About Springfield MO
Springfield is the 3rd biggest city of Missouri and it is the county seat of Greene County with an estimated population of 156,000. Springfield is nicknamed The Queen City of the Ozarks and it is also known as The Cultural Center of the Ozarks and the Birthplace of Route 66.
In 2007, The Milken Institute named Springfield the “Best Performing City” for creating and sustaining jobs, while the World Health Organization voted it as a “Safe Community”.
Missouri was included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and became a state on August 10, 1821.
Just like several other cities in the U.S. Springfield’s downtown area has seen an important renaissance, as most of the older buildings have been and still continue to be remodeled as lofts, office space, restaurants or music venues. Some historic theatres within the Downtown Springfield CID have been renovated, such as Gillioz Theater and the Landers Theatre.
In 2001, the Mediacom Ice Park and The Creamery Arts Center – a city owned building inside Jordan Valley Park – opened, being the home of the Springfield Regional Arts Council, Springfield Regional Opera, Springfield Ballet and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. It is also offers office and meeting space for various arts groups in the serve of the community. In 2003, the Springfield Exposition Center was opened while developments in the area still continue.
Springfield is the official birthplace of US Route 66, as on April 30, 1926 the name of the new Chicago – Los Angeles highway was first proposed. Route 66 became in 1938 the first entirely paved transcontinental highway in America, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast.
In the 1950s, Springfield was third in America for originating network TV programs after New York and Hollywood, with four nationally aired TV series originating from here between 1955 and 1961: Ozark Jubilee, Five Star Jubilee, Talent Varieties and The Eddy Arnold Show. At that same time, several big country music names often visited or resided in Springfield. ABC, NBC and Mutual radio networks broadcasted country music performances from Springfield during that time, for instance the KWTO’s Korn’s-A-Krackin.
The Chamber of Commerce of Springfield presented the Ozark Hillbilly Medallion to U.S. President Harry Truman on June 7, 1953, following a breakfast speech at the Shrine Mosque for a reunion of the 35th Division. Other public figures who received the Ozark Hillbilly Medallion include U.S. Army general Omar Bradley, J.C. Penny, Johnny Olson and disc jockey Nelson King.
Several museum and various point of interests are located within Springfield, such as the Air & Military Museum of Ozarks; Civil War Library at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; Dickerson Park Zoo; Commercial Street Historic District; Founders Park; History Museum for Springfield-Greene County, Us Route 66 marker or the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium.
Springfield offers various recreational possibilities with its 92 parks, 3 golf courses a zoo and other several facilities managed by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. There are also six recreational lakes within 100 miles of Springfield.
photo credit: Elite PhotoArt
