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by Nancy Einreinhofer (Author), Suzanne Goodrich (Author)
Dutch traders came up the Hudson River in the mid-1600s to explore the area now known as central New York, including the region that would become the town of Springfield in 1797. In 1778, during the Revolutionary War, Springfield and the surrounding settlements were burned by Joseph Brant. As a result, George Washington ordered the Clinton-Sullivan Campaign to break the power of the Iroquois Six Nations. When the Great Western Turnpike (now US Route 20) was extended westward in 1808, Springfield, a farming community, developed more businesses to accommodate a growing population. By the mid-1800s, hops had become a major industry, and many Springfield farmers grew them until a blight destroyed the crops in 1913. After 1920, dairy farming increased as a result of improved technology in cooling and shipping. Today, Springfield offers many attractions, including Glimmerglass State Park on Otsego Lake, Glimmerglass Music Festival, and the second-oldest Fourth of July parade in the nation.
