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Springfield, OR
Demographics
Distance From Springfield
Salem................................... 64 miles
Portland................................ 101miles
Seattle.................................. 223 miles
San Francisco........................ 449 miles
Sacramento........................... 479 miles
Oregon State Facts
Slogan...................... She Flies With Her Own Wings
Nickname.................. Beaver State
Song Oregon............. My Oregon
Flower...................... Oregon Grape
Tree.......................... Douglas Fir
Bird.......................... Western Meadowlark
Fish.......................... Chinook Salmon
Butterfly................... Oregon Swallowtail
Highest Point............ Mount Hood, 11,239 ft
Largest Cities............ Portland, Eugene, Salem
State Population....... 3,421,399
Electoral Votes.......... 7
Average Climate
Elevation.............. 456 feet
Average Temperature - 40 degrees in January - 70 degrees in July.
Annual Precipitation....... 46.04 inches
August is the driest month; November the wettest. This may seem like a lot of rain, but this amount keeps Oregon green and beautiful year round.
Where In The World Is Springfield
• Located between two great Northwest
rivers — The McKenzie and The Willamette
• In the heart of the Willamette Valley
• One hour from the Oregon Coast and one
hour from the Cascade Mountains
• One mile from the University of Oregon
• Beside the I-5 corridor of western travel and trade
Population
The ninth-largest city in Oregon, Springfield’s
population is nearly 60,000, with another 6,000
living within the service area.
Population Growth: Springfield
1998 51,700
2000 52,846
2005 59,428*
2010 65,601*
*Based on a 2% annual growth rate
Population Growth: Springfield & Eugene
1998 185,160
2000 190,757
2005 202,158*
2010 234,356*
*Based on a 3% annual growth rate
Minority Population: 2000
Latino 6.9%
Asian/Pacific Islander 1.4%
Native American 1.4%
African American 0.7%
Population (by age)
(Under 18) 27.26%
(18–64) 62.5%
(65+) 10.3%
In 1848, Elias and Mary Briggs settled on land that nurtured a “spring in a field.” A few years later, the homestead was fenced off and became known as Springfield. On February 25, 1885, Springfield became incorporated as a city. Today it is the ninth-largest city
in Oregon.
Springfield is home to the Springfield Depot, which is not only the oldest commercial structure in Springfield but is also the oldest two-story Southern Pacific passenger depot still standing in Oregon. Built in 1891, it soon became the commercial center for Springfield, providing transportation for people and freight. It is currently the home of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, located at 101 South A Street, Springfield, Oregon.
Phone: 746-1651
Fax: 726-4727
E-Mail: general@springfield-chamber.org
Web Site: www.springfield-chamber.org
Economy
The Springfield economy is growing and diversifying at a very rapid pace. After a decade of nearly no growth — the 1980s to the early 1990s — the pace and picture of the local economy has shifted dramatically. Once considered a single-economy city, Springfield today enjoys a diverse business climate that includes strong businesses in several sectors: wood products, high tech, medical, tourism, software, industrial manufacturing and many more.
Several regional and national companies call Springfield home. Weyerhaeuser, Shorewood, Symantec, Kingsford and Borden Chemical are just a few companies that have helped support our thriving economy over the years. Beginning in early 2005, another national company, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, will begin construction of its new home in Springfield. It is anticipated that over 1,000 employees will eventually be working at the facility in the Gateway area.
Welcome, Royal Caribbean, and welcome all new businesses that will be locating to Springfield in 2005.
Unemployment Rate 5.3%
January 2005
Household Income Average (2000)
Income Level Percent of Population
Less than 10,000 9%
$10,000–14,999 6%
$15,000–24,999 16%
$25,000–34,999 22%
$35,000–44,999 11%
$45,000–54,999 10%
$55,000–69,000 8%
$70,000 or more 8%
Average Household Income $33,031
(Based on 2000 Census)
Average home sale price $131,389
(2003)
Personal Income Tax Rate 5%–9%
Property Tax: Assessed value of property times tax rate for area in which property is located. Districts within school boundaries ($8.55–$16.55/$1,000 of assessed value).
Top 10 Employers: Springfield
1. Springfield School District
2. McKenzie-Willamette Hospital
3. Symantec
4. Rosboro Lumber Company
5. City of Springfield
6. Weyerhaeuser Company
7. Willamalane Park
& Recreation District
8. Wal-Mart
9. McKenzie Forest Products
10. Farwest Steel
Education
The Springfield School District has 17 elementary schools (K–5), five middle schools and two senior high schools. Enrollment is approximately 12,000
students with a 21-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio.
City Government
Mayor: Sid Leiken
City Council
Anne Ballew, Tammy Fitch, Christine Lundberg, Joe Pishioneri, Dave Ralston, John Woodrow
Points of Interest
Dorris Ranch 736-4544
Emerald Art Center 726-8595
Lane Regional
Sports Complex 747-4781
Splash Wave Pool 736-4244
Springfield Depot 746-1651
Springfield Museum 726-3677
Washburne Historic District 746-1651
Willamalane Parks
& Recreation 736-4404
Nearby Campsites (Interstate 5 Corridor) & Phone Numbers
Baker Bay
(Cottage Grove) (541) 942-7669
Eugene Kamping World
(Coburg) (541) 343-4832
Pine Meadows Campground
(Cottage Grove) (541) 942-8657
or 942-5631
Richardson Park Campground
(Veneta) (541) 935-2335
Sherwood Forest KOA
(Creswell) (541) 895-4110
Taylor’s Travel Park
(Creswell) (541) 895-4715
Nearby RV Parks (Interstate 5 Corridor) & Phone Numbers
Best Western Village Green Resort
(Cottage Grove) (541) 942-2491
Coburg Hills RV Park
(Eugene) (541) 686-3152
Dexter Shores RV Park
(Dexter) (541) 937-3711
Eugene Mobile Village
(Springfield) (541) 747-2557
Fern Ridge Shores
(Veneta) (541) 935-2335
Shamrock Mobile & RV Park
(Springfield) (541) 747-7473
The closest dump station is located at Eugene Mobile Village off I-5 at 4750 Franklin Boulevard, 747-2557.
Lane County
Lane County was created January 28, 1851, by the territorial legislature. It was named for Joseph Lane, who came to Oregon in 1849 as the first territorial governor. Lane was born in North Carolina on December 14, 1801. In 1851 and 1853 he led the campaigns against the Rouge River Indians. In 1859 he was elected as a United States senator. He supported the contentions of the seceding states in 1860–61, and when his term as senator expired in 1861, he retired to private life. In 1860 he was nominated for Vice President with Breckenridge. He died April 19, 1881, in Roseburg. Prior to coming to Oregon, he had distinguished himself in the Mexican War and had served in the Indian legislature. His attitude on secession wholly changed his political standing in Oregon.
Lane County Points of Interest
Points of interest include 20 historic covered bridges, the Bohemia Mining District, coastal sand dunes, Old Town Florence, the Heceta Head Lighthouse, the Sea Lion Caves, Fern Ridge Reservoir, Mount Pisgah Arboretum, McKenzie Pass and Waldo Lake.
The Name Game
How did these areas get their names? Test your knowledge.
1. Springfield
It appears to be named for a natural spring that sent up its water in
a prairie or open field. In the early 1850s, the spring and land near it were fenced off, and the place came to be known by its present name. Elias Briggs was the first settler there in 1849.
2. Thurston
George H. Kelly of Portland told the compiler in 1926 that this town was named for George H. Thurston, a pioneer settler of Lane County. Among other things, he was one of the early-day land surveyors of the county. He was born in Burlington, Iowa, on December 2, 1846, and was the son of Samuel R. Thurston, who was later Oregon’s first territorial delegate in Congress. George H. Thurston was brought to Oregon before he was a year old.
3. Kelly Butte
Kelly Butte, near Springfield, was named for John Kelly, a native of County Wexford, Ireland, who in 1843 came to Oregon from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the employ of the Hudson’s Bay Company. He returned to the United States and took part in the Mexican War and came to Oregon again with the U.S. Mounted Rifles in 1849 as a wagon master. He traded in stock between Oregon and California and finally took a donation land claim near Springfield. He married Elizabeth Parker. At one time, he was collector of customs in Portland and also receiver or registrar of the land office in Roseburg.
4. Jasper
This is a siding on the Southern Pacific Company’s Cascade line southeast of Springfield. It was named for Jasper B. Hills, who was born in the locality in 1859. He was the son of Cornelius Joel Hills, who settled at the present site of Jasper in 1846. The place was named about 1880.
5. Douglas Gardens
Samuel M. Douglas, who came to the area in 1888, built up one of Springfield’s largest and most prosperous farms, purchasing over 1,000 acres above the flood plain between what is now 32nd Street and 42nd Street, and from McKenzie Highway to the Willamette River.
