Springfield, Oregon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Springfield, Oregon
City
Springfield as seen from Mount Pisgah, looking north, with some of Eugene in the west
Nickname(s):  Simpson Land
Motto(s):  "Proud History, Bright Future."
Location in Oregon
Springfield, Oregon Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Oregon
County	Lane
Incorporated	1885
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	15.87 sq mi (41.10 km2)
• Land	15.87 sq mi (41.10 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	476 ft (145 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	61,851
• Density	3,897.84/sq mi (1,504.99/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific)
ZIP codes	97475, 97477, 97478, 97482
Area code(s)	458 and 541
FIPS code	41-69600
GNIS feature ID	2411961
Website	City of Springfield

The historic Southern Pacific depot in Springfield

Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It's located in the Southern Willamette Valley. Springfield is part of the larger Eugene-Springfield area. It is separated from Eugene mostly by Interstate 5. Springfield is the second-largest city in this area, after Eugene. In 2020, 61,851 people lived there, making it the ninth-most populated city in Oregon.

The Briggs family first settled the Springfield area in 1848. The community officially became a city in 1885. It was named after a natural spring found in a field or prairie within the city's current borders. For most of the 1900s, Springfield's economy relied heavily on the Oregon timber industry. However, since the 1990s, the economy has become more diverse. Now, PeaceHealth is the city's biggest employer. Public schools in Springfield are managed by the Springfield School District.

History of Springfield

The first people to live in this area were the Kalapuya people. They used controlled burning to manage the valley and help their main food sources grow.

Early Settlers Arrive

Springfield was settled when Elias and Mary Briggs and their family arrived in 1848. They were among the first groups to travel to the region using the "Southern Route." This route went by Klamath Lake, over the Cascades mountains, into the Rogue Valley, and then north to the Willamette Valley. Elias Briggs and William Stevens operated a ferry on the nearby Willamette River.

Records show that William Stevens was the first settler to claim land in Springfield. He arrived in October 1847. He started building a house with his three oldest sons. When the house was finished in December, the rest of his family joined him on Christmas Day that year.

Another early person to arrive in the Springfield area was Captain Felix Scott Sr. He settled between the McKenzie and Willamette rivers in 1847.

First School in Springfield

In 1854, Springfield School District No. 19 was created. A small schoolhouse was built near the corner of South 7th and B streets. It served the community until the 1880s. Miss Agnes Stewart, a young woman from Pennsylvania, was the first teacher. She had arrived in Springfield after being part of the Lost Wagon Train of 1853.

Springfield's Economy

For many years, Springfield's economy depended on the timber industry. The largest employer was Weyerhaeuser Company. Weyerhaeuser opened its Springfield complex in 1949. After many years of cutting down trees, they had to reduce their operations as old growth timber became harder to find. In the 1990s, the Weyerhaeuser sawmill and plywood plants closed. The paper plant also became smaller. Springfield's economy has now become more varied.

Local Businesses and Products

Ken Kesey's brother, Chuck, and his wife, Sue, started the Springfield Creamery in 1960. This business is still active today. It is known for its main product, Nancy's Yogurt, which was created using recipes from Nancy Hamren. In the 1970s, the creamery avoided going out of business with help from the rock band Grateful Dead. The band held a series of 10 benefit concerts to support the creamery. The documentary film Sunshine Daydream was filmed at the first concert on August 27, 1972.

Springfield is surrounded by filbert (hazelnut) orchards. However, the amount of hazelnuts grown has decreased over time as these fields have been turned into housing areas. The city used to have an annual Filbert Festival in early August. It was a summer celebration with music, food, and family fun. This festival was canceled in 2007. Most of America's filbert production (98%) comes from the Willamette Valley.

Healthcare Services

Springfield has two hospitals: McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center and PeaceHealth's Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend.

Top Employers in Springfield

Here are the largest employers in Springfield, based on a 2018 report:

Geography of Springfield

According to the United States Census Bureau, Springfield covers a total area of about 15.75 square miles (40.79 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with only a very small amount of water.

The McKenzie River forms the northern border of the city.

Springfield Neighborhoods

Springfield does not have official neighborhood names. However, some areas are commonly known as:

• Gateway
• Glenwood
• North Springfield
• Thurston
• Washburne Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Meadow Park
• Kelly Butte
• West Kelly Butte

Population of Springfield

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 59,403 people living in Springfield. There were 23,665 households and 14,737 families. The population density was about 3,774 people per square mile (1,457 people per square kilometer). There were 24,809 housing units.

The city's population was made up of different groups:

• 85.9% White
• 1.1% African American
• 1.4% Native American
• 1.3% Asian
• 0.3% Pacific Islander
• 5.2% from other races
• 4.8% from two or more races
• 12.1% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

About 33.2% of households had children under 18 living with them. 40.9% were married couples. 15.2% had a female head of household with no husband present. 6.2% had a male head of household with no wife present. 37.7% were non-families. About 27.9% of all households were individuals living alone. 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.49 people, and the average family size was 3.00 people.

The median age in the city was 34.5 years. About 24.3% of residents were under 18. 10.1% were between 18 and 24. 29% were from 25 to 44. 25% were from 45 to 64. 11.6% were 65 years or older. The population was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

Arts and Culture in Springfield

Author Ken Kesey moved to Springfield when he was young. He graduated from Springfield High School before going to the nearby University of Oregon. After traveling for some years, Kesey bought a farm in nearby Pleasant Hill. He remained a well-known local person until he passed away in 2001.

Springfield Public Library

The Springfield Public Library is located inside the city hall. The city hall has a special seal of the city of Springfield. This seal was made from unusual items found in the city's sewer system. The seal and its creator, Russell Ziolkowski, were featured on TV shows like The Tonight Show and On the Road with Charles Kuralt.

Cultural Places to Visit

The Richard E. Wildish Community Theater (Wildish Community Theater) is on Main Street in downtown Springfield. It is a completely renovated historic McKenzie Theater. It opened in December 2006.

The theater can seat 284 people. It is designed to host music concerts, dance performances, plays, festivals, and small musicals. The Springfield Renaissance Development Corporation led the six-year renovation project, which cost $3.1 million.

Education in Springfield

Most of Springfield is part of the Springfield School District. Some parts in the west are in the Eugene School District 4J.

The Springfield School District has 15 elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. This makes it one of the largest school districts in Oregon. The biggest public high schools, based on how many students attend, are Thurston High School and Springfield High School.

Lane County is also home to Lane Community College.

Pioneer Pacific College also has a campus in the Gateway area of Springfield.

Notable People from Springfield

Many interesting people have connections to Springfield:

• Sheila Bleck, a professional bodybuilder.
• Anthony W. Case, a survivor of the 1998 high school shooting. He later became an astrophysicist and helped develop tools to measure solar wind for spacecraft like the Parker Solar Probe.
• Colby Covington, a mixed martial arts fighter.
• Peter DeFazio, a U.S. Representative for Oregon's 4th congressional district.
• Bill Dellinger, an Olympic athlete and former track coach at the University of Oregon.
• Clint Eastwood, a famous actor, who once worked as a log bronc operator for Weyerhaeuser in Springfield.
• Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons.
• Ken Kesey, a well-known author.
• Eric Millegan, a Broadway and television actor.
• Mickey Newbury, an American songwriter and recording artist, who is in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• Steve Reeves, an actor and bodybuilder.
• Mercedes Russell, a professional basketball player for the WNBA.
• Travis Smith, a Major League Baseball player.
• Dan Straily (born 1988), a starting pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
• Robert W. Straub, a former Oregon governor.
• Theodore Sturgeon, a science fiction author.
• Shoshana R. Ungerleider, a doctor and film producer.
• Dave Wolverton, a novelist and writer.

Climate in Springfield

Springfield has hot and dry summers. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6°F (22°C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Springfield has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This is often shown as "Csb" on climate maps.

See also

In Spanish: Springfield (Oregón) para niños