Springfield, Missouri

Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri. It is the county seat of Greene County{{GR|6}}.

History

1829: Future site of Springfield designated by John Polk Campbell. The first settlers (the brothers Fulbright and their families) follow in 1830.

Related Topics:
1829 - John Polk Campbell - 1830

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1835: Springfield becomes the county seat of Greene County.

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February 18, 1838: Springfield is first incorporated with a population of 300.

Related Topics:
February 18 - 1838

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1858: The first westbound stagecoach, the Butterfield Overland Mail, reaches Springfield.

Related Topics:
1858 - Stagecoach - Butterfield Overland Mail

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1861: American Civil War - Union troops under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon take control of the city soon after war breaks out.

Related Topics:
1861 - American Civil War - Nathaniel Lyon

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August 10, 1861: American Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek - Confederate forces under Brig. Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and Maj. Gen. Sterling Price march on the city. Confederate and Union forces meet 12 miles outside the city. In the bloody fighting which ensues, Gen. Lyon is killed and Col. Franz Sigel leads a Union retreat to Springfield and then Rolla. Confederate troops occupy Springfield.

Related Topics:
August 10 - 1861 - American Civil War - Battle of Wilson's Creek - Benjamin McCulloch - Sterling Price - Franz Sigel - Rolla

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1862: American Civil War - Confederates abandon Springfield to Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis.

Related Topics:
1862 - American Civil War - Samuel R. Curtis

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January 8, 1863: American Civil War Battle of Springfield - A Union garrison under Brig. Gen. Egbert Brown repels a Confederate attack led by Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke.

Related Topics:
January 8 - 1863 - American Civil War - Battle of Springfield - Egbert Brown - John S. Marmaduke

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July 21, 1865: Wild Bill Hickok shoots Dave Tutt dead in the town square over a gambling dispute in what is regarded as the first true western showdown.

Related Topics:
July 21 - 1865 - Wild Bill Hickok

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1870: First railroad, the St. Louis-San Francisco line.

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January, 1888: First mail delivery.

Related Topics:
January - 1888

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1905: Three African-American men are lynched in the town square for allegedly raping a white woman, though guilt was never established. This event sparked a mass exodus of African-Americans from the area, who still remain a vast minority.

Related Topics:
1905 - African-American

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1910: First electric lights installed.

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1926: AASHTO settles dispute over U.S. Highway 60. Cyrus Avery (head of the group) who is in Springfield at the time, accepts the number 66 for the new Chicago-Los Angeles route. Springfield gains the nickname "Birthplace of Route 66".

Related Topics:
1926 - AASHTO - U.S. Highway 60 - Cyrus Avery - 66 - Chicago - Los Angeles

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1927: First radio station.

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1947: Red's Giant Hamburgs, world's first drive-thru restaurant, is opened.

Related Topics:
1947 - Red's Giant Hamburgs - Drive-thru

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January, 1955: First color television broadcast in the city by KOLR-TV.

Related Topics:
January - 1955

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1963: Cashew chicken created and served for the first time at Leong's Tea House.

Related Topics:
1963 - Cashew chicken

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1990: First "Historic Route 66" marker on US 66 is placed in Springfield.

Related Topics:
1990 - Route 66

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