View source for Springfield, Vermont

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Springfield, Vermont
| settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
| motto                    = Progress Through Precision
| image_skyline            = Springfield VT 9-27-25.jpg
| image_caption            = Springfield, VT, from the south
| image_flag               = SpringfieldVTflag.gif
| flag_size                = 
| image_seal               = SpringfieldVTseal.png
| seal_size                = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_size              = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_size        = 
| image_map                = Windsor County Vermont incorporated and unincorporated areas Springfield highlighted.svg
| map_caption              = Location in [[Windsor County, Vermont|Windsor County]] and the state of [[Vermont]].
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Vermont}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Vermont|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Windsor County, Vermont|Windsor]]
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = 
| subdivision_type4        = 
| subdivision_name4        = 
|parts_type               = Communities
|parts                    = {{ubl|[[Springfield (CDP), Vermont|Springfield]]|[[Goulds Mill]]|Hardscrabble Corner|[[North Springfield, Vermont|North Springfield]]|West Springfield}}
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1             = 
| leader_title2            = 
| leader_name2             = 
| leader_title3            = 
| leader_name3             = 
| leader_title4            = 
| leader_name4             = 
| established_title        = Chartered
| established_date         = 1761
| established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2        = 
| established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3        = 
| area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = 128.1
| area_land_km2            = 127.7
| area_water_km2           = 0.4
| area_total_sq_mi         = 49.5
| area_land_sq_mi          = 49.3
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.2
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = 9062
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro         = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban         = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title  = 
| population_blank1        = 
| population_blank2_title  = 
| population_blank2        = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = −5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = −4
| coordinates              = {{Coord|43|18|N|72|29|W|region:US-VT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m              = 162
| elevation_ft             = 531
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 05156 (Springfield)<br/>05150 ([[North Springfield, Vermont|North Springfield]])<br/>05143 ([[Chester, Vermont|Chester]])
| area_code                = [[Area code 802|802]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 50-69550<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1462214<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://springfieldvt.gov/}}
}}

'''Springfield''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Windsor County, Vermont|Windsor County]], [[Vermont]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], the population was 9,062.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US5002769550|title=Census - Geography Profile: Springfield town, Windsor County, Vermont|access-date=January 6, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
One of the [[New Hampshire grants]], the township was chartered on August 20, 1761, by Governor [[Benning Wentworth]] and awarded to Gideon Lyman and 61 others. Although Springfield's [[alluvial]] flats made it among the best [[agriculture|agricultural]] towns in the state, the [[Black River (Connecticut River)|Black River]] [[waterfall|falls]], which drop {{convert|110|ft|m}} in {{convert|1/8|mi|m|adj=pre|of a}}, helped it develop into a [[mill town]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OcoMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9 A. J. Coolidge & J. B. Mansfield, ''A History and Description of New England;'' Boston, Massachusetts 1859]</ref> Springfield was located in the center of the Precision Valley region, home of the Vermont [[machine tool]] industry.

In 1888, the Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Company (J&L) moved to Springfield from [[Windsor, Vermont|Windsor]], [[Vermont]] under the successful leadership of [[James Hartness]]. Gaining international renown for precision and innovation, J&L ushered in a new era of precision manufacturing in the area. [[Edwin R. Fellows]] co-founded the Fellows Gear Shaper Company here in 1896. As knowledge and infrastructure grew to support precision machining, other companies such as the [[Bryant Chucking Grinder Company]] and [[Lovejoy Tool]] formed, grew, and provided much of the economic engine.

[[Stellafane|Springfield Telescope Makers]], the oldest [[amateur telescope making]] club in the United States, has been based in Springfield since its inception in 1923 by [[Russell W. Porter]]. The club's pink clubhouse at the [[Stellafane Observatory]] was built in 1923 on Breezy Hill, just south of Springfield village, and has hosted an annual convention for astronomers and telescope makers nearly every summer since 1926. Many notable figures in the fields of astronomy and space exploration have attended the convention over the years.

During [[World War II]], Springfield's production of machine tools was of such importance to the American war effort that the US government ranked Springfield (together with the Cone Automatic Machine Company of nearby Windsor) as the seventh most important bombing target in the country.<ref>Wayne G. Broehl, Jr., ''Precision Valley: The Machine Tool Companies of Springfield, Vermont''. (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1959) p. 184, ''citing'' W. Storrs Lee, ''The Green Mountains of Vermont'' (New York: Henry Hold & Company, Inc., 1949) p.76.</ref>

Springfield is also home to the [[Eureka Schoolhouse]], the oldest [[one-room school]] in the state of [[Vermont]]. Completed in 1790, the building was in continuous use until 1900 and was restored in 1968 by the Vermont Board of Historic Sites. The school house was named by its first teacher, David Searle, who, after a long journey through the new frontier was heard to cry "Eureka!" upon reaching the new settlement of Springfield. The name stuck, and "Eureka" can still be found in street and business names throughout Springfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/HistoricSites/html/eureka.html|title=Community Development - Agency of Commerce and Community Development|website=www.dhca.state.vt.us}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|49.5|mi2|km2}}, of which {{convert|49.3|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|mi2|km2}} (0.30%) is water. Bounded on the east by the [[Connecticut River]], Springfield is drained by the [[Black River (Connecticut River)|Black River]], which flows directly through downtown. The town includes the village of [[North Springfield, Vermont|North Springfield]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 1097
|1800= 2032
|1810= 2556
|1820= 2702
|1830= 2749
|1840= 2625
|1850= 2762
|1860= 2958
|1870= 2937
|1880= 3144
|1890= 2881
|1900= 3432
|1910= 4784
|1920= 7202
|1930= 6955
|1940= 7720
|1950= 9190
|1960= 9934
|1970= 10063
|1980= 10190
|1990= 9579
|2000= 9078
|2010= 9373
|2020= 9062
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 9,078 people, 3,886 households, and 2,498 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|184.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,232 housing units at an average density of {{convert|85.8|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.24% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.77% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.18% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.01% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 3,886 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,169, and the median income for a family was $42,620. Males had a median income of $31,931 versus $23,019 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,452. About 8.3% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
Several sites in Springfield, including the historic downtown area, have historical significance and are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Windsor County, Vermont|National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP). Cultural and historic sites include:
* Eureka Schoolhouse (1790)
* Hartness Mansion (1903–1904) (NRHP)<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
* Springfield Art and Historical Society
* The [[Stellafane]] National Historic Landmark
* Gould's Mill Bridge, a steel [[truss bridge]] (NRHP).<ref name="nris"/>

==Education==
[[File:EurekaSchoolhouse.JPG|thumb|[[Eureka Schoolhouse]] (1790), Vermont's oldest [[one-room school]]]]

Springfield's public school system is overseen by a five-member school board elected individually by staggered elections to three year terms. Schools include:{{cn|date=September 2025}}
*Elm Hill Elementary
*Union Street Elementary
*Riverside Middle School
*[[Springfield High School (Vermont)|Springfield High School]]

===Colleges===
Satellite campuses of the [[Community College of Vermont]] and the [[University of Vermont]] are located in Springfield, as well as [[River Valley Technical Center]], a regional technical college.

The Black River Innovation Campus is offers co-working space, entrepreneurship programs, STEAM education, and technology resources.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bricvt.org/|title=Black River Innovation Campus Website}}</ref>

==Media==
Springfield is home to its own TV station known as SAPA TV. It broadcasts local info, as well as interviews with local bands, business owners, etc.

==Infrastructure==

===Health care===
The Springfield Hospital is located in Springfield.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://springfieldhospital.org/|title=Springfield Hospital official website|website=springfieldhospital.org}}</ref>

===Transportation===
Springfield is intersected by [[Interstate 91]], [[U.S. Route 5 in Vermont|U.S. Route 5]] and [[Vermont Route 10|Vermont routes 10]], [[Vermont Route 11|11]], [[Vermont Route 106|106]] and [[Vermont Route 143|143]]. [[Connecticut River Transit]] provides bus service.

==Notable people==
<!-- Note:
· Only notable people may appear here.
· Please mention their associated with Springfield, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others may be deleted.
-->
{{div col}}
* [[Daric Barton]], first baseman with the [[Oakland Athletics]]
* [[George B. Burrows]], Wisconsin state legislator <!--born-->
* [[Henry W. Closson]], U.S. Army brigadier general<ref name="Munsell">{{cite book |last=Dwight |first=Benjamin Woodbridge |date=1871 |title=The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong |volume=I |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MGRmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA102 |location=Albany, NY |publisher=Joel Munsell |page=102 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=August 27, 1850 |title=The Appointment of Henry W. Closson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82656339/closson-vacancy/ |work=[[Middlebury Register]] |location=Middlebury, VT |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[George M. Darrow]], foremost American authority on strawberries <!--born-->
* [[Edwin R. Fellows]], machine-tool inventor, industrialist
* [[Walbridge A. Field]], U.S. Representative
* [[Helen Hartness Flanders]], collector of American folk music
* [[Ralph Flanders]], machine-tool entrepreneur, banker, senator
* [[John Elliot Goodenow]], politician in Iowa
* [[Albert Lovejoy Gutterson]], Olympic gold medalist (long jump)<ref>Barney, Keith. ''The History of Springfield, Vermont 1885–1961''. William J. Bryant Foundation, 1972. pp. 119, 224.</ref>
* [[James Hartness]], inventor, aviator and 58th [[List of Governors of Vermont|governor of Vermont]]
* [[Dudley C. Haskell]], U.S. Representative
* [[Charles B. Hoard]], U.S. Representative <!--born-->
* [[Bill Jackowski]], professional baseball umpire <!--died-->
* [[Joseph B. Johnson]], 70th [[List of Governors of Vermont|governor of Vermont]]
* [[Kenny Johnson]], film and television actor
* [[Pattrice Jones]], ecofeminist writer, educator, and activist<!--lives-->
* [[James Kochalka]], local cartoonist and rock musician
* [[Lewis R. Morris]], U.S. Representative <!--lived-->
* [[Levi P. Morton]], 22nd Vice President of the United States<ref>{{Cite book|title=History of the Town of Springfield, Vermont.|last=Hubbard|first=Charles Horace|publisher=G.H. Walker & Co.|year=1895|pages=40, 75, 236}}</ref>
* [[Alban J. Parker]], [[Vermont Attorney General]] <!--lived--> <ref>{{cite book |last=Stone |first=Arthur F. |date=1929 |title=The Vermont of Today, with its Background, Attractions and People |volume=3 |url=https://archive.org/stream/vermontoftodaywi03ston#page/88/mode/2up/search/alban |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |page=89}}</ref>
* [[Samuel B. Pettengill]], U.S. Representative <!--died-->
* [[Russell W. Porter]], explorer, artist and telescope innovator
* [[Asahel Lynde Powers]], painter <!--born-->
* [[Paul W. Ruse Jr.]], [[Vermont State Treasurer]] <!--born-->
* [[Edwin W. Stoughton]], lawyer and diplomat <!--born-->
* [[James Bates Thomson]], mathematician, educator, and author <!--born-->
* [[Wheelock G. Veazey]], attorney, judge, and government official <!--lived-->
* [[Louis G. Whitcomb]], [[United States District Court for the District of Vermont#List of U.S. Attorneys since 1791|United States Attorney for Vermont]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Smallheer |first=Susan |agency=Southern Vermont Bureau |date=October 13, 1984 |title=Former U.S. Attorney Dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/535015048 |work=[[Rutland Herald|Rutland Daily Herald]] |location=Rutland, VT |pages=5–6 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |ref={{sfnRef|"Former U.S. Attorney Dead"}}}}</ref><!--lived-->
{{div col end}}

==In popular culture==
On July 10, 2007, Springfield was selected to host the [[premiere]] of ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', which, like the [[The Simpsons|''Simpsons'' TV show]], is set in a town called [[Springfield (The Simpsons)|Springfield]]. In a [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] competition, Vermont was chosen to host the opening for over 13 other places around the nation called [[Springfield (disambiguation)|Springfield]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6287064.stm|title=Vermont town voted Simpsons home|access-date=July 10, 2007|date=July 10, 2007|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Springfield (Vermont)}}
* [https://springfieldvt.govoffice2.com/ Town of Springfield official website]
* [http://www.springfieldvt.com/ Springfield Vermont Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Springfield
|North     = [[Weathersfield, Vermont|Weathersfield]]
|Northeast = [[Claremont, New Hampshire]]
|East      = [[Charlestown, New Hampshire]]
|Southeast = [[Charlestown, New Hampshire]]
|South     = [[Rockingham, Vermont|Rockingham]]
|Southwest = [[Grafton, Vermont|Grafton]]
|West      = [[Chester, Vermont|Chester]]
|Northwest = [[Baltimore, Vermont|Baltimore]]
|image     =
}}
{{Windsor County, Vermont}}
{{Vermont}}
{{Connecticut River}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Springfield, Vermont| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Vermont]]
[[Category:Towns in Windsor County, Vermont]]