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'''Springfield''' is the [[Fictional location|fictional city]] in which the [[animation|animated]] [[United States|American]] [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[The Simpsons]]'' is set. Springfield is a large city in an [[Springfield's state|unspecified state]] near a large body of water. The geography of Springfield and its surroundings is flexible, changing to address whatever an episode’s plot calls for. In the Simpson's universe, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine is said to have done a cover story on Springfield entitled "America's Worst City"; ''[[Newsweek]]'' is said to have characterized the city as "America's Crud Bucket".{{fact}}
'''Springfield''' is the [[Fictional location|fictional city]] in which the [[animation|animated]] [[United States|American]] [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[The Simpsons]]'' is set. Springfield is a large city in an [[Springfield's state|unspecified state]] near a large body of water. The geography of Springfield and its surroundings is flexible, changing to address whatever an episode’s plot calls for. In the Simpson's universe, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine is said to have done a cover story on Springfield entitled "America's Worst City"; ''[[Newsweek]]'' is said to have characterized the city as "America's Crud Bucket".{{fact}}


There are no geographical coordinates or consistent references to [[U.S. state]]s that might identify in which part of the country Springfield is located. The show's producers are intentionally deceptive in regard to Springfield's location{{fact}}, having hinted at and ruled out nearly every American state as the basis for the town's location.
There are no geographical coordinates or references to American states that might identify in which part of the country Springfield is located. The show is intentionally deceptive in regard to Springfield's location, having hinted at and ruled out nearly every American state as the basis for the town's location. The name Springfield was also intentionally chosen to be ambiguous, as there are over 30 towns and cities called Springfield in the United States.


The name Springfield was chosen by [[Matt Groening]], creator of ''The Simpsons'', as the setting for the show because it is one of the [[List of the most common U.S. place names|most common place-names in the United States]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6910174.stm ''Simpsons launch hits Springfield''] [[BBC News]] retrieved [[July 21]] [[2007]]</ref>
In a recent ''[[USA Today]]'' poll that tied in with the ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', the town of [[Springfield, Vermont]] was elected to host the movie's premiere.<ref>{{cite news|first=Clark|last=Cindy|title='The Simpsons Movie' Hometown Premiere Contest|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/simpsons-contest.htm|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=[[2007-07-10]]|accessdate=2007-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Carry|last=McGourty|coauthors=Jared Weiner|url=http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3359421&page=1|title=Peace, Granola and Now 'The Simpsons'|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=[[2007-07-10]]|accessdate=2007-07-10}}</ref> However this is not meant to imply that Springfield, VT is the actual city in which the show takes place, as a number of other Springfields competed to host the event.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6910174.stm ''Simpsons launch hits Springfield''] [[BBC News]] retrieved [[July 21]] [[2007]]</ref>


==History==
==History==
The following details are taken from ''The Simpsons'' [[fictional universe]], in the [[List of The Simpsons episodes|episodes cited]] inline.

===Colonial era===
===Colonial era===
[[Image:The Simpsons-Jebediah Springfield.png|right|thumb|178px|[[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Jebediah Springfield|Jebediah Springfield]], founder.]]
[[Image:The Simpsons-Jebediah Springfield.png|thumb|209px|left|[[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Jebediah Springfield|Jebediah Springfield]], founder.]]


Springfield was founded in [[1796]] by [[Maryland]] settlers trying to find a course to "New [[Sodom and Gomorrah|Sodom]]" after misinterpreting a passage in the [[Bible]]. In its early days, the city was the target of many [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] raids, and to this day, many forts and trading posts remain including Fort Springfield and Fort Sensible. It was also the site of two battles during the [[American Civil War]]. Of which, the first battle of Springfield was fought between the North, the South and the West, to keep Springfield in, out of and next to the Union respectively.
Springfield was founded in [[1796]] by [[Maryland]] settlers trying to find a course to "New [[Sodom and Gomorrah|Sodom]]" after misinterpreting a passage in the [[Bible]]. In its early days, the city was the target of many [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] raids, and to this day, many forts and trading posts remain including Fort Springfield and Fort Sensible. It was also the site of two battles during the [[American Civil War]]. Of which, the first battle of Springfield was fought between the North, the South and the West, to keep Springfield in, out of and next to the Union respectively.
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===Present day===
===Present day===
The town's name was changed temporarily to "Liberty-Ville" after [[Bart Simpson]] accidentally mooned the United States flag and Bart and his family appeared on a talk show where the host made it appear that the [[List of characters in The Simpsons#The Simpson family|Simpsons]], and Springfield, hate America, twisting the words of Bart's mother, [[Marge Simpson|Marge]]. When the rest of the U.S. reciprocated this loathing, Mayor [[Joe Quimby]] changed the name of Springfield to "Liberty-Ville". An enormous patriotic craze ensued, wherein all items were priced at $17.76, even houses.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Bart-Mangled Banner]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>
The town's name was changed temporarily to "Liberty-Ville" after [[Bart Simpson]] accidentally mooned the United States flag and Bart and his family appeared on a talk show where the host made it appear that the [[List of characters in The Simpsons#The Simpson family|Simpsons]], and Springfield, hate America, twisting the words of Bart's mother, [[Marge Simpson|Marge]]. When the rest of the U.S. reciprocated this loathing, Mayor [[Joe Quimby]] changed the name of Springfield to "Liberty-Ville". An enormous patriotic craze ensued, wherein all items were priced at $17.76, even houses.<ref>"[[Bart-Mangled Banner]]"</ref>


For a brief period, Springfield divided itself into two cities because of an area code dispute. [[Homer Simpson]], upset that he had to memorize a new area code, 939, while the rich side of town retained the familiar 636 area code, riled up the lower class citizens of Springfield to rebel and establish their side of Springfield as a separate town, to be called New Springfield. They erected a wall made of [[refuse]] dividing the two area codes and elected Homer as their new mayor. Mayor [[Joe Quimby]] maintained control of the rich side, which came to be called Olde Springfield. The two towns reunited when the band [[The Who]], while in Springfield for a concert, suggested speed dial to solve the town's problem and agreed to play if the wall was torn down.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[A Tale of Two Springfields]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>
For a brief period, Springfield divided itself into two cities because of an area code dispute. [[Homer Simpson]], upset that he had to memorize a new area code, 939, while the rich side of town retained the familiar 636 area code, riled up the lower class citizens of Springfield to rebel and establish their side of Springfield as a separate town, to be called New Springfield. They erected a wall made of [[refuse]] dividing the two area codes and elected Homer as their new mayor. Mayor [[Joe Quimby]] maintained control of the rich side, which came to be called Olde Springfield. The two towns reunited when the band [[The Who]], while in Springfield for a concert, suggested speed dial to solve the town's problem and agreed to play if the wall was torn down.<ref>"[[A Tale of Two Springfields]]"</ref>

At one point, [[Homer Simpson]] was elected as Sanitation Commissioner. After Homer spent the entire yearly budget in his first month of office, he was forced to take in the garbage of other cities in order to make enough money to pay the city's trash collectors. Eventually the mines that were storing the collected trash erupted and littered the entire city, prompting the entire city, population and structures, to literally move five miles down the road to establish a “new” Springfield away from the massive dump that “old” Springfield had become.<ref>"[[Trash of the Titans]]"</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
Springfield's geography includes forests, meadows, a mountain range, a desert, beaches, canyons, swamps, waterholes and waterways. Springfield is located on the coast of a large body of water. It has been stated that "West Springfield" is three times the size of Texas and looks exactly like Texas in shape.
The following details are taken from ''The Simpsons'' [[fictional universe]], in the [[List of The Simpsons episodes|episodes cited]] inline.


Major geographic features include Springfield Gorge, Springfield National Forest, Mt. Springfield, the Springfield Badlands (also known as the Alkali Flats), the Murderhorn, Springfield Glacier, Springfield Mesa and Mt. Carlmore. Geezer Rock was unwittingly destroyed by [[Homer Simpson]].
===Physical geography===
Springfield's geography includes forests, meadows, a mountain range, a desert, beaches, canyons, swamps, waterholes and waterways. Springfield is located on the coast of a large body of water. It has been stated{{who}} that "West Springfield" is three times the size of Texas and looks exactly like Texas in shape.

Major physical features include Springfield Gorge, Springfield National Forest, Mt. Springfield, the Springfield Badlands (also known{{Fact}} as the Alkali Flats), the Murderhorn, Springfield Glacier, Springfield Mesa and Mt. Carlmore. Geezer Rock was unwittingly destroyed by [[Homer Simpson]].


Springfield wildlife includes [[grizzly bear]]s in the Springfield Forest, [[wolves]], some of which prowl into the urban areas of Springfield, [[vulture]]s in the Alkali Flats, and [[manatee]]s south of Springfield in the waters.
Springfield wildlife includes [[grizzly bear]]s in the Springfield Forest, [[wolves]], some of which prowl into the urban areas of Springfield, [[vulture]]s in the Alkali Flats, and [[manatee]]s south of Springfield in the waters.


===Cityscape===
===Weather===
Springfield receives plenty of [[rain]], as well as heavy [[snow]]. Most of the time, however, the skies are blue and it's mostly sunny. Springfield has also been prone to severe heat waves and many natural disasters including [[earthquake]]s, [[hurricane]]s, [[tornado]]es and [[acid rain]].
[[Image:Simpbartoffice.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Springfield with skyscrapers downtown, as seen in ''The Simpsons Hit & Run''.]]
The city is divided into many neighborhoods, including: Bum Town, Chinatown, Crackton, East Springfield, Greek Town, Junkieville, Little Bangkok, Little Italy, Little Newark, Ethnictown, Lower Eastside, Pressboard Estates, Recluse Ranch Estates, Skid Row, Springfield Harbor, Springfield Heights, Springshire, Tibet Town, West Springfield, a flammable district, a gay district and a Russian district.


====Pollution====
In many episodes, the cityscape is changed. Skyline shots of the city vary from episode to episode and buildings change location.
According to the non-canon ''Are We There Yet? Guide to Springfield'' by ''The Simpsons'' creator [[Matt Groening]], visitors to Springfield are advised to constantly wear radiation suits and carry [[Geiger counter]]s, since the city is perhaps the most radioactive in the [[United States]]. This is because the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]] was built during an incredibly lax period for the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] and the plant's nuclear core was surrounded not by several layers of protective concrete, lead and graphite but by ordinary plaster and a horseshoe hanging from a nail.


Also, Springfield is home to the state's largest self-sustaining tire fire which has been burning continuously since [[1966]] or [[1989]] (depending on which episode is referenced). The smoke from the fire can be smelled in 46 other states.
===Pollution===
At one point, [[Homer Simpson]] was elected Sanitation Commissioner. After Homer spent the entire yearly budget in his first month of office, he was forced to take in the garbage of other cities in order to make enough money to pay the city's trash collectors. Eventually the mines that were storing the collected trash erupted and littered the entire city, prompting the entire city, population and structures, to literally move five miles down the road to establish a “new” Springfield away from the massive dump that “old” Springfield had become.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Trash of the Titans]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>


According to the ''[[Homerpalooza]]'' episode, water quality in Springfield is less than desirable. Homer told singer [[Billy Corgan]] of [[The Smashing Pumpkins]] that the locals have a little saying "If it's brown, drink it down, if it's black send it back."
Visitors to Springfield are advised to wear radiation suits and carry [[Geiger counter]]s, since the city is perhaps the most radioactive in the [[United States]]. This is because the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]] was built during an incredibly lax period for the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] and the plant's nuclear core was surrounded not by several layers of protective concrete, lead and graphite but by ordinary plaster and a horseshoe hanging from a nail.<ref>''Are We There Yet? Guide to Springfield'' by ''The Simpsons'' creator [[Matt Groening]]</ref>


==Cityscape==
Springfield is home to the state's largest self-sustaining tire fire which has been burning continuously since [[1966]] or [[1989]] (depending on which episode is referenced){{fact}}. The smoke from the fire can be smelled in 46 other states.
[[Image:Simpbartoffice.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Springfield with skyscrapers downtown, as seen in ''The Simpsons Hit & Run''.]]
The city is divided into many neighborhoods, including: Bum Town, Chinatown, Crackton, East Springfield, Greek Town, Junkieville, Little Bangkok, Little Italy, Little Newark, Ethnictown, Lower Eastside, Pressboard Estates, Recluse Ranch Estates, Skid Row, Springfield Harbor, Springfield Heights, Springshire, Tibet Town, West Springfield, a flammable district, a gay district and a Russian district.


In many episodes, the cityscape is changed. Skyline shots of the city vary from episode to episode and buildings change location.
Water quality in Springfield is reflected in a saying that Homer told singer [[Billy Corgan]]: "If it's brown, drink it down, if it's black, send it back."<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Homerpalooza]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>


==Infrastructure==
==Government and infrastructure==
===Main Street===
The following details are taken from ''The Simpsons'' [[fictional universe]], in the [[List of The Simpsons episodes|episodes cited]] inline.
The city's Main Street is in a pitiful state of disrepair owing to citizens driving along it while carrying excessively heavy loads and leaving snow chains on their tires after the snow has melted. ([[Homer Simpson]] was spotted driving along it with a massive grand piano strapped to the roof of his car as his chain-covered tires gouged the pavement.) Some of the potholes have become so wide that entire automobiles have fallen into them.


===Elected officials===
===Evergreen Terrace===
Evergreen Terrace is a [[suburb]]an street on the east side of Springfield. It is notable as the street where the [[Simpson family]] lives (at [[742 Evergreen Terrace]]). [[List of characters in The Simpsons#Flanders family|The Flanders family]] live next door at 740 Evergreen Terrace. Former Presidents [[Gerald Ford]], [[George H. W. Bush]], [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Ruth Powers|Ruth Powers]] and her daughter Laura, and the Winfields have also lived on Evergreen Terrace. The street is never shown to have a consistent location within Springfield and the Simpsons and the Flanders are the only characters consistently shown to be living on it.
The current mayor of Springfield is [[Joe Quimby]] (D). [[Krusty the Clown|Hershel Krustofski]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], better known as Krusty the Clown, is Springfield’s congressional representative in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Krusty is still a representative as of the episode "[[The Ziff Who Came to Dinner]]".


Reverend Lovejoy is known to live at either 745 or 741 on the street.
Mayor Joe Quimby is manifestly incompetent and immoral as well as being a conspicuously corrupt and fraudulent politician. Quimby is a sleazy [[womanizer]] and has had multiple affairs on his wife, First Lady [[Martha Quimby]]. Quimby vacationed to [[Jamaica]] during a flu [[epidemic]] in Springfield and used the town treasury to fund the murder of his victims and for his acquittal when he later confessed to the crime. The citizens of Springfield are normally accepting of this conduct, except on certain issues, such as in episode “[[See Homer Run]]” when the citizens blamed Quimby for traffic jam caused by [[Bart Simpson]] - the largest in the history of the town. “Diamond” Joe, as he is called, has been the mayor of Springfield since the beginning of ''The Simpsons'' — so long that he’s gotten tired of having to be reelected — and has only during brief times not been mayor.
The Wiggum family is believed to reside on this street as well. The number of the house is not known, but they are still considered residents of Evergreen Terrace.


===Transportation===
The [[Springfield Police Department]], led by Police Chief [[Clancy Wiggum]], is also corrupt and incompetent, although it manages to foil many crimes with the help of citizens.
;Bus service : Springfield's metropolitan area is served by a public bus service. The regular bus service has stops at Crackton, Airport Refueling Way and Area 51A. The city bus service provides public transit on the Route 22 bus on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; the 22A bus on Tuesday and Thursday. There is also the 108 Route seen in [[Future-Drama]]. The bus depot is serviced by Sit n' Stare, Buck-U-Bus, and First Class Bus Lines. Charter bus service is available through Springfield Travel (slogan: "Now get outta here!"), featuring trips to [[Dollywood]] and Euro-Dollywood in [[Alabama]].


;Expressway : The [[Michael Jackson]] expressway is the major highway used by commuters in Springfield, this is in addition to the [[Matlock (TV series)|Matlock]] expressway built by then Mayor [[Sideshow Bob]].
Bob Arnold, a former congressional representative for Springfield, was expelled for “massive corruption”, thanks to [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa's]] speech that criticized the U.S. government.


;Subway system : There is a [[subway system]] with a station at Third Street as seen in the episode "[[Bart Sells His Soul]]". The actual system has never been shown on the show, only mentioned in asides.
===Laws===
Upon reading the town charter, [[prohibition]] was discovered to have been a standing law that hadn't been enforced for 200 years ("Spirituous beverages are hereby prohibited in Springfield under penalty of catapult."). After a brief period of reinforcement, it was ended after further reading of the charter found that the law was repealed one year after its inception.


;Monorail : There was a short-lived monorail system constructed using surplus municipal funds at the behest of con man, [[List of one-time characters from The Simpsons#Lyle Lanley|Lyle Lanley]]. After its inaugural trip, faulty construction resulted in near disaster for [[Homer Simpson]], the conductor, and the town of Springfield. Fearing the same fate received by [[List of fictional places on The Simpsons#Brockway and Ogdenville|Brockway]], [[List of fictional places on The Simpsons#Brockway and Ogdenville|Ogdenville]] and [[List of fictional places on The Simpsons#North Haverbrook|North Haverbrook]], three other patrons of the system, it has been left untouched since. ("[[Marge vs. the Monorail]]".)
Gambling (since season five's "[[$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)|$pringfield]]") and [[same-sex marriage]] (since season 16's "[[There's Something About Marrying]]") are legal in Springfield.


;Airport : Springfield has an [[international airport]] served by irregular flights from [[Air Japan]], [[Air France]], [[Air India]] (Slogan displayed at check-in: "we treat you like cattle") and many other [[airline]]s which are not named.
Springfield has a number of more unusual laws:
*Trade in children and fishing with dynamite are also legal.{{fact}}
*The Springfield town charter includes the provision that "The chief constable shall receive one pig every month and two comely lasses of virtue true" and "It is illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purpose of gambling."{{fact}}
*Kicking a can repeatedly is a felony (cited as "illegally transporting litter").{{fact}}
*Sugar and sugar products were briefly banned.{{Fact}}


==People and culture==
====Crime====
Most Springfielders are stupid, [[overweight]], quick to anger and heavily perverted. As described by [[Dr. Julius Hibbert|Julius Hibbert]], it is a town where the smartest have no power and the stupidest run everything. In the Simpson's universe, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine once did a cover story on Springfield entitled "America's Worst City," and ''[[Newsweek]]'' has referred to the city as "America's Crud Bucket". Also Springfield holds the record for world’s fattest town and most heart-attacks. It is also meant to be the Meanest City of America, according to the episode [[The Boys of Bummer]].
Most of the organized crime in Springfield is run by mob boss [[Fat Tony]] and his henchmen, [[Springfield Mafia#Legs and Louie|Louie]], [[Springfield Mafia#Legs and Louie|Legs]] and [[Springfield Mafia#Johnny Tightlips|Johnny Tightlips]]. They have paid off the civil servants of Springfield such as in episode "[[Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment]]" when they paid a bribe to police officers [[Eddie and Lou]] to smuggle alcohol into the city during the reinstating of prohibition.


Springfield has many [[riot]]s with some rioters going as far as to wield weapons. [[Mob]]s form very quickly and they usually march toward the object of their anger, be it Springfield Town Hall, the local [[burlesque|burlesque house]] or, as is frequently the case, [[742 Evergreen Terrace|the Simpson house]]. [[Principal Seymour Skinner|Seymour Skinner]] once proudly declared, "Oh, there's no justice like angry-mob justice!"
Springfield is located in a state that retains the death penalty by both an [[electric chair]] and a [[gas chamber]]. Penitentiaries located in Springfield are Montgomery Burns State Penitentiary, Springfield City Jail, Springfield Correctional Institute, Springfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, Springfield Juvenile Hall, Springfield Penitentiary, Springfield Prison, Springwood Minimum Security Prison, Springfield State Penitentiary, Springfield State Prison, Springfield Women's Prison and the re-opened (after being condemned for 30 years) Morningwood Penitentiary (despite it being completely run-down).


Amongst other things, Springfield has many claims to fame including to be the apparent birth place of [[The Beatles]].
===Transportation===
;Bus service : Springfield's metropolitan area is served by a public bus service. The regular bus service has stops at Crackton, Airport Refueling Way and Area 51A. The city bus service provides public transit on the Route 22 bus on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; the 22A bus on Tuesday and Thursday. There is also a 108 Route.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Future-Drama]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref> The bus depot is serviced by Sit n' Stare, Buck-U-Bus, and First Class Bus Lines. Charter bus service is available through Springfield Travel, featuring trips to [[Dollywood]] and Euro-Dollywood in [[Alabama]].


===Rivalry with Shelbyville===
;Roads and streets : The [[Michael Jackson]] expressway is the major highway used by commuters in Springfield, this is in addition to the [[Matlock (TV series)|Matlock]] expressway built by then Mayor [[Sideshow Bob]].
There is a strong rivalry between Springfield and its closest neighboring town, [[Shelbyville (The Simpsons)|Shelbyville]], starting with the rivalry that existed between [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Jebediah Springfield|Jebediah Springfield]] and Shelbyville Manhattan, the founder of Shelbyville. Manhattan wanted to found a city where men were free to marry their cousins, but Springfield refused to allow it. This caused Manhattan to break away with his supporters and found the town of Shelbyville. The rivalry extends to the present day through [[American football]] and even a Lemon tree near the two towns' borders. Plays have been written which depict the rivalry of the two cities; in this case Springfield was on the receiving end of some rather obnoxious 'hooting'.


===Arts and entertainment===
:The city's Main Street is in a pitiful state of disrepair owing to citizens driving along it while carrying excessively heavy loads and leaving snow chains on their tires after the snow has melted. ([[Homer Simpson]] was spotted driving along it with a massive grand piano strapped to the roof of his car as his chain-covered tires gouged the pavement.) Some of the potholes have become so wide that entire automobiles have fallen into them.
Springfield boasts an opera house, an outdoor [[amphitheatre]], an [[arboretum]], a vibrant [[jazz]] scene and was once mentioned as the entertainment capital of its state. There is also an unusually high number of museums, including Springfield Museum (which features the world's largest [[cubic zirconia]]), Springfield Knowledgeum, Springfield Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Swordfish, Springsonian Museum, and a [[postage stamp|stamp]] museum. Springfield was once home to a Concert Hall, but this was closed down after everyone walked out after hearing the first two measures of [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Beethoven's Fifth Symphony]] and turned into the [[Montgomery Burns]] State Penitentiary, as Springfielders apparently consider [[Classical music]] to be terrible and boring.


===Media===
:Evergreen Terrace is a [[suburb]]an street on the east side of Springfield. It is notable as the street where the [[Simpson family]] lives (at [[742 Evergreen Terrace]]). [[List of characters in The Simpsons#Flanders family|The Flanders family]] live next door at 740 Evergreen Terrace. Former Presidents [[Gerald Ford]], [[George H. W. Bush]], [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Ruth Powers|Ruth Powers]] and her daughter Laura, and the Winfields have also lived on Evergreen Terrace. The street is never shown to have a consistent location within Springfield and the Simpsons and the Flanders are the only characters consistently shown to be living on it.
{{main|Media in The Simpsons}}
The city paper is ''[[Media in The Simpsons#Newspapers|The Springfield Shopper]]''; [[Media in The Simpsons#KBBL|KBBL Broadcasting Inc.]] serves as the major media outlet, owning at least two radio stations and one television station. Television station '''KBBL-TV''' (Channel 6), features [[Kent Brockman]], [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Scott Christian|Scott Christian]], and [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Arnie Pie|Arnie Pie]] ('in the Sky') on the news. It also airs a children's show featuring [[Krusty the Clown]] and [[Sideshow Mel]]. [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Billy and Marty|Billy & Marty]] host the morning show on KBBL's FM radio station. '''[[Media in The Simpsons#Channel Ocho|Channel Ocho]]''' is a Spanish-language television station whose most notable personality, [[Bumblebee Man]], stars in a slapstick soap-opera aimed at the [[Latino]] [[demographic profile|demographic]].


===Sports===
:Reverend Lovejoy is known to live at either 745 or 741 on the street; the Wiggum family is believed to reside on this street as well.
There are a number of sports teams and sports arenas: The Springfield Isotopes [[baseball]] team, the Springfield Speedway, The Springfield bull-fighting arena, a Monster Truck Rally (featuring Truckasaurus), the Springfield Atoms [[American football|football]] team (led by Stan "The Boy" Taylor), the Springfield Stun [[arena football]] team, the Association of Springfield Semi-Pro Boxers, and a dog track.


====Springfield Isotopes====
;Subway system : There is a [[subway system]] with a station at Third Street.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Bart Sells His Soul]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>
The Springfield Isotopes are a [[minor league baseball|AA minor league baseball]] team whose home games are played at [[Duff Beer (The Simpsons)|Duff]] Stadium. The Springfield Isotopes were the inspiration for the new name of the [[Florida Marlins]]' AAA affiliate, the [[Albuquerque Isotopes]], when they relocated to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] from [[Calgary]]. <ref>[http://www.albuquerquebaseball.com/ Albuquerque Isotopes Official website]</ref> The plot of the "[[Hungry, Hungry Homer]]" episode revolves around [[Homer Simpson]]'s attempts to thwart a planned move by the team to Albuquerque.


==Government==
;Monorail : There was a short-lived monorail system constructed using surplus municipal funds at the behest of con man, [[List of one-time characters from The Simpsons#Lyle Lanley|Lyle Lanley]]. After its inaugural trip, faulty construction resulted in near disaster for [[Homer Simpson]], the conductor, and the town of Springfield. Fearing the same fate received by [[List of fictional places on The Simpsons#Brockway and Ogdenville|Brockway]], [[List of fictional places on The Simpsons#Brockway and Ogdenville|Ogdenville]] and [[List of fictional places on The Simpsons#North Haverbrook|North Haverbrook]], three other patrons of the system, it has been left untouched since.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Marge vs. the Monorail]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>
The current mayor of Springfield is [[Joe Quimby]] (D). [[Krusty the Clown|Hershel Krustofski]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], better known as Krusty the Clown, is Springfield’s congressional representative in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Krusty is still a representative as of the episode "[[The Ziff Who Came to Dinner]]".


The state governor is [[List of one-time characters from The Simpsons#Mary Bailey|Mary Bailey]](D), as seen in "[[Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish]]".
;Airport : Springfield has an [[international airport]] served by irregular flights from [[Air Japan]], [[Air France]], [[Air India]] (Slogan displayed at check-in: "we treat you like cattle") and other [[airline]]s.


Mayor Joe Quimby is manifestly incompetent and immoral as well as being a conspicuously corrupt and fraudulent politician. Quimby is a sleazy [[womanizer]] and has had multiple affairs on his wife, First Lady [[Martha Quimby]]. Quimby vacationed to [[Jamaica]] during a flu [[epidemic]] in Springfield and used the town treasury to fund the murder of his victims and for his acquittal when he later confessed to the crime. The citizens of Springfield are normally accepting of this conduct, except on certain issues, such as in episode “[[See Homer Run]]” when the citizens blamed Quimby for traffic jam caused by [[Bart Simpson]] - the largest in the history of the town. “Diamond” Joe, as he is called, has been the mayor of Springfield since the beginning of ''The Simpsons'' — so long that he’s gotten tired of having to be reelected — and has only during brief times not been mayor.
===Education===
{{main|Education in The Simpsons}}
[[Superintendent Chalmers]] is the current superintendent of Springfield’s school district. Public educational institutions in Springfield are [[Springfield Elementary School]] run by Principal [[Seymour Skinner]], West Springfield Elementary, Springfield High School, a junior high school, the Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children, Springfield Magnet School for the Gifted and Troublesome and Rommelwood Military Academy. Public college institutions are Springfield Community College Extension Center, Springfield U, Springfield A & M and Springfield Heights Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T.).


The [[Springfield Police Department]], led by Police Chief [[Clancy Wiggum]], is also corrupt and incompetent, although it manages to foil many crimes with the help of citizens.
Private institutions are Springfield Christian School, [[Ayn Rand]] School for Tots (run by [[List of one-time characters from The Simpsons#Llewellyn & Ms. Sinclair|Ms. Sinclair]]), Saint Sebastian's School for Wicked Girls, Miss Tillingham's School for Snotty Girls and Mama's Boys, Eastside Ruff-Form School, Springfield Preparatory School, and Springfield Extension School.


Bob Arnold, a former congressional representative for Springfield, was expelled for “massive corruption”, thanks to [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa's]] speech that criticized the U.S. government.
==People and culture==
The following details are taken from ''The Simpsons'' [[fictional universe]], in the [[List of The Simpsons episodes|episodes cited]] inline.


==Citizenry==
===Laws===
Upon reading the town charter, [[prohibition]] was discovered to have been a standing law that hadn't been enforced for 200 years ("Spirituous beverages are hereby prohibited in Springfield under penalty of catapult."). After a brief period of reinforcement, it was ended after further reading of the charter found that the law was repealed one year after its inception. Besides prohibition, sugar and sugar products also were briefly banned from Springfield.
Springfield is said to be the world’s fattest town, and the one with the most heart attacks per capita. It is also said to be the Meanest City of America.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[The Boys of Bummer]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref> As described by [[Dr. Julius Hibbert|Julius Hibbert]], it is a town where the smartest have no power and the stupidest run everything.


Gambling (since season five's "[[$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)|$pringfield]]") and [[same-sex marriage]] (since season 16's "[[There's Something About Marrying]]") are legal in Springfield. Trade in children and fishing with dynamite are also legal. There are other unusual statutes in the Springfield town charter, such as "The chief constable shall receive one pig every month and two comely lasses of virtue true." and "It is illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purpose of gambling."; kicking a can repeatedly is a felony (cited as "illegally transporting litter").
Springfield has had many [[riot]]s, with some rioters going as far as to wield weapons. [[Principal Seymour Skinner|Seymour Skinner]] once proudly declared{{fact}}, "Oh, there's no justice like angry-mob justice!"


===Arts and entertainment===
===Crime===
Springfield is located in a state that retains the death penalty by both an [[electric chair]] and a [[gas chamber]]. Penitentiaries located in Springfield are Montgomery Burns State Penitentiary, Springfield City Jail, Springfield Correctional Institute, Springfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, Springfield Juvenile Hall, Springfield Penitentiary, Springfield Prison, Springwood Minimum Security Prison, Springfield State Penitentiary, Springfield State Prison, Springfield Women's Prison and the re-opened (after being condemned for 30 years) Morningwood Penitentiary (despite it being completely run-down).
Springfield boasts an opera house, an outdoor [[amphitheatre]], an [[arboretum]], a vibrant [[jazz]] scene and was once mentioned{{who}} as the entertainment capital of its state. There is also an unusually high number of museums, including Springfield Museum (which features the world's largest [[cubic zirconia]]), Springfield Knowledgeum, Springfield Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Swordfish, Springsonian Museum, and a [[postage stamp|stamp]] museum.


Most of the organized crime in Springfield is run by mob boss [[Fat Tony]] and his henchmen, [[Springfield Mafia#Legs and Louie|Louie]], [[Springfield Mafia#Legs and Louie|Legs]] and [[Springfield Mafia#Johnny Tightlips|Johnny Tightlips]]. They have paid off the civil servants of Springfield such as in episode "[[Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment]]" when they paid a bribe to police officers [[Eddie and Lou]] to smuggle alcohol into the city during the reinstating of prohibition.
Springfield was once home to a Concert Hall{{fact}}, but it was turned into the [[Montgomery Burns]] State Penitentiary.


===Media===
===Education===
[[Superintendent Chalmers]] is the current superintendent of Springfield’s school district. Public educational institutions in Springfield are [[Springfield Elementary School]] run by Principal [[Seymour Skinner]], West Springfield Elementary, Springfield High School, a junior high school, the Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children, Springfield Magnet School for the Gifted and Troublesome and Rommelwood Military Academy. Public college institutions are Springfield Community College Extension Center, Springfield U, Springfield A & M and Springfield Heights Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T.).
{{main|Media in The Simpsons}}
[[Media in The Simpsons#KBBL|KBBL Broadcasting Inc.]] serves as the major media outlet, owning at least two radio stations and one television station:
*Television station '''KBBL-TV''' (Channel 6), features [[Kent Brockman]], [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Scott Christian|Scott Christian]], and [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Arnie Pie|Arnie Pie]] ('in the Sky') on the news. It also airs a children's show featuring [[Krusty the Clown]] and [[Sideshow Mel]].
*[[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Billy and Marty|Billy & Marty]] host the morning show on KBBL's FM radio station.


Private institutions are Springfield Christian School, [[Ayn Rand]] School for Tots (run by [[List of one-time characters from The Simpsons#Llewellyn & Ms. Sinclair|Ms. Sinclair]]), Saint Sebastian's School for Wicked Girls, Miss Tillingham's School for Snotty Girls and Mama's Boys, Eastside Ruff-Form School, Springfield Preparatory School, and Springfield Extension School.
'''[[Media in The Simpsons#Channel Ocho|Channel Ocho]]''' is a Spanish-language television station whose most notable personality, [[Bumblebee Man]], stars in a slapstick soap-opera.


==Holidays==
The city paper is ''[[Media in The Simpsons#Newspapers|The Springfield Shopper]]''.
===Red Stinging Jellyfish===
This day always occurs on the third Thursday of May, when dozens of Red Stinging Jellyfish wash up on the shores of Springfield.<ref>[[A Star Is Born-Again]]</ref> [[Julius Hibbert|Dr. Hibbert]] said that people used to think the jellyfish had healing properties "but now we know they only make things a whole lot worse". The night of that day a couples' dance takes place for anyone who wishes to come.


===Sports===
===Whacking Day===
According to legend, Whacking Day traces its origins to [[May 10]] [[1775]], the day when [[Jebediah Springfield]], the town's founder, whacked and killed all the snakes of Springfield. An annual celebration was held where the citizens of Springfield would drive all the of snakes into the town square and beat them to death in Jebediah's example. This practice was ended when [[Bart Simpson]] revealed that Jebediah Springfield never actually whacked a snake and Whacking Day was actually created in the early 1900s as an excuse to beat up the [[Ireland|Irish]].<ref>[[Whacking Day]]</ref>
Springfield is home to at least three sports teams:
*The Springfield Isotopes are a [[minor league baseball|AA minor league baseball]] team whose home games are played at [[Duff Beer (The Simpsons)|Duff]] Stadium. The Springfield Isotopes were the inspiration for the new name of the [[Florida Marlins]]' AAA affiliate, the [[Albuquerque Isotopes]], when they relocated to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] from [[Calgary]]. <ref>[http://www.albuquerquebaseball.com/ Albuquerque Isotopes Official website]</ref> The plot of the "[[Hungry, Hungry Homer]]" episode revolves around [[Homer Simpson]]'s attempts to thwart a planned move by the team to Albuquerque.
*The Springfield Atoms, a [[American football|football]] team led by Stan "The Boy" Taylor.
*The Springfield Stun, an [[arena football]] team.

Sports venues include the Springfield Speedway, a bull-fighting arena, and a dog track,

There is also an Association of Springfield Semi-Pro Boxers.

===Rivalry with Shelbyville===
There is a strong rivalry between Springfield and its closest neighboring town, [[Shelbyville (The Simpsons)|Shelbyville]], starting with the rivalry that existed between [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Jebediah Springfield|Jebediah Springfield]] and Shelbyville Manhattan, the founder of Shelbyville. Manhattan wanted to found a city where men were free to marry their cousins, but Springfield refused to allow it. This caused Manhattan to break away with his supporters and found the town of Shelbyville. The rivalry extends to the present day through [[American football]] and even a Lemon tree near the two towns' borders. Plays have been written which depict the rivalry of the two cities; in this case Springfield was on the receiving end of some rather obnoxious 'hooting'.

===Holidays===
====Red Stinging Jellyfish====
This day always occurs on the third Thursday of May, when dozens of Red Stinging Jellyfish wash up on the shores of Springfield.<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[A Star Is Born-Again]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref> [[Julius Hibbert|Dr. Hibbert]] said that people used to think the jellyfish had healing properties "but now we know they only make things a whole lot worse". The night of that day a couples' dance takes place for anyone who wishes to come.

====Whacking Day====
According to legend<ref>{{cite episode|title = [[Whacking Day]]|series = [[The Simpsons]]}}</ref>, ["Whacking Day" traces its origins to [[May 10]] [[1775]], the day when [[Jebediah Springfield]], the town's founder, whacked and killed all the snakes of Springfield. An annual celebration was held where the citizens of Springfield would drive all the of snakes into the town square and beat them to death . This practice was ended when [[Bart Simpson]] revealed that Jebediah Springfield never actually whacked a snake and Whacking Day was actually created in the early 1900s as an excuse to beat up the [[Irish people|Irish]].

==Relationships with actual Springfields==
In a ''[[USA Today]]'' poll that tied in with the premiere of ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', the town of [[Springfield, Vermont]] was elected to host the movie's premiere.<ref>{{cite news|first=Clark|last=Cindy|title='The Simpsons Movie' Hometown Premiere Contest|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/simpsons-contest.htm|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=[[2007-07-10]]|accessdate=2007-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Carry|last=McGourty|coauthors=Jared Weiner|url=http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3359421&page=1|title=Peace, Granola and Now 'The Simpsons'|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=[[2007-07-10]]|accessdate=2007-07-10}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{citations missing|date=July 2007}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://adn.blam.be/springfield/ An interactive version of the map of Springfield] from the personal website of a Belgian fan (requires [[Adobe Flash|Flash]])
*[http://adn.blam.be/springfield/ An interactive version of the map of Springfield]
*[http://snpp.com/guides/springfield.list.html Where Is The Simpsons' Springfield?] from the fan-maintained "The Simpsons Archive"
*[http://snpp.com/guides/springfield.list.html The Simpsons Archive: Where Is The Simpsons' Springfield?]


{{The Simpsons}}
{{The Simpsons}}

Revision as of 21:26, 23 July 2007

For other uses, see Springfield.

Template:TV-in-universe

City of Springfield
A panoramic view of Springfield.
Country  United States
State Unknown
County Springfield County[1]
Founder Jebediah Springfield
Founded 1796
Incorporated 1796
Town Motto "A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man"
Mayor Joe Quimby (D)
Elevation 1,582 ft.[2]
Population 30,720[2]

Springfield is the fictional city in which the animated American sitcom The Simpsons is set. Springfield is a large city in an unspecified state near a large body of water. The geography of Springfield and its surroundings is flexible, changing to address whatever an episode’s plot calls for. In the Simpson's universe, Time magazine is said to have done a cover story on Springfield entitled "America's Worst City"; Newsweek is said to have characterized the city as "America's Crud Bucket".[citation needed]

There are no geographical coordinates or references to American states that might identify in which part of the country Springfield is located. The show is intentionally deceptive in regard to Springfield's location, having hinted at and ruled out nearly every American state as the basis for the town's location. The name Springfield was also intentionally chosen to be ambiguous, as there are over 30 towns and cities called Springfield in the United States.

In a recent USA Today poll that tied in with the The Simpsons Movie, the town of Springfield, Vermont was elected to host the movie's premiere.[3][4] However this is not meant to imply that Springfield, VT is the actual city in which the show takes place, as a number of other Springfields competed to host the event.[5]

History

Colonial era

File:The Simpsons-Jebediah Springfield.png
Jebediah Springfield, founder.

Springfield was founded in 1796 by Maryland settlers trying to find a course to "New Sodom" after misinterpreting a passage in the Bible. In its early days, the city was the target of many Native American raids, and to this day, many forts and trading posts remain including Fort Springfield and Fort Sensible. It was also the site of two battles during the American Civil War. Of which, the first battle of Springfield was fought between the North, the South and the West, to keep Springfield in, out of and next to the Union respectively.

The founder of Springfield was the pioneer Jebediah Springfield, whose deeds are immortalized with a bronze statue that mounts in the center of the city square in front of the Springfield Town Hall building. The town motto, "A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man", is attributed to Jebediah.

Present day

The town's name was changed temporarily to "Liberty-Ville" after Bart Simpson accidentally mooned the United States flag and Bart and his family appeared on a talk show where the host made it appear that the Simpsons, and Springfield, hate America, twisting the words of Bart's mother, Marge. When the rest of the U.S. reciprocated this loathing, Mayor Joe Quimby changed the name of Springfield to "Liberty-Ville". An enormous patriotic craze ensued, wherein all items were priced at $17.76, even houses.[6]

For a brief period, Springfield divided itself into two cities because of an area code dispute. Homer Simpson, upset that he had to memorize a new area code, 939, while the rich side of town retained the familiar 636 area code, riled up the lower class citizens of Springfield to rebel and establish their side of Springfield as a separate town, to be called New Springfield. They erected a wall made of refuse dividing the two area codes and elected Homer as their new mayor. Mayor Joe Quimby maintained control of the rich side, which came to be called Olde Springfield. The two towns reunited when the band The Who, while in Springfield for a concert, suggested speed dial to solve the town's problem and agreed to play if the wall was torn down.[7]

At one point, Homer Simpson was elected as Sanitation Commissioner. After Homer spent the entire yearly budget in his first month of office, he was forced to take in the garbage of other cities in order to make enough money to pay the city's trash collectors. Eventually the mines that were storing the collected trash erupted and littered the entire city, prompting the entire city, population and structures, to literally move five miles down the road to establish a “new” Springfield away from the massive dump that “old” Springfield had become.[8]

Geography

Springfield's geography includes forests, meadows, a mountain range, a desert, beaches, canyons, swamps, waterholes and waterways. Springfield is located on the coast of a large body of water. It has been stated that "West Springfield" is three times the size of Texas and looks exactly like Texas in shape.

Major geographic features include Springfield Gorge, Springfield National Forest, Mt. Springfield, the Springfield Badlands (also known as the Alkali Flats), the Murderhorn, Springfield Glacier, Springfield Mesa and Mt. Carlmore. Geezer Rock was unwittingly destroyed by Homer Simpson.

Springfield wildlife includes grizzly bears in the Springfield Forest, wolves, some of which prowl into the urban areas of Springfield, vultures in the Alkali Flats, and manatees south of Springfield in the waters.

Weather

Springfield receives plenty of rain, as well as heavy snow. Most of the time, however, the skies are blue and it's mostly sunny. Springfield has also been prone to severe heat waves and many natural disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and acid rain.

Pollution

According to the non-canon Are We There Yet? Guide to Springfield by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, visitors to Springfield are advised to constantly wear radiation suits and carry Geiger counters, since the city is perhaps the most radioactive in the United States. This is because the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant was built during an incredibly lax period for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the plant's nuclear core was surrounded not by several layers of protective concrete, lead and graphite but by ordinary plaster and a horseshoe hanging from a nail.

Also, Springfield is home to the state's largest self-sustaining tire fire which has been burning continuously since 1966 or 1989 (depending on which episode is referenced). The smoke from the fire can be smelled in 46 other states.

According to the Homerpalooza episode, water quality in Springfield is less than desirable. Homer told singer Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins that the locals have a little saying "If it's brown, drink it down, if it's black send it back."

Cityscape

File:Simpbartoffice.jpg
Springfield with skyscrapers downtown, as seen in The Simpsons Hit & Run.

The city is divided into many neighborhoods, including: Bum Town, Chinatown, Crackton, East Springfield, Greek Town, Junkieville, Little Bangkok, Little Italy, Little Newark, Ethnictown, Lower Eastside, Pressboard Estates, Recluse Ranch Estates, Skid Row, Springfield Harbor, Springfield Heights, Springshire, Tibet Town, West Springfield, a flammable district, a gay district and a Russian district.

In many episodes, the cityscape is changed. Skyline shots of the city vary from episode to episode and buildings change location.

Infrastructure

Main Street

The city's Main Street is in a pitiful state of disrepair owing to citizens driving along it while carrying excessively heavy loads and leaving snow chains on their tires after the snow has melted. (Homer Simpson was spotted driving along it with a massive grand piano strapped to the roof of his car as his chain-covered tires gouged the pavement.) Some of the potholes have become so wide that entire automobiles have fallen into them.

Evergreen Terrace

Evergreen Terrace is a suburban street on the east side of Springfield. It is notable as the street where the Simpson family lives (at 742 Evergreen Terrace). The Flanders family live next door at 740 Evergreen Terrace. Former Presidents Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, Ruth Powers and her daughter Laura, and the Winfields have also lived on Evergreen Terrace. The street is never shown to have a consistent location within Springfield and the Simpsons and the Flanders are the only characters consistently shown to be living on it.

Reverend Lovejoy is known to live at either 745 or 741 on the street. The Wiggum family is believed to reside on this street as well. The number of the house is not known, but they are still considered residents of Evergreen Terrace.

Transportation

Bus service
Springfield's metropolitan area is served by a public bus service. The regular bus service has stops at Crackton, Airport Refueling Way and Area 51A. The city bus service provides public transit on the Route 22 bus on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; the 22A bus on Tuesday and Thursday. There is also the 108 Route seen in Future-Drama. The bus depot is serviced by Sit n' Stare, Buck-U-Bus, and First Class Bus Lines. Charter bus service is available through Springfield Travel (slogan: "Now get outta here!"), featuring trips to Dollywood and Euro-Dollywood in Alabama.
Expressway
The Michael Jackson expressway is the major highway used by commuters in Springfield, this is in addition to the Matlock expressway built by then Mayor Sideshow Bob.
Subway system
There is a subway system with a station at Third Street as seen in the episode "Bart Sells His Soul". The actual system has never been shown on the show, only mentioned in asides.
Monorail
There was a short-lived monorail system constructed using surplus municipal funds at the behest of con man, Lyle Lanley. After its inaugural trip, faulty construction resulted in near disaster for Homer Simpson, the conductor, and the town of Springfield. Fearing the same fate received by Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook, three other patrons of the system, it has been left untouched since. ("Marge vs. the Monorail".)
Airport
Springfield has an international airport served by irregular flights from Air Japan, Air France, Air India (Slogan displayed at check-in: "we treat you like cattle") and many other airlines which are not named.

People and culture

Most Springfielders are stupid, overweight, quick to anger and heavily perverted. As described by Julius Hibbert, it is a town where the smartest have no power and the stupidest run everything. In the Simpson's universe, Time magazine once did a cover story on Springfield entitled "America's Worst City," and Newsweek has referred to the city as "America's Crud Bucket". Also Springfield holds the record for world’s fattest town and most heart-attacks. It is also meant to be the Meanest City of America, according to the episode The Boys of Bummer.

Springfield has many riots with some rioters going as far as to wield weapons. Mobs form very quickly and they usually march toward the object of their anger, be it Springfield Town Hall, the local burlesque house or, as is frequently the case, the Simpson house. Seymour Skinner once proudly declared, "Oh, there's no justice like angry-mob justice!"

Amongst other things, Springfield has many claims to fame including to be the apparent birth place of The Beatles.

Rivalry with Shelbyville

There is a strong rivalry between Springfield and its closest neighboring town, Shelbyville, starting with the rivalry that existed between Jebediah Springfield and Shelbyville Manhattan, the founder of Shelbyville. Manhattan wanted to found a city where men were free to marry their cousins, but Springfield refused to allow it. This caused Manhattan to break away with his supporters and found the town of Shelbyville. The rivalry extends to the present day through American football and even a Lemon tree near the two towns' borders. Plays have been written which depict the rivalry of the two cities; in this case Springfield was on the receiving end of some rather obnoxious 'hooting'.

Arts and entertainment

Springfield boasts an opera house, an outdoor amphitheatre, an arboretum, a vibrant jazz scene and was once mentioned as the entertainment capital of its state. There is also an unusually high number of museums, including Springfield Museum (which features the world's largest cubic zirconia), Springfield Knowledgeum, Springfield Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Swordfish, Springsonian Museum, and a stamp museum. Springfield was once home to a Concert Hall, but this was closed down after everyone walked out after hearing the first two measures of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and turned into the Montgomery Burns State Penitentiary, as Springfielders apparently consider Classical music to be terrible and boring.

Media

Main article: Media in The Simpsons

The city paper is The Springfield Shopper; KBBL Broadcasting Inc. serves as the major media outlet, owning at least two radio stations and one television station. Television station KBBL-TV (Channel 6), features Kent Brockman, Scott Christian, and Arnie Pie ('in the Sky') on the news. It also airs a children's show featuring Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Mel. Billy & Marty host the morning show on KBBL's FM radio station. Channel Ocho is a Spanish-language television station whose most notable personality, Bumblebee Man, stars in a slapstick soap-opera aimed at the Latino demographic.

Sports

There are a number of sports teams and sports arenas: The Springfield Isotopes baseball team, the Springfield Speedway, The Springfield bull-fighting arena, a Monster Truck Rally (featuring Truckasaurus), the Springfield Atoms football team (led by Stan "The Boy" Taylor), the Springfield Stun arena football team, the Association of Springfield Semi-Pro Boxers, and a dog track.

Springfield Isotopes

The Springfield Isotopes are a AA minor league baseball team whose home games are played at Duff Stadium. The Springfield Isotopes were the inspiration for the new name of the Florida Marlins' AAA affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, when they relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico from Calgary. [9] The plot of the "Hungry, Hungry Homer" episode revolves around Homer Simpson's attempts to thwart a planned move by the team to Albuquerque.

Government

The current mayor of Springfield is Joe Quimby (D). Hershel Krustofski, a Republican, better known as Krusty the Clown, is Springfield’s congressional representative in the United States House of Representatives. Krusty is still a representative as of the episode "The Ziff Who Came to Dinner".

The state governor is Mary Bailey(D), as seen in "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish".

Mayor Joe Quimby is manifestly incompetent and immoral as well as being a conspicuously corrupt and fraudulent politician. Quimby is a sleazy womanizer and has had multiple affairs on his wife, First Lady Martha Quimby. Quimby vacationed to Jamaica during a flu epidemic in Springfield and used the town treasury to fund the murder of his victims and for his acquittal when he later confessed to the crime. The citizens of Springfield are normally accepting of this conduct, except on certain issues, such as in episode “See Homer Run” when the citizens blamed Quimby for traffic jam caused by Bart Simpson - the largest in the history of the town. “Diamond” Joe, as he is called, has been the mayor of Springfield since the beginning of The Simpsons — so long that he’s gotten tired of having to be reelected — and has only during brief times not been mayor.

The Springfield Police Department, led by Police Chief Clancy Wiggum, is also corrupt and incompetent, although it manages to foil many crimes with the help of citizens.

Bob Arnold, a former congressional representative for Springfield, was expelled for “massive corruption”, thanks to Lisa's speech that criticized the U.S. government.

Laws

Upon reading the town charter, prohibition was discovered to have been a standing law that hadn't been enforced for 200 years ("Spirituous beverages are hereby prohibited in Springfield under penalty of catapult."). After a brief period of reinforcement, it was ended after further reading of the charter found that the law was repealed one year after its inception. Besides prohibition, sugar and sugar products also were briefly banned from Springfield.

Gambling (since season five's "$pringfield") and same-sex marriage (since season 16's "There's Something About Marrying") are legal in Springfield. Trade in children and fishing with dynamite are also legal. There are other unusual statutes in the Springfield town charter, such as "The chief constable shall receive one pig every month and two comely lasses of virtue true." and "It is illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purpose of gambling."; kicking a can repeatedly is a felony (cited as "illegally transporting litter").

Crime

Springfield is located in a state that retains the death penalty by both an electric chair and a gas chamber. Penitentiaries located in Springfield are Montgomery Burns State Penitentiary, Springfield City Jail, Springfield Correctional Institute, Springfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, Springfield Juvenile Hall, Springfield Penitentiary, Springfield Prison, Springwood Minimum Security Prison, Springfield State Penitentiary, Springfield State Prison, Springfield Women's Prison and the re-opened (after being condemned for 30 years) Morningwood Penitentiary (despite it being completely run-down).

Most of the organized crime in Springfield is run by mob boss Fat Tony and his henchmen, Louie, Legs and Johnny Tightlips. They have paid off the civil servants of Springfield such as in episode "Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment" when they paid a bribe to police officers Eddie and Lou to smuggle alcohol into the city during the reinstating of prohibition.

Education

Superintendent Chalmers is the current superintendent of Springfield’s school district. Public educational institutions in Springfield are Springfield Elementary School run by Principal Seymour Skinner, West Springfield Elementary, Springfield High School, a junior high school, the Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children, Springfield Magnet School for the Gifted and Troublesome and Rommelwood Military Academy. Public college institutions are Springfield Community College Extension Center, Springfield U, Springfield A & M and Springfield Heights Institute of Technology (S.H.I.T.).

Private institutions are Springfield Christian School, Ayn Rand School for Tots (run by Ms. Sinclair), Saint Sebastian's School for Wicked Girls, Miss Tillingham's School for Snotty Girls and Mama's Boys, Eastside Ruff-Form School, Springfield Preparatory School, and Springfield Extension School.

Holidays

Red Stinging Jellyfish

This day always occurs on the third Thursday of May, when dozens of Red Stinging Jellyfish wash up on the shores of Springfield.[10] Dr. Hibbert said that people used to think the jellyfish had healing properties "but now we know they only make things a whole lot worse". The night of that day a couples' dance takes place for anyone who wishes to come.

Whacking Day

According to legend, Whacking Day traces its origins to May 10 1775, the day when Jebediah Springfield, the town's founder, whacked and killed all the snakes of Springfield. An annual celebration was held where the citizens of Springfield would drive all the of snakes into the town square and beat them to death in Jebediah's example. This practice was ended when Bart Simpson revealed that Jebediah Springfield never actually whacked a snake and Whacking Day was actually created in the early 1900s as an excuse to beat up the Irish.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Dog of Death"
  2. ^ a b Papa's Got a Brand New Badge
  3. ^ Cindy, Clark (2007-07-10). "'The Simpsons Movie' Hometown Premiere Contest". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ McGourty, Carry (2007-07-10). "Peace, Granola and Now 'The Simpsons'". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Simpsons launch hits Springfield BBC News retrieved July 21 2007
  6. ^ "Bart-Mangled Banner"
  7. ^ "A Tale of Two Springfields"
  8. ^ "Trash of the Titans"
  9. ^ Albuquerque Isotopes Official website
  10. ^ A Star Is Born-Again
  11. ^ Whacking Day
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