# Search for the real Simpsons Springfield **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679 "2007-03-12T23:32:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/1 "2007-03-12T23:32:46Z")
The search for the real Springfield is on. [http://www.nbc10.com/entertainment/11211990/detail.html?rss=phi&psp=entertainment](http://www.nbc10.com/entertainment/11211990/detail.html?rss=phi&psp=entertainment) New England has three; Mass, NH, VT. Could we possibly get to host the movie premiere? I just assumed it was somewhere in the midwest. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/2 "2007-03-12T23:37:35Z")
Springfield, like Podunk and Atlantis, has no locus. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/3 "2007-03-12T23:38:19Z")
I’d say Springfield, OR, in Goening’s home state, is the front-runner. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/4 "2007-03-12T23:43:41Z")
It’s not which Springfield is the real Springfield (we’ll never know- the trailer for the movie has a joke in which Flanders points out the four states which border Springfield- none of which border each other in real life). It’s which Springfield has most in common with the hometown of the Simpsons. According to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, there are 34 states with Springfields in them. I agree that Oregon’s Springfield has the biggest _Simpsons_ link, as not only did Groening actually grow up there, many of the character names are taken from streets and locales around Springfield. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/5 "2007-03-13T00:03:47Z")
Yes. I should have said “front-runner _to hold the premiere_.” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/6 "2007-03-13T00:36:16Z")
[This article](http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/109602.asp) appeared in the Springfield [Illinois] State-Journal Register a couple of days ago, making the case for Springfield, IL. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/7 "2007-03-13T01:34:06Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] According to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, there are 34 states with Springfields in them. [/QUOTE] Teach me to trust the morning radio guy, who said there were 16. I guess he meant there are 16 that don’t have Springfields. What is it, Opposite Day? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/8 "2007-03-13T01:48:08Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Teach me to trust the morning radio guy, who said there were 16. I guess he meant there are 16 that don’t have Springfields. What is it, Opposite Day? :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] **Thudlow Boink** ’s link indicates that 16 were invited to compete for the opening, perhaps that’s where the figure came from. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/9 "2007-03-13T03:45:05Z")
I’m definitely going with Springfield Oregon. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/10 "2007-03-13T13:55:53Z")
I recently went to Springfield, Ohio for the first time last fall. It was an amusing place. I met all sorts of weird characters in my short time there. I would be excited if they got it 🙂 But, you guys are right about Oregon. That seems like the best fit. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/11 "2007-03-13T14:20:45Z")
Marge nearly admitted that they lived in Springfield Ohio. She was giving her adress on the phone - she said the city after which she began to say Ohio, but at the last second it turned into Oh, hiya Mom! as her mom walked in. That tricky Groening. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/12 "2007-03-13T14:54:03Z")
That’s “Oh, hiya Maude”- it was Maude Flanders. According to Wikipedia, the founders of Portland, Ore. (one of whom was named Lovejoy), had a dispute similar to the one that lead to a falling out between Jebediah Springfield and Shelbyville Manhattan, leading to the founding of Shelbyville and the eternal rivalry between the burgs. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/13 "2007-03-13T19:20:45Z")
Springfield Oregon is next to the higher class Eugene Oregon. Springfield Simpsons is next to the higher class Shelbyville. The Eugene baseball team is called the Emeralds. The Shelbyville baseball team is called the Em’s. At least thats what I heard. I’m a bit biased living in Eugene and all. There is no Evergreen Terrace in Sprinfield OR. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/14 "2007-03-13T19:38:13Z")
No, but Matt Groening did go to the Evergreen State College. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/15 "2007-03-13T19:49:49Z")
Well, there would have to be mountains nearby, right? When homer tried to climb the peak (no, not that one - THAT one.) they made it seem like the mountain range was visible from the city. And, if memory serves, Lisa made a comment that one could figure out where Springfield was if they took into consideration _all_ the clues. Did I really hear that? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/16 "2007-03-13T19:59:50Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] The Shelbyville baseball team is called the Em’s. [/QUOTE] I remember a Shelbyville Shelbyvillians baseball team and a Shelbyville Sharks football team, but no Em’s. > [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > And, if memory serves, Lisa made a comment that one could figure out where Springfield was if they took into consideration all the clues. Did I really hear that? Yes, that was good teasing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/17 "2007-03-13T20:22:44Z")
[QUOTE=Christopher] …There is no Evergreen Terrace in Sprinfield OR. [/QUOTE] And Springfieldians have been shown to pump their own gas. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/18 "2007-03-13T20:30:10Z")
> [@](#): > > I remember a Shelbyville Shelbyvillians baseball team and a Shelbyville Sharks football team, but no Em’s. Ok well thats just what I was told. I said my info was biased. Thanks for not letting the ignorance go. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/19 "2007-03-13T20:52:56Z")
The Simpsons’ Springfield is a port city on an ocean. None of the leading contenders are, AFAIK. This [wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield%27s_state) goes into exhaustive detail on all the possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679/20 "2007-03-13T21:06:32Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Springfield, like Podunk and Atlantis, has no locus. [/QUOTE] _Au contraire_! Podunk is “an unincorporated area in East Brookfield, Massachusetts.” Or so says a certain [site…](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podunk) My money is on Springfield, Ohio, which to me has a very Simpsonian feel. No nuclear reactor to my knowledge, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-for-the-real-simpsons-springfield/395679.md?page=2)