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Springfield, IL

Springfield, Illinois
City
Downtown Springfield.JPG
The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.
Official name: City of Springfield
Motto: Home of President Abraham Lincoln
Nickname: Flower City
State Illinois
County Sangamon
River Sangamon
Elevation 558 ft (170 m)
Coordinates 39°41′54″N 89°37′11″W / 39.69833°N 89.61972°W / 39.69833; -89.61972Coordinates: 39°41′54″N 89°37′11″W / 39.69833°N 89.61972°W / 39.69833; -89.61972
Area 65.76 sq mi (170 km2)
 - land 59.48 sq mi (154 km2)
 - water 6.28 sq mi (16 km2), 9.55%
Population 117,006 (2013)
 - metro 211,752
Density 1,954.4/sq mi (755/km2)
Founded April 10, 1821
 - Incorporated Town April 2, 1832
 - City Charter April 6, 1840
Mayor Jim Langfelder (D)
Timezone CST (UTC−6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC−5)
Postal code 62701
Area code 217
Sangamon County Illinois incorporated and unincorporated areas Springfield highlighted.svg
Location in Sangamon County and the state of Illinois
Illinois in United States (US48).svg
Location of Illinois in the United States
Website: www.springfield.il.us

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County. The city's population of 116,250 as of the 2010 U.S. Census makes it the state's sixth most populous city. It is the largest city in central Illinois. As of 2013, the city's population was estimated to have increased to 117,006, with just over 211,700 residents living in the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Sangamon County and the adjacent Menard County.

Present-day Springfield was settled by European Americans in the late 1810s, around the time Illinois became a state. The most famous historic resident was Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Springfield from 1837 until 1861, when he went to the White House as President. Major tourist attractions include a multitude of historic sites connected with Abraham Lincoln including his presidential museum, his home from 1837 to 1861, his tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery, and the historical town of New Salem, within a short drive from the city.

The city lies on a mostly flat plain that encompasses much of the surrounding countryside. Hilly terrain lies near the Sangamon River. Lake Springfield, a large artificial lake owned by the City Water, Light & Power company (CWLP), supplies the city with recreation and drinking water. Weather is fairly typical for middle latitude locations, with hot summers and cold winters. Spring and summer weather is like that of most midwestern cities; severe thunderstorms are common. Tornadoes hit the Springfield area in 1957 and 2006.


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