#1Scientists and doctors stand out among the 41 famous people born in Springfield
Andre Iguodala, the American basketball player, is the most widely known, written about in 42 languages. Second and third on the list are Robert Todd Lincoln and Seth Barnes Nicholson. The largest group, 16, was born between 1920 and 1969. Over 172 years of births, the list goes from William Jayne (1826) to Albert Okwuegbunam (1998).
What stands out about Springfield’s famous people
What Springfield is known for
Compared with the usual town, scientists and doctors are the most over-represented field, at 2.9 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
When Springfield’s famous people were born
The busiest decade was the 1960s, with 5 births.
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Born in Springfield
Andre Iguodala leads with articles in 42 languages, ahead of Robert Todd Lincoln (35) and Seth Barnes Nicholson (32).
#1
#2Robert Todd Lincoln
1843–1926Union Army officer, U.S. ambassador, and Secretary of War
#3Seth Barnes Nicholson
1891–1963American astronomer
Everyone else born in Springfield
The rest number 38, with 15 athletes among them.



Susan Nolen-Hoeksema
1959–2013Professor of Psychology at Yale University
No one matches both filters.
Also called Springfield home
One more notable person made the town home: Abraham Lincoln.

Who’s the most famous person from Springfield?
Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Be the first to say who Springfield’s most famous person is.
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, 1 have famous names listed.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Springfield and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (8)
- Andre Iguodala: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Todd Lincoln: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Seth Barnes Nicholson: Los Angeles Times, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Vachel Lindsay: Victor George, Springfield, Illinois, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- June Christy: William P. Gottlieb, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ryan Held: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil, CC BY 3.0 br, Wikimedia Commons
- Abraham Lincoln: Alexander Gardner, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Daniel Helm: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Maxwell Daigle, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
