Springfield, Illinois

Springfield is the capital of the State of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County. The city was founded in 1819, became the county seat in 1823, and received its city charter in 1840. It was made the capital of Illinois in 1837, and the Legislature convened here for the first time in 1839. As of the 2000 census, its population is 111,454.

1 Overview
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Notable natives
5 Education and Sports
6 Local culinary creations
7 Registered Historic Places
- 7.1 Other points of interest
8 External links

[edit] Overview

The city is the site of a number of attractions centered around President Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career in Springfield. These include a national park site, the Lincoln Home Historic Site [1], as well as the preserved surrounding neighborhood; the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site; the Old State Capitol State Historic Site; the newly built Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; the train depot from where he departed to Washington; and his burial mausoleum. The Museum of Funeral Customs, located near Lincoln's tomb, also features exhibits related to the president's funeral. North of Springfield, near the village of Petersburg, is New Salem (Menard County), Illinois, a restored hamlet of log cabins recreating New Salem, where Lincoln lived as a young man.

The Donner Party, a group of pioneers who resorted to cannibalism while snowbound in the Sierra Nevada, originated in Springfield. Springfield's Dana-Thomas House is among the best preserved and most complete of Frank Lloyd Wright's early "Prairie" houses. It was built in 1902-1904 and has many of the furnishings Wright designed for it. Springfield is known for its carillon and festival. In August, the city is the site of the Illinois State Fair.

A race riot in 1908 led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) by a coalition of black and white citizens the following year.

The Springfield campus of the University of Illinois, is located on the southeast side of the city. The city is also home to the Bunn company, known as a global leader in coffee-making equipment and supplies. The city is home to a branch campus of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine which is in the early stages of building a Cancer Institue in Springfield's Medical District, the Springfield College of Pharmacy, Springfield College, and Lincoln Land Community College. Springfield has two large regional teaching hospitals, Springfield Memorial Medical Center and St. John's Hospital; the city also is home to a burn treatment center. Springfield is also home to the headquarters of insurance companies Horace Mann and Franklin Mutual. Springfield is the seat of a Catholic diocese.

I-55 runs from north to south of Springfield while I-72, also known as US 36, runs from east to west. The city also lies along historic Route 66. When state senator Vince Demuzio died on Tuesday, April 27, 2004, Governor Rod Blagojevich declared a part of Interstate of I-55 from Carlinville, which Demuzio represented and is about an hour from the capitol, to Springfield as the "Vince Demuzio Expressway." Springfield is also served by Amtrak passenger trains operating between Chicago and St. Louis and stopping at Union Station (Springfield), such as the Texas Eagle. Local mass transportation needs are met by a local bus service, the Springfield Mass Transit District (SMTD).

Air service to the capital city is on the rise once again, with flights to Chicago O'Hare (United), Chicago-Midway (Big Sky Airlines), St. Louis (American, and Memphis (Northwest). Service to Washington, DC is scheduled to start sometime in the future.

[edit] Geography

Springfield is located at 39°46′60″N, 89°39′1″W (39.783250, -89.650373)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 156.2 km² (60.3 mi²). 139.9 km² (54.0 mi²) of it is land and 16.3 km² (6.3 mi²) of it (10.46%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 111,454 people, 48,621 households, and 27,957 families residing in the city. The population density was 796.9/km² (2,063.9/mi²). There were 53,733 housing units at an average density of 384.2/km² (995.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.01% White, 15.34% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 48,621 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,388, and the median income for a family was $51,298. Males had a median income of $36,864 versus $28,867 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,324. About 8.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Languages Spoken other than English includes Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Malayalam and Telugu

[edit] Notable natives

Noted American poet Vachel Lindsay (1879 - 1931) was born and died in Springfield. Ragtime composer Artie Matthews (1888 - 1958) was raised in Springfield. The astronomer Seth Barnes Nicholson (1891 - 1963) was born in Springfield. Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887 - 1973), the philanthropist and founder of General Foods Corporation was also born there. Current Philadelphia 76ers player Andre Iguodala was born and raised in Springfield, as were current major-league baseball pitchers Jeff Fassero and Ryan O'Malley. All-star infielder Kevin Seitzer was born in Springfield, as was Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts. Actress Reiko Aylesworth is a former resident. Morris Day, lead singer of the band The Time, was born in Springfield.

Springfield was also the home of John L. Lewis, President of the United Mine Workers during its rise to prominence in the labor movement. The CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) was founded there in 1930 by Lewis when he broke with the AFL (American Federation of Labor) and the Progressive Mine Workers was formed there in 1932 in opposition to his leadership.

[edit] Education and Sports

Springfield is home to four high schools that participate in the local Central State Eight (CS8) athletic conference. They are Springfield Southeast High School, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield High School, and Lanphier High School.

[edit] Local culinary creations

Image:CozyDogDriveIn SpringfieldIL.jpg The corn dog on a stick also originated in Springfield, where it is sometimes still called a Cozy Dog. Another culinary pecularity that is not nearly as well known outside of the city is the horseshoe sandwich, a type of open-faced sandwich. While there are many variations, the traditional sandwich has two hamburger patties on an open faced sandwich, covered with a locally created cheese sauce and fried potatoes (generally steak fries). For many years the popular Reisch Beer was brewed in Springfield. Springfield also operates the nation's first and oldest (still operating as of 12/06) fast food drive-up window, the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop at 118 N. Pasfield.

Springfield is also known to many as the "Chilli capital of the World." The unique double 'l' spelling is commonly used in many area parlors throughout the city and county. This peculiar spelling of "chilli" in Springfield originated with the founder of the Den Chilli Parlor in 1909. His sign in the parlor was misspelled. Other folks believe the spelling matches the first four letters in Illinois. A resolution proclaiming Springfield "the Chilli Capital of the Civilized World" was adopted by the Illinois legislature in 1993. This proclamation is a nod to the city's long chilli history.

[edit] Registered Historic Places

Image:Lincoln's Tomb.JPG

Image:Lincoln Home.jpg

Image:Camp Butler.JPG

Image:Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial.JPG

Carillon
Washington Park

[edit] Other points of interest

Image:Funeral Carriage.JPG

[edit] External links

Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 39.78325° -89.650373°
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

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