The city of Springfield, Missouri is one of the 13 cities in the United States to bear the name Springfield, and one of 38 cities, towns or townships with the same name. However, there is only one Springfield in the state of Missouri, which happens to be the third largest city in the state. Among other things, Springfield is perhaps most famously known as the birthplace of Route 66, a historic route that connected Chicago to Los Angeles. In 1926, the name for the highway was proposed in the city of Springfield, and it became a reality only 12 years later, when it was the first completely paved numbered highway in America.
This guide will provide you with some helpful tips and information on just about everything you need to know if you're going to be making the move to Springfield. From the city's neighborhoods and school systems to the employment options and recreational activities available within the city, you'll find it all in this guide so that you can go into your move with the knowledge that is needed to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Springfield Climate
Hot and humid summers and cold winters are the characteristic feature of Missouri's climate. Without high mountains or oceans nearby, Missouri experiences a wide range of temperature changes. The city of Springfield experiences four distinct seasons and is located in the northern limits of a humid subtropical climate.
When moving to Springfield, make sure to pack your windbreaker, as high winds are quite common here. In fact, the amount of wind that the city of Springfield normally experiences is on par with the amount of wind found in Chicago, the city commonly referred to as the "Windy City". Thunderstorms and powerful tornadoes also occasionally lash Missouri, with the most recent one being the devastating Joplin tornado in 2011.
Springfield Geography and Neighborhoods
The city of Springfield has a total area of 73.8 square miles and is mainly located on flat land, with a few rolling hills, cliffs and other natural geographic features occurring around the city in areas to the south, east and north of Springfield. The city is located on the Springfield Plateau, which is a flat stretch of elevated land that stretches from Northern Arkansas to Central Missouri and is characterized by thick forests, pastures and several streams and tributaries which cut through and around the city.
Living Costs in the City
Springfield has a fairly low cost of living, and the city is on par with other comparable cities of similar size in the state of Missouri and throughout the region, in terms of the average cost of living. The median family income in Springfield is $47,787, which is lower than the national average for median family income and contributes to the low cost of living in Springfield.
The median home price for an average home in Springfield is $93,135, also lower than other, similar home prices when compared to competing real estate markets in surrounding areas, and substantially lower than the national average as well. Springfield's low real estate prices and low cost of living make it an ideal place to move to when contemplating some of the more affordable big cities in the country and it certainly makes it easier to find a nice place to settle down in Springfield.
Registering Your Car
You have 30 days to register your car in Missouri from the date of the beginning of your residency in the state of Missouri. Registration is done at various licensed offices of the Missouri Department of Revenue. All motor vehicles are exempt from the safety inspection for the first five years following the model year of manufacture, regardless of change of ownership.
Out of state driver's licenses valid or expired no more than 184 days, along with the required documents, need to be submitted to obtain a Missouri driver's license. In case you lose your license, you are asked to submit a current clearance letter from the state, and also have to take the written, vision and driving tests again to obtain a driver's license.
Springfield Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Springfield, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Missouri. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Springfield Schools
The Springfield Public School District operates all 50 of the public schools located in the city of Springfield. The district provides education for 24,366 students and contains five public high schools, including Central High School, Kickapoo High School, Hillcrest High School, Parkview High School, and Glendale High School. There are also eight private and charter high schools located in Springfield. The Springfield Public School District is currently the largest public school district in the state of Missouri.
In addition to the primary and secondary schools in the city, there are also several colleges and universities located in Springfield such as Missouri State University, the second largest university in the state of Missouri. Other schools include Drury University, Baptist Bible College, Webster University, Everest College and the Ozarks Technical Community College.
Springfield Employment
The Springfield economy is based around several major industries, including health care, manufacturing, retail, education and tourism. The city's economy is responsible for roughly 6.7 percent of the state of Missouri's Gross State Product and total retail sales in the city regularly exceed $4 billion each year.
The local economy and job market is in a period of re-growth and the current unemployment rate is relatively low, at 5.7 percent, while the job growth rate is at 0.78 percent. A few of the major corporations headquartered in the city include Positronics, Bass Pro Shops, John Q. Hammons Hotel & Resorts, O'Reilly Auto Parts, BKD, and Prime, Inc., are all corporations which are currently headquartered in the city of Springfield.
Public Transportation
The only form of public transportation provided by the city of Springfield is a fleet of buses operated by the City Utilities of Springfield that provides bus service to most areas within the Springfield city limits. There are no passenger trains available in Springfield, however. The major highways that connect the city to all surrounding areas are Interstate 44, which connects Springfield with St. Louis, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Kansas Expressway which connects the city with Kansas City, Missouri.
The closest airport is the Springfield-Branson National Airport, which offers 33 daily flights to 12 different cities and passengers can connect to major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Memphis, Minneapolis, Orlando, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Culture and Contemporary Life
Aside from being the birthplace of one of the most historic highways in the United States, Springfield is also known for its country music history, and its television programming of the 1950s. For a period of time during that decade, Springfield ranked third behind New York and Hollywood for originating network television programs. The city has also seen a recent revitalization of its downtown area, and many of the area's historic buildings are being renovated and used as restaurants, bars, stores and music venues in an attempt to restore the local economy.
Some of the most popular sites and attractions in Springfield include the Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks, the Dickerson Park Zoo, the Springfield Art Museum, the U.S. Route 66 marker, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and the Missouri Institute of Natural Science.
Moving to Springfield, MO
Whatever your reasons for moving to Springfield, whether it be for a change of scenery or for employment, the city beckons you with its charm. The first step in the process of moving to Springfield is choosing a moving company after first checking their BBB ratings, insurance and license. The moving rates are charged by the hour if you are moving within the state boundary, while for a long distance move the charges will depend on the total weight or volume in cubic feet of your belongings. In the latter case, you can ask about a flat rate or any special discounts that are available with the mover.