Springfield, city in central Illinois, seat of Sangamon County, and capital of the state, on the Sangamon River. It is a commercial, manufacturing, and financial center situated in one of the richest crop-farming and livestock-raising areas in the United States. Major manufactures include industrial machinery, food products, and fabricated metal products. Government operations, the insurance industry, printing and publishing, and tourism are also important to the city's economic base. The city is served by Capital Airport.
A campus of the University of Illinois, founded in 1969 as Sangamon State University; a community college; and a junior college are in the city. Abraham Lincoln lived and practiced law in Springfield from 1837 until he became president in 1861, and the city maintains a number of attractions connected with his life. Among these are the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, location of the only home Lincoln ever owned; the Lincoln Law Offices and Federal Court; the Lincoln Depot Museum, formerly the Great Western Railroad Depot and the site of Lincoln's farewell address before he left to assume his presidency; the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, with an impressive monument containing the burial places of Lincoln, his wife, and three of their sons; the Old State Capitol (begun 1837), where Lincoln delivered his famous House Divided address; and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden, in Lake Springfield Park. Other points of interest include the home of American poet Vachel Lindsay, who was born in Springfield; the Illinois State Museum; the Henson-Robinson Zoo; and the Dana-Thomas House, conceived by Frank Lloyd Wright and containing furniture he designed. The Illinois State Fair is held every August in Springfield.
