The Simpsons just revealed something really big. (spoiler hidden)

[Deja Q]

Below:

Springfield is seen in being in the vicinity of Illinois; as seen during the opening credits as the cameraview keeps rising from Homer's driveway up to the end of the galaxies, ala "Contact"'s (1998) opening scene.

[SmileyBoy]

1. SPOILER

Springfield is on the Mississippi River!!!

[Deja Q]

2. That's disrespectful.

Worthy of our opponents, forgive me.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I really think it was Springfield, IL...

That's the way it looked to me...:shrug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. since when is the Sangamon River the Mississippi?

I've seen both, and trust me, they are quite different.

[Cooley Hurd]

12. After looking at the opening repeatedly...

...it appears that Springfield is not directly on the Mississippi r, but near it. Like Springfield, IL...

Oh, and I've seen the Sangamon plenty of times from the air - I used to fly from Peoria to Springfield alot (in the Cessna I was piloting). I'm familiar with both rivers...

[eyesroll]

5. It can't be, though, because there is a separate Capitol City. nt

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. its SPRINGFIELD NT, according to homers license

so its prolly Tenn.

[rooboy]

7. But in the "Behind the Laughter" episode...

the Simpsons are described as a Kentucky family.

[JVS]

9. The behind the laughter episode broadcast in my town said SW Missouri

I think that they geve different parts of the country different answers to the location question so that it would become even less clear where it really is

[hippiechick]

8. There's a Springfield Indiana, about 10 miles from the Miss. River

lower third of the state-ish.

[DODI]

10. It seems to be a composite of Springfields.

The bridge they show is similar to the Memorial Bridge in Springfield, MA.

[Sven77]

11. theres a springfield in every state in the USA

theres a springfield in every state in the USA, they chose the name on purpose.

[Throckmorton]

15. No Springfield Connecticut

Sorry

[terrya]

13. Isn't Springfield (on "The Simpsons") also on the oceanfront?

I distinctly recall that Springfield, on "The Simpsons" is right off the ocean...in the episode where the family dog becomes the spokesdog for "Duff Beer"

The location of Springfield is deliberately meant to be confusing. No one will ever know where Springfield is actually located.

[huellewig]

14. Springfield, Oregon

One bridge out of town. Yep it goes to Eugene. Power plant is Weyerhaeuser.

And.

"Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Matt Groening did not take a particular interest in school, which is what originaly turned him towards drawing."

----Looks like I was wrong, sort of..----

http://www.portlandtribune.com/simpsons/

"Springfield, Ore. Helped inspire the name of the Simpsons' hometown. Growing up in Portland, Groening thought Springfield, the Anderson family's hometown on TV's "Father Knows Best," was the Springfield in Oregon. Also chosen because of the name's ubiquity."

Also:
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archold.cgi?id=12392

[Modem Butterfly]

18. Most of the characters are named after streets as well

Such as Reverend Lovejoy.

Also, the statue of Jebediah Springfield is a near-duplicate of the Pioneer Father statue on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene (the next town over from Springfield).

Also, other than the University of Sprinfield, the nearest school is Shelbyville A&M, whose mascot is a pig (Univeristy of Springfield = The University of Oreogn, Shelbyville A&M = OSU, a total cow college).

I could go on and on. But in the interest of not being boring, I shall resist.

[TyeDye75]

16. Springfeild also has

a coastline, a canyon and a 100 mile wide oil rich desert......

[asthmaticeog]

17. And apparently a glacier... n/t