Covering an area of little less than 16 square miles, Springfield is located in the Southern Willamette Valley in the state of Oregon. Originally inhabited by the Kalapuya people, the first European American settlers started staking claims in the area in 1847. The following year, the Briggs family arrived in the area, and the settlement took hold. The city developed quickly and was incorporated in 1885. Springfield received its name because of a natural spring that was located in a field that is now found within the city limits.

Springfield's first schoolhouse was built in 1854 and was served by Miss Agnes Stewart, who was originally from Pennsylvania. This school remained open until the 1880s when it was replaced by two other schoolhouses which were better built. Today, the second largest employer in the city is the Springfield School District, with 1,380 employees.

The first church in Springfield was the McKenzie Forks Baptist Church, which moved to the city in 1869 where it became known as the First Baptist Church. When Springfield became incorporated in 1885, Albert Walker became its first mayor.

Springfield is a city that gained popularity due to it being the setting for the fictional city in The Simpsons, which was confirmed by the creator of the show in 2012. Some of Springfield's most notable personalities are Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, Bill Dellinger, an Olympic athlete, and novelist Dave Wolverton.