Springfield, Virginia

[[File:2019-05-29 14 42 58 View north along Interstate 95 (Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway) at Exit 169 (Virginia State Route 644, Franconia, Springfield) in Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia.jpg|thumb|VA State Route 644 Exit 169 on to Old Keene Mill Rd toward Springfield]]

[[File:2019-05-29 14 42 58 View north along Interstate 95 (Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway) at Exit 169 (Virginia State Route 644, Franconia, Springfield) in Springfield, Fairfax County, Virginia.jpg|thumb|VA State Route 644 Exit 169 on to Old Keene Mill Rd toward Springfield]]

Springfield takes its name from Springfield Farm, an estate owned by Henry Daingerfield, a prominent [[19th century|19th-century]] [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] businessman and early director of [[Orange and Alexandria Railroad|the Orange and Alexandria Railroad]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[JJ Prats]] |title=Springfield Station|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=156|publisher=HistoricalMarkerDatabaseHMdb}}</ref> The name Springfield Farm likely followed a common naming practice in the old South and Midwest where landowners often named their properties after geographical features such as in this case a "spring" referring to a natural water source, and a "field" in reference to open land. The geographic area of present day Springfield was abundant with these land features.<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[Bradley Peniston]] |title=History Of Backlick/Springfield |url=https://www.vre.org/blog-history-of-backlickspringfield/ |publisher=VirginiaRailwayExpressVRE}}</ref>

Springfield takes its name from Springfield Farm, an estate owned by Henry Daingerfield, a prominent [[19th century|19th-century]] [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] businessman and early director of [[Orange and Alexandria Railroad|the Orange and Alexandria Railroad]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[JJ Prats]] |title=Springfield Station|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=156|publisher=HistoricalMarkerDatabaseHMdb}}</ref> The name Springfield Farm likely followed a common naming practice in the old South and Midwest where landowners often named their properties after geographical features such as in this case a "spring" referring to a natural water source, and a "field" in reference to open land. The geographic area of present day Springfield was abundant with these land features.<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[Bradley Peniston]] |title=History Of Backlick/Springfield |url=https://www.vre.org/blog-history-of-backlickspringfield/ |publisher=VirginiaRailwayExpressVRE}}</ref>

While the name "Springfield" can vary as seen by the 34 other Springfield named cities in the [[United States]], its use here is more directly tied to the name of a specific property (Springfield Farms) with history, rather than solely being based on geographic features which distinguishes it from similarly named towns. Over time as roads, railways, and suburban infrastructure expanded, the name came to reflect not just a [[farm]] but a growing residential and commercial area in [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[Bill Burns]] |title=Springfield VA (Zip Code) |url=https://springfield.ftldesign.com/|publisher=FTLDesigns}}</ref>

While the name "Springfield" can vary as seen by the 34 other Springfield named cities in the [[United States]], its use here is more directly tied to the name of a specific property (Springfield Farms) with history, rather than solely being based on geographic features which distinguishes it from similarly named towns. Over time as roads, railways, and suburban infrastructure expanded, the name came to reflect not just a [[farm]] but a growing residential and commercial area in [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by Bill Burns |title=Springfield VA (Zip Code) |url=https://springfield.ftldesign.com/|publisher=FTLDesigns}}</ref>

[[File:Fairfax County Map.png|thumb|Map of Springfield, VA / Fairfax County]]

[[File:Fairfax County Map.png|thumb|Map of Springfield, VA / Fairfax County]]

Despite being a defined [[Census-designated place|census designated place]], "Springfield" encompasses adjacent communities and commercial centers that share mailing addresses, infrastructure, and [[ZIP Code|ZIP codes]] like 22150, 22151, and 22152. These communities include [[North Springfield, Virginia|North Springfield]], [[Kings Park, Virginia|Kings Park]], [[Newington, Virginia|Newington]], [[Ravensworth, Virginia|Ravensworth]] and [[West Springfield, Virginia|West Springfield]]. Its origin tied to both private landholding and railroad expansion reflects the typical evolution of many modern [[Suburbanization|American suburbs]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[UnitedStatesPostalService]] |title=Springfield VA (Zip Code) |url=https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/ |publisher=UnitedStatesZipCodes}}</ref>

Despite being a defined [[Census-designated place|census designated place]], "Springfield" encompasses adjacent communities and commercial centers that share mailing addresses, infrastructure, and [[ZIP Code|ZIP codes]] like 22150, 22151, and 22152. These communities include [[North Springfield, Virginia|North Springfield]], [[Kings Park, Virginia|Kings Park]], [[Newington, Virginia|Newington]], [[Ravensworth, Virginia|Ravensworth]] and [[West Springfield, Virginia|West Springfield]]. Its origin tied to both private landholding and railroad expansion reflects the typical evolution of many modern [[Suburbanization|American suburbs]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Contributed by [[UnitedStatesPostalService]] |title=Springfield VA (Zip Code) |url=https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/ |publisher=UnitedStatesZipCodes}}</ref>