With fuel prices down across North America and summer approaching, are you maybe looking to experience a road trip? I live in Canada and have a massive beautiful country of my own to discover. But, there’s just something about the Great American Road Trip that’s always been intriguing.
Actually, it’s easily explained. Canada might be a huge country but it’s all in a straight line. There’s very few options when going east to west or west to east by car. Much of the country is inaccessible to your average minivan.
With the U.S., however, you have the added dimension. You can go east to west, sure. But you can also do a full road trip north to south. There’s a magic about getting in your car and knowing you really can drive for the probably the full day in any direction and remain within the country.
The thing, too, is that Canadians mostly live within a short drive of the United States and are definitely bombarded with their news and advertising. We know the U.S. and are as comfortable within those borders as we are within our own. It has been speculated many times in the past the Canadians may even know more about American geography in general than Americans…
So, I’ve experienced my fair share of Great American Road Trips. Often, they were straight south to Florida during the winter. A few times, it served as a shortcut to visit siblings in Alberta. One time, it was a month long journey down to Florida, across to California by way of Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, and up the Pacific Coast to British Columbia.
That long trip round the perimeter was in 1991. Operation Desert Storm was in full swing and I spent a night camping in the middle of nowhere, Arizona waiting for the world to end. It didn’t and I continued on. That was also the second season of an animated television series called ‘The Simpsons’.
Visit Springfield, U.S.A.
What would make for an incredible Great American Road Trip would be touching down in all the U.S. cities and towns named Springfield. There are 14 cities and 10 towns with that name splashed across the country. Keep in mind, this does not include places with more to the name, like Springfield Heights or East Springfield.
The hometown of the Simpsons was named Springfield for just this fact. Matt Groening, creator of the show, banked on people in these places all thinking that it was their Springfield. They all did.
As far as Springfield’s that are considered cities, one is a state capital. Three are over the population of 100,000 and five are over 50,000. Many are country seats. The towns are quirky in that four are in the state of Wisconsin alone. Several of the towns have a population below 1,000 and are just a crossroads when viewed on Google Earth.
Why the name? The oldest Springfield in the U.S. is the one in Massachusetts. Springfield Mass was settled in 1636 and incorporated in 1852. The city was named for Springfield, a village in Essex County, England. The town in the U.K. is located northeast of London and is now part of Chelmsford. As you move west across the United States, the locations are then, in turn, named for the city in Massachusetts.
Cities Named Springfield
Springfield, Florida – Located on the Florida Panhandle, just east of Panama City, this city in Bay County has a population of around 9,000. This version of Springfield, was incorporated relatively recent in 1935.
Springfield, Georgia – Located in east central Georgia, not too far from Atlanta, Georgia, this city is included in the Savannah, GA metro area. The city is located in Effingham County and has a population of around 2,500. And, yes, there is a Springfield Elementary.
Springfield, Illinois – Not the first but one of the most important, Springfield is the state capital of Illinois. Located in Sangamon County in Central Illinois, the population of 117,000 (212,000 in the metro area) makes this the sixth largest city in the state. This Springfield was home to Abraham Lincoln for 24 years and is directly named after the city in Massachusetts.
Springfield, Kentucky – This is a small city of around 2,500 located in the central part of the state. Springfield is the seat of Washington County and was established in 1793. NFL football fans would be interested to know that this city is the birthplace of New York Giants Super Bowl winning quarterback Phil Simms.
Springfield, Massachusetts – Located in southwest Mass, this is the county seat of Hampden County. As mentioned, this is the first Springfield in the U.S. and was settled in 1636. The population sits at around 155,000 with a metro population of 700,000. This is the home of the headquarters of the American Hockey League. Springfield also has an AHL franchise called the Falcons. This city is also home to gun makers Smith & Wesson and the Basketball Hall of Fame.
We had the fortune to pass through this version of Springfield in August, 2019. It was an early morning express tour and we came away with this video:
Video edited with Corel VideoStudio Ultimate 2018.
Springfield, Michigan – Located in Calhound, County in south central Michigan, this city is part of the Battle Creek metro area. The population sits at around 5,250.
Springfield, Minnesota – Since 1873, this city has stood in south central Minnesota in Brown County. Another small Springfield, the population is around 2,200.
Springfield, Missouri – The county seat of Greene County, this city is located in the southwest part of the state. At 165,000 (metro 437,000), Springfield is the third largest city in Missouri, behind St. Louis and Kansas City. Dubbed the Queen of the Ozarks, the city was incorporated in 1838.
Springfield, Nebraska – With a population of just 1,600, this city is located in Sarpy County at the far east of the state. The city dates back to 1873. For music fans, this Springfield is the location for the Lady Gaga video ‘You and I’. Of course, Lady Gaga has made an appearance on The Simpsons.
Springfield, Ohio – The county seat of Clark County, this Springfield is located in western Ohio, near Dayton. The population is just over 60,000 with a metro total around 140,000. Founded in 1801 and incorporated as a city in 1850, this city was named the ‘Unhappiest City in America’ in a 2011 Gallup Poll.
Springfield, Oregon – Located in Lane County in northern Oregon, this city is nearly connected to Eugene. There is a population of around 60,000 and the city was incorporated in 1885. According to Matt Groening, this is the Springfield that the Simpsons live in. Would that make Eugene Shelbyville? He has also said that the fictional city is most like his hometown of Portland, Oregon.
Springfield, South Dakota – This is an interesting place, in that it mostly exists to service the Mike Durfee State Prison. Located in Bon Homme County in the southeast corner of the state, this Springfield has a population of 2,000 and as incorporated in 1881.
Springfield, Tennessee – The county seat of Robertson County, this city is located in the north central part of the state and is home to around 17,000 residents.
Springfield, Colorado – Named for the Springfield in Missouri, this city is the county seat of Baca County in the southeast corner of Colorado. The population is tiny at around 1,500 and the city was incorporated in 1889.
Towns Named Springfield
As mentioned, there are four towns named Springfield in the state of Wisconsin. Just one has a population over 1,000 and that is located in Dane County. The other three are in Jackson County, Marquette County and St. Croix County.
Perhaps the most important on your Springfield tour would be the one in Windsor County, Vermont. This is in the southeast portion of the state and has roots back to the 1700’s. In 2007, when The Simpsons Movie was released, this Springfield was chosen to host the movie’s premiere.
Other towns named Springfield are located in Louisiana, New York, South Carolina, Maine and New Hampshire.
Springfield’s in Canada?
Yes, the name is not exclusive to the United States and England. There are five Springfield’s in Canada located in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario an Prince Edward Island. We will look at those in more detail but you’ll have to wait for a future article.
