Seal of Springfield, Illinois facts for kids
The Seal of Springfield, Illinois, is a special official symbol used by the city of Springfield, which is the capital city of the U.S. state of Illinois. Think of it like an official stamp or logo for the city. It has a black circle with white words that say "City of Springfield, Capital of Illinois" and the year "1840." Inside the circle, you can see drawings of the Illinois Capitol building's dome and a picture of Abraham Lincoln. There's also a banner at the bottom that proudly says, "Home of Lincoln."
Contents
What is the Springfield City Seal?
The city seal of Springfield is a very important symbol. It's used on all official papers and documents from the city government. This makes sure that the documents are real and approved by the city.
What Does the Seal Look Like?
The seal is designed to show important parts of Springfield's history and identity.
- It's a black circle with white writing.
- The words "City of Springfield, Capital of Illinois" clearly state what the seal represents.
- The year 1840 is included, which might be an important year for the city.
- Inside the circle, you'll see the dome of the Illinois Capitol building. This building is where the state government works.
- There's also a drawing of Abraham Lincoln, who was a famous president and lived in Springfield.
- A banner at the bottom says "Home of Lincoln," reminding everyone of Springfield's connection to him.
Why is the Seal Important?
The city seal is like a signature for the city itself. When you see the seal on a document, it means that document is official.
- It's placed on important papers like ordinances (city laws) and other official decisions made by the mayor and city council.
- It helps show that these documents are truly from the city government.
- Without the seal, some city documents might not be considered official.
Who Takes Care of the Seal?
The person in charge of the city seal is called the city clerk. The city clerk is like the official record-keeper for the city.
- They are the only one who can put the seal on official documents.
- For the seal to be truly official and make a document binding (meaning it has legal power for the city of Springfield), the city clerk must also sign the document where the seal is placed. This makes sure everything is done correctly and officially.
