
Old flag of Springfield, Missouri, used from 1938 to 2022 Springfield is within close distance to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and sits along the Trail of Tears, now a national historic trail. The city is the headquarters for Bass Pro Shops, which is the number one tourist attraction in the state of Missouri, and the adjoining Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium is the world's largest wildlife attraction. The city holds nearly 100 city parks and 140 miles (230 km) of outdoor bike trails. Due to its proximity to the mountainous area, the city is known for its outdoor recreation activities. The city sits on the Springfield Plateau of the Ozarks. Between the 20 censuses, the population of Greene County grew by over 23,700 people, largely as a result of immigration. The city and surrounding area have been growing more diverse over the decades. It has been called the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" due to its association with evangelical Christianity. The city is an important center of education and medical care, with two of the largest hospitals in the area, CoxHealth and Mercy, employing over 20,000 people combined, and being the largest employers in the region.

It is home to several universities and colleges, including Missouri State University, Drury University, and Evangel University. It is also known as the "Birthplace of Route 66". Springfield's nickname is "Queen City of the Ozarks" as well as "The 417" after the area code for the city. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 481,483 in 2021 and includes the counties of Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk, and Webster, and is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state of Missouri. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County.

Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S.
