Springfield, Illinois

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/springfield-illinois

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Springfield, Illinois?Central Illinois, USA, situated on a plain near the Sangamon River
2. How many people live in Springfield, Illinois?114,394 (city, 2020 census); 208,000 (Springfield metropolitan area)
3. What language do people speak in Springfield, Illinois?English
4. When was Springfield, Illinois built?Settled by European-Americans in the late 1810s
5. What is Springfield, Illinois known for?Abraham Lincoln's former residence and extensive presidential historical sites
6. Why is Springfield called the center of Illinois?It was chosen as the capital because it sits in the geographic center of the state, making it easy for people from all over Illinois to reach.

Illinois General Assembly: The bicameral legislature of the state of Illinois, responsible for creating and passing laws.
Prairie: A large, open grassland ecosystem characterized by grasses as the dominant vegetation.
Route 66: A historic highway in the United States, often called the 'Main Street of America', passing through Springfield.
Metropolitan Area: A region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing.