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.

The area that is now the city of Springfield was first inhabited by the Osage, Delaware, and Kickapoo tribes. A small village was constructed by the Kickapoo but was abandoned during the 1800s. Shortly after the tribe left the site, John Polk Campbell, the first settler, arrived with his brother from Tennessee. A natural well and small stream were what attracted Campbell to the site. Other immigrants came after, clearing the land for their farms and constructing a general store.

In the 1830s, Greene County was established. Campbell was given 50 acres of land which was to become the county seat. The town was incorporated in 1838. After its incorporation, Springfield grew at a relatively rapid rate. By the 1860s, the town had about 2,000 residents, and it was known for being a commercial center. Trouble was ahead, however, for the town.

The Civil War divided Springfield’s loyalty, leading to the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, which was won by the Confederates. Union troops retreated and upon their return, found that the majority of the Confederates had withdrawn. However, Charles Zagonyi attacked remaining Confederates during the First Battle of Springfield, and the Union was victorious. Confederate forces moved to take over Springfield but later withdrew on the same day. The Union controlled Springfield through the end of the war.

The city’s troubles weren’t over just yet. During the early 1900s, a mob lynched several black men, hanging and burning them in the town square. The attacks led to nationwide attention. Evidence later showed that the men were innocent of the sexual assaults they were accused of. Following this event, many African Americans left the area and today only make up a small percentage of the population.