List of mayors of Springfield, Illinois facts for kids
A mayor is a very important leader in a city! They are like the main manager of the city government, helping to make sure everything runs smoothly and that the city serves its people well. This page lists all the people who have served as the mayor of Springfield, Illinois, from the very first one in 1840 up to today.
Contents
Springfield's Mayors: A Look at Leadership
Springfield, Illinois, has had many different mayors over the years, each playing a role in shaping the city. From its early days, leaders have stepped up to guide Springfield through various changes and challenges. This list helps us see how the city's leadership has changed over time.
Who Was the First Mayor?
The very first mayor of Springfield was Benjamin S. Clements, who took office in 1840. Since then, many individuals have held this important position, helping to make decisions for the community.
How Mayors Serve the City
Mayors work with the city council and other officials to manage public services like parks, roads, and safety. They also represent the city to the outside world. Each mayor brings their own ideas and plans to help Springfield grow and improve.
List of Springfield Mayors
This table shows the names of all the mayors of Springfield, Illinois, along with when they started and ended their time in office. You can see how long some mayors served and how many different people have led the city.
Name of Mayor | Start of Term | End of Term | Time in Office | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Benjamin S. Clements | 1840 | |||
William L. May | 1841 | |||
David B. Campbell | 1842 | |||
Daniel B. Hill | 1843 | |||
Andrew McCormack | 1844 | |||
James C. Conkling | 1845 | |||
Eli Cook | 1846 | 1848 | ||
John Calhoun | 1849 | 1851 | ||
Willam Lavely | 1852 | |||
Josiah Francis | 1853 | |||
William Henry Herndon | 1854 | |||
John Pope Cook | 1855 | |||
John W. Priest | 1856 | 1858 | ||
William Jayne | 1859 | 1860 | 1 year | |
Goyn A. Sutton | 1860 | 1864 | 4 years | |
George L. Huntington | 1861 | 1862 | ||
John W. Smith | 1863 | |||
John S. Vredenburg | 1864 | |||
Thomas J. Dennis | 1865 | |||
John S. Bradford | 1866 | |||
Norman M. Broadwell | 1867 | |||
William E. Shutt | 1868 | |||
Norman M. Broadwell | 1869 | |||
John W. Priest | 1870 | |||
John W. Smith | 1871 | 1872 | 1 year | |
Charles E. Hay | 1873 | |||
Obed Lewis | 1874 | |||
Charles E. Hay | 1875 | |||
William Jayne | 1876 | 1877 | 1 year | |
John A. Vincent | 1878 | |||
R. L. McGuire | 1879 | |||
Horace C. Irwin | 1880 | |||
John McCreery | 1881 | |||
A. N. J. Crook | 1882 | |||
John McCreery | 1883 | 1884 | ||
Jame Garland | 1885 | 1886 | ||
Charles E. Hay | 1887 | 1890 | ||
Rheuna Lawrence | 1891 | 1892 | 1 year | |
Frank Kramer | 1893 | 1894 | ||
Marion U. Woodruff | 1895 | 1896 | ||
Loren Edgar Wheeler | 1897 | 1900 | ||
John L. Phillips | 1901 | 1902 | ||
Harry Devereux | 1903 | 1906 | ||
David Griffiths | 1907 | |||
Roy R. Reece | 1907 | 1908 | ||
John Schnepp | 1909 | 1915 | ||
Charles Baumann | 1915 | 1923 | ||
Samuel A. Bullard | 1923 | 1926 | ||
J. Emil Smith | 1926 | 1930 | ||
Hal Smith | 1930 | 1931 | ||
John W. Kapp, Jr. | 1931 | 1947 | ||
Harry Eielson | 1947 | 1951 | ||
John E. MacWherter | 1951 | 1955 | ||
Nelson O. Howarth | 1955 | 1959 | ||
Lester E. Collins | 1959 | 1963 | ||
Nelson O. Howarth | 1963 | 1971 | ||
William Telford | April 6, 1971 | April 8, 1979 | 8 years, 2 days | |
J. Michael Houston | 1979 | 1987 | ||
Ossie Langfelder | 1987 | 1995 | ||
Karen Hasara | 1995 | April 2003 | ||
Timothy Davlin | April 2003 | December 14, 2010 | ||
Frank Kunz | December 14, 2010 | December 28, 2010 | 14 days | Mayor pro tempore |
Frank Edwards | December 28, 2010 | April 29, 2011 | 4 months, 1 day | |
J. Michael Houston | April 29, 2011 | May 7, 2015 | 4 years, 8 days | |
Jim Langfelder | May 7, 2015 | May 5, 2023 | 7 years, 363 days | |
Misty Buscher | May 5, 2023 | Present |