Are we ever going to really know what real town Springfield, USA in the Simpsons is based on?

Question

34 states have a Springfield. The wikipedia article on Springfield, USA, gives some good points as to what state the Springfield in the Simpson’s may be based on. But many times in the show, there are little hints as to where they live, like Homers social security number (the first 3 numbers, are the same as California’s), and in another episode Homer crosses out all the states he is banned from, all are crossed out but Arizona and North Dakota but Homer crosses out Arizona because it smells funny there. They've drove just a short distance to Canada (everyone in Springfield knows O Canada), but they have also drove a short distance to Mexico, and they live near the ocean, but east coast or west coast? There are so many more hints as to what state they may live in.

What real life Springfield and in what state, do you think the town in the show is based on and do you think we will ever find out?

By the way ... I know the Simpsons are not real (rolls eyes), but apprantly the creators of the show based the town on a real Springfiled in the US.

Answer 1

I always assumed it was Illinois. Lots of nuke plants around Chicago. The people there talk like the Simpsons and their friends.

Answer 2

Its based on Springfield Illinois. Some of the earlier shows make reference to it... and citites close to springfield Ill.

Answer 3

I always thought it was loosely based on Springfield Oregon....which is right next to Eugene.

Answer 4

I have read its Springfield, Oregon, because that is Matt Groening's home town.

Answer 5

One of the writers was from Chelmsford, Massachusetts and included several businesses in episodes.

Answer 6

if you listen to the commentaries, one of them states that they purposly picked springfield so it was a mystery.

( i think its in illinios because there is a town called shelbyville near there..)

Answer 7

as far as i know, it is in Kentucky