Springfield, Missouri is an outstanding city with its own flavor of recreation, entertainment, and natural beauty.  It is currently the third largest city in Missouri, and has grown 26% in the last 10 years. Surrounded by rolling hills (Ozarks) and gorgeous forest, Springfield Missouri is an ideal location for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

This community is known for its warmth and friendly atmosphere.  It also offers a wide variety of things to do.  No matter what your interests may be, you can find it here.  Lakes and rivers abound throughout the area.  They offer great fishing, boating, water skiing and other water activities.

There are plenty of shopping opportunities in Springfield.  In fact, it is the third largest retail shopping venue in the United States. And, of course, the perfect complement to that are the 150 restaurants that serve the area. There are also a number of clubs providing an interesting nightlife.  The sidewalks do not roll up at 8:00 pm here.  Although you can find live music to listen to just about any night of the week, Branson is only about a 40 minute drive from Springfield. Of course, Branson is the entertainment capital of the Midwest with lots of live entertainment.

The city was incorporated in 1829.  It has evolved as a tight knit community.  The residents here take a great deal of pride in their fair city.  As such, they have developed a solid school system providing an excellent educational opportunity for all.  In addition, Springfield enjoys a low crime rate with safe secure neighborhoods.  This is an ideal place to raise a family.

It's also highly affordable.  Unlike more expensive cities on the east and west coast, things in Springfield have remained affordable.  The median home value here is a modest $80,000.  In addition, the median income per resident is $30,000.  A move to Springfield would make economic sense coming from the east or west.

Springfields job market has well over 150,000 workers in areas including, manufacturing, retail, tourism, and industrial businesses. Business here has enjoyed a solid economy.  In fact, Springfield's economy is reaching new heights. The chamber of commerce in Springfield cares about its businesses and guarantees the success of the city. Its unemployment rate has dropped to a mere 3.8% in the last few years. Companies such as Wal-Mart, CoxHealth, Kraft Foods, and MCI Worldcom have helped Springfield to be named one of the top 25 choice cities for businesses by Outlook Magazine.

Residents enjoy the variety of options when it comes to cultural and entertainment activities. Springfield has several museums and art galleries like The Springfield Art Museum. This museum has over 6,500 art objects representing thousands of years of culture. Springfield is also home to some of the most famous lakes in the United States.  Here you can boat, fish, ski, and enjoy the beautiful waters all year round. Springfield also has several golf courses including the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course. This beautiful course features a Par 70, which is open to the public year round.

Springfield takes much pride in all of the schools in its city. Springfield Public Schools serve the educational needs of 25,000 students. The city also offers several higher educational institutions like Southwest Missouri State University, with enrollment of over 18,000 students. Other institutions of higher learning include Baptist Bible College, Central Bible College, Drury University, Evangel University, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Rhodes College, Vatterott College, Webster University,  Ozarks Technical Community College, St. John's School of Nursing and Lester L. Cox College of Nursing.

For more details on aspects of Springfield Missouri living click on any of the links, or request a free relocation package.