The City population increased 7.9 percent to 151,580 from 1990 to 2000; the area of the City has grown 5.7 percent to 74.79 square miles. The Springfield MSA (Greene, Christian, Webster counties) is 1,836 square miles and grew 23.2 percent - a faster rate than either Springfield or Greene County. Minority population grew significantly; Black population grew 40.7 percent in the City; Asian population grew 63 percent; Native American 21.6 percent; Hispanic origin 161.5 percent.

The median age is 33.5 in Springfield, lower than the county (35.1), state (36.1) or nation (35.3). Two areas of population growth include institutional population in correctional institutions, nursing homes, juvenile institutions and in "other group quarters" such as dorms, military, emergency shelters.

Total number of households in the City grew 12.8 percent from 1990 to 2000, while the average household size continues to fall. The number of one-person households grew 26.1 percent and now comprise 35.3 percent of all households, up from 31.5 percent in 1990; households with children under 18 grew 5.9 percent to 26.2 percent. Those with people 65 or over grew 4.9 percent for 24.2 percent of all households. The number of housing units grew 11.5 percent to 69,650. Owner-occupied units grew 9 percent in the City, but decreased slightly as a percentage of all units; renter occupied units grew 17.5 percent in the City.