Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri and the commercial hub of the Ozarks region. Once called "the Queen City of the Ozarks," it has a solid quality of life and a compact downtown with good restaurants and a growing arts scene. Missouri State University and Drury University both have campuses here, giving the city a younger energy than its size might suggest.
Brad Pitt grew up in Springfield. Bass Pro Shops, one of the largest outdoor retail chains in the United States, was founded here and its flagship store — inside a building that resembles a massive log cabin — is itself a popular attraction.