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In ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', the idea that Springfield cannot exist for real is further emphasized when [[Ned Flanders]] identifies the four bordering states as [[Ohio]], [[Nevada]], [[Maine]] and [[Kentucky]], most of which are vastly separated from each other, while Kentucky and Ohio border each other with no state in between.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/features/e3i8b30e2fc7d99d5a4e04b1f219f212c3e | title=Springfield of dreams | publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=[[2007-05-11]] | author=Richmond, Ray | format=html | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref> Also during the closing credits,there is a line which reads "Filmed on location in Springfield, (-empty space-)." To promote the movie, various towns and cities across the [[United States]] called Springfield competed to hold the [[premiere]] of the movie in their town. Springfields from many different states entered the competition.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS01/706080333/1001/NEWS | title=Springfield hopes to host 'Simpsons' premiere | date=[[2007-06-08]] | accessdate=2007-06-13 | author=[[Associated Press]] | publisher=Lansing State Journal | format=html}}</ref> 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> In response to this, Groening revealed that he had always intended Springfield to represent [[Springfield, Oregon]], and his hometown of [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kval.com/news/8775202.html | title=Groening: Springfield is the real deal! | publisher=[[CBS]] | work=[[KVAL]] | date=[[2007-07-27]] | accessdate=2007-11-19 | author=Kalkstein, Meghan}}</ref>
In ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'', the idea that Springfield cannot exist for real is further emphasized when [[Ned Flanders]] identifies the four bordering states as [[Ohio]], [[Nevada]], [[Maine]] and [[Kentucky]], most of which are vastly separated from each other, while Kentucky and Ohio border each other with no state in between.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/features/e3i8b30e2fc7d99d5a4e04b1f219f212c3e | title=Springfield of dreams | publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=[[2007-05-11]] | author=Richmond, Ray | format=html | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref> Also during the closing credits,there is a line which reads "Filmed on location in Springfield, (-empty space-)." To promote the movie, various towns and cities across the [[United States]] called Springfield competed to hold the [[premiere]] of the movie in their town. Springfields from many different states entered the competition.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS01/706080333/1001/NEWS | title=Springfield hopes to host 'Simpsons' premiere | date=[[2007-06-08]] | accessdate=2007-06-13 | author=[[Associated Press]] | publisher=Lansing State Journal | format=html}}</ref> 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> In response to this, Groening revealed that he had always intended Springfield to represent [[Springfield, Oregon]], and his hometown of [[Beaverton, Oregon|Beaverton]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kval.com/news/8775202.html | title=Groening: Springfield is the real deal! | publisher=[[CBS]] | work=[[KVAL]] | date=[[2007-07-27]] | accessdate=2007-11-19 | author=Kalkstein, Meghan}}</ref>


==History==
[[Image:Realspringfield.jpg|290px|thumb|left|Springfield as seen in the live-action theme song.]]

===Colonial era===
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:The Simpsons-Jebediah Springfield.png|right|thumb|178px|[[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Jebediah Springfield|Jebediah Springfield]], founder.]] -->

Springfield was founded in 1796 by settlers from [[Maryland]] who, after misinterpreting a scripture in the [[Bible]], were trying to find "New Sodom."<ref name=LisatheIconoclast>{{cite episode |title=Lisa the Iconoclast|episodelink=Lisa the Iconoclast |series=The Simpsons |serieslink=The Simpsons |credits=Collier, Jonathon; Anderson, Mike B.; Oakley, Bill and Weinstein, Josh|network=Fox |airdate=1996-02-18 |season=7 |number=144}}</ref> 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 [[Battle of Springfield|two battles]] during the [[American Civil War]]. The first battle of Springfield was fought between the [[Union (American Civil War)|North]], the [[Confederate States of America|South]], and the East in an effort to keep Springfield out of, in, and next to the Union respectively.

Springfield was founded by [[List of recurring characters in The Simpsons#Jebediah Springfield|Jebediah Springfield]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Telltale Head|episodelink=The Telltale Head |series=The Simpsons |serieslink=The Simpsons |credits=Jean, Al, Reiss, Mike, Simon, Sam, and Groening, Matt; Moore, Rich; Brooks, James L., Groening, Matt, and Simon, Sam|network=Fox |airdate=1990-02-25 |season=1 |number=8}}</ref> His noble deeds are immortalized with a bronze statue that stands in the center of the city square in front of the Springfield Town Hall building. The town motto, "A Noble Spirit [[Lisa the Iconoclast#Cromulent and Embiggens|Embiggens]] the Smallest Man", was coined by Jebediah.<ref name=LisatheIconoclast/>

===Present day events===
The town's name was changed temporarily to "Libertyville" after [[Bart Simpson]] accidentally [[mooning|mooned]] the [[Flag of the United States|United States flag]]. As a result, Bart and his family appeared on a talk show where the host made it appear that the Simpsons and Springfield, hate America by twisting the words of Bart's mother, [[Marge Simpson|Marge]]. When the rest of the U.S. reciprocated this affront, Mayor [[Joe Quimby]] changed the name of Springfield to "Libertyville". An enormous patriotic craze ensued, wherein all items were priced at [[1776|$17.76]], including pizza "By the Slice" and houses.<ref>{{cite episode|title =Bart-Mangled Banner|episodelink=Bart-Mangled Banner|series =The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Frink, John; Moore, Steven Dean|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2004-05-16|season=15|number=21}}</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, [[Area code 939|939]], while the rich side of town retained the familiar [[Area code 636|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 dividing the two area codes and elected Homer as their new mayor. Mayor 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, a reference to that of the [[Berlin Wall]].<ref>{{cite episode|title =A Tale of Two Springfields|episodelink=A Tale of Two Springfields|series =The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Cashman, Shaun; Swartzwelder, John|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2000-11-05|season=12|number=2}}</ref>

The town also briefly declared martial law by the [[U.S Army]] when Homer Simpson and a few other soldiers deserted the army. <ref>{{cite episode|title=G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)|episodelink=G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Chun, Daniel; Kruse, Nancy|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2006-11-12|season=18|number=5}}</ref>

In [[The Simpsons Movie]], the entire town was trapped inside a dome by [[Russ Cargill]], head of the [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]]. During the time, the town was devastated and was plagued with frequent power outages ([[Mr Burns]] refused to give free power) and shortage of supplies. The town was repaired after the dome was destroyed.

==Geography==
===Physical geography===
Springfield's geography changes with the special needs of each episode. It has included forests, meadows, mountain ranges, a desert, a [[gorge]], beaches, canyons, swamps, waterholes and waterways. Springfield is sometimes shown located on the coast of a large body of water, although other episodes show skyline shots of the city with no signs of a coastline. Major named geographical features include Springfield Gorge, Springfield National Forest, Mt. Springfield, the Springfield Badlands (also known as the Alkali Flats)<ref>{{cite episode|title=Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming|episodelink=Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Feresten, Spike; Polcino, Dominic|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=1995-11-26|season=7|episode=9}}</ref>, The Murderhorn (a play on [[Matterhorn]]), Springfield Glacier, Mt. Useful National Park, Springfield Mesa and Springfield National Park. Wildlife includes [[Grizzly bear|grizzly bears]] in the Springfield Forest, [[wolves]], some of which prowl into the urban areas of Springfield, [[Vulture|vultures]] in the Alkali Flats,
[[Manatee|manatees]] south of Springfield in the coastal waters, [[Alligator|alligators]] in the swamps, [[Snow leopard|snow leopards]] and [[Mountain goat|mountain goats]] in the mountains, and [[Badger|badgers]] in the hills.

===Cityscape===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[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, [[Greece|Greek]] Town, Junkyville, Little [[Bangkok]], Little [[Italy]], Little Newark, Little [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], Ethnictown, Lower Eastside, Pressboard Estates, Recluse Ranch Estates, Skid Row, Springfield Harbor, Springfield Heights, Springshire, [[Tibet]] Town, flammable district, a gay district, and a Russian district. There is also a housing project in Springfield called Lincoln Park Village.

===Pollution===
In ''[[Trash of the Titans]]'', 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 (8 km) 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|epiosdelink=Trash of the Titans|series =The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Maxtone-Graham, Ian; Reardon, Jim|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=1998-05-26|season=9|number=22}}</ref>

Visitors to Springfield are advised to wear radiation suits and carry [[Geiger counter|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. Lake Springfield has also been a point of interest when it comes to pollution, as Bart once caught a fish with three eyes in the lake, named [[List of animals in The Simpsons#Blinky|Blinky]].

Springfield is home to the state's largest self-sustaining tire fire which has been burning continuously since 1966 or 1989. <ref>{{cite episode|title=Homer's Paternity Coot|episodelink=Homer's Paternity Coot|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Anderson, Mike. B; Cohen, Joel H.|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2006-01-08|season=17|number=10}}</ref>

In [[The Simpsons Movie]], Lake Springfield was quite polluted by the trash and carelessness of the townspeople. Lisa Simpson managed to petition the town to clean up the lake, and the lake was cleaned up, surrounded by barriers, and a Hazardous Waste Center was built for the garbage of citizens. However, the lake was severely re-polluted after Homer Simpson dumped a large silo of pig waste into the lake. The lake was so polluted that a [[squirrel]] jumped into the water and emerged with multiple eyes, and the EPA came to action and sealed the town in a large glass dome, and ultimately decided to blow up Springfield by putting a bomb inside the dome. However, the dome was destroyed after Homer Simpson and Bart Simpson managed to throw the bomb on to the top of the dome, seconds before detonation. Once the dome was destroyed, it was presumed that the town cleaned the lake again.

==Government and infrastructure==
===Elected officials===
The current mayor of Springfield is Joe Quimby [[Democratic Party (United States)|(D)]], while their [[United States House of Representatives|representative in congress]] is Krusty the Clown [[Republican Party (United States)|(R)]]. Despite being a congressman, Krusty continues to host his eponymous children's television show on a daily basis, and in fact treats congressional duties as an afterthought to his entertainment career.

Mayor Quimby is manifestly incompetent and immoral as well as being a conspicuously corrupt and fraudulent politician. Quimby is a sleazy [[Promiscuity|womanizer]] and has had multiple affairs on his wife. Quimby vacationed to [[Jamaica]] during a [[Influenza|flu]] [[epidemic]] in Springfield and used the town treasury to fund the murder of his enemies 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 when the citizens blamed Quimby for traffic jam caused by Bart Simpson - the largest in the history of the town.<ref>{{cite episode|title=See Homer Run|episodelink=See Homer Run|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Gillis, Stephanie; Kruse, Nancy|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2005-11-20|season=17|number=6}}</ref> “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 most of the crimes with the help of citizens.

===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. <ref name="Amendment">{{cite episode|title=Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment|episodelink=Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Anderson, Bob; Swartzwelder, John|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=1997-03-16|season=8|number=18}}</ref>

Gambling <ref>{{cite episode|title=$pringfield|episodelink=$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Archer, Wes; Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=1993-12-16|season=5|number=10}}</ref> and [[same-sex marriage]] <ref>{{cite episode|title=There's Something About Marrying|episodelink+There's Something About Marrying|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Burns, J. Stewart; Kruse, Nancy|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2005-02-20|season=16|number=10}}</ref> are legal in Springfield.

====Crime====
Springfield crime elements include Krusty's former sidekick [[Sideshow Bob|Sideshow Bob]], the career criminal [[Snake Jailbird]], as well as organized crime. 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 when they paid a bribe to police officers [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Eddie and Lou|Eddie and Lou]] to smuggle alcohol into the city during the reinstating of prohibition <ref name="Amendment" />
Springfield is located in a state that retains the [[death penalty]] by [[electric chair]], by catapult<ref name="Amendment" /> , the [[guillotine]],<ref>{{cite episode|title =Day of the Jackanapes|episodelink=Day of the Jackanapes|series =The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Jean, Al; Marcantel, Michael|network=Fox Boadcasting Company|airdate=2001-02-18|season=12|number=13}}</ref> and [[gas chamber]]. Penitentiaries located in Springfield are The Charles 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).

==People and culture==
===Arts and entertainment===
Springfield boasts an opera house, an outdoor [[amphitheater]], an [[arboretum]], a vibrant [[jazz]] scene and was previously regarded as the entertainment capital of its state.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Krusty Gets Kancelled|episodelink=Krusty Gets Kancelled|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Swartzwelder, John; Silverman, David|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=1993-05-13|season=04|number=22}}</ref> There is also an unusually high number of museums, including Springfield Museum (which features the world's largest [[cubic zirconium]]), Springfield Knowledgeum, Springfield Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Swordfish, Springsonian Museum, and a [[postage stamp|stamp]] museum. It was also once home to a concert hall designed by Frank Gehry which promptly became a prison. Springfield based rock band, Sadgasm, created a new style of music known as [[grunge]] in the 90's.

===Media===
{{main|Media in The Simpsons}}
*'''KBBL Broadcasting Inc.''' serves as the major media outlet, owning at least three 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 Pye|Arnie Pye]] ('in the Sky') on the news. It also airs a children's show featuring Krusty the Clown, [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Sideshow Mel|Sideshow Mel]], and formerly featured now criminal [[Sideshow Bob]].
:*[[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Bill and Marty|Bill & Marty]] host the morning show on '''KBBL-FM 102.5'''.
:*'''KBBL 970 AM''' carries a talk format including conservative host [[List of celebrities in The Simpsons#Birchibald "Birch" T. Barlow|Birchibald "Birch" T. Barlow]] as well as a sports talk program, Jock Squawk.
:*'''QueBBL 640 AM''' carries a Spanish-language format.
*'''KUDD 570 AM''' is a Country radio station located in Spittle County, which can also be heard in Springfield.
*'''KZUG 530 AM'''
*'''Channel Ocho''' is a Spanish-language television station whose most notable personality, [[Bumblebee Man]], stars in a slapstick soap-opera.
*'''The Springfield Shopper''' is a city newspaper.

===Sports===
====Baseball====
The town is home to the Springfield Isotopes, an [[minor league baseball|AA minor league baseball]] team. 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]]. Isotope Player Buck Mitchell's wife has stripped for the crowd trying to promote her new CD during a game.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Homer and Marge Turn a Couple Play|episodelink=Homer and Marge Turn a Couple Play|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Anderson, Bob; Cohen, Joel H.|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2006-05-21|season=17|number=22}}</ref>

====Other sports====
*Springfield has a basketball and hockey arena, which is home to the Springfield Ice-O-Topes hockey team. The town may also have a [[WNBA]] franchise which also plays at the facility.
*Springfield also has a large soccer field. At one time, the Portuguese and Mexican soccer teams played in that arena in a match.
*''Springfield Speedway'', (an [[oval track]] where [[stock car]] races are held),
*''Springfield Downs'', (a horse racing track), and a dog track.
*Association of Springfield Semi-Pro Boxers.
*NFL team, the Meltdowns, designed by Homer.

===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'.

==Sister Cities==
*[[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]] was the only known [[sister city]] to Springfield, however it was, they sent a letter to Springfield stating how they no longer want to be Springfield's sister city. After Mayor Quimby read the letter to the public, an Afghan man is then seen ripping a flag to shreds exclaiming that "I have no sister city!". <ref>{{cite episode|title=Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays|episodelink=Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays|series=The Simpsons|serieslink=The Simpsons|credits=Anderson, Bob; Vitti, Jon|network=Fox Broadcasting Company|airdate=2004-01-04|season=15|number=8}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:17, 30 July 2008

City of Springfield
A panoramic view of Springfield as seen in The Simpsons Movie.
A panoramic view of Springfield as seen in The Simpsons Movie.
Motto: 
"A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man" - "Springfield: Good" [2]
Country United States
StateUnknown
CountySpringfield County [1]
Founded1796
FounderJebediah Springfield
Incorporated1796
Government
 • MayorJoe Quimby (D)
 • Police chiefClancy Wiggum
Elevation
[3]
1,582 ft (482 m)
Population
[3]
 • Total
158,962
Area code(s)636, 939
Websitewww.thesimpsons.com

Springfield is the fictional city in which the animated American sitcom The Simpsons is set. Springfield is a mid-sized city in an unknown state. The geography of Springfield and its surroundings are flexible, changing to address whatever an episode’s plot calls for.[4] In The Simpsons' universe, Time magazine is said to have done a cover story on Springfield entitled "America's Worst City;"[5] Newsweek is said to have characterized the city as "America's Crud Bucket".[6]

There are no geographical coordinates or references to US states that might identify which part of the country it represents. Nevertheless, fans have tried to determine the town's location by taking the town's characteristics, surrounding geography, and nearby landmarks as clues. Whenever an episode attempts to show or say what state it is in, the audience is somehow prevented from learning what is revealed. In one episode Lisa Simpson says that the location is a mystery and instructs the viewer to follow the clues to figure it out.[7] As a response, the show has become intentionally evasive in regard to Springfield's location.

Creation

The name Springfield was chosen by Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, as the setting for the show because it is one of the most common place-names in the United States.[8] The town was partly inspired by Melonville, the town in Second City Television, which featured a large cast of recurring characters. Groening liked the idea of a town that was its own mini-universe and partially based The Simpsons on it.[9]

Well, for me, SCTV was such a huge hit...But the idea of creating a show where the locale—in SCTV's case, Melonville—was populated with all these different characters that kept on running into each other, and it was a whole world, and you could imagine all sorts of other things going on in the world...And I was hoping that would happen to Springfield. And back on The Tracey Ullman Show, I tried to begin to build the world with Krusty the Clown, and Itchy & Scratchy, and the various little cereals and things like that. And then it certainly expanded beyond my wildest dreams.[9]

The uncertain location of Springfield is a running gag in the series. There are 34 states in the United States that have at least one community with that name.[10] Episodes frequently make fun of the fact that Springfield's state has never been revealed, by adding further conflicting descriptions, obscuring onscreen map representations, and interrupting conversational references. There has been much speculation on the location of the state. Though the state in which Springfield appears is never actually stated, numerous episodes discuss other states, thereby implying that Springfield is not located in them. A web page discussing Springfield's location states that, due to the many contradictory clues, it is impossible for Springfield to exist in any set location.[11]

David Silverman, a director for the Simpsons, has claimed that Springfield is in the fictional state of "North Tacoma" (or "North Takoma"). This is substantiated by the state abbreviations NT and TA used within the show. However, this has never been officially confirmed in any canonical episode of The Simpsons or by other Simpsons producers.[citation needed]

In The Simpsons Movie, the idea that Springfield cannot exist for real is further emphasized when Ned Flanders identifies the four bordering states as Ohio, Nevada, Maine and Kentucky, most of which are vastly separated from each other, while Kentucky and Ohio border each other with no state in between.[12] Also during the closing credits,there is a line which reads "Filmed on location in Springfield, (-empty space-)." To promote the movie, various towns and cities across the United States called Springfield competed to hold the premiere of the movie in their town. Springfields from many different states entered the competition.[13] The town of Springfield, Vermont was elected to host the movie's premiere.[14][15] In response to this, Groening revealed that he had always intended Springfield to represent Springfield, Oregon, and his hometown of Beaverton.[16]


References

  1. ^ Reardon, Jim; Swartzwelder, John (1992-03-12). "Dog of Death". The Simpsons. Season 3. Episode 19. Fox Broadcasting Company. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Simpsons Series 19 - Episode 16 - s19e16
  3. ^ a b Gould, Dana; Michels, Pete (2002-05-22). "Papa's Got a Brand New Badge". The Simpsons. Season 13. Episode 22. Fox Broadcasting Company. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Turner, p. 30
  5. ^ Archer, Wes; O'Brien, Conan (1992-11-12). "New Kid on the Block". The Simpsons. Season 4. Episode 8. Fox Broadcasting Company. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Greaney, Dan; Kirkland, Mark (1996-05-19). "Summer of 4 Ft. 2". The Simpsons. Season 7. Episode 25. Fox Broadcasting Company. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Bendetson, Bob; Moore, Steven Dean (2002-03-31). "Blame It On Lisa". The Simpsons. Season 13. Episode 15. Fox Broadcasting Company. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Simpsons launch hits Springfield BBC News retrieved July 21 2007
  9. ^ a b Groening, Matt (2006). The Simpsons The Complete Eighth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment" (DVD). 20th Century Fox. {{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  10. ^ Basile, Nancy. "Where Is Springfield on "The Simpsons?"" (html). About.com. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  11. ^ Hughes, Sam. "Where Is The Simpsons' Springfield?" (html). Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  12. ^ Richmond, Ray (2007-05-11). "Springfield of dreams" (html). The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-06-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Associated Press (2007-06-08). "Springfield hopes to host 'Simpsons' premiere" (html). Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2007-06-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ Kalkstein, Meghan (2007-07-27). "Groening: Springfield is the real deal!". KVAL. CBS. Retrieved 2007-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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