With a few things in common — power plant, coastline with a large rock, etc. — some people believed that San Luis Obispo County had inspired the fictional Springfield portrayed in “The Simpsons.” But a 2003 Trib story with one of the shows producers and writers, Mike Reiss, ended that speculation.
“San Luis Obispo has less to do with ‘The Simpsons,’ than any other town in America,” he said.
But that still left the mystery unanswered: What town was show creator Matt Groening thinking about when he decided to have the Simpsons live in Springfield?
For years, communities all over the country — particularly those named Springfield — have wanted to know the answer. And now, finally, Groening has given in.
“Springfield was named after Springfield, Oregon,” Groening reveals in the latest issue of Smithsonian magazine. “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.”
That might have been obvious, given that Groening did grow up nearby. Still, Groening admits to being coy about the town’s inspiration.
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