Springfield, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Springfield is a city in Effingham County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 2,520 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat
of Effingham County .
Springfield is part of the Savannah
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
was the county seat from 1797 to 1799. In 1799, Effingham County had three different county seats. The state legislature appointed a commission to select a new centrally located site for the permanent county seat. A location five miles from the center of the county was chosen and named Springfield.
The county government surveyed the new town, and designated streets, lots, and the public squares that were to be used for the courthouse and the jail. The lots were sold to finance the construction of these public buildings. A map drawn in 1821 shows four north–south streets and nine east–west streets. Development of the new county seat was slow, as it was isolated from customary routes of trade. At the turn of the 20th century, it was listed as having only about twelve houses.
A 1907 map showed the railroad had come to town, an impetus for growth. Four new east–west streets had been added, as well as several new north–south streets. This period saw the greatest growth in Springfield. The Brinson Railroad from Savannah
was built about 1907, as was the George M. Brinson Sawmill. In 1908 the present County Courthouse was constructed. In the decade from 1900 to 1910, the population of Springfield increased to 500 from 134.
Throughout the 19th- and early 20th-century South, the courthouse square served as the nucleus of town activity and the anchor around which the community was planned. The courthouse was usually surrounded by public space or by a square. Houses emerged on the fringes of the square, and growth would usually radiate from the courthouse, developing a square town plan. Springfield has examples of such development, but much early architecture was lost due to a series of fires from the late 19th century through the 1960s. Springfield's 1908 courthouse, designed in the classical Greek
style as a symbol of republican government, is an example of the courthouse as town anchor.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Effingham County Courthouse was a two-story frame building facing Early Street. The lower floor contained the court room and a few offices. The second floor served as the Jury Room. In 1908, the present courthouse was built, designed by Savannah architect Hyman W. Witcover. In 1979 an annex was added for additional space. The courthouse had become more than a building in which to hear legal cases. County business expanded requiring space for offices such as the Tax Assessor, the Tax Collector, and the County Commissioners. Also located in the courthouse was the Probate Court, which administered wills and testaments and looked after orphans and widows. The Magistrate's Court which ruled on both criminal and civil cases.
Springfield experienced its major residential growth around 1910. During that period, the architectural fashion in houses was shifting from the elaborate and highly detailed Victorian style to the simpler Arts and Crafts
or Bungalow
. The majority of Springfield's historic homes reflect this later bungalow style. This transitional fashion is often referred to as Folk Victorian. It is recognizable by the use of spindle
work around eaves and porches, decorative porch supports, patterned shingles in the gables and single-paned, double-hung windows.
The houses were adapted to coastal Georgia's warm environment. Most houses were built on raised foundations, to escape heat rising from the ground and allow for ventilation to reduce dampness and mold. Windows were strategically placed to provide cross ventilation and to capture cool evening breeze. The exaggerated eaves and porches protect the interior from direct sun, reducing the absorption of heat, and also provide an outdoor living area.
Interior elements of high ceilings and double-hung windows helped with cooling. On warm days the upper window sash could be lowered to allow the hot air to escape, while cool air was drawn in the raised lower window sash. These elements coupled with thick plaster walls to create a comfortable environment.
Another coastal condition is heavy rain. Therefore, most roofs are steeply pitched to improve roof drainage. Many of the historic roofs are metal, to shed rain and to prevent the spread of fire from one structure to the next. As Springfield was historically a sawmill town, easily accessible lumber contributed to the predominance of wooden frame houses. The majority of the historic homes were constructed before the automobile, so they did not have carports or garages.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,821 people, 633 households, and 453 families residing in the city. The population density
was 854.3 people per square mile (330.1/km²). There were 704 housing units at an average density of 330.3 per square mile (127.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.28% White, 22.13% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 633 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,544, and the median income for a family was $41,071. Males had a median income of $35,096 versus $25,192 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,519. About 11.1% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. The district has 511 full-time teachers and over 9,037 students.
Effingham County, Georgia
Effingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In the United States Census of 2000, the population was 37,535. The Census Bureau's 2008 estimate estimates that this figure has grown to 52,060. The seat of Effingham County is Springfield....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,520 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Effingham County .
Springfield is part of the Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Savannah metropolitan area
The Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Georgia, anchored by the city of Savannah. As of the 2010 census, the Savannah MSA had a population of 347,611, an 18.6 percent increase from the 2000 population of ...
.
History
Springfield is the seat of government for Effingham County. EbenezerEbenezer, Georgia
Ebenezer, also known as New Ebenezer, is a ghost town in Effingham County, Georgia, United States, along the banks of Ebenezer Creek. It was listed on the U.S...
was the county seat from 1797 to 1799. In 1799, Effingham County had three different county seats. The state legislature appointed a commission to select a new centrally located site for the permanent county seat. A location five miles from the center of the county was chosen and named Springfield.
The county government surveyed the new town, and designated streets, lots, and the public squares that were to be used for the courthouse and the jail. The lots were sold to finance the construction of these public buildings. A map drawn in 1821 shows four north–south streets and nine east–west streets. Development of the new county seat was slow, as it was isolated from customary routes of trade. At the turn of the 20th century, it was listed as having only about twelve houses.
A 1907 map showed the railroad had come to town, an impetus for growth. Four new east–west streets had been added, as well as several new north–south streets. This period saw the greatest growth in Springfield. The Brinson Railroad from Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
was built about 1907, as was the George M. Brinson Sawmill. In 1908 the present County Courthouse was constructed. In the decade from 1900 to 1910, the population of Springfield increased to 500 from 134.
Throughout the 19th- and early 20th-century South, the courthouse square served as the nucleus of town activity and the anchor around which the community was planned. The courthouse was usually surrounded by public space or by a square. Houses emerged on the fringes of the square, and growth would usually radiate from the courthouse, developing a square town plan. Springfield has examples of such development, but much early architecture was lost due to a series of fires from the late 19th century through the 1960s. Springfield's 1908 courthouse, designed in the classical Greek
Architecture of Ancient Greece
The architecture of Ancient Greece is the architecture produced by the Greek-speaking people whose culture flourished on the Greek mainland and Peloponnesus, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies in Asia Minor and Italy for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st century AD, with the earliest...
style as a symbol of republican government, is an example of the courthouse as town anchor.
At the turn of the 20th century, the Effingham County Courthouse was a two-story frame building facing Early Street. The lower floor contained the court room and a few offices. The second floor served as the Jury Room. In 1908, the present courthouse was built, designed by Savannah architect Hyman W. Witcover. In 1979 an annex was added for additional space. The courthouse had become more than a building in which to hear legal cases. County business expanded requiring space for offices such as the Tax Assessor, the Tax Collector, and the County Commissioners. Also located in the courthouse was the Probate Court, which administered wills and testaments and looked after orphans and widows. The Magistrate's Court which ruled on both criminal and civil cases.
Springfield experienced its major residential growth around 1910. During that period, the architectural fashion in houses was shifting from the elaborate and highly detailed Victorian style to the simpler Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
or Bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
. The majority of Springfield's historic homes reflect this later bungalow style. This transitional fashion is often referred to as Folk Victorian. It is recognizable by the use of spindle
Spindle
The term spindle may refer to:In textiles and manufacturing:*Spindle , a device to spin fibres into thread*Spindle , is the main rotating part of a machine tool, woodworking machine, etc...
work around eaves and porches, decorative porch supports, patterned shingles in the gables and single-paned, double-hung windows.
The houses were adapted to coastal Georgia's warm environment. Most houses were built on raised foundations, to escape heat rising from the ground and allow for ventilation to reduce dampness and mold. Windows were strategically placed to provide cross ventilation and to capture cool evening breeze. The exaggerated eaves and porches protect the interior from direct sun, reducing the absorption of heat, and also provide an outdoor living area.
Interior elements of high ceilings and double-hung windows helped with cooling. On warm days the upper window sash could be lowered to allow the hot air to escape, while cool air was drawn in the raised lower window sash. These elements coupled with thick plaster walls to create a comfortable environment.
Another coastal condition is heavy rain. Therefore, most roofs are steeply pitched to improve roof drainage. Many of the historic roofs are metal, to shed rain and to prevent the spread of fire from one structure to the next. As Springfield was historically a sawmill town, easily accessible lumber contributed to the predominance of wooden frame houses. The majority of the historic homes were constructed before the automobile, so they did not have carports or garages.
Geography
Springfield is located at 32°22′6"N 81°18′37"W (32.368240, -81.310152).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,821 people, 633 households, and 453 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 854.3 people per square mile (330.1/km²). There were 704 housing units at an average density of 330.3 per square mile (127.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.28% White, 22.13% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 633 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,544, and the median income for a family was $41,071. Males had a median income of $35,096 versus $25,192 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,519. About 11.1% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Effingham County School District
The Effingham County School DistrictEffingham County School District
The Effingham County School District is a public school district in Effingham County, Georgia, USA, based in Springfield, Georgia. It serves the communities of Guyton, Rincon, and Springfield, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. The district has 511 full-time teachers and over 9,037 students.
- Blandford Elementary School
- Ebenezer Elementary School
- Guyton Elementary School
- Marlow Elementary School
- Rincon Elementary School
- Sand Hill Elementary School
- South Effingham Elementary School
- Springfield Elementary School
- Ebenezer Middle School
- Effingham County Middle School
- South Effingham Middle School
- Effingham County High SchoolEffingham County High SchoolEffingham County High School is one of two public high schools located in Effingham County, Georgia, northwest of Savannah. The school was created in 1956 and serves approximately 1900 students in grades 9-12 in the Effingham County School District...
- South Effingham High SchoolSouth Effingham High SchoolSouth Effingham High School is one of two public high schools located in Effingham County, Georgia, northwest of Savannah. The school was created in 1996 when Effingham County High School was split....