Springfield, the capital of Illinois, is located in the center of the state in Sangamon County. Now home to about 114,000 people, it's notable for a connection to Abraham Lincoln, who lived here for over 20 years, prior to his time as president. "Springfield has the only home Lincoln ever owned," says Amy Beadle, marketing manager for Visit Springfield, the city's tourism and hospitality bureau. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln Park Pavilion and the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site are just some locations linked to Honest Abe. Susan M. Haake, curator at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, says Lincoln was indirectly involved in the town's growth. "He was part of the group that moved the state capital to Springfield."
Another blast from the past is historic Route 66. The original road went directly through Springfield, an early stop on the way from Chicago to Santa Monica. "We have dozens of things to see and do related to the Mother Road," Beadle says. According to Haake, who has lived in Springfield for over 30 years, the three main economic drivers are tourism, state legislature/organizations and the two hospitals, Springfield Memorial and HSHS St. John's — also important for students studying at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
Downtown Springfield is home to the Illinois State Capital building and governemnt offices.
The Presidential Library and Museum has the world’s largest collection of Lincoln artifacts.
The Springfield Library near Old Aristocracy Hill is a valuable community hub.
The State Fairgrounds are nearby to the Iles Park area and a large park of the neighborhood.
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Historical festivals and a growing music scene
Activities and events connected to Springfield's history include tours at Abraham Lincoln's home and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Residents take advantage of many sites being admission-free. "If you have guests visiting — for example, nothing to do on the day after Thanksgiving, these are great places to take them," Haake says. A 10-week summer program, History Comes Alive, lets participants immerse themselves in Springfield's past.
The theme of Historic Route 66 imbues the area with a retro vibe. At the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the one-of-a-kind Route 66 Experience features a movie drive-in replica, the Neon Legends Sign Park and a giant slide. The International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, held in late September, is a bonanza of live music, thousands of night-cruising classic cars and auto showcases.
Other gatherings and activities fill the year, and annual events include PrideFest/Old Capitol Art Fair in May, the International Carillon Festival in June, the Illinois State Fair in August, and the Springfield Mile for motorsports racing on Labor Day weekend. The Legacy of Giving Music Festival is a favorite in Springfield's growing music scene, showcasing more than 60 bands and local musicians.
Artist in the Park is a recurring summer showcase for local artists and musicians.
Knights Action Park attracts the outgoing thrill seeker to its year round carnival rides.
Koke Mill residents can support the school marching band at the Twilight Parade.
Attend the BMX Thrillville show happening at the Illinois State Fair.
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Springfield's classic Horseshoe sandwich
Aside from its presidential history, Springfield is full of dining and entertainment destinations. "Fun fact: Springfield is known for its culinary treasures," Beadle says. "Most notably the Horseshoe Sandwich." The Horseshoe is an open-faced sandwich with a base of Texas toast, topped with meat and French fries and then wholly doused in cheese sauce. It's served in at least 30 Springfield establishments, and there's even a mobile-exclusive passport available to track horseshoe consumption by location. Other local favorites include family-owned Cozy Dog Drive-In, known for its hot dogs on a stick, and Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, which is full of classic car décor and has a motor museum and entertainment complex.
Downtown Springfield, which Haake says has had periods of stagnation, is experiencing an upswing, at least in terms of nightlife. "There's a bunch of different new bars with interesting new concepts, like wine bars and micro-breweries," she says. "They are really trying to liven up the downtown, which is otherwise pretty dead after 5 o'clock. These bars are becoming destinations, whether it be for Harry Potter trivia at Buzz Bomb Brewery or a live band at Ad Astra Wine Bar & Market." For late-night coffee, non-alcoholic wines and mocktails, dry bar The Wakery fits the bill. The business is one of the recent successes connected to Innovate Springfield, a business incubator and co-workspace affiliated with the University of Illinois.
White Oaks Mall, in southwest Springfield, boasts over 80 stores, with major brands such as Loft, H&M and Kay Jewelers, plus specialty businesses like Karamel-Kraze, Renown Apparel and Killen's Games, Comics & Toys. Throughout the city, grocery store options include Schuncks, Hy-Vee, County Market and Aldi.
Local brewery Buzz Bomb Brewing has a delicious selection of beers.
Music in the Beer Garden is located at Obed & Isaac's Microbrewery & Eatery.
Cozy Dog in Harvard Park is a tourist favorite serving hotdogs and other American fare.
Try the first drive-thru in the united states at Maid-Rite in Vinegar Hill.
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Outdoor recreation including lakeside theater productions
Springfield has outdoor and indoor recreational facilities for all ages and activity levels. Springfield Park District, divided into four quadrants, includes about 2,500 acres of parkland and 322 acres of nature preserves. There are over 30 parks and more than 20 miles of bike trails. Highlights include botanical gardens, golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, dog parks and a BMX track. The ice rink and sledding hills are particularly popular in the winter months. The Henson Robinson Zoo houses over 80 animal species, and activities include volunteering, ZooLABS educational programs and parents' night out.
Lake Springfield, a reservoir of nearly 4,000 acres, is a recreational highpoint with fishing, water sports, public parks and residential water-view lots. The Springfield Muni Opera performs Broadway-style musicals at an outdoor amphitheater close to the lake. One of the Midwest's largest community theaters, the Muni features a summer season with four productions. "If people say there's nothing to do in Springfield, they're not looking hard enough," Haake says. "There's a decent amount of community activism; people aren't just out for themselves; they help others."
Springfield enjoys four full seasons, with the average highs in the summer in the mid-80s and the average lows in the winter around 20 degrees. Temperatures get below freezing from December to March, and the average annual snowfall is 22 inches.
Franklin Park residents take to Lake Springfield for an afternoon of fishing with friends.
Patrick J. Cadigan Park is named after former board president Patrick J. Cadigan.
Residents of North End Association Take Two can go fishing at the Washington Park pond.
Henson Robinson Zoo is open to parents and kids of North End Association Take Two.
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Diverse architectural styles priced considerably lower than the national average
Housing options in Springfield are diverse, Beadle says. "There's a wide variety of types and prices of homes across the city. You'll see historic homes in neighborhoods like Enos Park and newer and more elaborate homes in Panther Creek." The Historic West Side neighborhood is also known for its early 1900s properties. Architecture in Springfield includes Cape Cods, Dutch Colonials, Foursquares, ranch-style homes and split-levels. Residential areas close to downtown see renovation and remodeling more than brand-new development, Haake says. And people are staying: "A lot of people have four generations of their family living here — at the least."
Springfield's median single-family home price is $169,000, significantly lower than the national average of $415,000. Though many fixer-uppers have been snagged for under $20,000 in recent years, most homes are in the $100,000 to $300,000 range. "It's a pretty inexpensive place to live despite being the state capital," Haake says. Prices for spacious, contemporary-style homes built in recent decades trend higher — usually over $400,000 and sometimes exceeding $800,000. "Development sprawl is mostly west and south," Haake says. "That's where there's the most subdivisions and the millennium mansions — the big, big houses." One to two-bedroom condos, some located downtown, are also available.
Old Aristocracy Hill has Victorian homes like this eye-catching blue home.
Become a part of the push to restore Enos Park to a "Jewel" of the city.
Washington Park Knolls is an affluent community just east of Washington Park.
The most notable landmark in Enos Park is the Historic Edwards Place home.
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Springfield Public Schools hasInternational Baccalaureate and magnet programs
District 186 Springfield Public Schools, graded B-minus by Niche, has over 30 schools, from prekindergarten through high school. According to the State Board of Education's Illinois Report Card, 17 schools in D186 are considered commendable. At the elementary level, the average student-teacher ratio is 16-to-1; it's 20-to-1 for high schools.
The district includes three schools with an A-minus from Niche. Iles School is an International Baccalaureate World School for first through eighth grade. Lincoln Magnet is a tech-focused middle school with a quarterly theme for each grade level and career education programs featuring classroom speakers, job shadowing and mentorships. Springfield High features choirs, a marching band and over 30 clubs. In 2021, the baseball team took home the IHSA-sponsored state championship, and the scholastic bowl team came in second place in the IHSA state championship.
Once students graduate high school, they might stay close to home while attending the University of Illinois Springfield or Lincoln Land Community College.
Springfield High School is a highly rated public school.
Springfield Southeast High School has a Niche score of B-.
Lanphier High has 1,058 students in atttendance.
Butler Elementary School is home of the bobcats.
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SMTD buses and Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
A major hub for central Illinois, Springfield provides access to thoroughfares like Interstates 55 and 72 and state Routes 4, 29 and 97. The Sangamon Mass Transit District operates 16 day-service bus routes. SMTD has a zero-emissions fleet transition plan set for the next 25 years. Diesel buses will be replaced with hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell buses will be introduced, eventually resulting in a fleet with over 50% zero emissions.
The Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, just 5 miles north of downtown, provides service on Allegiant, American Airlines and Breeze Airways, with daily flights to O'Hare International Airport. Drivers will travel 200 miles northeast to Chicago for O'Hare or Midway International Airport. Heading east, it's the same distance to Indianapolis International Airport.
Crime rates are higher than the national average
According to the FBI’s Crime Explorer data, Springfield's violent crime rate was 89.3 per 10,000 people, more than twice the national average in 2023. The same statistics show that the city’s property crime rate was 478.3 per 10,000, also more than twice the national average. Crime rates tend to be higher on the east side of the city.
Haake says that although Springfield has its issues like any city, "It's not ridiculous as far as crime. I've always felt fine downtown, walking around." The Springfield Police Department has about eight neighborhood police officers, each assigned to a beat patrol. Community engagement programs put on by the department include Bridging the Gap BBQ, Coffee with a Cop, Cops and Bobbers fishing clinic and a Halloween safety event.
On average, homes in Springfield, IL sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Springfield, IL over the last 12 months is $360,000, up 29% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
