Springfield, Illinois, USA
1854 - Springfield

Springfield, a flourishing post-town, capital of the State of Illinois, and seat of justice of Sangamon county, is situated 3 miles S. from Sangamon river, 9(i miles N. X. E. from St. Louis, 70 miles S. from Peoria, and 230 miles S. W. from Chicago. It is regularly planned, with wide, straight streets, having a public square in the centre, on which is situated the state house and other public buildings. The town contains a court house, 3 banks, a United States land-office, churches of various denominations, several academies, and hotels. Five or six newspapers are published hero. Since the seat of government was established here in 1840, it has become a flourishing commercial town. At this point the Chicago and Mississippi railroad intersects the Great Western Central railroad, which extends from the Mississippi river across the state to Indiana. The western division of this line, ex tending from Springfield to the Illinois river, 55 miles, has been in operation several years, under the name of the Sangamon and Morgan railroad; the Eastern division is now in progress of construction. The Chicago and Mississippi road is completed for a distance of 130 miles, from Alton to Bloomington, where it intersects the Illinois Central rail-road. This city is surrounded by rich and extensive prairies, which contain large quantities of bituminous coal. Laid out in 1822. Pop. in 1840, 2579 ; in 1853, about 6500.


A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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