Springfield, Ohio

Springfield is a city in Clark County, Ohio, United States. It is the county seat and lies in southwestern Ohio along the Mad River, Buck Creek, and Beaver Creek. The city is about 45 miles west of Columbus and 25 miles northeast of Dayton.

In the year 2020, Springfield had a population of 58,662 people, and the larger Springfield metropolitan area was home to 136,001 residents. The city is known for its educational institutions, including Wittenberg University, a liberal arts college, and Clark State College, a community college.

Springfield also boasts natural beauty, with the Little Miami Scenic Trail, a nearly 80-mile paved trail, starting in the city and heading south to Newtown, Ohio. Nearby, Buck Creek State Park and its Clarence J. Brown reservoir offer opportunities for outdoor activities.

History

Before European settlement

The original people who lived in Springfield were the Shawnee people.

During the 1700s, the Ohio Country saw many changes with wars, people moving in, and different countries wanting to control the land. After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, Britain became the main European power in the area.

There was a big Shawnee village called Peckuwe or Piqua, home to about 3,000 people. It was less than four miles from where Springfield is today.

During the American Revolutionary War, this village was attacked by American soldiers led by General George Rogers Clark. The village was destroyed, and the people had to leave.

A statue depicting AB Graham and the first 4-H club

Early settlement

Springfield was founded in 1801 by James Demint, who named it after Springfield, Massachusetts. When Clark County was created in 1818, Springfield became its county seat.

The building of the National Road in 1838 helped Springfield grow. For about ten years, it was the end of the road while people argued about where it should go next.

Industrial development

In the mid-to-late 1800s, many factories began in Springfield. It became known as "The Champion City" for its farm equipment made by the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Company, which later became part of International Harvester.

International Harvester became a big employer, making farm machines and trucks. The Kelly Springfield Tire Company started in 1894.

Westcott House by Frank Lloyd Wright

A school superintendent named A.B. Graham started a club for children in 1902 that later became the 4-H Club.

Late 20th century to present

In the late 1900s, many factories closed, and the city’s population went down.

In 2014, Springfield started welcoming immigrants to help the economy. Many Haitian immigrants came, especially after problems in their home country.

In 2024, false rumors spread that Haitian immigrants were doing harmful things, causing many problems and scare in the city.

Geography

Springfield, Ohio, covers an area of 25.50 square miles (66.04 km²), with 25.29 square miles (65.50 km²) of land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km²) of water. A large reservoir called the Clarence J. Brown Reservoir sits on the northeast outskirts of the city.

South Fountain Avenue Historic District

Springfield has a humid continental climate, which means it has cold winters and hot summers.

Demographics

Springfield, Ohio, had a population of 58,662 people as of the 2020 census. The median age was 38.6 years, with about 23% of people under 18 and 19% aged 65 or older. Most people lived in urban areas.

The city had 24,613 households, and about 27% included children under 18. There were also many different types of households, including some with only one person living alone. In 2010, the population was slightly larger at 60,608 people, with a mix of different racial and ethnic groups.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1810	593	—
1820	1,868	215.0%
1830	1,080	−42.2%
1840	2,062	90.9%
1850	5,108	147.7%
1860	7,002	37.1%
1870	12,652	80.7%
1880	20,730	63.8%
1890	31,895	53.9%
1900	38,253	19.9%
1910	46,921	22.7%
1920	60,840	29.7%
1930	68,743	13.0%
1940	70,662	2.8%
1950	78,508	11.1%
1960	82,723	5.4%
1970	81,926	−1.0%
1980	72,563	−11.4%
1990	70,487	−2.9%
2000	65,358	−7.3%
2010	60,608	−7.3%
2020	58,662	−3.2%
2023 (est.)	58,082	−1.0%

**Springfield city, Ohio – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	50,663	44,946	40,107	77.52%	74.16%	68.37%
Black or African American alone (NH)	11,832	10,876	10,913	18.10%	17.94%	18.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	193	167	160	0.30%	0.28%	0.27%
Asian alone (NH)	446	446	472	0.68%	0.74%	0.80%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	14	21	44	0.02%	0.03%	0.08%
Other Race alone (NH)	138	169	335	0.21%	0.28%	0.57%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	1,302	2,159	3,766	1.99%	3.56%	6.42%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	770	1,824	2,865	1.18%	3.01%	4.88%
Total	65,358	60,608	58,662	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Racial composition as of the 2020 census
Race	Number	Percent
White	40,766	69.5%
Black or African American	11,006	18.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native	200	0.3%
Asian	475	0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	45	0.1%
Some other race	1,514	2.6%
Two or more races	4,656	7.9%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	2,865	4.9%

Economy

Springfield's economy has faced challenges, mainly because there are fewer jobs in manufacturing now. From 1999 to 2014, the average income in Springfield went down by 27 percent, while it only dropped by 8 percent in the whole country. In the 1990s, the city lost many important jobs that helped support the local economy.

Today, people in Springfield find work in areas like healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, leisure activities, education, financial services, and shopping.

Government

Springfield, Ohio has a special way of running its city called a council-manager government. The mayor, currently Rob Rue, leads the city along with four other commissioners. These leaders help make decisions for the city, and they all serve for four years. They must live in Springfield during their time in office.

Education

Springfield has many schools for children to learn. Most students go to the Springfield City School District. This district has about 7,000 students in different schools, including ten elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school called Springfield High School, and one alternative school.

There are also other schools, like the Global Impact STEM Academy, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math.

Wittenberg University

Springfield is also home to Wittenberg University, a private college started in 1845. It has about 1,300 students and offers many different subjects to study. There is also Clark State College, which provides training and degrees for students interested in technical fields.

The Clark County Public Library has four libraries in Springfield for people to borrow books and learn.

Media

Springfield News-Sun former headquarters

Springfield has one daily newspaper called the Springfield News-Sun. Wittenberg University has its own newspaper named The Wittenberg Torch. There is a radio station called WEEC-FM that plays Christian-based shows. Two AM radio stations, WIZE and WULM, are licensed in Springfield but are not run from the city itself. WIZE plays shows from iHeart Media’s Black Information Network, and WULM broadcasts Catholic programs from a station in Louisiana.

Transportation

Ohio State Route 72 goes north–south through downtown Springfield. U.S. Highway 40 goes east–west through the downtown, and U.S. Highway 68 runs north–south on the west edge of the city. Interstate 70 passes east–west to the south of the city.

The Springfield–Beckley Municipal Airport is a small airport located 6.6 miles south of Springfield. The nearest large airport with flights is Dayton International Airport, about 27.2 miles to the west.

Springfield used to have train services, with the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad stopping in the city. The last train left Springfield on April 30, 1971.

Notable people

Springfield, Ohio has been home to many famous people. Some well-known individuals include photographers, athletes, authors, and actors.

A few notable names are Berenice Abbott, a famous photographer, and John Legend, a famous singer and musician. Others include Mike DeWine, who served as the Governor of Ohio, and Robert C. Henry, who was the first African American mayor in Ohio. Many more talented people have called Springfield their home, contributing to various fields such as sports, entertainment, and the arts.