When my husband first moved to Portland, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that the street he lived on looked familiar. The road? Flanders. When I explained to him that many Simpsons character names come from Portland, he was surprised.
This resulted in a long discussion about The Simpsons and their connection to Portland. Finally, it’s my time to shine! But where do I start?
Who is the creator of The Simpsons?
Well, I guess we can start with the brain. The creator of The Simpsons grew up in the city of roses (lucky us)!
Matt Groening was born and raised in West Hills, Portland. He lived on Evergreen Terrace (the name of the street the Simpsons live on) with his parents Homer and Margaret and sisters Lisa, Patty and Maggie. So there isn’t much guesswork in determining where the Simpson family names come from.
As for the famous son, when asked why he named him Bart, Groening shared that it sounds a lot like “barking” and that there was humor when a father angrily shouted “Bart!”
Are Simpsons characters named after Portland streets (really)?
Yes! And there would be even more Simpsons characters named after Portland streets if Groening had more time.
In an interview, Groening shared, “Very early on I named many character streets in Portland. I thought it would be fun for people in Portland to drive through the alphabetized streets. There are Flanders, Kearney, Lovejoy, mostly in Northwest Portland. My goal was to name every character after streets in Portland, but we were in a rush so I scrapped that idea.” (source)
Simpson character names
Here’s a list of Simpsons character names and the Portland streets they’re named after. Let’s get to the fun part!
#1. Simpson Character Name: Ned Flanders
Portland Connection: NW Flanders Road
The overwhelmingly cheerful neighbor any Portland native would tire of, Ned Flanders, is named after NW Flanders St (the street I lived on for 3 years!). Ned is a well-meaning (a rare occurrence in Springfield) neighbor and best known for his extreme religion and giddy nature.
Ned Flanders’ catchphrase:With a smile, neighbor!“
Here’s a fun fact for you: The City of Portland often replaces SE Flanders signs because people add a “D” to the NE to make the sign read “NED FLANDERS”.
#2. Simpson Character Name: Mayor Quimby
Portland Connection: NW Quimby Street
Springfield’s mayor may not be the smartest, but one thing’s for sure: he’s not going anywhere. Just like the street it’s named after – NW Quimby Street!
In the show, Mayor Quimby is a skilled politician obsessed with re-election. He is best known for his corruption and being a victim of bribes. The seal above his desk reads ‘Corruptus in Extremis’ which translates to ‘corrupt in the extreme’. Effective…
Mayor Quimby’s quote: “Vote Quimby!”
You knew that? Mayor Quimby’s official name is: Mayor Joseph Fitzgerald O’Malley Fitzpatrick O’Donnell The Edge Quimby, nicknamed Diamond Joe.
#3. Simpson Character Name: Reverend Lovejoy
Portland Connection: NW Lovejoy Street
Ah, the reliable Timothy Lovejoy Jr., better known as Reverend Lovejoy is the minister of Springfield. Its name comes from NW Lovejoy Street.
Reverend Lovejoy arrives in Springfield optimistic and idealistic, but soon finds himself cynical about his career choice thanks to Ned Flanders—whose constant deviance and disturbing tendencies drive Rev.
Reverend Lovejoy’s quote:Wait a minute, that sounds like rock and roll!“
#4. Simpson Character Name: Mr. Burns
Portland Connection: Burnside & Montgomery Streets
Charles Montgomery Burns, better known as Mr. Burns, was named after Montgomery Street and Burnside Street. Mr. Burns is the main antagonist of the Simpsons and although he is frail and old, he is ruthless and ruthless in his pursuits – mostly evil.
Mr. Burns’ quote:Super!”
#5. Simpson Character Name: Kearney ZzYzwicz
Portland Connection: NW Kearney Street
Kearney is the classic class bully, but he is unique. He was a classy bully more than most students were. A running joke is that he is constantly being held, which is why he looks so much bigger than the other kids. Kearney is named after NW Kearney Street.
Catchphrase: “The first person to blink is a dead person.“
Simpsons Springfield Map
Even the layout of Springfield in The Simpsons is very similar to the layout of the city of Portland. Do you notice any similarities?
The Simpsons Character Names The Simpsons Character Names The Simpsons Character Names The Simpsons Character Names The Simpsons Character Names
If you’re interested in reading an interview Matt Groening had where he discussed The Simpsons’ connection to Portland, I recommend this article!
Until next time,
Antonina
