Springfield Illinois Outline

Springfield, Illinois was first known as Sangamon County. Elisha Kelly’s family was the first Europeans to settle on the land, in 1820 (Springfield, Illinois). His brother John Kelly was the one who built the first cabin they lived in. In 1837, Springfield was appointed the new capital of Illinois. Now Springfield, Illinois is predominantly White Americans. According to Statistical Atlas (2015), 73.3 percent of the population is White, 19.2 percent is African American, 2.3 percent is Asian, 2.2 percent is Mixed (mixed race, non- Hispanic), 2.1 percent is Hispanic, and 0.5 percent is other. Majority of Springfield’s development have been influenced by whites, however, that is not the only racial group that has influenced Springfield. Springfield’s

This history has shaped the culture and environment. The Mason-Dixie line ran through Mid-Central Illinois. My hometown Decatur, IL, was the first free town, which is 40 miles away from Springfield. Springfield is the place where the Race Riot of 1908 occurred. The horrific acts of violence is what led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (Oldest and Boldest, 2017). The NAACP was created to the end the injustice in political, social, economic, and educational institutions for minorities. Even though the event was horrible, without this riot the formation of the NAACP could’ve taken even more years to form. Following the founding on the NAACP, it is continually growing with the goal to stop

The horseshoes is one of Springfield’s signature dishes, it was created in late 1920s by Chef Joe Schweska (Horseshoe Sandwich Recipe and History). His wife Elizabeth influenced him and the development of horseshoe was established. This sandwich has transformed over time, today it is now served with two pieces of bread, either ham steak or hamburger patties, with the cheese sauce poured over the fries that are on top of the sandwich. Springfield is not only the house to lunch or dinner but also dessert. Pease’s is Springfield’s oldest candy store, which have be up and running since Lincoln. It moved from Bloomington to Springfield in the 1930s, most of the originally candy recipes are still being used today (Generations of Quality). Today Pease’s is located under the roof of another legacy. BUNN Gourmet was opened by Jacob Bunn in 1840, it was one of Springfield’s first retail grocery stores (Generations of Quality). Legacies being passed from generations to generations is helping to continue the growth in business and