Springfield, Missouri is the states 3rd largest city with a population of roughly 160,000 residents, according to the most recent census numbers. It additionally serves as the county seat of Greene County. This figure showed a growth of 5.2% ever since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area consists of the counties of Webster, Dallas, Greene, Christian and Polk, and their combined population came in at about 436,712. The city is known as the birthplace of Route 66 and the city was referred to as the Queen City of the Ozarks.
The territory which was referred to as "Missouri" was included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Not long afterwards, the Delaware Native Americans were given land treaty where Springfield's antique stores of Galloway Village and Sequiota Park are now located. The Kickapoo Native Americans built wickiups on the prairie to the west and that area still today bears their name.
On the 10th of August, the year 1821, Missouri became a state. The legislature during 1833 designated most of the southern region as a single county. The area was named for General Nathanael Greene, a famous figure in the American Revolutionary War. The name was selected mostly due to a campaign by John Polk Campbell, Springfield's founder, to be able to honor a man he admired.
The economy of the city is largely based around the industries of manufacturing, health care, tourism, retail and education. During 2004, the Gross Metropolitan Product of 13.66 billion makes up around 6.7% of the state's Gross State Product.
During 2008, Springfield's leading employers consisted of: the US Government, St. John's Health System, Wal-Mart Stores, CoxHealth, Springfield Public Schools, Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine, Citizens Memorial Healthcare and the State of Missouri.
The biggest shopping mall within the vicinity is Battlefield Mall. Within the Springfield MSA, total retail sales are more than $5.8 billion every year and within Springfield, the total retail sales exceed $4.1 billion annually. Approximately over 3 million overnight visitors and millions of day trippers go to Springfield every year, based on the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. There are over 6000 hotel rooms and over 60 lodging facilities. Each and every year, the Convention & Visitors Bureau spends over 1 million dollars advertising Springfield as a travel destination.
There are 92 parks within the city, including the Botanical Center at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 3 golf courses, a zoo and other facilities managed or owned by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. There are various programs offered by the center like for example Hearts n' Parks, encouraging individuals to enjoy and take part in outdoor recreation. The department uses a network of trails and linear parks that run close by to unique parts of the Ozarks like creek beds and springs.
Springfield is home to numerous company head offices including: John Q. Hammons Hotels, BKD, Assemblies of God, LLP, Noble & Associates, Bass Pro Shops, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Prime INC.