'Simpsons' Springfield revealed to be based in Oregon

[Run BJM]

“Simpsons” fans got the answer to a long-debated question about the 22-year-old animated TV show starring Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie: Where the heck is Springfield? The “Anytown, USA” city could be in almost any state of the union, from Maine, to Ohio, to Vermont, to Virginia.
But it turns out, the show’s town is named for (drum roll) Springfield, Oregon. Oregon! The creator of the cartoon, Matt Groening, revealed the location in an interview with Smithsonian magazine.

Immediately, the Web exploded, and Matt Groening became a trending topic on Twitter, with comments flying. Eli Braden tweeted, “No wonder we never see them pumping their own gas.” Ubersocial crowed, “Eat my shorts, Illinois!” The Oregonian piled on: “Better luck next time Ohio, Mass., Illinois, Missouri, etc.”
In the interview, the 58-year-old recounted that he had named the town after the TV show “Father Knows Best,” which took place in a town called Springfield. Groening figured it was near where he grew up in Portland, Oregon (which, now that we think about it, was a huge hint).

The "Life in Hell" creator told the magazine, “When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name. I also figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, ‘This will be cool; everyone will think it’s their Springfield.’ And they do.” Or, they did.

When asked why he never spoke of the real town before, he explained, “I don’t want to ruin it for people, you know? Whenever people say it’s Springfield, Ohio, or Springfield, Massachusetts, or Springfield, wherever, I always go, ‘Yup, that’s right.’" But now we know, it’s not.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/-simpsons--springfield-location-revealed.html

lol

 

[THE HCP]

We've known this for 20 years though. When we have streets here called Flanders..... LoveJoy and Simpson and the creator is from here it's kind of obvious.

 

[Run BJM]

I think you underestimate how little the rest of the world knows (and by 'knows' I mostly mean 'cares') about Oregon.

While google searching Springfield, Oregon I'm loling at Florence, Oregon, Oakland, Oregon, Dallas, Oregon, and most of all at "Coos Bay" Oregon.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think you underestimate how little the rest of the world knows (and by 'knows' I mostly mean 'cares') about Oregon.

While google searching Springfield, Oregon I'm loling at Florence, Oregon, Oakland, Oregon, Dallas, Oregon, and most of all at "Coos Bay" Oregon.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

On a serious note, I think the city should do what Minneapolis did for the creator of Charlie Brown:

'The Fields' park going up in the Pearl Dist. would be a great spot.

No better location, yes?

 

[Denny Crane]

We've known this for 20 years though. When we have streets here called Flanders..... LoveJoy and Simpson and the creator is from here it's kind of obvious.

Hey Homer, when did you quit your job running the nuclear power plant?

 

[44Thrilla]

Springfield's real claim to fame is Eric Millegan, who apparently is from there.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Springfield's real claim to fame is Eric Millegan, who apparently is from there.

Who is that?

And I thought their real claim to fame was the Thurston High School shooting... too soon?

Anyone who knows anything about The Simpsons should have known it was based in Oregon. So many current events that were happening in Oregon are story lines that show up in The Simpsons months later.

I remember watching the area codes one (where people across the street have a different area code) with some family members from out of town. They were like, "This makes no sense. Why would the system be set up like that? This is unrealistic and just plain dumb." Of course, when I explained the (at the time) recent change to our phone system here in Oregon.....

 

[44Thrilla]

Who is that?

One of the best actors of his generation

 

[speeds]

So which town is the backwater, cousin-loving Shelbyville?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So which town is the backwater, cousin-loving Shelbyville?

Pleasant Hill, Oregon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Hill,_Oregon

Serious answer.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

One of the best actors of his generation

Is he from the old days?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Pleasant Hill, Oregon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Hill,_Oregon

Serious answer.

I was going to guess Canby.... Where your sister "canby" your wife.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

So which town is the backwater, cousin-loving Shelbyville?

good question!

i briefly lived on 117 acres in boring, oregon, and went to boring upper grade school (bugs), would have been a decent guess

 

[barfo]

I think you underestimate how little the rest of the world knows (and by 'knows' I mostly mean 'cares') about Oregon.

While google searching Springfield, Oregon I'm loling at Florence, Oregon, Oakland, Oregon, Dallas, Oregon, and most of all at "Coos Bay" Oregon.

You ought to love Wanker's Corner, Oregon, then.

Another favorite: Whorehouse Meadow. At some point a bureaucrat decided the name was too racy and renamed it "Naughty Girl Meadow".

barfo

 

[Eastoff]

Which town is Capital City? The obvious answer is Salem, but it looks nothing like Capital City in the show. I would argue it's Portland.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Did you guys know there is actually an Idiotville, OR? Kid you not. It's out along Hwy. 6 on the way to the coast when cutting from the 26 to Tillamook.

(Now, let the jokes start as to whom on this board is actually from there.)

 

[44Thrilla]

Is he from the old days?

no lol, it's Kingspeed. I saw his name on the wikipedia page for Springfield.

 

[THE HCP]

Idiotville is like Airforce One.....You know, whatever plane the Pres is on, that plane is considered AF1. Any town MIXUM is currently in is considered Idiotville! HCP is out!

 

[Denny Crane]

HCP - here's a new avatar for you.

It's half cracker.

 

[Haakzilla]

...Homer does remind me of a Duck fan

 

[KingSpeed]

I grew up in Springfield, Oregon. My parents and brother still live there.