{{short description|Common place-name in the United States}} {{multiple issues| {{one source|date=July 2013}} {{refimprove|date=July 2013}} }} thumb|right|US States and territories with one or more populated places named Springfield. '''Springfield''' is a famously common place-name in the English-speaking world, especially in the United States. According to the U.S. Geological Survey there are currently 93 populated places named Springfield in the United States.<ref>[https://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/faqs.htm USGS GNIS FAQ], 12. What is the most frequently occurring community (city, town, village, etc.) name in the United States?</ref> Database studies reveal that there are several more common U.S. place-names than Springfield, including Fairview and Midway.

==History== Historically, the first American place named Springfield was Springfield, Massachusetts, founded in 1636 by William Pynchon, an English colonist. Pynchon named Springfield after his hometown in England, Springfield, Essex. Springfield, Massachusetts, became nationally important in 1777, when George Washington founded the United States' National Armory at Springfield. During the 19th century, Springfield became one of the world's leading centers of the Industrial Revolution, pioneering advances in interchangeable parts. Springfield, Illinois and Springfield, Missouri, among other American cities and towns named Springfield, were named after Springfield, Massachusetts.

==Major centers== As of the 2020 census, Springfield, Missouri, and Springfield, Massachusetts, were the world's most populous cities named Springfield, with 169,176 and 155,929 residents, respectively. Springfield, Illinois, the one-time home of Abraham Lincoln, is the only U.S. state capital with the name. As of 2020, it had a population of 114,394.

In the United States, there are four Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri and Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the most populous was the one in Massachusetts, which had 699,162 residents.

==In contemporary culture== The television show ''The Simpsons'' is set in a town generically named "Springfield", without indicating a state. Creator Matt Groening has suggested in interviews that he chose the name because of its ubiquity; the show's intentionally contradictory information about the location of the town prevents matching the fictional Springfield to a real one. Groening revealed in 2012 the town referred to Springfield, Oregon, which is close to his hometown of Portland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-simpsons-creator-matt-groening-reveals-location-of-springfield/|title="The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening reveals location of Springfield|website=CBS News}}</ref>

A "Springfield" was also the setting of the early 1950s radio and television program, ''Father Knows Best'', as well as the 1950s soap opera ''The Guiding Light'', which continued as the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light'' through 2009.

== Locations named Springfield == {| class="wikitable" |+Incorporated Urban Municipalities !Name !Country !State !Population (2020)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|website=Census.gov|access-date=2026-01-31|language=en|first=US Census|last=Bureau}}</ref> |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Missouri}} |169,176 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Massachusetts}} |155,929 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Illinois}} |141,394 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Oregon}} |61,851 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Ohio}} |58,662 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Tennessee}} |18,782 |- |Springfield Township, Union County |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|New Jersey}} |17,178 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Florida}} |8,075 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Michigan}} |5,292 |- |Springfield Township, Burlington County |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|New Jersey}} |3,245 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Kentucky}} |2,846 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}} |2,703 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Minnesota}} |2,027 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|South Dakota}} |1,914 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Colorado}} |1,325 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|South Carolina}} |455 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Louisiana}} |427 |} {| class="wikitable" |+Incorporated Rural Municipalities !Name !Country !State/Province !Population (2021)<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities)|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000202|website=www150.statcan.gc.ca|date=2022-02-09|access-date=2026-01-31|first=Statistics Canada|last=Government of Canada}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2021 Springfield (Tas.), Census All persons QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL60630|website=www.abs.gov.au|access-date=2026-01-31}}</ref> |- |Rural Municipality of Springfield |{{Flag|Canada}} |{{Flag|Manitoba}} |16,142 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|Australia}} |{{Flag|Tasmania}} |224 |} {| class="wikitable" |+Unincorporated Municipalities<ref name=":0" /> !Name !Country !State !Population (2020/21)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Add/Remove data - Population and dwelling counts: Canada and designated places|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810001201|website=www150.statcan.gc.ca|date=2022-02-09|access-date=2026-01-31|first=Statistics Canada|last=Government of Canada}}</ref> |- |Springfield |{{Flag|Canada}} |{{Flag|Ontario}} |761 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Arkansas}} |223 |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|California}} | - |- |Springfield, Kings County |{{Flag|Canada}} |{{Flag|New Brunswick}} | - |- |Springfield |{{Flag|Canada}} |{{Flag|Nova Scotia}} | - |- |Springfield |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|Texas}} | - |} {| class="wikitable" |+Neighborhoods !Name !City !Country !State |- |Springfield/Belmont |Newark |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|New Jersey}} |- |Springfield Gardens |New York City |{{Flag|USA}} |{{Flag|New York}} |}

==See also== *Springfield (disambiguation)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://springfield.ftldesign.com/ Website with a list of many Springfields], illustrated by postcards.

Category:1636 establishments in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Category:1636 beginnings Category:City names