Springfield: 175 Years Young!
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City Profile SPRINGFIELD: 175 YEARS YOUNG! ith more than 440,000 persons in the metro area, Springfield is where the rolling hills of the Ozarks plateau to form a surprisingly modern and green city. A “big, small town,” Springfield offers the perfect blend of fascinating attractions, historical treasures, sports excitement and cultural and leisure activities. WThe City offers 102 parks, including a linear trail system that integrates with the City’s growing on-street bike route system; an airport; an art museum; a zoo; the Springfield Lasers professional tennis team; the Springfield Cardinals minor-league baseball team; and is home to Bass Pro Shops, Missouri State University, Drury and Evangel universities and the Assemblies of God USA. Springfield/Greene County is the only municipality in the nation with a Gold Medal Award-winning parks and recreation department; American Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year award; and accreditation in law enforcement, fire, emergency management and public works. BEGINNINGS is known today as the Old Wire The territory known as Road. The Trail of Tears National Missouri was included in the Historic Trail auto tour route Louisiana Purchase of 1803. is along Interstate 44 westward Soon after, the Delaware Native to U.S. 160 (West By-pass in Americans received treaty land Springfield) and westward along where Springfield’s Sequiota U.S. 60. Park stands today. Missouri became a state in OLD WIRE ROAD 1821. In the mid- to late 1820s, The Old Wire Road, then two brothers from Tennessee, known as the Military Road, John Polk and Madison served until the mid-1840s as a Campbell, along with several connection between Springfield other homesteaders, went on a and the garrison at Fort Smith, prospecting trip to southwest Ark. By 1858, the Butterfield Missouri. The area was then Overland Stage began utilizing populated by the Kickapoo and the road offering passage to Cherokee. California. Two years later, the region’s first telegraph line was The settlers encountered strung along the road at that time a tribe of Kickapoo encamped it was dubbed the Telegraph or along the James River. A young Wire Road. The road proved vital boy from the tribe was gravely ill, during the Civil War, and its most and John Polk Campbell offered historic connection is to the Battle to help. Campbell gave the boy of Pea Ridge in Arkansas. While herbs that eventually lifted his portions of the road exist today, fever and brought him back to the most easily accessible portion full health. is within Wilson’s Creek National The Kickapoo chieftain gave Battlefield. Campbell a tract of land to the north 500 persons lived in Springfield. The of their village near a large spring as a town was incorporated in 1838. CIVIL WAR BATTLES OF WILSON’S token of his gratitude. Campbell built CREEK AND SPRINGFIELD a log cabin near the spring and began TRAIL OF TEARS With the Civil War imminent, a small farm. In 1838, the Cherokee were forcibly Springfield was divided in its Campbell announced his claim removed by the U.S. government from sentiments. On Aug. 10, 1861, army to Springfield in 1829, and encouraged their homelands in Tennessee, Alabama, units clashed near Wilson’s Creek, friends and family to join him in the North Carolina and Georgia, and later the site of the first major battle west newly settled area. moved to the “Indian Territory.” of the Mississippi River, involving In 1833, Campbell donated 50 The move became known as the approximately 5,400 Union troops and acres for the construction of a town, Trail of Tears due to thousands of 12,000 Confederates. with two acres designated as the public Cherokee deaths on the journey, as well Gen. Nathaniel Lyon was killed. square. Lots were sold to new settlers, as those who perished as a result of the He was the first Union general to die and Campbell began the organization of relocation. The Trail of Tears traveled in combat. The Confederates were Greene County. By 1835, approximately through the Springfield area via what victorious. Union troops fell back to 4 / September 2013 The Missouri Municipal Review www.mocities.com Lebanon, then Rolla and regrouped. ARRIVAL OF THE When they returned to Springfield, RAILROAD the Confederates had withdrawn. The On April 21, battle led to increased military activity 1870, the St. Louis-San in Missouri and set the stage for the Francisco line rolled Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862. through Springfield, The National Park Service, establishing a new city recognizing the significance of the named North Springfield battle, designated Wilson’s Creek with Commercial National Battlefield in 1960. The Street as its downtown. 1,750-acre battlefield remains greatly Commercial and industrial unchanged and stands as one of the diversification came with most historically pristine battle sites in the railroads and the country. strengthened the For two years following the Battle city of Springfield of Wilson’s Creek, possession of the when the two towns City seesawed. Then in January 1863, merged 17 years Confederate forces under Gen. John S. later in 1887. Marmaduke advanced toward the town Today, visitors square and battle ensued. can enjoy the view As evening approached, the from the Jefferson Confederates withdrew. The next Avenue Footbridge, morning, the Confederates left town peering below to and Gen. Marmaduke sent a message to the locomotive path Union forces asking for proper burials that is still in use. for Confederate casualties. The City would remain under Union control BIRTHPLACE OF until the end of the war. ROUTE 66 Officially recognized as the serves sightseers who take a more “WILD BILL” HICKOK birthplace of Route 66, it was in relaxed pace and savor every detail. In the wake of the Civil War, Springfield on April 30, 1926, that Springfield mixes its past with the Springfield helped give birth to the officials first proposed the name of the future as historic Route 66 borders the Wild West era. In July 1865, the town new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. downtown Jordan Valley Park. square was the site of the nation’s In 1938, Route 66 became the first The City of Springfield is first-recorded shootout. The incident completely paved transcontinental designating the section of College between “Wild Bill” Hickok and Davis highway in America, the “Mother Street that was once part of Route Tutt also was significant due to the Road,” stretching from the Great Lakes 66 as a historical area. A roadside incredible marksmanship exhibited to the Pacific Coast. park celebrating its Route 66 past by “Wild Bill” that made him known Traces of the Mother Road are still by incorporating memories of local worldwide. visible in downtown Springfield along Route 66 landmarks is part of the Following a poker game in Kelly Kearney Street, Glenstone Avenue, redevelopment plans for the area. Kerr Saloon on Park Central Square, College and St. Louis streets and on The Route 66 Park will include Tutt claimed Hickok owed him money Missouri 266 west to Halltown. picnic areas; a walking trail and water and took his pocket watch as collateral. The red booths and gleaming feature; a replica of a Route 66-era Tutt claimed he would wear it in public chrome in mom-and-pop diners, the filling station that will serve as a visitor to show that Hickok didn’t pay his stone cottages of tourist courts, and information center; a relocated motor debts. the many service stations along this court cottage and sign replica; a Route The following day, from 75 yards route saw America fall in love with the 66 sculpture; and replicas of other local away, Tutt fired a shot at Hickok, barely automobile. landmark signs. missing his head. Hickok fired back The road that once was the east/ and killed Tutt with a bullet through west thoroughfare for travelers in a THE OZARK JUBILEE the heart. It became nationwide news. hurry to get to their destinations now The first national country music www.mocities.com The Missouri Municipal Review September 2013 / 5 show on television was broadcast Missouri State University, the federal, International Baccalaureate program, by ABC from Springfield from 1955 state, county and city governments, Wonders of the Ozarks Learning until 1960. The show is credited with Bass Pro Shops and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Facility (WOLF), and the Middle popularizing country music and National recognitions include: College Program. All five district high featured well-known performers, • Top 5 in the Nation for Economic schools are designated Missouri A+ including Red Foley, Speedy Haworth, Strength, “Fourth Economy Schools. Brenda Lee, Porter Wagoner and Slim Index;” Casual dining, upscale bars and Wilson. • Top 10 Hot City for Entrepreneurs, restaurants, antique shops, trendy Entrepreneur Magazine; clothing, art galleries and a public art LIVING AND WORKING and sculpture tour make downtown Through its Economic • Top 12 Metros for Recruitment Springfield a great place to visit. Development Office, the city of & Attraction, Expansion Management; Springfield works closely with the GOVERNMENT Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce • Top Place for Business & Careers, The City of Springfield operates and city utilities to attract and retain Forbes magazine; under the council-manager form of businesses that provide quality jobs and • Top City for Young Professionals, government, a system that combines improve the tax base. Next Cities; the policy leadership of elected officials Incentives and financing tools • Top 40 Best Quality of Life, in the form of a city council, with the include Enhanced Enterprise Zones Bizjournals; managerial expertise of an appointed that offer 50 percent real estate tax • Top 20 Mid-Sized City for city manager. abatement for 10 years to any company Entrepreneurs, Inc.