Why Are There So Many Springfields?

Mr. Beat explains why there are so many Springfields. It is, after all, such a random name for a city. And Loren from Lorenmakesart helps him tell the story. Speaking of which...

My favorite Lorenmakesart videos:
The Soda Barf Story (Dye EdCoak and Men-Toes):

Being Average Height:

Minisode: Caffeine:

Being In High School Forensics/Speech and Drama:

Sources:

If you are watching this video right now, and you are an American, there is a very good chance that you live in Springfield. Congratulations! You live in the same city as The Simpsons! Or do you?

If you Google “Most Common American City Name,” “Springfield” is what pops up. But guess what? GOOGLE IS WRONG. What is wrong with you, Google?

The most common American city name is actually “Riverside.” Only four states- Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Oklahoma don’t have a city named Riverside. There’s plenty of
other places named “Riverside” in those states, but not cities. There are 186 cities named “Riverside” in the United States. Worldwide, Riverside ain’t got nothing on San Jose. There are 1,716 cities named “San Jose” around the world. Yes way, Jose.

But this video was about Springfield. Wasn’t it? I honestly forgot. Ok, I think it was. Yes. Springfield. Springfield is still a popular name for cities and towns. There are 41 of them in 36 states. “Washington”, named after that George Washington dude, is the only other name of a city or town other than “Riverside” that outnumbers “Springfield.” (chants) We’re number 3! We’re number 3!

There are three Springfields with more than 100,000 people. One of them is a state capital. Wisconsin has four of them. The awesome person animating this video currently lives in one of them.

It makes sense that there’s a bunch of Riversides because there are a bunch of cities and towns beSIDE RIVERS (and people are generally not that creative with names). It also makes sense that there are a lot of Washingtons because Washington is probably the most popular American that has ever existed.

But Springfield? It’s a bit more random. Why are there so many Springfields?

Let’s go back to the beginning. The oldest Springfield I could find existed at least as far back as the 1500s in Essex County, England. In 1590, a dude named William Pynchon (PIN chun) was born there, and he was mighty proud of that little village. So proud of it that later on he founded a town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 and named it, you guessed it...Springfield. This town would end up becoming one of the most important and influential cities in early American history. It played an early role in the Industrial Revolution, and was known as a center for technological innovation. Kind of like the Silicone Valley of the early 1800s. It was known as “The City of Progress,” as lots of stuff was invented there that still exists today. Today Springfield, Massachusetts is known as The City of Firsts. Basketball, postcards, dog shows, and the Republican Party all originated in the city.

[iammrbeat]

Update: Yes, I know I mispronounced "Essex." Go ahead and comment to remind me about that, though. I always appreciate it when the internet keeps me in my place.
Also, do you live in a Springfield? Where are my Springfield peeps at? I want to hear from you. Don't forget to tell me the state!

[livsmile]

There's a Riverside in California that's in the middle of the desert

[marshalldcarpenter]

"The Simpson's" Springfield may have been named to give everyone a feeling it's their Springfield. However, just about every character is named after locations in Portland, Oregon, Matt Groening's hometown.

[burninghammerstudios]

186 riversides in the us good lord the mail must be crazy mixed up. trying to mail something to riverside CA and it ends up in the other riverside CA

[technicality]

I'm proud to live in one of those 1, 716 San Jose's. Great video!

[newperve]

"Do you know the way to San Jose?"
"You'll have to be WAY more specific."

[juanmonge]

Matt Groenig used to watch "Father knows best" as a kid. Which was set in the city of Springfield. There was a city close to his by that name, so he thought that was where that family lived.

[Justin-Hill-]

There are only two places named Townsville on the entire planet:
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Townsville, North Carolina, United States

...and there are two places named Townville (without the 's') on the entire planet:
Townville, Pennsylvania, United States
Townville, South Carolina, United States

Not many communities can lay claim to sharing their name with the fictional American city in which The Powerpuff Girls are from.

[Ibelikemj]

If you're curious. Springfield was founded as Agawam in 1636, it wasn't renamed Springfield until 1641 when splitting from Connecticut because Pynchon was reasonable with the Indians with fair trade over the Connecticunts who sent a guy with one hand with money and the other a sword. So it was renamed in his honor...after his hometown.

Plus the author Thomas Pynchon is a distant great grandson if you're interested.

[JKDC]

From Springfield, Illinois here: I sincerely believe Springfield, Illinois has the supreme claim
to being the Springfield of the Simpsons. I mean hey, we got a dirty (practically radioactive) lake and next to that lake we have a massive power plant! And don’t forget the numerous corrupt politicians that exist in our capitol building!

[Pippipscottpip]

I am from Essex and I absolutely love the way you pronounced totally wrong but very funny and the first time I have ever heard it pronounced that way!

[MrBettsClass]

Great video. Loren's animations are fantastic.

[CynicalHistorian]

Of course Riverside gets it. Duh what do we call this place? It's by a river, so I've got the coolest name possible! I love places that get that treatment twice; Cuesta Grade, Laguna Lake, Tabletop Mesa, and best of all Cerro Obispo being called Bishop's Peak as if it's a different name (all in San Luis Obispo).

BTW, the animation made this awesome!

[whereisamine]

Omg your views and subscribers would skyrocket if Lauren did all of you animation. The quality of you content + her animations would basically make you the next CGP Grey

[Auscan_Octrice]

As me being a person who lives in Springfield, ma I can confirm we are a very historical city but we were better then than now...

[richardstuckmeyer]

How can one state have 4 Springfields? Isn't that kinda confusing? BTW, LOVE your videos.

[semipenguin]

I used to live in Joplin, MO. I always enjoyed going to Springfield. If you travel south of Springfield, you'll get to Ozark. There you'll find Lambert's. Home if the thrown rolls 😊

[GeneralBulldog]

Aye. I live in Springfield, IL the state capital. Fun fact: the city's original name was Calhoun after former Vice President John C. Calhoun. It was later renamed Springfield in the 1830's. Local history says it was renamed because of Spring Creek (in nearby Macon County) and founder John "Kelly's Field" other sources say it was renamed because of the famous armory of Springfield, MA. Also fun fact, Springfield Armory, Inc. taking its name from same armory is a guns manufacture in Illinois, just not Springfield but rather in Geneseo to the northwest.

[jacklynbrown]

I live in Springfield Mo. too😃👌👌 was also born there too.

[marshallleevalentine]

I actually used to live like 20 minutes away from Springfield MA