Like Grandview and Jerome, the village of Southern View, which abuts Springfield’s south side, was formed so the village could obtain water from the city of Springfield.
Founded: Southern View residents voted 117 to 30 in 1939 to incorporate in order to create a water system; the official incorporation date was July 17, 1939. The first village president was Minor Clark.
Street lights were installed in 1957. The lights and an early paving program were financed by a 5 percent village utility tax.
Southern View Community Park was constructed in 1986.
Today: Southern View, accessible off Springfield’s South Sixth Street, had a population of 1,642 in 2010.
More information: See Village Clerk Margie Mazzini’s booklet done for the 50th anniversary of Southern View in 1989, available in the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library.
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