known as the Levee district, where most black businesses were located, and the Badlands, where many black residences stood. At least sixteen people died as a result of the riot: nine black residents, and seven white residents who were associated with the mob, five of whom were killed by state militia and two committed suicide. The riot ended when the governor sent in more than 3,700 militiamen to patrol the city, but isolated incidents of white violence against blacks continued in Springfield into September.<ref>Chicago Commission on Race Relations (1919); Crouthamel (1960); Senechal (1990)</ref>

===21st century===
[[File:Springfield tornado damage Marriott.JPG|thumb|a Courtyard Marriott Location damaged by the 2006 Springfield tornadoes]]
On March 12, 2006, two F2 tornadoes hit the city, injuring 24 people, damaging hundreds of buildings, and causing $150 million in damages.<ref name="nws"/>

On February 10, 2007, then-senator [[Barack Obama]] announced his presidential candidacy in Springfield, standing on the grounds of the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site (Illinois)|Old State Capitol]].<ref name="Obama Announces">{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,6873557.story |title=Obama: I'm running for president |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=February 10, 2007 |first1=Rick |last1=Pearson |first2=Ray |last2=Long |access-date=March 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015215916/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070210obama-pearson1-story,0,6873557.story |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Senator Obama also used the Old State Capitol in Springfield as a backdrop when he announced [[Joe Biden]] as his running mate on August 23, 2008.

==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>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 2579
|1850= 4533
|1860= 9320
|1870= 17364
|1880= 19743
|1890= 24963
|1900= 34159
|1910= 51678
|1920= 59183
|1930= 71864
|1940= 75503
|1950= 81628
|1960= 83271
|1970= 91753
|1980= 99637
|1990= 105227
|2000= 111454
|2010= 116250
|2020= 114394
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228083025/https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Springfield, IL.png|thumb|Map of racial distribution in Springfield, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Springfield, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web |title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Springfield city, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1772000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024 }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Springfield city, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1772000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]] }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Springfield city, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1772000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]] }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|89,510
|86,781
|style='background: #ffffe6; |77,775
|80.31%
|74.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67.99%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|17,007
|21,344
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23,126
|15.26%
|18.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20.22%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|203
|205
|style='background: #ffffe6; |191
|0.18%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,612
|2,538
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,327
|1.45%
|2.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.91%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|30
|23
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42
|0.03%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|204
|221
|style='background: #ffffe6; |455
|0.18%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,551
|2,813
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,896
|1.39%
|2.42%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.15%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,337
|2,325
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,582
|1.20%
|2.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.13%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''111,454'''
|'''116,250'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''114,394'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

At the 2010 Census, 75.8% of the population was [[White American|White]], 18.5% [[African American|Black]] or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% Asian, and 2.6% of two or more races. 2.0% of Springfield's population was of [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] or Latino origin (they may be of any race).<ref name="quickfacts"/> [[Non-Hispanic Whites]] were 74.7% of the population in 2010,<ref name="quickfacts"/> down from 87.6% in 1980.<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref>

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of 2000,{{Update inline|date=September 2014}} there were 111,454&nbsp;people, 48,621 households, and 27,957 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,063.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 53,733 housing units at an average density of {{convert|995.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 48,621 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 37&nbsp;years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,388, and the median income for a family was $51,298. Families with children had a higher income of about $69,437. Males had a median income of $36,864 versus $28,867 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $23,324. About 8.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:Illinois - Springfield - NARA - 23939955 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Construction of the water works, 1936]]
Many of the jobs in the city center around state government, headquartered in Springfield. As of 2002, the State of Illinois is both the city and county's largest employer, employing 17,000&nbsp;people across Sangamon County.<ref name=planning/> As of February 2007, government jobs, including local, state and county, account for about 30,000 of the city's non-agricultural jobs.<ref name=bls/> Trade, transportation and utilities, and the health care industries each provide between 17,000 and 18,000&nbsp;jobs to the city.<ref name=bls/> The largest private sector employer in 2002 was Memorial Health System with 3,400&nbsp;people working for the organization.<ref name=planning>[http://www.springfield.il.us/Oped/employers.htm Major Springfield Employers] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102100555/http://www.springfield.il.us/Oped/employers.htm |date=January 2, 2007 }}, Office of Planning and Economic Development, City of Springfield. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> According to estimates from the "Living Wage Calculator" the [[living wage]] for the city of Springfield is $7.89 per hour for one adult,<ref name=wage/> approximately $15,780 working 2,000&nbsp;hours per year. For a family of four, costs are increased and the living wage is $17.78 per hour within the city.<ref name="wage">{{cite web |url=http://livingwage.mit.edu/places/1716772000 |title=Living Wage Calculation for Springfield city, Sangamon County, Illinois |publisher=Living Wage Project |access-date=September 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916013251/http://livingwage.mit.edu/places/1716772000 |archive-date=September 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Civilian Labor force dropped from 116,500 in September 2006 to 113,400 in February 2007. In addition, the [[unemployment rate]] rose during the same time period from 3.8% to 5.1%.<ref name=bls>{{cite web |url=http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.il_springfield_msa.htm |title=Springfield, IL Economy at a Glance |publisher=Bls.gov |date=February 28, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305151618/http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.il_springfield_msa.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Largest employers===
According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.springfield.il.us/Government/2021/2021CAFR.pdf |title=City of Springfield CAFR 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719051048/https://www.springfield.il.us/Government/2021/2021CAFR.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> the largest employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" |Employer
! scope="col" |Employees
|-
! scope="row" |1
|[[Illinois|State of Illinois]]
|style="text-align: right;"|17,800
|-
! scope="row" |2
|[[Memorial Medical Center (Springfield, Illinois)|Memorial Health System]]
|style="text-align: right;"|5,238
|-
! scope="row" |3
|[[Hospital Sisters Health System]]
|style="text-align: right;"|4,434
|-
! scope="row" |4
|Springfield Clinic
|style="text-align: right;"|2,449
|-
! scope="row" |5
|[[Springfield School District 186|Springfield Public Schools]]
|style="text-align: right;"|2,130
|-
! scope="row" |6
|[[University of Illinois Springfield]]
|style="text-align: right;"|1,642
|-
! scope="row" |7
|[[Southern Illinois University School of Medicine]]
|style="text-align: right;"|1,470
|-
! scope="row" |8
|City of Springfield
|style="text-align: right;"|1,410
|-
! scope="row" |9
|[[Horace Mann Educators Corporation]]
|style="text-align: right;"|1,066
|-
! scope="row" |10
|[[BlueCross BlueShield]]
|style="text-align: right;"|900
|}

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Thomas Hicks - Leopold Grozelier - Presidential Candidate Abraham Lincoln 1860 - cropped to lithographic plate.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Abraham Lincoln]] resided in Springfield for 24 years]]
Springfield has been home to a wide array of individuals, who, in one way or another, contributed to the broader American culture. Wandering poet [[Vachel Lindsay]], most famous for his poem "The Congo" and a booklet called "Rhymes to be Traded for Bread", was born in Springfield in 1879.<ref name=lindsay>Wood, Thomas J. and Kirsch, Sarah. [http://www.uis.edu/archives/lindsay/intro.html "Rhymes to Be Traded for Bread"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205120400/http://www.uis.edu/archives/lindsay/intro.html |date=February 5, 2007 }}, Web Exhibit, University of Illinois Springfield. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref>
At least two notable people affiliated with American business and industry have called the Illinois state capital home at one time or another. Both [[John L. Lewis]], a labor activist, and [[Marjorie Merriweather Post]], the founder of the [[General Foods Corporation]], lived in the city; Post in particular was a native of Springfield.<ref name=lewis>[http://www.springfield.il.us/Commissions/HistSites/JohnLewisHouse.asp John L. Lewis House] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006020539/http://www.springfield.il.us/Commissions/HistSites/JohnLewisHouse.asp |date=October 6, 2006 }}, Historic Sites Commission of Springfield, Illinois. Retrieved February 21, 2007</ref><ref name=post>Hales, Linda. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=792121 Getting One's Fill at Hillwood] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824124414/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/?node=cityguide%2Fprofile&id=792121 |date=August 24, 2018 }}, Editorial Review, ''Washington Post'', September 24, 2000. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref> In addition, astronomer [[Seth Barnes Nicholson]] was born in Springfield in 1891.<ref name=smith>{{cite book |editor-last1=Murdin |editor-first1=Paul |editor-link1=Paul Murdin |bibcode=2000eaa..bookE3892. |title=Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics |chapter=Nicholson, Seth Barnes (1891-1963) |year=2000 |isbn=978-0333750889 |page=3892 }}</ref>

A [[Madeira]]n [[Portuguese people|Portuguese community]] resided in the vicinity of the Carpenter Street Underpass, one of the earliest and largest [[Portuguese Americans|Portuguese settlements]] in the Midwest. The Portuguese immigrants that originated the community left Madeira because they experienced social ostracization due to being [[Protestantism in Portugal|Protestants]] in their largely [[Catholicism in Portugal|Catholic]] homeland, having been converted to Protestantism by a Scottish reverend named [[Robert Reid Kalley]], who visited Madeira in 1838.<ref name="loc.gov">{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portam/exiles.html |title=Protestant Exiles from Madeira in Illinois |website=Library of Congress |access-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-date=November 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109082430/http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portam/exiles.html |url-status=live }}</ref> These Protestant Madeiran exiles relocated to the Caribbean island of [[Trinidad]] before settling permanently in Springfield in 1849.<ref name="loc.gov"/> By the early twentieth century, these immigrants resided in the western extension of a neighborhood known as the "Badlands". The Badlands was included in the widespread destruction and violence of the Springfield Race Riot in August 1908, an event that led to the formation of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP). The Carpenter Street archaeological site possesses local and national significance for its potential to contribute to an understanding of the lifestyles of multiple ethnic/racial groups in Springfield during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.<ref name="Springfield Railroads Improvement Project">{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Andrea |title=Carpenter Street Underpass |url=http://springfieldrailroad.com/newsite/pdfs/SRIP_CarpenterStreet_FAQ_FINAL8-25-15.pdf |website=Springfield Railroads Improvement Project |publisher=US Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency |access-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501161421/http://springfieldrailroad.com/newsite/pdfs/SRIP_CarpenterStreet_FAQ_FINAL8-25-15.pdf |archive-date=May 1, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Literary tradition===
Springfield and the Sangamon Valley enjoy a strong literary tradition in [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Vachel Lindsay]], [[Edgar Lee Masters]], [[John Hay]], [[William H. Herndon]], [[Benjamin P. Thomas]], Paul Angle, [[Virginia Eifert]], Robert Fitzgerald and [[William Keepers Maxwell, Jr.|William Maxwell]], among others. The [[Illinois State Library]]'s Gwendolyn Brooks Building features the names of 35 Illinois authors etched on its exterior fourth floor frieze. Through the Illinois Center for the Book, a comprehensive resource on authors, illustrators, and other creatives who have published books who have written about Illinois or lived in Illinois is maintained.<ref>Illinois Authors on the Illinois State Library http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/about/illinois_authors.html {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719214928/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/about/illinois_authors.html |date=July 19, 2013 }} Accessed 8/30/13</ref>

===Performing arts===
The [[Hoogland Center for the Arts]] in downtown Springfield is a centerpiece for performing arts, and houses among other organizations the [[Springfield Theatre Centre]], the Copper Coin Ballet Company, and the [[Springfield Municipal Opera]], also known as The Muni, which stages community theatre productions of Broadway musicals outdoors each summer. Before being purchased and renamed, the Hoogland Center was Springfield's [[Masonic Temple]]. Prior to the Hoogland, the Springfield Theatre Centre was housed in the nearby Legacy Theatre. [[Sangamon Auditorium]], located on the campus of the [[University of Illinois Springfield]] also serves as a larger venue for musical and performing acts, both touring and local.

A few films have been created or had elements of them created in Springfield. ''[[Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde]]'' was filmed in Springfield in 2003.

Musicians [[Artie Matthews]] and [[Morris Day]] both once called Springfield home.<ref name=artie>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p306234|pure_url=yes}} Artie Matthews], Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref><ref name=day>[http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/morris-day.htm Morris Day and The Time] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208091307/http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/morris-day.htm |date=February 8, 2007 }}, Richard De La Fonte Agency, Inc. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref>

Springfield is also home to long-running underground all-ages space [[The Black Sheep Cafe]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Black Sheep Cafe |url=http://blacksheepspringfield.com |website=Black Sheep |access-date=March 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163511/http://blacksheepspringfield.com/ |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Festivals===
Springfield is home to the annual [[Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair]], a spring festival held annually in the third weekend in May.<ref name="SOCAF">{{cite web |url=http://www.socaf.org/ |title=The Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair :: Springfield Illinois |website=www.socaf.org |access-date=May 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003059/http://www.socaf.org/ |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2002, Springfield has also hosted the 'Route 66 Film Festival', set to celebrate films routed in, based on, or taking part on the famous [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=staff |title=Annual Route 66 Film Festival |url=http://www.centralillinoisfilmcommission.com/?p=1431 |publisher=Central Illinois Film Commission |access-date=February 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124024823/http://www.centralillinoisfilmcommission.com/?p=1431 |archive-date=November 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="The Independent">{{cite book |title=The Independent: A Magazine for Video and Filmmakers |year=2005 |publisher=Foundation for Independent Video and Film |volume=28 |issue=3–10 |pages=56–58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aRMnAQAAIAAJ&q=%22route+66+film+festival%22 }}</ref>

===Tourism===

Springfield is known for some popular food items: the [[corn dog]] is claimed to have been invented in the city under the name "[[Cozy Dog Drive In|Cozy Dog]]", although there is some debate to the origin of the snack.<ref name=uis>{{cite web |work=Oral History Collections |url=http://library.uis.edu/archives/collections/oral/pdf/WALDMIRE.pdf |title=Interview with Edwin Waldmire – Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) |publisher=Brookens Library, University of Illinois Springfield |access-date=February 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305151833/http://library.uis.edu/archives/collections/oral/pdf/WALDMIRE.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=storch>Storch, Charles. [https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042120/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-08-16/features/0608150331_1_hot-dog-corn-dog-historic-route Birthplace (maybe) of the corn dog], ''Chicago Tribune'', August 16, 2006, Newspaper Source, ([[EBSCO Information Services|EBSCO]]). Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> The [[horseshoe sandwich]], not well known outside of central Illinois, also originated in Springfield.<ref name=hot>{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Patricia |last2=Lyon |first2=David |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2006/11/20/the_hottest_thing_in_sandwiches |title=The hottest thing in sandwiches |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 20, 2006 |access-date=February 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202053155/http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2006/11/20/the_hottest_thing_in_sandwiches/ |archive-date=December 2, 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> Springfield was once the site of the [[Reisch Beer]] brewery, which operated for 117 years under the same name and family from 1849 to 1966.<ref name=reisch>{{cite news |url=http://www.ulib.niu.edu:2072/pqdweb?index=0&did=625286242&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1173534473&clientId=8829 |title=117-Year-Old Brewing Co. Closes |format=PDF |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 8, 1966 |page=C6 |via=ProQuest |access-date=March 10, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Lincoln's Tomb.JPG|thumb|right|[[Lincoln's Tomb]]]]
The [[Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop (Springfield, Illinois)|Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop]] in Springfield still operates what it claims as the first U.S. [[drive-thru]] window.<ref name=guide>Pearson, Rick. [https://archive.today/20090114181451/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0702080400feb09,1,316033.story "A Guide for the National Press"], ''Chicago Tribune'', February 9, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.</ref> The city is also known for its [[chili con carne|chili]], or "chilli", as it is known in many chili shops throughout Sangamon County.<ref name=wills/> The unique spelling is said to have begun with the founder of the Dew Chilli Parlor in 1909, due to a spelling error in its sign.<ref name=conv>[http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/About/FunFacts.asp About the City] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315001138/http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/About/FunFacts.asp |date=March 15, 2007 }}, Springfield, Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2007.</ref> Another interpretation is that the misspelling represented the "Ill" in the word Illinois.<ref name=conv/> In 1993, the Illinois state legislature adopted a resolution proclaiming Springfield the "Chilli Capital of the Civilized World".<ref name=wills>Zimmerman-Wills, Penny. [http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A2233 "Capital City Chilli"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218172421/http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A2233 |date=February 18, 2007 }}, ''Illinois Times'', January 30, 2003, Retrieved February 23, 2007</ref>

Springfield is dotted with sites associated with U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career there.<ref name=thomas>Thomas, Benjamin P. ''[https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=25051697 Abraham Lincoln: A Biography] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529073359/http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=25051697 |date=May 29, 2012 }}'', Alfred Knopf: New York, (1952). Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> These include the [[Lincoln Home National Historic Site]], a [[National Historical Park]] that includes the preserved surrounding neighborhood; the [[Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site]], the [[Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site]], the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site]], the [[Lincoln Depot]], from which Abraham Lincoln departed Springfield to be [[presidential inauguration|inaugurated]] in Washington, D.C.; the Elijah Iles House, Edwards Place and the [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]]. The church that the Lincoln family belonged to, [[First Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Illinois)|First Presbyterian Church]], still has the original Lincoln family pew on display in its narthex. Near the village of [[Petersburg, Illinois|Petersburg]], is [[New Salem, Menard County, Illinois|New Salem]] State Park, a restored hamlet of log cabins. This is a reconstruction of the town where Lincoln lived as a young man. With the opening of the Presidential Library and Museum in 2004, the city has attracted numerous prominent visitors, including Presidents [[George W. Bush]] and [[Barack Obama]], the actor [[Liam Neeson]], and the [[Emir of Qatar]].<ref name=Qatar>[http://www.qatarembassy.net/The%20visit%20of%20The%20Emir%20of%20Qatar%20to%20The%20United%20States%202005.asp The visit of The Emir of Qatar to the United States (May 2005)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502103756/http://www.qatarembassy.net/The%20visit%20of%20The%20Emir%20of%20Qatar%20to%20The%20United%20States%202005.asp |date=May 2, 2007 }}, Press Release, Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C.. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref><ref name=lib>[http://www.alplm.org/home.html# Museum Dedication – A Look Back] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215200414/http://www.alplm.org/home.html |date=February 15, 2009 }}, (note:automatically plays band music), Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref>
[[File:Illinoisoldcapitol.jpg|thumb|right|[[Old State Capitol State Historic Site]]]]
The [[Donner Party]], a group of pioneers who resorted to [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]] while snowbound during a winter in the [[Sierra Nevada]] mountains of California, began their journey West from Springfield.<ref name=donner>Reardon Patrick T. [https://archive.today/20090114193003/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0702080399feb09,1,7459474.story Donner Party began here too], ''Chicago Tribune'', February 7, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref> Springfield's [[Dana–Thomas House]] is among the best preserved and most complete of [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]'s early "Prairie" houses.<ref name=ihpa>[http://www.state.il.us/hpa/hs/dana_thomas.htm Dana–Thomas House] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825070830/http://www.state.il.us/hpa/hs/dana_thomas.htm |date=August 25, 2007 }}, State Historic Sites, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref> It was built in 1902–1904 and has many of the furnishings Wright designed for it.<ref name=ihpa/> Springfield's [[Washington Park (Springfield, Illinois)|Washington Park]] is home to [[Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon]] and the site of a carillon festival, held annually since 1962.<ref name=carillon>[http://www.carillon-rees.org/html/festival.html The 46th Annual Carillon Festival] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319123349/http://www.carillon-rees.org/html/festival.html |date=March 19, 2007 }}, Press Release, Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> In August, the city is the site of the [[Illinois State Fair]] at the [[Illinois State Fairgrounds]].

Although not born in Springfield, Lincoln is the city's most famous resident. He lived there for 24&nbsp;years.<ref name=amer/> The only home he ever owned is open to the public, seven days a week, free of charge, and operated by the [[National Park Service]].<ref name=amer/>

Springfield has the area's largest amusement park, Knight's Action Park and Caribbean Water Park, which is open from May to September. The park also features and operates the city's only remaining [[drive-in theater]], the Route 66 Twin Drive-In.

==Sports==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!scope="col" |team
!scope="col" |League
!scope="col" |Sport
!scope="col" |Venue
!scope="col" |Established
!scope="col" |Championships
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |[[Springfield A.S.C]]
|[[USL League Two]]
|[[Association football]]
|[[Sacred Heart-Griffin High School]]
|2021
|0
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |[[Springfield FC]]
|[[Midwest Premier League]]
|[[Association football]]
|SASA Soccer Complex
|2011
|0
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |[[Springfield Lucky Horseshoes]]
|[[Prospect League]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[Robin Roberts Stadium]]
|2008
|1
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |[[Springfield Jr. Blues]]
|[[North American Hockey League]]
|[[Ice Hockey]]
|[[Nelson Center]]
|1993
|2
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" |Capital City Hooligans
|Men's Roller Derby Association
|Men's [[Roller Derby]]
|Skateland South
|2012
|N/A
|}

Historically, Springfield has been home to a number of [[minor league baseball]] franchises, the latest club, the college-prep [[Springfield Sliders]], arriving in the city in 2008. In the 1948 baseball season, Springfield was also home to an [[All-American Girls Professional Baseball League]] team, the [[Springfield Sallies]], but the team's lackluster performance led them to be folded in with the [[Chicago Colleens]] as rookie development teams the following year.

The city was the home of the [[Springfield Stallions]], an [[Indoor American football|indoor football]] team who played at the [[Prairie Capital Convention Center]] in 2007. Today, the city is host to the [[Springfield Jr. Blues]], a North American Hockey League team that plays at the Nelson Recreation Center. The city is also a host to several Semi Pro Football Teams. The oldest organization is the Capital City Outlaws, which was established in 1992. The Outlaws which played 11 man football, most recently in The Midwest Football League until 2004, switched to an 8-man Semi Pro Football League (8FL) in 2004. The Sangamon County Seminoles became an expansion team in the 8FL in 2008. A newly formed team in 2010, the Springfield Foxes, play in the Mid States Football League (MSFL) (11 man). The Foxes were league runners-up in the MSFL League Championship in 2012.

The city has produced several notable professional sports talents. Current and former [[Major League Baseball]] players [[Kevin Seitzer]], [[Jeff Fassero]], [[Ryan O'Malley]], Jason and [[Justin Knoedler]], and [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]] were all born in Springfield.<ref name=si4>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/4639/ Jeff Fassero] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231222105/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/4639/ |date=December 31, 2006 }}, Player Pages, ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref><ref name=si>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/3874/ Kevin Seitzer] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050427062903/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/3874/ |date=April 27, 2005 }}, Player Pages, ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref><ref name=si3>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/7836/ Ryan O'Malley] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212231227/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/7836/ |date=February 12, 2007 }}, Player Pages, ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref><ref name=si2>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/42960/ Robin Roberts] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104195722/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/42960/ |date=January 4, 2007 }}, Player Pages, ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref> Springfield's largest baseball field, [[Lanphier Park|Robin Roberts Stadium at Lanphier Park]], takes its full name in honor of Roberts and his athletic achievements. Former MLB player [[Ducky Schofield|Dick "Ducky" Schofield]] is currently an elected official in Springfield, and his son [[Dick Schofield|Dick]] also played in the Major Leagues, as does Ducky's grandson, [[Jayson Werth]]. Ducky, Dick, and Jayson were all born in Springfield. Ducky's daughter (and Jayson's mother) Kim Schofield Werth, also from Springfield, is a track star who competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials. [[National Basketball Association]] players [[Dave Robisch]], [[Kevin Gamble]], and [[Andre Iguodala]] are all from the city.<ref name=trib>[[Lew Freedman]]. [http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/cs-0702100185feb10,1,4280547.story?coll=cs-college-print Gamble Paying Off], ''Chicago Tribune'', February 10, 2007.</ref><ref name=nba>[http://www.nba.com/sixers/community/iguodala_060404.html Andre Iguodala to Donate $19,000 to Assist Tornado Relief Efforts in Springfield, Ill.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421042525/http://www.nba.com/sixers/community/iguodala_060404.html |date=April 21, 2006 }}, Press Release, Philadelphia 76ers, April 4, 2006. Retrieved February 21, 2007</ref> Long-time NFL announcer (NBC) and former Cincinnati Bengal Pro Bowl tight end [[Bob Trumpy]] is a city native, having graduated from Springfield High School. Former [[National Football League|NFL]] wide receiver [[Otto Stowe]] was a 1967 graduate of the now-defunct Feitshans High School. A [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] fighter, [[Matt Mitrione]], attended and played football for Sacred Heart Griffin. He also played in the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

At the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Olympics]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, Springfield native [[Ryan Held]] won a [[gold medal]] as a member of the USA 400-meter (4 X 100 meter) [[Freestyle swimming|freestyle relay]] team along with [[Caeleb Dressel]], [[Michael Phelps]], and [[Nathan Adrian]]. During his senior year at Sacred-Heart Griffin High School in 2014, Held was named Illinois State Swimmer of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/bio/ryan-held/ |title=Ryan Held Bio – SwimSwam |language=en-US |access-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013211810/https://swimswam.com/bio/ryan-held/ |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Parks and recreation===
The [[Springfield Park District]] operates more than 30 parks throughout the city. The two best-known are [[Carpenter Park]], an [[Illinois Nature Preserve]] on the banks of the [[Sangamon River]], and [[Washington Park, Springfield, Illinois|Washington Park and Botanical Garden]] on the city's southwest side and adjacent to some of Springfield's most beautiful and architecturally interesting homes. Washington Park has also been home to the [[Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon]] since its dedication in 1962. [[Southwind Park]], on the southern edge of the city, has been developed as a park enjoying full compliance with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]]. Lincoln Park, located next to [[Oak Ridge Cemetery]] where [[Lincoln Tomb|President Lincoln's tomb]] is located, is home to the [[Nelson Center|Nelson Recreation Center]], which boasts a public swimming pool, tennis courts, and the city's only public ice rink, home of the [[Springfield Junior Blues]], a minor league hockey team. Centennial Park, which rests on the outskirts of Springfield's southwest limits, holds one of the city's two public skateparks (the other being in Iles Park), as well as several ball fields, tennis courts, and a manmade hill for cardio exercises and sledding in winter months.

In addition to the public-sector parks operated by the Springfield Park District, two significant privately operated tree gardens/arboretums operate within city limits: the [[Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden]] on Lake Springfield south of the city, and the [[Adams Wildlife Sanctuary]] on Springfield's east side.

==Government==
{{See also|List of Springfield city departments|List of mayors of Springfield, Illinois}}

Springfield city government is structured under the [[mayor-council]] form of government. It is the strong mayor variation of that type of municipal government, the mayor holds executive authority, including [[veto]] power, in Springfield.<ref name=executive/> The executive branch also consists of 17 non-elected city "offices". Ranging from the police department to the Office of Public Works, each office can be altered through city ordinance.<ref name=executive>[http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12414&sid=13 Code of Ordinances] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116201325/http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12414&sid=13 |date=November 16, 2006 }}, City of Springfield, Title III: Chapter 32: Article I – Executive Branch. Municode.com. Retrieved February 25, 2007.</ref>

Elected officials in the city (mayor, aldermen, city clerk, and treasurer) serve four-year terms.<ref name=general>[http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12414&sid=13 Code of Ordinances] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116201325/http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12414&sid=13 |date=November 16, 2006 }}, City of Springfield, Title I: Chapter 30: General Provisions. Municode.com. Retrieved February 25, 2007.</ref> The elections are not staggered.<ref name=general/> The council members are elected from ten districts throughout the city while the mayor, city clerk and city treasurer are elected on an at-large basis.<ref name=general/> The council, as a body, consists of the ten aldermen and the mayor, though the mayor is generally a non-voting member who only participates in the discussion.<ref name=leg/> There are a few instances where the mayor does vote on ordinances or resolutions: if there is a tie vote, if more than half of the aldermen support the motion, whether there is a tie or not, and where a vote greater than the majority is required by the [[Municipal ordinances|municipal code]].<ref name=leg>[http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12414&sid=13 Code of Ordinances] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116201325/http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12414&sid=13 |date=November 16, 2006 }}, City of Springfield, Title III: Chapter 31: Legislative. Municode.com. Retrieved February 25, 2007.</ref>

===Members===
City elections are technically non partisan, however most candidates are affiliated with a political party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Dean |title=Candidates file for municipal elections |url=https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/candidates-file-for-municipal-elections/Content?oid=16109399 |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=Illinois Times |language=en |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623050808/https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/candidates-file-for-municipal-elections/Content?oid=16109399 |url-status=live }}</ref> As such, party affiliation is a matter of self identification.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Springfield elected officials''' <ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Candidates |url=https://www.sangamondemocrats.com/candidates.html |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=Sangamon County Democratic Party |language=en |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623050808/https://www.sangamondemocrats.com/candidates.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CITY OF SPRINGFIELD |url=https://www.sangamonrepublicans.com/copy-of-federal-state-candidates |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=My Site |language=en |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623050809/https://www.sangamonrepublicans.com/copy-of-federal-state-candidates |url-status=live }}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
!Citywide positions!! Officeholder !! Party
|- bgcolor="#ffaaaa"
|Mayor ||[[Misty Buscher]]||Republican
|- bgcolor="#ffaaaa"
|Treasurer ||Colleen Redpath Feger||Republican
|- bgcolor="#ffaaaa"
|Clerk ||Frank Lesko||Republican
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
!City council!! Officeholder !! Party
|- bgcolor="#ffaaaa"
|Ward 1 ||Chuck Redpath||Republican
|- bgcolor="#73C2FB"
|Ward 2 ||Shawn Gregory||Democratic
|- bgcolor="#73C2FB"
|Ward 3 ||Roy Williams Jr.||Democratic
|- bgcolor="white"
|Ward 4 ||Larry Rockford||Unknown
|- bgcolor="#73C2FB"
|Ward 5 ||Lakeisha Purchase||Democratic
|- bgcolor="#73C2FB"
|Ward 6 ||Jennifer Notariano||Democratic
|- bgcolor="#ffaaaa"
|Ward 7 ||Brad Carlson||Republican
|- bgcolor="#73C2FB"
|Ward 8 ||Erin Conley||Democratic
|- bgcolor="#73C2FB"
|Ward 9 ||Jim Donelean||Democratic
|- bgcolor="#ffaaaa"
|Ward 10 ||Ralph Hanauer||Republican
|}

===State government===
{{see also|Government of Illinois}}
[[File:Executive Mansion.JPG|thumb|The [[Illinois Governor's Mansion]] in 2012]]
As the state capital, Springfield is home to the three branches of [[Government of Illinois|Illinois government]]. Much like the United States federal government, Illinois government has an executive branch, occupied by the state governor, a [[legislative branch]], which consists of the state senate and house, and a [[judicial branch]], which is topped by the [[Illinois Supreme Court]].<ref name=ILcon2>[http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con6.htm Article IV – Section 4, Jurisdiction] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223183314/http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con6.htm |date=February 23, 2007 }}, The Judiciary, ''Constitution of the State of Illinois'', Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref> The Illinois legislative branch is collectively known as the [[Illinois General Assembly]].<ref name=Ilcon1>[http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm Article IV – Section 1, Legislature – Power and Structure] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815134146/http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm |date=August 15, 2012 }}, The Legislature, ''Constitution of the State of Illinois'', Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref> Many state bureaucrats work in offices in Springfield, and it is the regular meeting place of the [[Illinois General Assembly]].<ref name=Gauen>Gauen, Pat. "[http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/pat-gauen/illinois-corruption-explained-the-capital-is-too-far-from-chicago/article_c38d21b7-0134-5124-b56f-3bc99a60c327.html Illinois corruption explained: the capital is too far from Chicago ]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160915191211/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/pat-gauen/illinois-corruption-explained-the-capital-is-too-far-from-chicago/article_c38d21b7-0134-5124-b56f-3bc99a60c327.html Archive]). ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]''. Retrieved on May 26, 2016.</ref> All persons elected on a statewide basis are required to have at least one residence in Springfield, and the state government funds these residents.<ref name=INN>Reeder, Scott. "[http://ilnews.org/2831/what-does-it-cost-taxpayers-to-pay-for-lawmakers-empty-springfield-residences/ What does it cost taxpayers to pay for lawmakers' empty Springfield residences?]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160617094836/http://ilnews.org/2831/what-does-it-cost-taxpayers-to-pay-for-lawmakers-empty-springfield-residences/ Archive]). ''Illinois News Network''. September 11, 2014. Retrieved on May 26, 2016.</ref>

{{As of|2020}} none of the major constitutional officers in Illinois designated Springfield as their primary residence; most cabinet officers and all major constitutional officers instead primarily do their business in Chicago. A former director of the [[Southern Illinois University]] [[Paul Simon Public Policy Institute|Paul Simon Institute for Public Affairs]], Mike Lawrence, stated that many of the elected officials in Illinois "spend so little time in Springfield".<ref name=INN/> In 2012 ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]'' columnist Pat Gauen argued that "in the reality of Illinois politics, [Springfield] shares [[de facto]] capital status with Chicago." Gauen noted that several elected officials such as the [[Governor of Illinois|Governor]], as well as the [[Attorney General of Illinois|Attorney General]], Speaker of the [[Illinois House of Representatives|House]], the minority leader of the House, President of the [[Illinois Senate|Senate]], the minority leader of the Senate, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer, all live in the [[Chicago area]]. According to Gauen, "Everybody who's anybody in Illinois government has an office in Chicago"; most state officials work from the [[James R. Thompson Center]] in the Chicago Loop. He added that at one point in 2011, Governor [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]] only spent 68 days and 40 nights in Springfield as per his official schedule.<ref name=Gauen/> [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] researcher and former member of the Illinois legislature [[Jim Nowlan]] stated "It's almost like Chicago is becoming the shadow capital of Illinois" and that "Springfield is almost become a hinterland outpost."<ref name=INN/> Lawrence criticized the fact that state officials spent little time in Springfield since it estranged them from and devalued Illinois state employees based in that city.<ref name=INN/>

According to Gauen, "Illinois seems rather unlikely to move its official capital to Chicago".<ref name=Gauen/>

===Townships===
[[File:Map highlighting Capital Township, Sangamon County, Illinois.svg|thumb|right|Outline of the Township area and the City of Springfield in Sangamon County]]
The Capital Township formed from [[Springfield Township, Sangamon County, Illinois|Springfield Township]] on July 1, 1877, and was established and named by the Sangamon County Board on March 6, 1878. The limits of the township and City of Springfield were made co-extensive on February 17, 1892, but are no longer so with subsequent annexation by the City of Springfield. There are three functions of this township: assessing property, collection first property tax payment, and assisting residents that live in the township. One thing that makes the Capital township unique is that the township never has to raise taxes for road work, since the roads are maintained by the Springfield Department of Public Works.<ref name="Capital Township">[http://captwnshp.co.sangamon.il.us Capital Township] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208115712/http://captwnshp.co.sangamon.il.us/ |date=February 8, 2007 }}, Official site. Retrieved March 8, 2007.</ref><ref name="Illinois Archives">[http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/sangamon.html Sangamon County Fact Sheet] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024235521/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/sangamon.html |date=October 24, 2007 }}, Illinois State Archives. Retrieved March 10, 2007.</ref>

In the 21st century Springfield annexed large parts of Springfield and [[Woodside Township, Sangamon County, Illinois|Woodside]] townships. The annexed parcels remained part of their original townships despite being within the Springfield city limits.<ref name="portions">{{Cite news |newspaper=State Journal-Register |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2023/02/20/voters-face-township-annexation-advisory-questions/69901020007/ |date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=May 20, 2023 |title=Election 2023: Portions of two townships could be annexed into Springfield |author-first=Patrick |author-last=Keck |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220121938/https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2023/02/20/voters-face-township-annexation-advisory-questions/69901020007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Law enforcement===
[[File:Springfield Illinois Police Department Ford Explorer.jpg|thumb|Ford Police Interceptor Utility]]

The Springfield Police Department was founded in 1840 as part of the city charter. As of 2020, the police chief was Kenneth Scarlette and the department had 242 employees.

Springfield Police officer Samuel Rosario was arrested by the [[Illinois State Police]] on February 28, 2017, after fighting with a teenager on charges of official misconduct and battery. He was found guilty of official misconduct in August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spearie |first=Steven |title=Former city officer gets 24 months probation |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/county/2019/11/01/former-city-officer-gets-24/984450007/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US |date=November 1, 2019 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809130400/https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/county/2019/11/01/former-city-officer-gets-24/984450007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, [[Sangamon County Sheriff's Office (Illinois)|Sangamon County sheriff]]'s deputy Sean Grayson was fired, and subsequently charged with first-degree murder, following the [[Killing of Sonya Massey]] in Springfield.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jiménez |first=Jesus |date=July 22, 2024 |title=Illinois State Police Release Footage of Deputy Fatally Shooting Woman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/22/us/illinois-sonya-massey-body-cam-footage.html |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722225224/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/22/us/illinois-sonya-massey-body-cam-footage.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:University of Illinois at Springfield campus, outside commons area-2009.jpg|thumb|The Colonnade, [[University of Illinois Springfield]]]]
Springfield is currently home to six public and private high schools.

The Springfield public school district is [[Springfield School District 186|District No. 186.]] District 186 operates 24 elementary schools and an early learning center, (pre-K). District 186 operates three high schools, [[Lanphier High School]], [[Springfield High School (Illinois)|Springfield High School]] and [[Southeast High School (Springfield, Illinois)|Springfield Southeast High School]], which replaced Feitshans High School in 1967, and five middle schools.<ref name=schools>[http://www.sps186.org/schools/ Schools] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312132830/http://www.sps186.org/schools/ |date=March 12, 2016 }}, Springfield Public School District 186. Retrieved February 24, 2007</ref>

Springfield's [[Sacred Heart-Griffin High School]] is a city Catholic high school.<ref name=sacred>{{cite web |author=Sacred Heart-Griffin |url=http://www.shg.org/ |title=Sacred Heart – Griffin High School |publisher=Shg.org |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306172147/http://www.shg.org/ |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other area high schools include Calvary Academy and [[Lutheran High School (Springfield, Illinois)|Lutheran High School]].<ref name=lhs>[http://www.lutheranhs.pvt.k12.il.us/ Lutheran High] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308111520/http://www.lutheranhs.pvt.k12.il.us/ |date=March 8, 2007 }}, Main page. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> [[Ursuline Academy (Illinois)|Ursuline Academy]] was a second Catholic high school founded in 1857, first as an all-girls school, and converted to co-ed in 1981. The school was closed in 2007.

Springfield hosts one University. The [[University of Illinois Springfield]] (UIS, formerly Sangamon State University), which is located on the southeast side of the city.

Springfield is also home to a junior college [[Lincoln Land Community College]], located just south of UIS. From 1875 to 1976, Springfield was also home to [[Concordia Theological Seminary]]. The seminary was moved back to its original home of [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]], and the campus now serves as the [[Illinois Department of Corrections]] Academy.

The city is home to the Springfield campus of the [[Southern Illinois University School of Medicine]],<ref name=siu>[http://www.siumed.edu/studentaffairs/ Office of Student Affairs] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225082657/http://www.siumed.edu/studentaffairs/ |date=February 25, 2007 }}, [[Southern Illinois University School of Medicine]]. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> which includes Simmons Cancer Institute in Springfield's Medical District.<ref name=building>[http://www.siumed.edu/cancer/adminpages/bulding.html New SimmonsCooper<!-- sic --> Cancer Institute Building] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928042711/http://www.siumed.edu/cancer/adminpages/bulding.html |date=September 28, 2007 }}, SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref>

==Media==
The ''[[State Journal-Register]]'' is the primary daily newspaper for Springfield, and its surrounding area. The newspaper was founded in 1831 as the ''Sangamon Journal'', and claims to be "the oldest newspaper in Illinois".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.sj-r.com/article/20100602/news/306029908 |title=Lafferty named publisher of The State Journal-Register |last=Landis |first=Tim |work=The State Journal-Register |access-date=November 23, 2018 |language=en |date=June 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123112146/https://www.sj-r.com/article/20100602/news/306029908 |archive-date=November 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The local alternative weekly is the ''[[Illinois Times]]''.

===Television stations===
Springfield is part of the Springfield-Decatur-Champaign TV market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/champaign-springfield-decatur |title=Champaign – Springfield – Decatur Television Stations – Station Index |website=www.stationindex.com |access-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216020858/http://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Champaign-Springfield-Decatur |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Four TV stations broadcast from the Springfield area: [[WCIX]] MYTV 49, [[WICS]] ABC 20, [[WRSP]] FOX 55, and [[WSEC]] PBS 14. Both WICS and WRSP are currently owned by the same parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group. Springfield is also served by two stations in [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]], [[WAND (TV)|WAND]] NBC 17 and [[WBUI]] CW 23, and two stations in [[Champaign]], [[WCIA]] CBS 3 and [[WILL-TV|WILL]] PBS 12. One television station that has since ceased to exist was [[WJJY-TV]], which operated in the Springfield area for three years (1969–1971).<ref name="Fall of WJJY-TV">[http://www.brainmist.com/wjjy_tv/wjjy_tv.htm The Rise & Fall of WJJY-TV] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405015959/http://www.brainmist.com/wjjy_tv/wjjy_tv.htm |date=April 5, 2007 }}. Retrieved on March 8, 2007.</ref>

===Radio stations===
The following radio stations broadcast in the Springfield area:<ref name="Illinois Radio">[http://www.usnpl.com/radio/ilradio.php Illinois Radio Stations] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814161931/http://www.usnpl.com/radio/ilradio.php |date=August 14, 2007 }}. Retrieved on August 23, 2007.</ref><ref name="Springfield Media">[http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/13/814 Springfield Illinois news media] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809185111/https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/13/814 |date=August 9, 2024 }}. Retrieved on March 8, 2007.</ref>
{{flatlist|
* [[WTTT (FM)|WTTT]] 88.9 FM
* [[WLUJ]] 89.7 FM
* [[WSCT]] 90.5 FM
* [[WUIS]] 91.9 FM
* [[WMAY-FM]] 92.7 FM
* [[WTAX-FM]] 93.9 FM
* [[WIKC|WCVS]] 96.7 FM
* [[WQLZ]] 97.7 FM
* [[WNNS]] 98.7 FM
* [[WXAJ]] 99.7 FM
* [[WYMG]] 100.5 FM
* [[WLFZ]] 101.9 FM
* [[WDBR]] 103.7 FM
* [[WFMB-FM]] 104.5 FM.
* [[WMAY]] 970 AM/94.7 FM and 102.5 FM
* [[WTAX (AM)|WTAX]] 1240 AM/93.5 FM
* [[WFMB (AM)|WFMB]] 1450 AM/92.3 FM
* [[WCIC]] 90.5 FM
}}

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Springfield, IL Union Station (3827212437).jpg|thumb|[[Springfield Union Station (Illinois)|Springfield Union Station]]]]

===Health systems===
There are two Springfield hospitals, [[Memorial Medical Center (Springfield, Illinois)|Memorial Medical Center]] and [[St. John's Hospital (Springfield, Illinois)|St. John's Hospital]]. A third hospital, originally Springfield Community Hospital, and later renamed Doctor's Hospital operated on Springfield's south side until 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/366706/doctors_hospitals_medical_equipment_sold_at_auction/ |title=Doctors Hospital's Medical Equipment Sold at Auction – Health News |publisher=redOrbit |date=January 23, 2006 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701211745/http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/366706/doctors_hospitals_medical_equipment_sold_at_auction/ |archive-date=July 1, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kindred Healthcare]] opened a long term [[acute care]] hospital in Springfield in 2010, however, the facility was purchased by Vibra Healthcare in 2013, and was operated by Vibra under the name Vibra Hospital of Springfield<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sj-r.com/x369948792/State-board-OKs-Vibra-s-purchase-of-Kindred-Hospital |title=State board OKs Vibra's purchase of Kindred Hospital |work=The State Journal-Register |location=Springfield, Illinois |date=August 15, 2013 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215065202/http://www.sj-r.com/x369948792/State-board-OKs-Vibra-s-purchase-of-Kindred-Hospital |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> until it closed in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190228/vibra-hospital-closure-came-amid-declining-revenues-fate-of-property-uncertain |title=Vibra Hospital closure came amid declining revenues; fate of property uncertain |access-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-date=July 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706151136/https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190228/vibra-hospital-closure-came-amid-declining-revenues-fate-of-property-uncertain |url-status=live }}</ref>

St. John's Hospital is home to the Prairie Heart Institute, which performs more cardiovascular procedures than any other hospital in Illinois.<ref name=over>[http://www.prairieheart.com/overview/ Overview] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010424161515/http://www.prairieheart.com/overview/ |date=April 24, 2001 }}, Prairie Heart Institute, St. John's Hospital. Retrieved August 7, 2011.</ref> The dominant health care providers in the area are SIU HealthCare and Springfield Clinic. The major medical education center in the area is the [[Southern Illinois University School of Medicine]]. The major regional cancer center is the SIU Simmons Cancer Institute.

===Public utilities===
The owner of Lake Springfield – [[City Water, Light & Power]] – supplies electric power generated from the Dallman Power Plants to the city of Springfield and eight surrounding communities. The company also provides these cities and towns with water from the lake. In 2005, ground was broken for a third municipally-owned power plant, which came online in 2009. [[Natural gas]] is provided via [[Ameren|Ameren Illinois]], formerly Central Illinois Light Company (CILCO).<ref name=profileplanning>[http://www.springfield.il.us/Oped/profile.htm Springfield profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104125657/http://www.springfield.il.us/Oped/profile.htm |date=January 4, 2007 }}, Office of Planning & Economic Development, ''City of Springfield''. Retrieved April 6, 2007.</ref>

===Transportation===
[[Interstate 55]] runs from north to south past Springfield, while [[Interstate 72|I-72]], which is concurrent with [[U.S. Route 36 in Illinois|U.S. Route 36]] from the [[Missouri]] state line to [[Decatur, Illinois|Decatur]], runs from east to west.

[[Amtrak]] serves {{amtk|Springfield||Lincoln Service}} daily with its ''[[Lincoln Service]]'' and ''[[Texas Eagle]]'' routes. Service consists of four ''Lincoln Service'' round-trips between {{amtk|Chicago}} and {{amtk|St. Louis}}, and one ''Texas Eagle'' round-trip between {{amtk|San Antonio}} and Chicago. Three days a week, the ''Eagle'' continues on to {{amtk|Los Angeles}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Illinois-Missouri-Services-Schedule-091317.pdf |title=Amtrak Lincoln Service and Missouri River Runner Timetable |date=September 13, 2017 |website=Amtrak |access-date=November 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325144643/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Illinois-Missouri-Services-Schedule-091317.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Springfield is served by the following freight railroads: [[Canadian National]], [[Illinois and Midland Railroad]], [[Kansas City Southern Railway|Kansas City Southern]], [[Norfolk Southern]] and [[Union Pacific]]. Springfield is also served by [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] buses at a station on North Dirksen Parkway.

Local mass transportation needs are met by a bus service. The [[Sangamon Mass Transit District]] (SMTD) operates Springfield's bus system.<ref name=SMTD>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smtd.org/ |title=Sangamon Mass Transit District |access-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106101834/http://www.smtd.org/ |archive-date=January 6, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city also lies along historic [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]].

Border thoroughfare traffic is handled by Veterans Parkway and J. David Jones Parkway on the west side, [[Everett M. Dirksen]] Parkway on the east side, Sangamon Avenue on the north end, and Wabash Avenue, Stanford Avenue, and [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]] Drive on the south end. The far south corridor is served by Toronto and Woodside Roads. Thoroughfare traffic through the heart of the city is provided by a series of one-way streets. Fifth and Sixth Streets serve the bulk of the north–south traffic, with Fourth and Seventh Streets serving additional traffic between North Grand and South Grand Avenues. East–west traffic is handled by Jefferson Street, entering Springfield on the west side from [[Illinois Route 97|IL 97]], and then splitting into a pair of one-way streets at Amos Avenue (Madison eastbound and Jefferson westbound). The two converge again after Eleventh Street to become Clearlake Avenue, which in turn converges into I-72 eastbound just past Dirksen Parkway. Additional east–west one-way streets run through the downtown areas of Springfield, including Monroe, Adams, Washington, and Cook Streets, as well as a stretch of Lawrence Avenue.

[[Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport]] serves the capital city with scheduled passenger jet service to [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago O'Hare]], [[Fort Myers]] (via the [[Punta Gorda Airport (Florida)|Punta Gorda Airport]]) and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]].<ref name=Airports>{{cite web |url=http://www.flyspi.com/Flight-Information/Destinations.aspx |title=Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) – Springfield, IL |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420020149/http://www.flyspi.com/Flight-Information/Destinations.aspx |archive-date=April 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Springfield and the surrounding metropolitan area has constructed bike trails and bike lanes on a number of streets. The bike lanes have been the subject of controversy due to the use of "shared bike/car lanes." Currently four main trails exist; two significant paved trails, the [[Interurban Trail (Sangamon County)|Interurban Trail]] and the [[Lost Bridge Trail]], serve Springfield and its suburbs of [[Chatham, Illinois]] and [[Rochester, Illinois]] respectively. The Lost Bridge Trail has been extended further into Springfield by the '''Bunn to Lost Bridge Trail''', which follows a stretch of Ash Street and Taylor Avenue. Plans are to extend it further still to Stanford Avenue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfieldparks.org/parks/bikeTrails/Bunn.aspx |title=Springfield Park District – Bunn to Lost Bridge Trail |website=www.springfieldparks.org |access-date=July 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711040945/http://www.springfieldparks.org/parks/bikeTrails/Bunn.aspx |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A third trail, the [[Wabash Trail (Sangamon County)|Wabash Trail]], extends westward from the northern end of the [[Interurban Trail (Sangamon County)|Interurban Trail]] toward Parkway Pointe, a regional shopping destination.

The fourth trail is a section, opened in July 2011, of the [[Sangamon Valley Trail]] spanning north to south through the west central part of Sangamon County. The section open as of 2011 extends northward from Centennial Park to Stuart Park.<ref name="Young">{{cite web |url=http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1431554709/Sangamon-Valley-Trail-officially-opens |title=Sangamon Valley Trail officially opens |access-date=July 29, 2011 |author=Chris Young |work=[[State Journal-Register]] |date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328200714/http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1431554709/Sangamon-Valley-Trail-officially-opens |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> This trail, if completed in its entirety, will reuse the entire Sangamon County portion of the abandoned [[St. Louis, Peoria and North Western Railway]] railroad line as a trail that will extend from [[Girard, Illinois]], to [[Athens, Illinois]].

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Springfield, Illinois}}

==Sister cities==
Springfield, Illinois has two [[town twinning|sister cities]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} '''[[San Pedro, Coahuila|San Pedro]]''', [[Coahuila]] (Mexico)<ref name=Spring>{{cite web |url=http://www.springfield.il.us/sister/city.htm |title=Springfield International Relationships |publisher=Official Springfield Website |access-date=February 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102192210/http://www.springfield.il.us/Sister/City.htm |archive-date=January 2, 2007 }}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|Japan}} '''[[Ashikaga, Tochigi|Ashikaga]]''', [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]] (Japan)<ref name=Spring/>

It maintains a "Friendship" city designation with [[Killarney|Killarney, Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://legacy.sistercities.org/interactive-map/Springfield,%20Illinois |title=Springfield, Illinois |website=legacy.sistercities.org |language=en |access-date=August 24, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Illinois}}
* [[Camp Butler National Cemetery]]
* [[Illinois Executive Mansion]]
* [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Illinois Old State Capitol (Springfield)]]
* [[Illinois State Capitol]]
* [[Lanphier Park]]
* [[National Museum of Surveying]]
* [[USS Springfield]]
* {{USS|Springfield|SSN-761}}
* [[White Oaks Mall (Springfield, Illinois)|White Oaks Mall]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |author=Chicago Commission on Race Relations |title=The Negro in Chicago: A Study of Race Relations and a Race Riot |date=1922 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago, Ill |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924011411877 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924011411877/page/n129 66]–71 |chapter=The Springfield Riot |author-link=Chicago Commission on Race Relations}}
* {{cite book |title=History of Sangamon County, Illinois: Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships ... Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois |date=1881 |publisher=Inter-state Pub. Co |location=Chicago |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsangamo01inte}}

==Further reading==
* Angle, Paul M. ''"Here I have lived": A history of Lincoln's Springfield, 1821–1865'' (1935, 1971)
* Crouthamel, James L. "The Springfield Race Riot of 1908." ''Journal of Negro History'' 1960 45(3): 164–181. {{ISSN|0022-2992}} [https://www.jstor.org/pss/2716259 in Jstor]
* Harrison, Shelby Millard, ed. ''The Springfield Survey: Study of Social Conditions in an American City'' (1920), famous sociological study of the city [https://books.google.com/books?id=ECpBc-gno1YC&q=intitle:social+intitle:survey+date:1900–1923 vol 3 online]
* {{Cite book |publisher=George W. Hawes |location=Chicago, Ill |title=Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1858 and 1859 |date=1858 |oclc=4757260 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/illinoisstategaz00hawe#page/204/mode/2up |chapter=Springfield |ol=24140361M}}
* Laine, Christian K. ''Landmark Springfield: Architecture and Urbanism in the Capital City of Illinois.'' Chicago: Metropolitan, 1985. 111 pp. {{ISBN|0935119019}} {{OCLC|12942732}}
* Lindsay, Vachel. ''The Golden Book of Springfield'' (1920), a novel [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0882862421 excerpt and text search]
* Senechal, Roberta. ''The Sociogenesis of a Race Riot: Springfield, Illinois, in 1908.'' 1990. 231 pp.
* VanMeter, Andy. "Always My Friend: A History of the State Journal-Register and Springfield." Springfield, Ill.: Copley, 1981. 360 pp. history of the daily newspapers
* Wallace, Christopher Elliott. "The Opportunity to Grow: Springfield, Illinois during the 1850s." PhD dissertation Purdue U. 1983. 247 pp. DAI 1984 44(9): 2864-A. DA8400427 Fulltext: [[ProQuest Dissertations & Theses]]
* Winkle, Kenneth J. "The Second Party System in Lincoln's Springfield." ''Civil War History'' 1998 44(4): 267–284. {{ISSN|0009-8078}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Springfield (Illinois)}}
* {{official website}}
* {{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Springfield (Illinois) |volume = 25 |page=739 |short=1}}

{{Navboxes
| list =
{{Illinois}}
{{Sangamon County, Illinois}}
{{US state capitals}}
{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}
{{Midwestern United States}}
{{Abraham Lincoln}}
{{Illinois county seats}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Springfield, Illinois]]
[[Category:1819 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Sangamon County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Springfield metropolitan area, Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1819]]
[[Category:State capitals in the United States]]