Springfield (Illinois)

Springfield is a city in the center of the state of Illinois. It is the state's capital &mdash; not Chicago &mdash; and the county seat of Sangamon County. Springfield is best known for its most famous resident, Abraham Lincoln, and there are several historic sites that are dedicated to him.



Etymology
The city was founded as "Calhoun", after John C. Calhoun. In 1832, the city was renamed to Springfield, derived from Spring Creek, a tributary of the Sangamon River.

History
In the early 1830s, Abraham Lincoln moved to Springfield and lived here for a long time until he became president in 1861. He and his associates (commonly known as the "Long Nine") were largely responsible for making the city the capital of the state.

Springfield has grown from a small city to one of the largest cities in Illinois, with a population of almost 115,000 people (2020).

As the capital of Illinois, the state of Illinois is one of the city's major employers. Springfield also has a significant regional presence in healthcare and education, as the location of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Memorial Hospital Springfield, HSHS St. John's Hospital, Springfield Clinic, and the University of Illinois Springfield.

Tourist information

 * Visit Springfield website

By car
I-55 approaches from the north and south. US-36 and I-72 approach from the east and west. Downtown has readily available curbside metered parking as well as an underground garage beneath the Old State Capitol. Most attractions have ample parking in adjacent lots or garages.

By train
Amtrak has five daily trains from Chicago via Bloomington-Normal and Joliet with its Lincoln Service. Additionally, the once-daily Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio, Texas (with carriages continuing to Los Angeles three times a week) stops here. is centrally located at 100 North 3rd St and is within walking distance of downtown and several local bus routes. Taxi service is usually available outside the station.

Get around

 * Due to ongoing state budget uncertainty the district has had to enact some cuts to night service (all schedules will end an hour earlier, no night service on Saturdays, and route 904 is cut entirely) and could see more cuts in the future so refer to the website for any sudden developments.
 * Fare is $1.25 and includes a free transfer that you should request from the driver when boarding. Daytime buses all meet at the downtown on-street transfer center located at 5th Street & Capitol Avenue, while night service buses meet on the north side of the Old State Capitol on Washington Street between 5th Street and 6th Street.
 * The website has online schedules for each route. SMTD also provides their schedule data to a number of web/mobile apps including Google Maps, Bing Maps, Moovit, and TripGo which can be used to plan trips. SMTD does not provide real-time information.

See
Springfield is home to numerous attractions.



Entertainment
Springfield has been the home of several influential artists who have contributed immensely to American culture. Staying true to this, there are numerous entertainment opportunities in the city.



Learn
There are quite a number of learning opportunities in Springfield.

Eat
One of the legendary food items that is part of the heritage of Springfield is the horseshoe sandwich. The horseshoe sandwich originated in Springfield, Illinois sometime in the early 20th century at the Leland Hotel. You can get horseshoe sandwiches at most Springfield restaurants, at some restaurants in central Illinois, and at a few restaurants in other parts of the state. Horseshoes are not generally served outside of Illinois.

A traditional horseshoe is two hamburgers each on a piece of toast with fries and cheese sauce over the top. Variations now include broiled(or deep fried) tenderloins, shaved ham, shaved chicken and even vegetarian variations. A pony shoe is half a horseshoe - a sufficient quantity for most people.

Work
Virtually everyone in Springfield works for the State of Illinois (the local government), the city's largest and most dominant employer.

Government jobs
Springfield is an ideal place for those wishing to get a government job. The prospect of serving a state and making a difference with your work excites many. Government jobs entitle you to several benefits and privileges, much more than what many other companies can offer.

The local government doesn't provide employment visa sponsorships (e.g. H-1B visa status). If you are neither a US citizen or a permanent resident, your chances of finding a job with the local government are next-to impossible.

A valuable resource to check out is this: Careers at State of Illinois.

Stay safe
The city has seen a dramatic rise in panhandlers in the downtown area, especially near bars. Most are harmless but be cautious. Otherwise use common sense. Don't wander down dark alleys or leave valuables clearly visible in a parked vehicle and you should be fine.

Emergency services
Dial 911 to get emergency help.





Internet
The city provides a free wifi service, "SpringfieldFreeWifi," for the downtown area from Second to Ninth streets and East Jefferson Street to East Capitol Avenue.

Consulates
There are no consulates or embassies in Springfield. If you run into any trouble, or if you need assistance of any kind, head over to Chicago.

Go next

 * Athens
 * Jacksonville
 * Petersburg
 * Vandalia