Springfield

The City in Brief

Founded: 1820 (incorporated, 1832)
Head Official: Mayor Timothy J. Davlin (since 2003)
City Population
1980: 99,637
1990: 105,227
2000: 111,454
2003 estimate: 113,586
Percent change, 1990-2000: 3.9%
U.S. rank in 1980: 171st
U.S. rank in 1990: 183rd (State rank: 4th)
U.S. rank in 2000: 225th (State rank: 6th)
Metropolitan Area Population
1980: 187,770
1990: 189,550
2000: 188,951
Percent change, 1990-2000: 5.9%
U.S. rank in 1990: Not reported
U.S. rank in 2000: 165th
Area: 54 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 588 feet above sea level
Average Annual Temperature: 53° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 35 inches
Major Economic Sectors: Government, services, wholesale and retail trade Unemployment Rate: 5.1% (March 2005)
Per Capita Income: $23,324 (1999)
2002 FBI Crime Index Total: Not reported
Major Colleges and Universities: University of Illinois at Springfield; Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; Lincoln Land Community College; Springfield College in Illinois
Daily Newspaper: State Journal-Register

Introduction

Springfield is the capital of Illinois and the seat of Sangamon County, which is included in the Springfield metropolitan area. The city is the commercial, health care, financial, and cultural center for a wide agricultural region. Springfield bills itself as ”The City Lincoln Loved,” since it served as the home, workplace, and political base of Abraham Lincoln for nearly twenty-four years prior to his election as President of the United States. Springfield is also a popular tourist destination.

Geography and Climate

Springfield is located south of the Sangamon River on level to gently sloping terrain in a fertile agricultural region in central Illinois. The city is 190 miles southwest of Chicago, 95 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 193 miles west of Indianapolis. Springfield’s climate consists of four seasons, with warm summers and cold winters; snowfall and ice average twenty-two inches a year. Relative humidity measures 61 percent annually.
Area: 54 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 588 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: 16.3° F to 87.1° F; annual average, 53° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 35 inches

History

Sangamon River Valley Attracts Settlers

At the time Illinois was admitted to the Union in 1818, the city of Springfield did not exist. In that same year Elisha Kelly of North Carolina, attracted to the fertile Sangamon River valley, built the first homestead at a location that is now the northwest corner of Springfield’s Second and Jefferson streets. Other settlers soon arrived and a small settlement began to take shape around the Kelly cabin. When Sangamon County was created in 1821, the Kelly colony was the only one large enough to house county officials. The town was named Springfield in April 1821, the name being derived from Spring Creek and one of the Kelly family’s fields. Springfield became the county seat in 1825 and received its incorporation in 1832.
Through the leadership of young Abraham Lincoln, one of the ”Long Nine”—seven representatives and two senators whose total height measured 54 feet—the state capital of Illinois was transferred from Vandalia to Springfield. Lincoln, who lived in the village of New Salem, 20 miles northwest of the city, moved to the new capital on April 15, 1837; he remained there until he left for Washington, D.C., on February 11, 1861, as the sixteenth president-elect of the United States on the eve of the American Civil War. During Lincoln’s twenty-five years in Springfield as a lawyer and politician, the city experienced prosperity and growth, becoming a city in 1840 and recording a population of 9,400 people by 1860.

Monuments Memorialize Lincoln in Springfield

The city of Springfield is a tribute to Lincoln, rivaling Washington, D.C., in the grandeur and significance of its public monuments, shrines, and historic buildings. The Old State Capitol, a Greek Revival style building constructed in 1837, is one of the most historically significant structures west of the Alleghenies. Lincoln delivered his ”House Divided” speech on June 16, 1858, and maintained an office as president-elect there. His body lay in state in the Capitol’s House of Representatives on May 5, 1865. The Lincoln Tomb and memorial in Oak Ridge Cemetery was dedicated in 1874. The marble burial chamber holds the bodies of Lincoln, his wife Mary, and sons Edward Baker, William Wallace, and Thomas (”Tad”). The Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center, designed by Jens Jensen, reflects the Illinois landscape of Lincoln’s time. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, the Lincoln Depot (formerly Great Western depot, where he gave his farewell speech to Springfield), and the Lincoln Family Pew at the First Presbyterian Church complete the sites memorializing Lincoln’s life in Springfield.
At the center of Springfield’s history and daily life is state politics. After the Civil War, to prevent the removal of the capital to Peoria, Springfield citizens bought the old capitol building for $200,000, which was then used to finance a new structure. Begun in 1868 and finished 20 years later at a cost of $4.5 million, the capitol rises 461 feet above the city and is in the form of a Latin cross with a vast dome in the center, capped with stained glass. The building was renovated in 1958.

Springfield Emerges as Regional Center

In 1914 the Russell Sage Foundation picked Springfield for one of its sociological surveys to aid social welfare organizations. The creation of man-made Lake Springfield, the largest civic project in the city’s history, was approved in 1930 and financed by a bond issue and federal funds. The city became a wholesale and retail center for the thriving agricultural region.
Today, Springfield continues to serve as a center of government, culture, and business for central Illinois. With the addition of the multi-million-dollar Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the city also continues to be an attraction for national and international visitors interested in presidential and American history.
Historical Information: Sangamon County Historical Society, 308 E. Adams St., Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)753-4900. Illinois State Historical Society, 210 1/2 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)525-2781

Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents
1980: 187,770
1990: 189,550
2000: 188,951
Percent change, 1990-2000: 5.9%
U.S. rank in 1990: Not reported
U.S. rank in 2000: 165th
City Residents
1980: 99,637
1990: 105,227
2000: 111,454
2003 estimate: 113,586
Percent change, 1990-2000: 3.9%
U.S. rank in 1980: 171st
U.S. rank in 1990: 183rd (State rank: 4th)
U.S. rank in 2000: 225th (State rank: 6th)
Density: 2,063.9 people per square mile (2000)
Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)
White: 90,287
Black or African American: 17,096
American Indian and Alaska Native: 231 Asian: 1,620
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 34
Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 1,337
Other: 525
Percent of residents born in state: 78.2% (2000)
Age characteristics (2000)
Population under 5 years old: 7,341
Population 5 to 9 years old: 7,631
Population 10 to 14 years old: 7,251
Population 15 to 19 years old: 7,099
Population 20 to 24 years old: 7,152
Population 25 to 34 years old: 15,942
Population 35 to 44 years old: 17,316
Population 45 to 54 years old: 16,011
Population 55 to 59 years old: 5,270
Population 60 to 64 years old: 4,345
Population 65 to 74 years old: 7,821
Population 75 to 84 years old: 5,896
Population 85 years and older: 2,379
Median age: 36.9 years
Births (2003)
Total number: 2,571
Deaths (2002)
Total number: 1,793
Money income (1999)
Per capita income: $23,324
Median household income: $39,388
Total households: 48,753
Number of households with income of. . .
less than $10,000: 4,304
$10,000 to $14,999: 3,399
$15,000 to $24,999: 6,982
$25,000 to $34,999: 6,938
$35,000 to $49,999: 8,467
$50,000 to $74,999: 9,091
$75,000 to $99,999: 4,696
$100,000 to $149,999: 3,179
$150,000 to $199,999: 704
$200,000 or more: 993
Percent of families below poverty level: 8.4% (46.6% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)
2002 FBI Crime Index Total: Not reported

Municipal Government

Springfield operates under an aldermanic form of municipal government. The 10 aldermen and the mayor, who is the head official and a member of council, serve four-year terms.
Head Official: Mayor Timothy J. Davlin (since April 2003; current term expires 2007)
Total Number of City Employees: 1,650 (2005)
City Information: City of Springfield, 800 E. Monroe, Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)789-2000

Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Springfield’s diversified economic base is balanced between the public and private sectors; government, services, and retail trade are the principal industries. A central location and a highly developed transportation and communications network contribute to the city’s position as a center of business and professional activity, particularly health care and finance. Springfield is also the headquarters of 12 national insurance companies and more than 165 state, regional, and national associations. Manufacturing firms in Sangamon County produce goods for national distribution and international export.
Items and goods produced: tractors, electric meters, radio parts, flour, cereal products, automatic coffee makers, mattresses, plastic pipe, farm implements, livestock and poultry feeds, yeast, power plant boiler installations, printed circuits, steel storage tanks

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Companies

Local programs—The city of Springfield runs two loan programs to aid financing for the small business community. For businesses with less than five persons, the Microenterprise Loan Program offers loans between $1,000 and $10,000 for equipment, furniture, fixtures, and working capital, with interest below the market rate. Accounting assistance is also provided. The Business Loan Program provides funding up to $50,000 for non-manufacturing businesses and up to $100,000 for manufacturing businesses. The loans are granted based on job creation and gap financing.
The Springfield Enterprise Zone encourages job creation and capital investment in areas of economic distress and promotes neighborhood revitalization in targeted areas. Companies can take advantage of property tax abatements and a sales tax exemption on all building materials purchased within the state of Illinois.
State programs—In 1977 the Illinois legislature adopted the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act to provide municipalities with a unique tool to finance and stimulate urban redevelopment. Through the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF), cities can stimulate private investment by offering incentives to attract and retain businesses, improve their community areas, and maintain a well-educated and highly trained labor force. Currently, Springfield has four TIF districts. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity offers financial and technical assistance to qualified businesses wishing to locate or expand in Illinois.
Job training programs—The Capital City Center, a partnership between Lincoln Land Community College, Central Management Services, and the University of Illinois at Springfield, provides technology training to interested businesses through scheduled courses and customized training programs.

Development Projects

Springfield has recently undergone a spurt of intense economic development, with many companies and organizations building in or relocating to the area. In 2004 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage opened a new, $41 million, 185,000-square-foot facility, giving the company the capacity to accommodate 750 employees. Later that year a new, 43,000 square foot Illinois Supreme Court Building opened. In 2005 the Illinois Air National Guard received $10 million in federal funding for the construction of a new facility to be located at Springfield Capital Airport. The new facility will have more than 45,000 square feet of space to be used as a dining area, medical clinic, and administrative offices.
In 2005 Springfield opened the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, an event that drew local and national media attention. The 160,000-square-foot, $115 million library and museum serve as the center for research and study of the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. It is the nation’s largest presidential library.
Economic Development Information: City of Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development, 231 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)789-2377. Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, 620 E. Adams, Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)782-7500

Commercial Shipping

A transportation hub for markets throughout the United States, the Springfield metropolitan area is served by 35 intrastate and 75 interstate motor freight carriers. Forty-one truck terminals are located in the community. Springfield/ Sangamon County is linked with major national rail networks via five railroads, two of which operate facilities in the city, and a local rail company that maintains a switchyard. Capital Airport provides daily commercial flights, as well as complete charter, aircraft repair and maintenance, and fuel services.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

The Springfield-Sangamon County labor force is one of the largest in central Illinois, with the highest commuting-in rate of any central Illinois community. The labor pool in the Springfield area is extensive and includes unemployed, under-employed, and re-entering retirees, representing a potential available workforce of 228,057 individuals in the Springfield area. Of that number, 31 percent have experience in computers and/or electronics, 37.4 percent in health care or medical devices, 21.5 percent in manufacturing, and 20 percent in agriculture and agribusiness. Sixty-eight per-cent of the city’s underemployed have attended college, and 52 percent are between the ages of 20 and 39. Seventy percent have indicated interest in additional training.
In an audit conducted by The Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University, researchers found that the overall labor quality in Springfield is considered among the best in the nation by local employers. Employers rated employees good or very good on job performance as it relates to trainability, basic skills, productivity, and attitudes. Employees also showed low rates of turnover and absenteeism.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Springfield metropolitan area labor force, 2004 annual averages.
Size of nonagricultural labor force: 110,200
Number of workers employed in …
construction and mining: 5,100
manufacturing: 3,400
trade, transportation and utilities: 17,900
information: 3,100 financial activities: 7,500
professional and business services: 10,500
educational and health services: 16,200
leisure and hospitality: 10,200
other services: 6,400 government: 29,900
Average hourly earnings of production workers in manufacturing: $15.61 (statewide average)
Unemployment rate: 5.1% (March 2005)
Largest employers (2004)                                                                          Number of employees
State of Illinois                                                                                                      17,000
Memorial Health System                                                                                         3,400
St. John’s Hospital                                                                                                 2,839
Illinois National Guard                                                                                            2,700
Springfield School District                                                                               186 2,019
City of Springfield                                                                                                  1,707
Horace Mann Insurance Company                                                                          1,280
SIU School of Medicine                                                                                          1,200
Springfield Clinic, LLP                                                                                               900
SBC Communications Inc.                                                                                        900
U.S. Postal Service                                                                                                  900
Cost of Living
With a cost of living level below the national average, Springfield residents are reported to have higher disposable income for recreation, savings, and other discretionary expenditures.
The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors in the Springfield area.
2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 91.0 (U.S. average = 100.0)
2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: $227,414
State income tax rate: 3.0%
State sales tax rate: 5.0% Local income tax rate: None
Local sales tax rate: 2.5% (plus a county tax of 0.25%)
Property tax rate: 7.87% (valuation is 33.3% of real property)
Economic Information: Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, 3 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)525-1173

Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Springfield Public School District #186, the ninth-largest in the state of Illinois, is administered by a seven-member, nonpartisan board of education that appoints a superintendent. Almost 54 percent of the district’s teachers have bachelor’s degrees, and 46 percent hold master’s degrees or above. The district’s average ACT scores recently fell slightly below the state average, and the graduation rate is 89.7 percent.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Springfield public schools as of the 2003-2004 school year.
Total enrollment: 14,807
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 24
middle schools: 5
high schools: 3
Student-teacher ratio: elementary, 17:1; high school, 23:1
Teacher salaries
average: $48,509
Funding per pupil: $8,212
Springfield is also served by a large number of private and parochial elementary and secondary schools.
Public Schools Information: Springfield Public School District #186, 1900 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704;
telephone (217)525-3000

Colleges and Universities

The University of Illinois at Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield College in Illinois, and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine are located in Springfield. Among the technical and vocational schools in Springfield are Capital Area Vocational Center, Brown’s Business College, and Robert Morris College.
The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS), one of three University of Illinois campuses, is a four-year institution with an enrollment of about 4,500 students. The school offers degrees in 39 concentrations including business administration, psychology, and criminal justice. In addition to 20 bachelor’s degree programs, UIS administers 18 master’s degree programs and a doctorate program in public administration. The school celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2000.
The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is a state-assisted school established in 1970 to train physicians and develop new models for providing health care in rural areas. Its 174 faculty physicians offer primary care and specialized services. The school also enrolls 288 medical students, 252 residents, 40 doctoral students, and 50 master’s degree students.
Founded in 1967, Lincoln Land Community College is a community-based institution with an enrollment of about 12,000 students. The school offers vocational education, programs for returning students, and a transfer curriculum. Springfield College in Illinois is a four-year, faith-based institution offering both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. The school was founded in 1929 by Catholic Ursuline Sisters, and was the city’s first institution of higher learning.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Lincoln Library, Springfield’s public library, holds more than 400,000 topics, about 1,000 periodical titles, plus microfilm, films, audio and videotapes, compact discs, maps, charts, and art reproductions. The library operates three branches. Springfield is also home to the Illinois State Library, which houses five million volumes.
Opened in 2004, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (formerly the Illinois State Historical Library) is a 200,000 square foot complex located in downtown Springfield. The facility was created to foster Abraham Lincoln scholarship and promote a greater appreciation of Illinois history. The library’s archives contain more than 12 million documents, topics, and artifacts relating to all areas of Illinois history. It also holds more than 5,000 newspaper titles on 89,000 microfilm reels; many date from the early nineteenth century.
Campus library facilities are maintained by Lincoln Land Community College, University of Illinois at Springfield, and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The Illinois State Museum disseminates knowledge of natural history, anthropology, and art to the general public and scientists. Other libraries in the city are affiliated principally with hospitals and with government agencies such as the Illinois State Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Illinois Supreme Court.
Public Library Information: Lincoln Library, 326 S. 7th St., Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)753-4900

Health Care

Springfield is a primary health care center for the central Illinois region. Two major hospitals, a world-renowned heart surgery institute, a medical school, more than 40 clinics, and 30 nursing homes provide diagnostic, treatment, and care services. St. John’s Hospital has more than 700 beds, making it the largest hospital in downstate Illinois. It has been in operation for more than 125 years, and is one of the largest Catholic hospitals in the United States. The Prairie Heart Institute, a part of St. John’s Hospital, has the largest heart program in Illinois. It performs more diagnostic catheterization angioplasties and heart surgeries than any single hospital in the state. Memorial Health System maintains burn and rehabilitative medicine units.
Another valuable resource to the Springfield medical community is Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The medical school has 174 full-time health care providers covering seven disciplines, including internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics. Additionally, the Springfield Clinic is the second-largest clinic in Illinois.
Health Care Information: St. John’s Hospital, 800 E. Carpenter St., Springfield, IL 62769; telephone (217)544-6464. Memorial Health System, 701 N. 1st St., Springfield, IL 62781; telephone (217)788-3000

Recreation

Sightseeing

Historic sites associated with Abraham Lincoln memorialize his presidency and his life in Springfield. The Old State Capitol Hall of Representatives, where Lincoln tried several hundred cases prior to the Civil War, has been reconstructed and completely furnished to re-create Lincoln’s Illinois legislative years. The Lincoln Home, the only house Lincoln ever owned, is located in a four-block national historic area administered by the National Park Service. The Quaker-brown residence was home to the Lincoln family for 17 years, from 1944 to 1961. It now contains many authentic household furnishings and has been restored as closely as possible to its original condition. Neighboring 1850s-era residences have been similarly restored.
The Lincoln Depot marks the spot where Lincoln bade farewell to the city, and contains restored waiting rooms, exhibits, and a video presentation recreating the 12-day journey to his inauguration. The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices are in the only surviving structure where Lincoln maintained working law offices. At nearby Oak Ridge Cemetery, the Lincoln Tomb is marked with a sculpture honoring the 16th President. It is the final resting place of Abraham, Mary Todd, Tad, Eddie, and Willie Lincoln. And in nearby New Salem, 23 buildings have been restored to depict Lincoln’s life here from 1831 to 1837. Costumed interpreters can be heard throughout the community’s timber houses, shops, and stores.
The newest addition to Springfield’s Lincoln sites is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 2004. The 200,000-square-foot complex houses the world’s largest collection of documentary material on Lincoln and features high-tech exhibits, interactive displays, multimedia programs, and a reproduction of the 1861 White House. Visitors can also witness the 1860 presidential election as if it were happening today, with news coverage and campaign commercials.
There are other popular tourist attractions in the Springfield area. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902 for socialite Susan Lawrence Dana, the Dana-Thomas House is an example of one of the architect’s best-preserved prairie-style homes, with original furniture, art glass doors, windows, and light fixtures. The Washington Park Botanical Gardens and the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon in Washington Park are other popular sights in Springfield; the carillon is the third-largest in the world and one of the few open to the public. Animal lovers will enjoy a day spent at the Henson Robinson Zoo, which houses more than 300 animals from five continents.
Visitors to Springfield might consider a trip to nearby Dick-son Mounds Museum, a branch of the Illinois State Museum and one of the major on-site archaeological museums in the U.S. It contains more than 15,000 square feet of exhibits focusing on Native Americans, including art and artifact displays, hands-on activities, and multimedia presentations.

Arts and Culture

Sponsoring a season of plays, the Springfield Theatre Centre is a community theater group performing musicals, comedies, and drama from September until June. The Springfield Muni Opera presents four Broadway musicals during the summer season at the 750-seat open-air theater near Lake Springfield. Each performance is accompanied by a full orchestra. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Ballet Company perform at Sangamon Auditorium and other sites throughout the city and state. During the summer months, Theatre in the Park presents a variety of entertainment in a natural outdoor amphitheater at New Salem State Historic Site; the productions include a play about Lincoln’s life at New Salem.
The Illinois State Museum preserves natural, anthropological, and art histories of Illinois with changing and permanent exhibits. The new natural history hall, ”Changes: Dynamic Illinois Environments,” demonstrates the changes in Illinois environments over the last 500 million years. The Vachel Lindsay Home is a museum and cultural center that pays tribute to one of the state’s most famous artist-poets, who was known as ”the prairie troubadour.” The home was Lindsay’s birthplace and remained his only home until his death there in 1931. The Edwards Place, built in 1833 for Benjamin and Helen Edwards, is an Italianate mansion that has been converted into an art gallery, school of art, and art library.

Festivals and Holidays

The Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair is considered one of the best art events in the United States, attracting more than 200 artists who display their work downtown near the Old State Capitol Building on the third weekend in May. The two-day event has been held for more than 40 years, and also features food vendors and live entertainment. A Children’s Art Fair accompanies the main attraction. The International Carillon Festival, held seven evenings in June, is one of only a few of its kind in the country; international performers play carillon music on the bronze bells in the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, and fireworks cap off the festival.
The Illinois State Fair, held each August over a 10-day period, draws hundreds of thousands of people each year. It hosts one of the nation’s largest livestock shows, as well as farm contests and one-mile harness racing on a recognized fast track. For more than 20 years, the springtime Springfield Air Rendezvous has attracted a mix of airshow acts, from internationally known aerobatics entertainment to warbirds and ultralights. In June the city’s Taste of Downtown offers visitors a variety of regional and ethnic foods from many Springfield restaurants; festivities include live music, children’s activities, and a pitching booth. A Festival of Trees in late November and a Christmas Parade in December inaugurate the winter holiday season, which culminates with First Night Springfield on New Year’s Eve, featuring varied musical entertainment, arts events, and a midnight fireworks display.

Sports for the Spectator

Springfield is home to the national champion Springfield Junior Blues hockey team, a member of the North American Hockey League. Sports fans also follow several collegiate teams, including the nationally ranked University of Illinois at Springfield Prairie Stars soccer team. The annual Ladies
Professional Golf Association/State Farm Golf Classic attracts more than 100 professional golfers to compete for
$500,000 in prizes.

Sports for the Participant

The Springfield Recreation Department and the Springfield Park District maintain more than 30 parks in the city offering facilities for fishing, hiking, jogging, picnicking, tennis, ice skating, swimming, and softball. Springfield’s wildlife sanctuaries provide year-round opportunities to enjoy the countryside of Sangamon County, and golfers will enjoy the city’s nine public golf courses. Lake Springfield, a 4,240-acre, artificially constructed reservoir, is surrounded by 57 miles of shoreline. The area supports eight parks and recreational outlets, including boat launches for canoes, mo-torboats, pontoons, rowboats, and sailboats, and a marina offering boat, water ski, and jet ski rentals.
Recreation Information: Springfield Park District, 2500 S. 11th St., Springfield, IL 62703; telephone (217)544-1751

Shopping and Dining

Springfield is the commercial center for central Illinois, with a thriving downtown area full of shops in restored historic buildings offering unique gifts and clothing. Simon White Oaks Mall has the largest selection of merchandise in the region, with 115 stores, restaurants, and movie theaters. Illinois Artisans Shop at the Illinois State Museum features works by state artists. The Old Capitol Farmers’ Market occupies two city blocks of downtown, and offers fresh produce, flowers, and food from more than 60 vendors.
Restaurants in the city offer a selection of American, Continental, Mediterranean, Chinese, Thai, and Korean menus. The ”horseshoe sandwich,” a local staple created in Springfield in 1928, consists of a ham slice topped with an English cheddar cheese sauce, and crowned with french fries representing the nails of a horseshoe. Another regional favorite is a special ”chilli” recipe served by a local parlor that has spelled chili with an extra “l” since 1909.
Visitor Information: Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, 109 N. 7th St., Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)789-2360; toll-free 800-545-7300. Downtown Springfield, Inc., 3 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, Ste. 15, Springfield,IL 62704; telephone (217)544-1723

Convention Facilities

The Prairie Capital Convention Center, conveniently located in downtown Springfield, is the city’s principal meeting and convention facility. It contains 66,000 square feet of space, and includes 44,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space. Springfield’s many hotels, motels, and inns offer more than 4,000 rooms. Major hotels, such as the Hilton, Renaissance, and Crowne Plaza also operate meeting and conference facilities. The Illinois State Fairgrounds has a 366-acre facility with 29 major buildings available for large events. And for those looking for a unique setting, the Old State Capitol, Dana-Thomas House, and New Salem have facilities available.
Convention Information: Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, 109 N. 7th St., Springfield, IL 62701; telephone (217)789-2360; toll-free 800-545-7300

Transportation

Approaching the City

The Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is the major air transportation facility in the Springfield metropolitan area. The airport is served by the commercial carriers United and American, which make 23 daily commercial flights to and from airports in St. Louis and Chicago. Charter service is also available.
The highway system in Springfield/Sangamon County includes three interstate freeways, a limited-access highway, and several state routes. Intersecting Sangamon County, I-55 runs north to south along the eastern boundary of Springfield; I-72 links the city with Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to the east. U.S. 36 connects with I-55 south of Springfield and continues west to Jacksonville, Illinois. State routes include 4 (north-south), 29 (east-west), 54 (east-west), and 97 (east-west).
Amtrak schedules six trains daily that provide service from Springfield to Chicago, Illinois, and to St. Louis, Missouri. Greyhound Bus Lines also serve the city.

Traveling in the City

Streets in Springfield are laid out on a grid pattern. Washington Street, bisecting the city from east to west, and Fifth Street and Sixth Street, running parallel north to south, intersect in the center of downtown. The Springfield Mass Transit District operates public bus transportation on regularly scheduled routes Monday through Saturday.

Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

The State Journal-Register is Springfield’s major daily (morning) newspaper, and Illinois’ oldest newspaper. The Illinois Times appears weekly and is available for free at hundreds of locations in the area. Other journals and magazines published in Springfield are directed toward readers with special interests in such subjects as beef production, anthropology, aviation, engineering, Illinois history, health care, education, building trades, and electrical cooperatives.

Television and Radio

Five television stations are based in Springfield, through the ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS networks. Cable television is also available. Radio programming is provided in Springfield by three AM and 12 FM stations, broadcasting rock, contemporary, country, and classical music as well as sports, news, and talk radio.
Media Information: State Journal-Register, PO Box 219, Springfield, IL 62705-0219; telephone (217)788-1300

Springfield Online

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Available www.alplm.org
City of Springfield home page. Available www.springfield .il.us
Downtown Springfield Inc. Available www.downtown springfield.org
Economic Development Council of Springfield. Available www.gscc.org/EDC
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Available www .gscc.org
Illinois State Museum. Available www.museum.state.il.us
Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Available www.nps .gov/liho
Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. Available www.visit-springfieldillinois.com
State of Illinois home page. Available www.state.il.us
State Journal-Register. Available www.sj-r.com