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 & drink options:
- The Depot Bar & Grill
- Etta Rae’s - Southern Chic
- BS Brew Works - locally brewed beer and easy eats
- Mystic Picnic Whiskey & Wine Bar
- Born & Raised Market - perfect for lunch and shopping for healthy eats and treats
- Grain & Honey Bake Shop
- South Side Drug Store Fountain - offering a healthy spin on the classics
- Historic Perk Coffee & Tea Café
- Public House
- Galbiya Authentic Asian & Korean
- Torino’s Greek & Italian Restaurant
- Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
- Dixie Maid Café
- Kofee Broz
- The Catfish House
- Fortune Village Chinese
- Willie Mae’s BBQ
- Larry’s Restaurant
- JI Baldwin & Son Pit Barbecue
- Greek Style Gyro
- Donut Palace
- Backroads Bar & Grill
- El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant
- Tony’s Bar & Grill
- Mami Panchi Grill Central American & Mexican Restaurant
- El Vaquero
- Bink’s Bar & Grill
- El Alteno Mexican Restaurant
- Angelo’s Trattoria Pizzeria
- Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning
- Caleb Woodard Furniture
- Chappell Acres of Coopertown
- Red River Farms
- Woodall’s Strawberry Farm
- Honeysuckle Hill Farm
- Breakaway Ranch Horse Farm
- Robertson County History Museum
- Elmwood Cemetery, offering 30 acres of rolling hills and large trees
- Antique Shoppes: Springfield Antique Barn, Vintage Whimsy, Doc's Architectural Salvage
- 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.
- The Stokes Brown Public Library.
- 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.
