Springfield, State capital in Central Illinois, United States
Springfield sits along the banks of the Sangamon River on the plains of central Illinois, serving as the state capital and the administrative seat of Sangamon County. The city spreads across gently rolling farmland with broad streets and low-rise residential neighborhoods surrounding a historic downtown core.
The Illinois General Assembly chose the site as the new capital in 1837, relocating government operations from Vandalia two years later. The city grew rapidly after the railroad arrived in the 1850s, developing into a regional trade center for the surrounding farmland.
The city takes its name from the hometown of Simeon Francis, an early settler and newspaper publisher from Massachusetts. Many downtown addresses recall the years when Abraham Lincoln worked here as a lawyer and delivered political speeches.
A car makes it much easier to move between the widely spaced attractions and neighborhoods. Summer months bring warm temperatures and occasional thunderstorms, while winter regularly delivers snow and freezing conditions.
The Horseshoe sandwich was invented here in the 1920s at the Leland Hotel and remains a local lunch dish of open-faced toast topped with meat, fries, and cheese sauce. Several downtown restaurants still prepare this specialty following traditional recipes today.
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