The Simpsons, Springfield location in real life.

[styley]

There is always this debate about where Springfield is really located but I remember looking up Springfields in America in an atlas a few years ago and there is actually a Springfield located about 5 miles from a place called Shelbyville, which as any fan would know is Springfields neighbours in The Simpsons. I can't actually remember which state it was in at the moment though.

[Metz]

Not sure but there's one in Illinois ?

[kempie]

According to Rand McNally road atlas, 19 states in the US contain a town/city named Springfield: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia.

States that contain a Shelbyville: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee.

Although near neighbours, I believe that we don't know for certain that Shelbyville and Springfield are in the same state, but the states that contain them both are: Illinois (59 miles), Kentucky (46 miles), Missouri (237 miles), and Tennessee (84 miles).

[SMP]

There are 13 Springfields in the US. Springfield Vermont has just been chosen for the international premier of the movie.

[styley]

It's Illinois. Check this out. http://maps.live.com/?q=Springfield%2C+Illinois&FORM=MSNH&mkt=en-US Zoom out a bit and go southeast of springfield and northwest of Route 57. Look to the bottom of the Y shaped lake and you'll see Shelbyville. Proof, if anyine actually cares. Which they probably don't.

[styley]

Or just actually go here "http://maps.live.com/?q=Springfield%2C+Illinoi s&FORM=MSNH&mkt=en-US" cos I know that link won't work.

[littleoldme]

Although the exact location has never been confirmed, in at least two episodes, an attempt has been made to show the location of Springfield on a map of the US, only to be hastily interrupted or blocked out. Eagle-eyed viewers would have noticed in both cases that the general area being pointed out before interruption was in the North of the country latitude wise, slightly east of midway longitude - in other words not far from Chicago, which would back up the Illinois theory.

[kempie]

Yes, Illinois is the 59 mile option listed above...

Springfield, IL → Shelbyville, IL

...and here is Kentucky with 46 miles...

Springfield, KY → Shelbyville, KY

(you should also notice that Shelbyville, KY is about 7 miles from Simpsonville)

[Whickerman]

this may help, but it differs from the other theories...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-200732056 7,00.html

[littleoldme]

I'd hardly say Kentucky was in the North of the country - more East Midlands, like an American Leicestershire (now there's a thought). Although it does share a border with Illinois, it's a bit too far down.

I remember the episodes in question suggesting Springfield being near Lake Michigan, which again back up the Illinois theory. As Whickerman says, Vermont (certainly Northerly enough but way too far east in my book) has won the competition to hold the premiere.

Of course, we may all be being a little presumptuous thinking that the town is based on one of the 13 real Springfields at all.

[kempie]

I wasn't making the case that the Simpson's Springfield was in Kentucky (it isn't based on any one Springfield but was chosen as the name precisely because there are so many), only that it was the one situated closest to a Shelbyville.

BTW how can there be only 13 Springfields in the US if they exist in more than 19 states?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield

[littleoldme]

Alright then, 19. I haven't checked, I just noticed SMP's answer.

[bimbo123456]

the premier is in Springfield Vermont!! thought you might like to know

[Sarcasticool]

As a matter of interest: There is also a little alpine township of Springfield here in New Zealand. In the Canterbury region of the South Island.