Springfield is the primary fictional setting of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons and related media. It is an average-sized, fictional city within an unknown state in the United States). According to the creator of the series, Matt Groening, Springfield was inspired by a number of real-life locations, including Springfield, Oregon). However, due to the many contradictory statements regarding Springfield in the show, it is impossible for the town to exist in a specific state). In one episode, Ned Flanders tells Bart that the state where Springfield is located is bordered by the states of Ohio, Nevada, Maine, and Kentucky – only Ohio and Kentucky are neighboring states in reality, and Nevada and Maine are at opposite sides of the US. Therefore, it is most likely that Springfield is in a fictional state with an exact location in the United States which will vary from episode to episode.