Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Springfield, OR

"Springfield has much to offer visitors and tourists, as well as businesses and individuals..."

So you’re considering moving to Springfield...

Springfield is ideally situated just to the east of I-5 and between the McKenzie and Willamette rivers. This location provides access to major arteries and easy access to the coast, rivers and mountains. Springfield has much to offer visitors and tourists, as well as businesses and individuals who are considering making this great city their home. With a history that has roots and an adventurous pioneer spirit, Springfield today has progressive-thinking individuals who plan for the present with an eye on the future.

Distance from Springfield

Fast Facts

August is the driest month; November is the wettest month. This may seem like a lot of rain but that is what keeps Oregon green and beautiful year around.

History of Springfield

In 1849 Elias Briggs and his wife Mary took the southern route from Kentucky to the Pacific Northwest and built their home near a babbling spring. Elias Briggs began to develop the town around this babbling spring in a field near his homestead which is now known as Springfield. Springfield incorporated as a city in 1885, and continues to attract new businesses and residents with its prime location and high quality of life.

Housing

Property Tax

Assessed value of property times tax rate for area in which property is located. Districts within school boundaries ($8.55-$16.55/$1,000 of assessed value).

Economy

"Several regional and national companies call Springfield home."

The Springfield economy is growing and diversifying at a very rapid pace. After a decade of nearly no growth-the 1980s to the early 1990s-the pace and picture of the local economy has shifted dramatically. Once considered a single economy city, Springfield today enjoys a diverse business climate that includes strong business in several sectors: wood products, high tech, medical, tourism, software, industrial manufacturing and many more. Several regional and national companies call Springfield home. Weyerhaeuser, Shorewood, Symantec, Kingsford, Hexion Chemical, are just a few companies that have helped support our thriving community. We continue to promote business vitality and economic growth. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines opening its national call center, in January 2006, brought 500 jobs to our area. Additionally, PeaceHealth Oregon is building a new facility in Springfield which will provide another 2,200, jobs by spring 2008. Welcome all new businesses to Springfield and our surrounding areas.

Top 10 Employers in Lane County

Top 10 Lane County Manufacturers

Per Capita Personal Income (for Springfield-Eugene)

$29,093 (Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2000 Census).

Lane County Overview

Lane County was named for General Joseph Lane, a rugged frontier hero who was Oregon’s first territorial Governor.

Economy: Agriculture, higher education, high technology, wood products, recreation, RV manufacturing and tourism. Points of Interest: 20 Historic covered bridges, coastal & sand dunes, Fern Ridge Arboretum, Mount Pisgah Arboretum, Sea Lion Caves, Lane County Historical Museum.

Connected To Your Community

City Government

Mayor: Sid Leiken

City Councilors: Anne Ballew, Hillary Wylie, Christine Lundberg, Joe Pishioneri, Dave Ralston, John Woodrow.

School District Information

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) serves approximately 11,000 children in a 187 square mile area. SPS employs nearly 1,600 teachers and staff within Springfield’s 26 schools and district offices.

Breakdown of Schools:

K-5 Elementary Schools: 14
K-8 Schools: 2
Middle Schools: 5
Comprehensive High Schools: 2
Alternative Programs: 2
9-12 Small School (A3): 1

Nancy Golden currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for SPS, with Steve Barrett as Deputy Superintendent. A five-member school board composed of elected community members governs SPS. The current SPS School Board members are: Laurie Adams, Jonathan Light, Al King, Garry Weber and Bill Medford.

Our vision: Schools and community engaging students in learning.
Our mission: Assure success for all students by providing a quality education guided by the community with excellent teaching, staff support, and leadership.
Core beliefs: As a District, we are focused on making sure our students succeed academically as well as obtaining the knowledge, skills and experiences identified by our community as vital to the success of all students. We believe that the schools belong to the community and the community belongs to the schools. Investment in Springfield schools is investment in Springfield’s future. By educating every aspect of the student, we aim to foster life-long learning even after graduation.

Programs unique to SPS

Gateways Learning Center is an alternative-learning center designed for students who are experiencing difficulty in a traditional middle/high school setting.
The Academy of Arts & Academics (A3) is a small academically rigorous high school with an emphasis on the arts. Teachers work to integrate students’ skills and talent in media & theatre arts into all curriculum areas. A3 is scheduled to open in Sep. 2006.
The S.T.A.R.T.T. initiative provides each student and teacher at Springfield Middle School an iBook computer for teaching and learning 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Springfield Public Schools is excited to have the first public school in Oregon to rollout this innovative “one-to-one” program.

Springfield Public Schools is lucky to have a thriving relationship with the greater Springfield community. Business partnerships and community volunteers make this bond possible. For more information about enrolling in SPS or getting involved as a community member, please contact Jonnie Meyers at jmeyers@sps.lane.edu or 541·747·3331.

"We will hold the interests of children to be at the heart of all decisions."

525 Mill St.
Springfield, OR 97477
Ph: 541-747-3331
www.sps.lane.edu