Springfield, the capital city of Illinois, was founded on April 10, 1821!

The first European settlers began arriving in 1818 as the area became more prominent because of its proximity to the Sangamon River.

John Kelly, the first recorded settler, built a cabin in 1820 near the Sangamon River, which is presently the corner of Second and Jefferson Streets.

The original name of Springfield was Calhoun, after U.S. Senator and Vice President John C. Calhoun of South Carolina due to favor he gained from the public.

In 1821, several individuals came together to form the new town near Kelly’s land. Calhoun became the county seat of Sangamon County due to the location, fertile soil from the river, trading opportunities and growing popularity. Settlers from other states such as Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina also came to the developing settlement.

Calhoun would later become Springfield in 1832 due to John C. Calhoun losing his favorable popularity. The name Springfield came from Kelly’s wife, who took the name from Spring Creek – a tributary of the Sangamon River. The creek flowed through an area referred to as “Kelly’s Field.”

Springfield was designated as Illinois’ state capital in 1837.