Springfield, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Springfield is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Within Springfield are three census-designated places: Springfield CDP, West Springfield CDP, and North Springfield CDP (plus a substantial portion of Newington CDP), though all are officially titled Springfield by the United States Postal Service.

The Springfield CDP is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau with a community population was 30,417 as of the 2000 census.

According to USPS, Springfield has four zip codes:

22150 (often unofficially referred to as "Central Springfield")
22151 ("North Springfield" is also an acceptable title)
22152 ("West Springfield" is also an acceptable title)
22153

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Culture
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Springfield is located at 38°47′19″N, 77°10′46″W (38.788713, -77.179363)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 25.4 km² (9.8 mi²). 25.3 km² (9.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.31%) is water.

The area is centered around the interchange of I-95, I-395, and the Capital Beltway, known as the Springfield Interchange. This massive highway complex has been undergoing reconstruction and expansion for the past several years.^[1] A significant commercial district exists around the interchange area, although the rest of the community is primarily residential in character.

The following are total area, water area, and land area statistics (in square miles) for the four Springfield zip codes:^[2]

Zip code	Total area	Water area	Land area
22150	8.70 sq mi.	0.01 sq mi.	8.70 sq mi.
22151	5.28 sq mi.	0.17 sq mi.	5.11 sq mi.
22152	6.16 sq mi.	0.00 sq mi.	6.16 sq mi.
22153	8.36 sq mi.	0.06 sq mi.	8.30 sq mi.
Total	28.50 sq mi.	0.24 sq mi.	28.27 sq mi.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 30,417 people, 10,495 households, and 7,472 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,203.3/km² (3,117.9/mi²). There were 10,832 housing units at an average density of 428.5/km² (1,110.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 57.77% White, 8.95% African American, 0.30% Native American, 20.55% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 7.75% from other races, and 4.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.66% of the population.

There were 10,495 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.37.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $69,640, and the median income for a family was $73,903. Males had a median income of $45,679 versus $36,075 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,807. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

The zip code population totals are as follows:

22150 22,208
22151 16,587
22152 28,236
22153 33,177
Total 100,208

[edit] Culture

As of 2005, central Springfield is dominated by the over half-billion dollar Springfield Interchange highway project. The interchange is popularly known as The Mixing Bowl since it involves three interstates, has two exits less than a half mile away, has two unconnected roads (Commerce Street and VA-644 (Old Keene Mill Road / Franconia Road)) going over or under the interstates less than a half mile away, and is further complicated by the presence of a separate, reversible HOV lane passing through the center of two of the interstates.

Springfield's emblematic destination point is Springfield Mall, a large indoor shopping mall. It is typical of American shopping malls in its variety of stores, along with several "anchor" stores such as Macy's, two movie theaters, and a food court. The mall experienced two gang-related stabbings in 2005 and has seen other violent crimes over the years.[1] As of Spring 2007, the mall appears to be experiencing an increasing vacancy rate, although the strip centers around it continue to attract big-box retailers and restaurants. Some of this decline could be related to Springfield's proximity to the Potomac Mills development ten miles south on I-95, though it's likely related to the degradation of surrounding neighborhoods, demographic shifts in the customer base, and the aforementioned gang activity.

Springfield remains a conservative stronghold in increasingly left-leaning Northern Virginia. This may be due in part to the prevalence of military families living near Fort Belvoir and The Pentagon and the highly commercial nature of the area.