Columnist: Springfield, Illinois Is The Simpsons' Springfield

By Amy Cavanaugh in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 20, 2013 6:00PM

Remember a few years ago, when Springfields across the country were vying to win the premiere screening of the Simpsons movie? And then creator Matt Groening told Smithsonian magazine:

Springfield was named after Springfield, Oregon. The only reason is that when I was a kid, the TV show “Father Knows Best” took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown. 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.

Well now Dave Bakke, a columnist at The State Journal-Register in Springfield, presents evidence that it's really Springfield, Illinois: a video series “A Day In The Life of Yeardley Smith."

Smith, who voices Lisa Simpson, pulls up to the security guard at the studio, and presents her Lisa ID—and it says 69 Old Plumtree Blvd, Springfield, IL.

Some sore loser, most likely living in Oregon or Vermont, will point out that we don’t have an “Old Plumtree Lane” here, the address on Lisa’s ID card. But hi-diddley-doo, neighbor, that’s the genius of it, don’t you see?

Duff beers all around!