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Springfield, Missouri

"Queen City of the Ozarks"
Birthplace of Route 66, home of Bass Pro Shops' headquarters, and the city where Wild Bill Hickok had his first gunfight.
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Founded 1829 | Population 171,315 | Peak 171,315 (2024) | County Greene County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Springfield, Missouri

1
1865 Wild Bill Hickok's Shootout: Wild Bill Hickok killed Davis Tutt in Springfield's town square in one of the first documented quick-draw gunfights in the Old West.
2
1926 Route 66 Birthplace: Springfield is where the proposal to name the highway 'Route 66' originated — it's the official birthplace of the Mother Road.
3
1971 Bass Pro Shops Founded: Johnny Morris founded Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, growing it into the world's largest outdoor retail company.
4
1905 Drury University & Colleges: Springfield developed as a college town with multiple universities including Missouri State, Drury, and Evangel.
5
2017 Wonders of Wildlife Museum: Johnny Morris opened the massive Wonders of Wildlife aquarium and museum, voted America's Best Aquarium.
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Latest News in Springfield

Mar 7, 2016
Missouri High School Students Walk Out Protest Transgender Girl
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 7, 2016) — Tensions boiled over at a Missouri high school on Monday when dozens of students staged a …
Mar 3, 2016
Missouri Lawmakers Consider Bills Both Sides Gun Debate
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 3, 2016) – In the midst of a heated national conversation on firearms, Missouri’s lawmakers too…
Jan 15, 2016
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Washington, D.C. – On January 15, 2016, a crowd of several thousand people filled the National Mall to mark what would have been…
Dec 2, 2015
Missouri Lawmakers Consider Both Bills Both Sides Gun Debate
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — On December 2, 2015, Missouri lawmakers dove into a heated discussion over a pair of bills that captured t…
Aug 26, 2015
Vicious Assault Missouri Couple Caught Surveillance Camera Video
Missouri (August 26, 2015) – A brutal attack on a local couple shook the community last week when chilling surveillance footage …
Aug 12, 2015
Missouri Woman Threatens Teenagers Handgun Video
ST. LOUIS, Missouri – Back in August 2015, a heated confrontation in a suburban neighborhood escalated into a frightening ordeal…

Complete Historical Timeline

1829 Government
Settlement established
1861 Disaster
Battle of Wilson's Creek nearby
1865 Culture
Wild Bill Hickok shootout
1926 Transport
Route 66 name proposed here
1971 Business
Bass Pro Shops founded
2017 Culture
Wonders of Wildlife opens
2023 Government
Population exceeds 171,000

Did You Know?

1
Springfield is the official birthplace of Route 66 — the proposal to name it originated here in 1926.
2
Wild Bill Hickok's 1865 gunfight on Springfield's town square is considered the first true quick-draw duel of the Wild West.
3
Bass Pro Shops' headquarters includes the massive Wonders of Wildlife Museum, voted America's Best Aquarium.

Famous People from Springfield, Missouri

KT
Kathleen Turner
Actor, Stage Actor · Born Jun 19, 1954 · Age 71
JR
Jake Wesley Rogers
Singer-Songwriter, Recording Artist · Born Dec 19, 1996 · Age 29
LG
Lucas Grabeel
Actor, Singer · Born Nov 23, 1984 · Age 41
JA
Jimmie Angel
Aircraft Pilot, Explorer · Born Aug 1, 1899 · Died Dec 8, 1956 (age 57)
VJ
Virginia E. Johnson
Writer, Singer · Born Feb 11, 1925 · Died Jul 24, 2013 (age 88)

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