Springfield Regions Guide - overview

The state capital of Illinois, Springfield owes its prominence and position to its most famous citizen, beloved former American president, Abraham Lincoln. The city started out as a little pioneer settlement in 1820, called Calhoun after a South Carolina senator of that name. The senator fell out of favour and in 1832 the town was renamed Springfield, just before a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, decided to make the frontier town his home. No sooner had he settled in than Lincoln decided to up the town's status to state capital, a legislative effort that he seemed to accomplish without too much trouble. The civil war brought some economic benefits to the town with new industries opening, and Springfield also became an important link in the state railway system. Today the city has a thriving economy, and a good tourist trade thanks to having been Lincoln's home town. It is also well located midway between Chicago and St Louis on the historic Route 66.