Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri. It is the county seat of Greene County.
Springfield is located at 37°11'42" North, 93°17'10" West (37.195098, -93.286213).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 191.1 km2 (73.8 mi2). 189.5 km2 (73.2 mi2) of it is land and 1.7 km2 (0.6 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.87% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 151,580 people, 64,691 households, and 35,709 families residing in the city. The population density is 800.0/km2 (2,072.0/mi2). There are 69,650 housing units at an average density of 367.6/km2 (952.1/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 91.69% White, 3.27% African American, 0.75% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. 2.31% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 64,691 households out of which 24.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% are married couples living together, 10.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% are non-families. 35.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.82.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 17.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,563, and the median income for a family is $38,114. Males have a median income of $27,778 versus $20,980 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,711. 15.9% of the population and 9.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
1829: Future site of Springfield designated by John Polk Campbell. The first settlers (the brothers Fulbright and their families) follow in 1830.
1833: The state legislature designated most of the southern portion of Missouri a single county.
1835: Springfield becomes the county seat of Greene County, MO.
February 18, 1838: Springfield is first incorporated with a population of 300.
1838: The Trail of Tears traveled through the Springfield area via what is known as The Old Wire Road.
1858: The first westbound stagecoach, the Butterfield Overland Mail, reaches Springfield.
1861: American Civil War - Union troops under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon take control of the city soon after war breaks out.
August 10, 1861: American Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek - Confederate forces under Brig. Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price march on the city. Confederate and Union forces meet 12 miles outside the city. In the bloody fighting which ensues, Gen. Lyon is killed and Col. Franz Sigel leads a Union retreat to Springfield and then Rolla. Confederate troops occupy Springfield.
1862: American Civil War - Confederates abandon Springfield to Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis.
January 8, 1863: American Civil War Battle of Springfield - A Union garrison under Brig. Gen. Egbert Brown repels a Confederate attack led by Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke.
July 21, 1865: Wild Bill Hickok shoots Dave Tutt dead in the town square over a gambling dispute. The shootout reported nationwide is regarded as the first true western showdown.
1870: First railroad, the St. Louis-San Francisco line.
1887: Springfield merges with North Springfield.
January, 1888: First mail delivery.
1905: Three African-American men are lynched in the town square for allegedly raping a white woman, though guilt was never established. This event sparked a mass exodus of African-Americans from the area, who still remain a vast minority.
1910: First electric lights installed.
1926: AASHTO settles dispute over U.S. Highway 60. Cyrus Avery (head of the group), who is in Springfield at the time, accepts the number 66 for the new Chicago-Los Angeles route. Springfield gains the nickname "Birthplace of Route 66".
1927: First radio station.
1947: Red's Giant Hamburgs, world's first drive-thru restaurant, is opened.
January, 1955: First color television broadcast in the city by KOLR-TV.
1963: Cashew chicken created and served for the first time at Leong's Tea House.
1990: First "Historic Route 66" marker on US 66 is placed in Springfield.
2005: Southwest Missouri State University becomes Missouri State University.
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Springfield, MO
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