An introduction...
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Our business community...
National companies such as Kraft Foods, 3M Company, as well as regional companies like Aarons Automotive Products, Paul Mueller Co. and nationally-well-known Springfield ReManufacturing Company are stable, good paying employers located in this community. You can visit a more complete list of our community's major employers here or click on any of the following courtesy of the Springfield Business Web Directory.
In this half of the century,
we have witnessed the shift from railroads to trucks as the prime mover of
products - from rails to interstate roads. The location of Springfield in the
middle of America has made it the home base for several trucking firms. A
network of major highways connects Springfield to the rest of the country and
42 truck lines are located here.
Southwest Missouri’s wide
variety of crops, produce and livestock has helped establish Springfield as a
regional agribusiness center. The Southwest Regional Stockyards, located in
north Springfield is the sixth largest feeder cattle operation in the country.
Vertically integrated agriculture, especially obvious relative to poultry,
impacts the Springfield area. New chicken processing plants and broiler houses
are capable of “producing” several million birds each year. Poultry seems
to have revolutionized Ozarks’ agriculture. “Chicken ranchers” are
raising birds on contracts from processors who provide the feed and the market
for the birds. This has brought an influx of Hispanic workers to the area. The
Tyson farms’ Willow Brook Foods is Springfield’s 7th largest employer.
Springfield faith community...
Located in the “Bible Belt,” Springfield, as the world home of the Assemblies of God and the Bible Baptist denominations, has had a tremendous impact on Christianity, not to mention politics, worldwide. Ozarks charismatic religions as carried by the Assemblies has impacted the Western Hemisphere profoundly as has the biblical fundamentalism of the Baptist Bible Fellowship through their best known spokesman, Jerry Falwell. The emergence of the “super church” is seen in Springfield as well: several congregations number in excess of 2,000.
These huge congregations have successfully cut across racial, socioeconomic and cultural barriers. Quite a few Springfield ministries have aggressive bus ministries completely redefining the concept of a “neighborhood church.” The city is home to over 250 spiritual institutions representing 40 different faith communities. All of these faith resources influence and contribute to the life of the community.
Education in Springfield...
Springfield is home to one of the largest regional state university campuses in Missouri - Missouri State University. With nearly 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students, it offers more than 50 different academic programs and a variety of degrees. Like most universities its size, it also offers significant sports, entertainment, and arts programs for the entire community to enjoy. Springfield is also home to Drury University, Evangel University, and Central Bible College.
Springfield is also home to Ozark Technical Community College - our local and rapidly expanding junior college. Since the mid-1980s, nearly every elementary, middle, and high school school in Springfield has experienced growth, not only in student population, but in needed space (classrooms, auditoriums, etc.)
Composition of the population...
The median age for Greene
County is 32.6 years. In 1990, 58.7% of the homes in Greene County were owner
occupied while 34% were renter occupied. Almost 97% of the population is white
although the minority populations grew 35% between 1980 and 1990. In 1990
Greene County, the number of children in poverty grew from 15.7% in 1990 to
22% in 1993.
Medical Care...
Springfield provides comprehensive medical services to patients from across the Ozarks and surrounding states. A combination of 5 hospitals, more than 800 physicians and a variety of clinics provide care in every American Medical Association specialty. Springfield is struggling with the challenges brought about through managed care in the form of HMOs and capitation. There is no contract for MC+ in Springfield. Families are being enrolled in CHIPS.
The Springfield-Greene County
Health Department and the Greene County Medical Society have provided
leadership in collaborative projects shared by the major hospitals. Cox
and St. John’s Health Systems are the
two largest employers in the community. All of Greene County has recently been
designated a medically needy area as a “Health Professionals Shortage
Area” making the possibility of loan retirement a form of recruitment.
Springfield’s cost of living
is refreshingly low - about 8 to 10 percent below the national average. The
job market is robust, with health care, manufacturing and small business
contributing to Springfield’s healthy economy. Unemployment is a low 2.3%.
The per capita income is $21,490.
Should you choose to join our community we hope you'll participate actively in its many boards, agencies, and services as well as find a wonderful place to live and work!