Springfield, Virginia

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

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 25.4 km˛ (9.8 mi˛). 25.3 km˛ (9.8 mi˛) of it is land and 0.1 km˛ (0.04 mi˛) 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.

Culture

Springfield is also well-known throughout the area for Fischer's Hardware, a large local hardware store with an almost anachronistic atmosphere that thrives by providing ubiquitous and highly knowledgeable customer service, informal referral relationships with other stores. A well known restaurant is Mike's American Grill behind Springfield Plaza.

Currently (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 Rd / Franconia Rd)) 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. Springfield Mall is particularly popular with teenagers and the local Hispanic community.

In recent years, the mall has fallen behind other area malls in aesthetics. The mall experienced two gang-related stabbings in 2005 and has seen other violent crimes over the years.[3]

One of Springfield's premier hotspots is Jaxx Nightclub on Rolling Road and Old Keene Mill. Jaxx hosts a variety of musical talent, from superstars to local bands and draws crowds from all over Virginia, DC and Maryland. Parking is pretty slim, though.

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.

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