Springfield, Illinois - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Springfield
Flag
Motto: 
Home of President Abraham Lincoln[1]
Map
Interactive map of Springfield
Coordinates: 39°47′54″N 89°40′33″W / 39.79833°N 89.67583°W / 39.79833; -89.67583[3]
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountySangamon
TownshipsCapital, Springfield, Woodside[2]
FoundedApril 10, 1821; 202 years ago (1821-04-10)[4]
Incorporated TownApril 2, 1832; 191 years ago (1832-04-02)[4]
City CharterFebruary 3, 1840; 184 years ago (1840-02-03)[5]
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorMisty Buscher (R)
Area
 • Total67.49 sq mi (174.79 km2)
 • Land61.16 sq mi (158.41 km2)
 • Water6.33 sq mi (16.38 km2)
Elevation600 ft (183 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total114,394
 • Density1,870.37/sq mi (722.16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
ZIP codes[8][9]
Area code217/447
FIPS code17-167-11046
GNIS feature ID2395940[3]
Websitewww.springfield.il.us

Springfield is the capital city of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat and largest city of Sangamon County, Illinois. It is close to the center of the state. In the 2020 census, Springfield had more than 110,000 people living in it.

Capitol[change | change source]

The state Capitol, in the middle of Springfield, is where the General Assembly (the state's legislature) meets and where the governor's office is. The Capitol is a big building with a dome that can be seen from many miles away. Springfield also has an old capitol, which is now a historic site.

People[change | change source]

Springfield was the home of Abraham Lincoln before he was elected president in 1860. Lincoln was a lawyer and practiced law many places in Illinois. His office is near the old capitol. When he died, his body was brought back to Springfield. His home, his law office, his tomb are all open to the public. Springfield also has a new building with a museum and library dedicated to him and his presidency.

Roads[change | change source]

Springfield has two Interstate highways: I-55 and I-72. I-55 runs from Chicago to Springfield and then through St. Louis, Missouri. Springfield also has many smaller roads to other cities.

Notes[change | change source]

  1. Official website
  2. Keck, Patrick (2023-02-20). "Election 2023: Portions of two townships could be annexed into Springfield". State Journal-Register. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  3. 3.0 3.1 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Springfield, Illinois
  4. 4.0 4.1 Springfield Online Archived 2007-05-01 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on April 13, 2007
  5. "Name of Local Government: Springfield". Illinois State Archives. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  6. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  7. "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  8. "Look Up a ZIP Code". USPS.com. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  9. "Look Up a ZIP Code". USPS.com. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.

References[change | change source]

Further reading[change | change source]

  • 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 in Jstor
  • Harrison, Shelby Millard, ed. The Springfield Survey: Study of Social Conditions in an American City (1920), famous sociological study of the city vol 3 online
  • "Springfield". Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1858 and 1859. Chicago, Ill: George W. Hawes. 1858. OCLC 4757260. 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 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[change | change source]