Springfield, Vermont Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Springfield, Vermont
Town
The Eureka Schoolhouse (1790), Vermont's oldest one-room school
Motto(s): Progress Through Precision
Location in Windsor County and the state of Vermont.
Country	United States
U.S. state	Vermont
County	Windsor
Chartered	1761
Communities	Springfield Goulds Mill Hardscrabble Corner North Springfield West Springfield
Area
• Total	49.5 sq mi (128.1 km²)
• Land	49.3 sq mi (127.7 km²)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
Elevation	531 ft (162 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	9,062
• Density	183.07/sq mi (70.742/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	05156 (Springfield) 05150 (North Springfield) 05143 (Chester)
Area code(s)	802
FIPS code	50-69550
GNIS feature ID	1462214

Springfield is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, about 9,062 people live there.

Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Discovering Springfield's Past

The land where Springfield is today was traditionally home to the Pennacook and Abenaki people.

How Springfield Began

Springfield was officially started on August 20, 1761. Governor Benning Wentworth gave the land to Gideon Lyman and 61 other people. The town's flat areas were great for farming.

However, the Black River helped Springfield grow into a busy factory town. The river has waterfalls that drop 110 feet in just an eighth of a mile! This power was perfect for mills.

A Hub for Machine Tools

Springfield became famous as the center of the "Precision Valley" region. This area was known for making very accurate machine tools.

In 1888, the Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Company (J&L) moved to Springfield.
Under James Hartness's leadership, J&L became known worldwide for its precision tools.
This led to a new era of advanced manufacturing in the area.
Other important companies like Fellows Gear Shaper Company and Bryant Chucking Grinder Company also started here. They helped power the local economy.

Springfield's Role in World War II

During World War II, Springfield's factories were super important. They made many machine tools needed for the war effort. The US government even considered Springfield a top target for bombing because its production was so vital.

The Oldest Schoolhouse

Springfield is home to the Eureka Schoolhouse. This is the oldest one-room school in Vermont.

It was finished in 1790 and used as a school until 1900.
The school was restored in 1968.
Its first teacher, David Searle, named it "Eureka!" when he arrived. This means "I have found it!"

Historic Places in Town

Many places in Springfield, including the old downtown area, are listed as historically important.

The Hartness House was the home of inventor and governor James Hartness.
The Gould's Mill Bridge is a cool steel truss bridge.

Springfield on the Big Screen

On July 10, 2007, Springfield was chosen for a special event. It hosted the premiere of The Simpsons Movie!

The movie, like the TV show, is set in a town called Springfield.
Fox held a competition, and Vermont's Springfield won against 13 other towns named Springfield across the country.

Where is Springfield?

Springfield covers about 49.5 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.

The Connecticut River forms the eastern border of the town.
The Black River flows right through downtown Springfield.
The town also includes the village of North Springfield.

Cool Places to Visit

Eureka Schoolhouse (built in 1790)
Hartness Mansion (built in 1903–1904)
Springfield Art & Historical Society
The Stellafane National Historic Landmark

How Many People Live Here?

Springfield has seen its population change over the years. In 2000, there were 9,078 people living in the town.

Most people were White (97.60%).
About 28.5% of households had children under 18.
The average age in town was 42 years old.

Learning in Springfield

Springfield has a public school system with elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.

Elementary and Middle Schools

The two public elementary schools are Elm Hill and Union Street Schools.
Riverside Middle School is the town's only public middle school for grades 6–8. It has many sports fields for baseball.

Springfield High School

Springfield High School is the town's only high school.

Team Name: Cosmos
School Colors: Green and White

River Valley Technical Center

The River Valley Technical Center (RVTC) is next to Springfield High School. It teaches technical skills to students from Springfield and nearby towns. These towns include Chester, Bellows Falls, and Charlestown.

College Options

Springfield also has branches of the Community College of Vermont and the University of Vermont. These are located in the Howard Dean Education Center.

Getting Around and Staying Connected

Transportation

Springfield is easy to reach by major roads like Interstate 91 and U.S. Route 5.

Connecticut River Transit (CRT) offers public bus service around town.
You can also take a bus to nearby towns like Bellows Falls and Ludlow.
The closest Greyhound bus and Amtrak train station is in Bellows Falls, about 10 miles south.

Super Fast Internet

Even though it's a rural area, Springfield has some of the fastest internet in the world! Businesses and homes can get speeds up to 10 Gigabits per second.