A Community with a
Lot of History
Springfield is located on Highway #14, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway. This southern Minnesota location is in the middle of some of the state's most productive farmland.
Many of the businesses in Springfield serve the agricultural business. Historic Main street also has a full complement of retail shops to serve every need. Springfield's population is around 2,200.
Springfield's establishment dates back in history to when the original village was incorporated in 1881 and the name changed to "Springfield," appropriate due to the large, flowing spring on the townsite. In 1923, the village became the City of Springfield.
For further statistical data, you may visit our profile with the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development. Pick specific topics to view, or choose to see the whole profile at once. There you will find information on the work force, utilities, commercial transportation, and more.
Historical Society
Meetings
Annual Meeting in April
Key Contacts
Cheryl Diedo
(507) 227-7262
Peggy Larson
(507) 920-6701
Establishing Springfield, MN
Those who first established Springfield came from many origins, but the majority were from Scandinavia, Ireland and Germany. After the Civil War ended in 1865, folks started to migrate towards the farm land of Minnesota.
Settlement in Minnesota started in the southeast corner, and it was 1869 when settlers reached the area of present day Springfield. One of these original settlers was John Burns, along with his brother Daniel.
The first houses in the area were built with layers of sod, with a roof made of poles covered by additional sod or hay. The prairie sod was hard to cut through, because it had never been dug up or plowed before! The wild grasses were intertwined and had deep roots.
Railroad construction advanced westward and the name of the station stop here in 1873 was "Burns." A small settlement developed around this and a plat of the village was filed in 1877.
Two years later the community had 250 inhabitants, four stores, over a dozen other businesses, plus a school, two churches, and a doctor.
The village was incorporated in 1881 and the name changed to "Springfield," appropriate due to the large, flowing spring on the townsite.
In 1923 the village became the City of Springfield.
Historical Society/Museum
Springfield Area Historical Society (SAHS) was established to discover, preserve, and disseminate historical knowledge about Springfield, Minnesota. The SAHS Annual Meeting is held in April.
