Springfield is a city located in the state of Missouri. The city serves as the county seat for Greene County and is part of the Springfield-Branson Metro Area. The city is also known as the "Queen City of the Ozarks".
Springfield Today
One of the most unusual things about this city is its weather, which has been listed on Forbes’ list of “America’s Wildest Weather Cities” because of the many changes that can occur even in just one day.
Today, the city has undertaken many renovation projects, particularly in its downtown area. Downtown Springfield is now the site of restaurants, boutiques, loft apartments, bars, and music venues. The city is also home to many museums, parks and performing arts centers, as well as many interesting historical sites. Several institutions of higher education are located in Springfield, including Missouri State University.
The city also has many tourists, with over 3 million overnight visitors coming to the city each year. The national headquarters of many large companies including O’Reilly and Bass Pro Shops have also set up in Springfield, significantly contributing to the local economy.
Springfield Population Statistics
The city’s primary industries are health care, manufacturing, education, tourism, and retail. The largest employer in the city is the Mercy Health System, which employs over 9,000 individuals. CoxHealth, Wal-Mart, Springfield Public Schools, and Missouri State University are among the city’s top employers.
Springfield Population Growth
There hasn’t been a time when the city of Springfield has experienced a decline in population. In its earliest years, it saw significant growth according to census data. In 1880, the population was just over 6,500. By the time of the next census, the population had grown to over 21,000. While population growth has slowed since that time, each 10-year census shows that the numbers continue to climb. In 1970, the city surpassed 100,000 residents. In 2000, that number jumped to over 150,000. Recent estimates indicate that the population has grown almost 5% since the last census taken in 2010. Based on these figures, it won’t be long until Springfield has over 200,000 residents.