Here & There – Springfield, IL
Springfield, IL
Located 30 miles west of Decatur on I-72, Springfield is the state capitol and the home of Abraham Lincoln from 1837-1861. Historic sites located throughout the city tell the story of our 16th president. Did you know that President Lincoln initiated both the federal income tax system and the draft, in 1861? And, as the leading member of “The Long Nine,” he was also instrumental in Springfield becoming our state capitol. The group was called “The Long Nine” because the nine delegates to the legislature from Sangamon County were all over 6′ in height.
With a population of 116,809, Springfield’s largest employer is state and public administration followed by healthcare and social assistance organizations. As a key tourist destination, over 10,500 employees work in the hospitality industry. Lake Springfield covers 4200 acres and is owned by City, Water, Light & Power, the largest municipally owned utility in Illinois.
The cost of living index is comparable to Decatur and Springfield residents pay an average of $2577 in property taxes versus $1903 here. But, the similarities end there.
Springfield battles high crime rates with an index of 501.7, which is almost double the crime index of 265 in Decatur. And, over 38,000 workers live outside the city limits of Springfield, which is 32% of their workforce, compared to 10,633 (14.6%) who commute to Decatur.
Vital Statistics Decatur, IL Springfield, IL
Population: 74,710 116,809
Median HH Income: $38,974 $48,864
Median Home Value: $82,600 $120,900
Cost of Living Index: 84.2 85.3
Average Property Taxes: $1,903 $2,577
Crime Index: 265 501.7
804 W. Main
Price: $125,000
Square Feet: 2601
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 3
Style: Spanish Revival
Year Built: 1927
Historic architecture with carved doors & ironwork, hardwood floors.
109 Hawkeye Way
Price: $125,000
Square Feet: 1643
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 2
Style: 1-story
Year Built: 1979
Lower level family room, deck, laminate flooring, recently renovated baths.
Here & There is sponsored by the Economic Development Corp. of Macon County. Community information provided by the Springfield Tourism Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. Real estate details provided by Realtor.com.
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2016 issue of Decatur Magazine. It may not be reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the publisher’s consent.
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