Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Area includes southeastern Greene County, southwestern Webster County, northern Christian County, southern Dallas County, and southern Polk County. It is centered around the city of Springfield, third largest city in Missouri. The metro area includes the cities below as well as two large unincorporated areas between Springfield and Rogersville and to the southwest side of Springfield. Currently, the city limits of Springfield reach the Ozark City limits at the Christian County line on US 65, the city limits of Republic at James River Freeway on the southwest side of the city, and the Strafford city limits on MO 744 on the northeast side of the city. The current population for the entire area is over 390,000.
Springfield has been reaching agreements with neighboring communities on mutual barriers of expansion in order to reduce future conflict. Nearly all of the communities have been expanding with numerous, yet small, voluntary annexations happening on a constant basis.
[edit] Cities
The following cities make up the Springfield Metropolitan Area
- Springfield
- Battlefield
- Brookline (now part of Republic)
- Fair Grove
- Nixa
- Ozark
- Republic
- Rogersville
- Strafford
- Willard
Additionally, the following unincorporated communities are in the metropolitan area:
[edit] Highways in the area
- Interstate 44 - north side of Springfield, connects Springfield with St. Louis (east) and Joplin and Tulsa, Oklahoma (west)
- U.S. Route 60 - a four-lane divided highway from Republic to James River Freeway and from US 65 to east of Rogersville, becomes part of James River Freeway on the south side of Springfield
- U.S. Route 65 - a freeway (officially the Schoolcraft Freeway in Springfield proper) on the east side of Springfield from north of I-44 to south of Ozark
- U.S. Route 160 a two-lane highway between Willard and Springfield, joins James River Freeway on the southwest side of Springfield, becomes a four-lane divided highway at Campbell Avenue to Nixa
- Missouri State Highway 13 - connects Springfield with Kansas City, becomes Kansas Expressway in Springfield, then joins James River Freeway to Campbell Avenue, and joins US 160 through Nixa
- Missouri State Highway 14 - a two-lane highway which connects Ozark and Nixa
- Missouri State Highway 125 - a two-lane highway between Strafford and Rogersville
- Missouri State Highway 360 - a section of James River Freeway from US 60 to I-44 west of Springfield
- Missouri State Highway 413 - a four-lane highway joined with US 60 from Republic to James River Freeway, continues north and east into Springfield as Sunshine Street
- Missouri State Highway 744 - Kearney Street in Springfield
- Historic U.S. Route 66 passes through the Springfield area. It enters the area through Strafford, and follows Kearney Street, Glenstone Avenue, St. Louis Street, College Street, and Chestnut Expressway in Springfield. It continues west down Missouri State Highway 266 west of Springfield.
[edit] Future plans
Future plans include extending Kansas Expressway further south to Nixa as a four-lane county road and another expressway running near the county line (plans not completed) from Battlefield to US 65 at Evans Road.
