Springfield: the guide to the Simpsons' town

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No state officially hosts it, and that is exactly what Matt Groening wanted. This guided tour explains the origin of the name — a tribute to Springfield, Oregon, chosen also because it is one of the most common in the country — then takes in the mythical settings: Mr. Burns' power plant, Moe's Tavern, the Kwik-E-Mart, Quimby's town hall. It sheds light on a very French detail, the Duff beer logo blurred on television under the Loi Évin. Only one mystery will remain: the address.

Which state is Springfield in? The question has haunted fans for more than thirty years — and that is exactly what Matt Groening wanted.

Nuclear power plant, Moe's Tavern, Kwik-E-Mart, Duff beer… the Simpsons' town is a character in its own right. A guided tour of the most famous — and least findable — city on television. You will meet colourful figures there, starting with Captain McAllister, the gruff old sea dog of the harbour. You will also meet a thousand silhouettes, like the squeaky-voiced teen, eternal employee of the town's odd jobs.

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The town whose state will stay a mystery

It is the show's greatest running gag: the state Springfield is in is never revealed. Conceived as an "Anytown, USA" everyone can identify with, the town deliberately piles up contradictory clues — to the point where, in The Simpsons Movie, the family itself names neighbouring states that are geographically incompatible.

So where does the name come from? Matt Groening has explained that he chose it in tribute to Springfield, Oregon: as a child, he believed that the Springfield of the series Father Knows Best was next door to his home town of Portland. He also picked the name because it is one of the most common in the United States — so every viewer would think they recognised their Springfield. But beware: the show's town is not located in Oregon; only the origin of the name is.

🧱 Groening picked one of the most common town names in the country so that every viewer would think they recognised their own Springfield: with our Simpsons building bricks, you can build yours brick by brick, right on your desk.

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Springfield's cult locations

The town is full of settings that have become mythical:

• The nuclear power plant — owned by Mr. Burns, where Homer works as a safety inspector, and famous for its… questionable maintenance.
• Moe's Tavern — Homer, Lenny and Carl's favourite bar, run by the grumpy Moe Szyslak.
• The Kwik-E-Mart — the all-hours convenience store, run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
• Springfield Elementary School — headed by Principal Seymour Skinner, where Bart and Lisa study.
• The Krusty Burger — Krusty the Clown's fast-food chain, an open parody of the fast-food giants.
• The First Church of Springfield — Reverend Timothy Lovejoy's parish.
• The town hall — the stronghold of Mayor Joe Quimby, a corrupt official with a JFK-flavoured accent.

🏖️ For your own summer swims, far from the ecological disasters of Springfield lake, spread out our Simpsons beach towels by the water.

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Duff beer and French censorship

Impossible to talk about Springfield without its national drink: Duff beer, a parody of cheap American lagers, is Homer's favourite. Created by Matt Groening, it has its muscular mascot, Duffman, and its slogan, "Can't Get Enough of That Wonderful Duff".

A little-known detail on the French side: while the name "Duff" is kept in the French version, the brand's logo is blurred on television (notably on W9, since 2012), in application of the Loi Évin governing alcohol advertising. Springfield therefore passes through censorship as soon as it crosses the Atlantic.

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Shelbyville and the neighbouring towns

Springfield has a hereditary rival: Shelbyville. According to the legend Grampa tells in "Lemon of Troy" (season 6), the neighbouring town was founded by Shelbyville Manhattan after a falling-out with Jebediah Springfield, the founding father. That same episode, with its famous lemon tree theft, feeds the hereditary rivalry between the two towns.

🍋 In "Lemon of Troy", the famous lemon tree theft fuels the hereditary rivalry between Springfield and Shelbyville; you, on the other hand, can carry your lemons home from the market in our Simpsons tote bags, with no need to take the whole tree along.

Further afield lies Capital City, presented as the capital and largest city of the state (itself never named) — keeping up, to the very end, the most deliberate geographical vagueness on television. The town also has its thrill-seeking setting: Springfield Gorge.

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Summary table

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FAQ

• Which state is Springfield in?
  None officially: the show deliberately keeps up the mystery, with contradictory geographical clues. It is one of its greatest gags.
• Where does the name Springfield come from?
  Matt Groening chose it in reference to Springfield, Oregon, and because it is one of the most common town names in the United States. The show's town, however, is not in Oregon.
• What are Springfield's best-known locations?
  Mr. Burns' nuclear power plant, Moe's Tavern, Apu's Kwik-E-Mart, the elementary school, the Krusty Burger and Mayor Quimby's town hall.
• Why is the Duff beer logo blurred in France?
  In application of the Loi Évin on alcohol advertising: the name stays, but the logo is masked on television.
• Which town is Springfield's rival?
  Shelbyville, founded according to legend by Shelbyville Manhattan after a falling-out with Jebediah Springfield.

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Conclusion

Impossible to find on a map but familiar to millions of viewers, Springfield is far more than a setting: it is the beating heart of The Simpsons. From Moe's Tavern to the Kwik-E-Mart by way of Luigi's trattoria, every corner of the town tells a piece of the most cult series on television. Its streets are home to unforgettable residents, such as the crazy cat lady, who hurls her felines at passers-by.

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