Springfield, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Springfield, Louisiana
Town
Old Livingston Parish Courthouse in Springfield
Location of Springfield in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Livingston
Area
• Total	1.41 sq mi (3.64 km2)
• Land	1.41 sq mi (3.64 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	427
• Density	303.91/sq mi (117.36/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	225
FIPS code	22-72415

Springfield is a small town in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. In 2020, about 427 people lived there. It is part of the larger Baton Rouge area.

History of Springfield

Springfield started in the 1700s. It was located at one of the farthest points boats could travel up the Natalbany River. The town was also connected to the Natchez Trace, an old travel route.

Springfield could reach New Orleans by water. Boats traveled on the Natalbany River, Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain, and Bayou Saint John. People could also get to Baton Rouge by boat. They used the Amite River and Mississippi River through Bayou Manchac.

Around 1810, Springfield was important in a rebellion against Spain. This rebellion created the short-lived Republic of West Florida. You can still find bricks from an old Spanish fort near the post office today. At that time, Springfield was part of St. Helena Parish. Livingston Parish was created later, in 1832.

Springfield was the main town, or parish seat, for Livingston Parish from 1835 to 1872. The town officially became a town in 1838. A post office opened in Springfield on October 1, 1846.

In the early 1800s, Peter Hammond came to the area. He helped transport lumber and other goods to New Orleans for large ships. This was done using the rivers and lakes south of Springfield. The town of Hammond, Louisiana is named after him.

The leaders of Springfield decided not to allow a railway track through their town. They were worried about crime. This decision led to other towns like Ponchatoula, Hammond, and Amite growing instead. In 1854, the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad was finished. It went through Hammond, Ponchatoula, and Manchac, bypassing Springfield. This meant Springfield lost its important role in transportation.

In 1868, Tangipahoa Parish was formed. Parts of Livingston Parish were used to create it. Springfield was no longer in the center of Livingston Parish. It was now on the border between Livingston and Tangipahoa Parishes. Today, the main town for Livingston Parish is Livingston.

Geography and Nature

Springfield covers about 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.

The town's name comes from the many natural springs in the area. These are places where underground water flows up to the surface.

Population and People

In 2000, 395 people lived in Springfield. There were 162 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people were White (96.20%). A small number were African American (2.03%) or Asian (0.25%). Some people were of two or more races (1.52%).

About 27.8% of households had children under 18. Many households (51.9%) were married couples. The average household had 2.44 people. The average family had 2.90 people.

The population's age varied. About 23.5% were under 18. About 15.9% were 65 or older. The average age in the town was 41 years old.

Education in Springfield

Springfield is part of the Livingston Parish Public Schools system.

The schools in the town include:

• Springfield Elementary School
• Springfield Middle School
• Springfield High School

St. John's University used to be in Springfield. It closed in 2005.

See also

In Spanish: Springfield (Luisiana) para niños