Springfield

Springfield, city, Lane county, western Oregon, U.S., on the Willamette River at its confluence with the McKenzie River, adjacent to Eugene. Once the territory of the Kalapuya people, the area was settled in 1848 by Elias and Mary Briggs and named for the spring near their home site. It is an industrial and lumbering center producing plywood, ethyl alcohol, plastics, electronic components, corrugated cardboard, and fiberboard. Diversified agriculture includes dairy and poultry farming.

Springfield is perhaps most famous for giving its name to the town where the animated TV series The Simpsons is set. The series’ creator, Matt Groening, grew up in Oregon and decided to use Springfield because it is one of the most common American town names. The Springfield Filbert Festival, which celebrated the hazelnut and its role in the city’s economy, was held annually from 1990 until 2006. The town also holds an annual Ukrainian Day celebration. In the strategic Willamette River basin, Springfield is at the head of a series of flood-control dams. The resulting reservoirs and lakes and nearby Willamette National Forest provide recreational facilities. Inc. 1885. Pop. (2010) 59,403; Eugene-Springfield Metro Area, 351,715; (2020) 61,851; Eugene-Springfield Metro Area, 382,974.