Incorporated in 1819, Springfield is a historic, economically, and racially diverse community. Springfield is located 30 miles to the north, just a 30-minute commute, to downtown Nashville, the state capital and "Music City U.S.A." Springfield is the county seat of Robertson County, one of the largest agricultural producing counties in the State of Tennessee. The city encompasses 13.1 square miles and serves a population of nearly 19,000 residents. The Robertson County Courthouse is located on The Square, the city’s original downtown commercial district. The Square, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a charming community center bordered by aesthetically pleasing older buildings, most of which were constructed in the 19th century.
Springfield is home to:
- The Legacy Golf Course, a Raymond Floyd Signature Course managed by Cornerstone Golf Partners, one of the best public golf courses in Tennessee.
- Springfield-Robertson County Regional Airport which has earned a state-wide reputation as a quality general aviation facility.
- Robertson County Fair Association, offering 150+ years of family & fair traditions
- 240 acres of parks, splash pad, tennis courts, tennis wall, dog park, sports fields, disc golf, trails, and greenway.
- Local dining – locally owned food & beverage options:
- Deja Moo Creamery & Coffee - breakfast, lunch, ice cream and coffee
- The Depot Bar & Grill
- BS Brew Works - locally brewed beer and easy eats
- Mystic Picnic Whiskey & Wine Bar - 21+ offering a unique curated food and beverage menu
- Public House - chef-driven menu in a casual gastropub setting
- South Side Drug Store Fountain - offering a healthy spin on the classics
- Historic Perk Coffee & Tea Café offering breakfast and lunch
- Galbiya Authentic Asian & Korean
- Torino’s Greek & Italian Restaurant
- Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
- Dixie Maid Café
- Gena's Sweet Treats
- Hidden Heroes Sub Shop
- Douglas & Co.
- China One
- Kofee Broz
- Suter's Sweet Treats
- The Catfish House
- Fortune Village Chinese
- Willie Mae’s BBQ
- Larry’s Restaurant
- La Michoacana - palateria, homemade ice cream and bakery
- JI Baldwin & Son Pit Barbecue
- Greek Style Gyro
- Donut Palace
- Vallarta Mexican Restaurant
- Tacqueria Huatulco
- Backroads Bar & Grill
- El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant
- Mami Panchi Grill Central American & Mexican Restaurant
- El Vaquero
- El Alteno Mexican Restaurant
- Angelo’s Trattoria Pizzeria
- Local Experiences:
- 504 Climb - indoor rock climbing gym on the square in downtown Springfield
- Trivia Tuesdays at BS Brew Works
- Live music every Saturday at BS Brew Works
- Bingo with Bob on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at BS Brew Works
- Springfield Songs & Stories - 2nd Thursday monthly songwriter's event at BS Brew Works
- Live music every Thursday at Willie Mae's BBQ
- Robertson County Fair, celebrating its 156th year in 2023, held annually in September
- International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) Rafter M Rodeo - held annually in July
- Southern Nationals Truck and Tractor Pull, held annually in September
- International Observe the Moon Night, October 21, 2023, join Gateway STEM Center and NASA Ambassadors for moon viewing, moon themed art activities, moon themed book reading+giveaway, telescopic moon and galaxy viewing, and a showing of "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial" on a giant inflatable movie screen. Food trucks will be onsite.
- Sunday Cinema Brunch at Mystic Picnic (21+) - held weekly on Sundays, reservations required
- Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning - ongoing arts and humanities classes plus two festivals: Art in the Park, a juried art vendor showcase hosted at J. Travis Price Park, held annually in September and ArtFest, a multicultural art and humanities experience hosted annually in May at the Springfield Civic Center.
- Thursday Family Nights at Deja Moo Coffee and Creamery
- 1st Friday Night Market - free monthly festival offering live music, 80+ vendors, kids' zone, specialty vehicle cruise-in
- Goat Yoga - Nashville Goat Yoga calls Springfield, TN home!
- Annual Freedom Fest Celebration - free event with live music, carnival and vendors
- Shade Tree Farm & Apple Orchard - apple picking, blueberry picking, farm store offering seasonal variety
- Holistic Fluidity Yoga Studio on the square in downtown Springfield
- Red River Farms - annual Sunflower Festival
- Hancock Farm - farm store offering seasonal variety, plus donuts and soft serve
- Head's Farm - farm store offering seasonal variety plus a u-pick strawberry patch and ice cream
- Honeysuckle Hill Farm - annual Fall Festival offering 200+acres of attractions and activities opens late September through October 31
- Vietnam Veteran's Day Orange Heart Memorial Celebration - held annually on March 29, Vietnam Veteran's Day
- Breakaway Ranch Horse Farm
- Robertson County History Museum
- Elmwood Cemetery, offering 30 acres of rolling hills and large trees and annually in June, the Robertson County Historical Society hosts an Evening in Elmwood, dinner and a show with actors in period costumes telling stories from times past
- Antique Shoppes: Springfield Antique Barn, Pappy's Knives and Antiques, Doc's Architectural Salvage, Ms. Rhonda's Antiques
- The Stokes Brown Public Library - numerous free family events, activities, and field trips
- Bell Witch Fall Festival - live performances of Red River Tales, SMOKE: A Ballad of the Night Riders, and SPIRIT: The Authentic Story of The Bell Witch - September 24 thru October 28, 2023
- Holiday Season:
- October 31, 2023: Trick or Treat on the square in downtown Springfield
- November 4-5, 2023: The Christmas Sampler
- November 18, 2023: Christmas on the Square Holiday Market
- November 25, 2023: Shop Small Saturday
- December 2, 2023: Springfield Christmas Parade+opening night of Winter Wonderland
- December 2 - December 23, 2023: Winter Wonderland the free fascinating holiday light display at J. Travis Price Park
- December 7, 8, 14, 21, 2023: Free horse-drawn carriage rides around the square in downtown Springfield
Other points of interest:
- Orange Heart Memorial, national monument
- The Robertson County Family YMCA, offering year-round swimming with an indoor and outdoor pool, exercise classes, and state-of-the-art wellness equipment
- The University of Tennessee Highland Rim Research and Education Center
- Highland Crest College Campus for Volunteer State Community College & Austin Peay State University
Brief History of Springfield, TN:
Tennessee was known as the western territory of North Carolina at the time of Thomas Kilgore’s arrival; arriving in 1778, Kilgore was the first European settler in Robertson County and founder of Cross Plains, Tennessee. The area that is Robertson County today later became a part of Tennessee County, one of three counties in the Metro District of North Carolina. At the time of statehood in 1796, Tennessee County was divided into Montgomery and Robertson counties. The first General Assembly of Tennessee authorized a county seat for Robertson County by the name of Springfield in 1796. The town was established in 1798, but it was not incorporated until 1819. The original plan for Springfield incorporated 50 acres and provided for a public square, 10 streets, and 66 lots to be sold to the public at the price of $8 each.
During the Civil War, Robertson County men enlisted in the armed forces of the Confederacy and fought at many major battles. Springfield and Robertson County, however, were occupied by Union forces early in the war and remained so until the end of the conflict. The First Presbyterian Church sanctuary, built in 1839, was used as a stable by the Union cavalry. To this day horseshoe gouges can be seen on the original sanctuary floor.
Since 1979, The Springfield Town Square, including the Robertson County Courthouse and surrounding buildings on South Locust, 5th Avenue West, 6th Avenue, 7th Avenue East, West Court Square, and South Main Street, has been listed as an official location on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic buildings on The Springfield Town Square are now home to locally owned and operated restaurants, specialty shops, downtown residential living, history museum, and professional offices.
Since 1998, the Robertson County History Museum, operated by the Robertson County Historical Society, has been located in the "Old Post Office" Building on The Springfield Town Square, at 124 Sixth Avenue. The chief purpose of the museum is to collect and preserve items of historical importance to Robertson County, TN. The museum provides educational and entertaining exhibits, programs and activities for persons of all ages. In 2022, the Robertson County History Museum was featured on “Tennessee Crossroads”. To watch the video Robertson County History Museum | Tennessee Crossroads | NPT
The Springfield Historic Preservation District is an attractive and walkable residential area of historic homes that adjoin The Springfield Town Square and the Greenway. Boasting nearly 200 homes and buildings, Springfield’s Historic Preservation District seeks to maintain the historical significance of our beloved past through these incredibly constructed and well-preserved residential homes.
Springfield has served for nearly two centuries as a commercial center for the large agricultural region that surrounds it. The soil and climate of the region are ideally suited to the cultivation of dark-fired tobacco. This crop has had a major economic, social and cultural influence on Springfield and Robertson County since the early 19th century. Robertson County was the 7th largest tobacco producing county in the United States by the year 1890 with a total production of nearly 9,000,000 pounds. Robertson County still remains one of the nation’s largest tobacco producers. Springfield and Robertson County have become known as the "Home of the World’s Finest Dark Fired Tobacco."
In addition to being Tennessee’s leading tobacco growing county, Robertson County is among the top 5 counties in the production of wheat, corn, and hay. The county is ranked among the top 10 counties in the production of soybeans and among the top 12 counties in both beef cattle and dairy cattle.
