Springfield (The Simpsons)

Springfield is the fictional city where the TV series The Simpsons is set, founded by Jebediah Springfield, located near Shelbyville.

Related Topics:
Fictional city - TV - The Simpsons - Jebediah Springfield - Shelbyville

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Springfield seems to be a small city rather than a megalopolis. Its features include one nuclear power plant, an elementary school, a minor league baseball stadium, an airport, an ocean harbor, a downtown district, a ghetto, several specialized shopping districts, and Moe's, a bar run by Moe Syzslak. Springfield was nearly chosen as the host for the Summer Olympic Games, until Bart Simpson's antics angered representatives from the IOC.

Related Topics:
Nuclear power plant - Elementary school - Moe's - Bart Simpson - IOC

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The location of Springfield is a long-running joke in the series, based in the fact that 34 states in the United States have at least one community with that name. Matt Groening, the creator of the Simpsons, grew up in Eugene, Oregon. From Groening's childhood perspective, Springfield, Oregon was "the next town over". Groening also lived in Portland, Oregon. The show contains several references to features in Portland - Terwilliger Street (Robert Underdunk Terwilliger a.k.a. Sideshow Bob), Lovejoy Street and Park (Reverend Timothy Lovejoy is the pastor of the Simpsons' church; Asa Lovejoy was a partner in the 1843 land grant that became Portland, Oregon), and Northeast Flanders St. where the signs say "NE Flanders St." Some people have vandalized them to say "NED Flanders St." (Ned Flanders).

Related Topics:
Springfield - United States - Matt Groening - Eugene - Oregon - Springfield, Oregon - Portland - Sideshow Bob - Reverend Timothy Lovejoy - Asa Lovejoy - Ned Flanders

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While Springfield, Illinois has a Shelbyville 30 miles to the southeast, and a nuclear power plant 40 miles to the northeast, there has not been any indication that it is 'the' Springfield, and could be coincidental. However, The Simpsons does make a direct reference to the Illinois city; in episode where Homer is in a graveyard at night digging a plot, discarded dirt covers up the grave of Adlai Stevenson (a prominent Illinois politician and 2-time US presidential candidate). Springfield, Massachusetts is also referenced since Mayor Quimby and his political machine have similarities to the powerful Kennedy family.

Related Topics:
Springfield, Illinois - Adlai Stevenson - Springfield, Massachusetts - Mayor Quimby - Kennedy family

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In the episode, "Sweets and Sour Marge", Tennessee is referenced as being "south of the border". Kentucky is north of Tennessee and has both a Springfield and Shelbyville.

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