History of Springfield, IL

They call Illinois the Land of Lincoln for obvious reasons, but there’s a lot more to Springfield, IL’s history than Honest Abe and the horseshoe sandwich. Our local guides have insight about some of the coolest things about our town!

Out of all the Dodge dealers in Illinois, you can count on Green Dodge. When you want to get in a new Dodge car, we rise above the competition and can get you driving in no time flat. We’ll even give you unique tips on how to get out and have fun in Springfield.

Why Is Chicago Not the Capital of Illinois?

Even though Springfield is the capital of Illinois, Chicago dwarfs Springfield in population by a factor of more than 20 to 1. Why is Chicago not the capital of Illinois, then? One reason is that Chicago was not incorporated until 1837, while Springfield became the current capital of Illinois in 1839. At that time, Chicago was a tiny village and not the massive metropolis we know of today.

The First Capitals of Illinois

Springfield is not the first capital of Illinois. Initially, when Illinois first became a state, the city of Kaskaskia was selected to be the capital of Illinois. This city was along the Mississippi River and as a result, it flooded often. 

Next up was the city of Vandalia, which was less prone to flooding, but still wasn’t a good fit. As a result, the legislators in Illinois packed up and moved to Springfield, where they’ve stayed from 1839 until the present. People say that Abraham Lincoln had influence over the decision to move from Vandalia, giving him another stamp on state history.

Green Dodge Wants You To Know More

Now that you’ve got some more information on Springfield, we want to show you what we’re all about. Green Dodge serves Springfield and surrounding areas and out of all the car dealerships in Springfield, IL, we rise above the rest because of how we value you, the customer. Springfield is a great place because of the people who live in it. You should get in touch with us to find out more about what makes us great.