Accessibility is one of Springfield's most powerful assets. Even in the early years, when George Rogers Clark, for whom the county is named, led a band of Kentuckians, including Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton, into the new territory they saw its potential in the abundant water and lush fields. The Clark Expedition defeated the Shawnee Indians in 1780, but Tecumseh -- a powerful Shawnee leader who opposed westward migration and led unremitting warfare against white settlers -- stopped them from settlingn the area. When the Treaty of Greenville was signed in 1795, it effectively ended hostile acts toward settlers and expansion surged ahead.
Several factors contributed to the rapid growth of Springfield and Clark County, including the railroads of the 1840s, which provided a profitable means of exporting agricultural equipment. The two growth industries of that era, agriculture and manufacturing, were united when Springfield native William Whitely invented the combined self-raking reaper and mower in 1856.
Today, easy accessibility to the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport and four major Interstate Highways link Springfield to every part of the nation. Agribusiness is still the county's largest source of business revenue but it continues to evolve as a distribution and warehouse network, particularly for companies serving the food industry. Top area employers include Navistar International(formerly International Harvester Company), Cascade Corporation, the Kroger Co., Olan Mills, Inc., Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., and Pentaflex, Inc.
Residents place a premium on education in Springfield. The city school system includes two high schools, a joint vocational school, numerous elementary, middle and parochial schools. In addition, Clark State Community College, home of 1,500-seat Kuss Auditorium and the Performing Arts Center, and Wittenberg University are located within the city.
The city of Springfield is many things to many people. For almost a decade, Springfield was known as the "Town at the End of the Pike," because the massive National Road project stalled there due to lack of federal funding. It was also known as "Champion City," named after the successful Champion reaper, and "City of Roses," when its greenhouses produced more roses than any other city in the world. The Marx Brothers started their careers in Springfield and Annie Oakley gaver her first professional perfomance there. Three modern entertainers, Jonathon Winters, Lillian Gish and jazz great Johnny Lytle, hail from Springfield.
The city cultivates its cultural roots through the Ohio Lyric Theatre, the Springfield Civic Theatre and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. The Springfield parks system is unique and includes facilities to accomodate leisure activities for everyone, including Veterans Memorial Park, home of the Springfield Museum of Art and the Veterans Memorial, and Davey Moore Park, which was named after Springfield's world famous prizefighter and Featherweight Champion of the World.
Whether young or old, Springfield supports a diverse and growing economic base, a strong city government committed to providing an exceptional quality of life, a thriving arts community and a flourishing parks district. The Springfield of today has matured beyond its modest beginnings and offers a bright and promising tomorrow.