About the area |
Springfield started with the settlement of a family in the area in the middle of the 19th century. The building of a flour mill and a saw mill by this family and a second settler initiated the expansion of the town. Towards the end of the century Springfield included a general merchandise store, two grocery stores, two cigar stores, a drug store, two dress shops, two blacksmiths, a variety store, a meat market, a saloon, a barber shop, a shoe store, three hotels, two schools, and three churches. Up until the Second World War the city continued its small town existence with an area of about 1 1/2 square miles and a population of a little over 3,805. Springfield has since expanded to more than 13 square miles and the population to over 51,000. |