I know that it never was revealed on the show (or was it?) and that Springfield can be in any state but i do remember that there was revealed info on the actual state the Simpsons really lived in, i forgot the state but it is in the South, and touches the ocean.

As far as I can remember they have always only teased the actual location.

If I had to guess I bet the model for Springfield would be the one in Illinois or some other midwestern state.

It's near the mountains, dense forest, desert and ocean.

In other words, they have gone out of their to make it a place that doesn't exist.

Although Illinois does have a Shelbyville.

Kentucky.

There are multiple episodes that list the states they are not in or now allowed in, so it might be possible to narrow it down or see if all 50 states are named.

It's definitely in the southeastern quarter of the country.

I could have sworn there was an episode several years ago where they were traveling around the US. At the beginning of their trip they showed a US map and the dotted line showing their course. The starting point was in Illinois.

as stated in "Behind the Laughter" well played!

If I remember correctly, it was missouri in the original brodcast, and it was changed to kentucky for the reruns.

Anyway there is no one state, there can't be because Springfield's geographic surroundings can radically change between episodes.

if you had to pick an actual place, which is impossible because the Simpsons Springfield has contradicted itself so many times during the show I'd say its modeled after Springfield, Oregon. If I remember correctly isn't Matt Groening from Oregon?? Plus, Springfield and Eugene, Oregon have a Springfield vs Shelbyville thing going on in real life.

But most likely the 'real' location is left purposely ambiguous

actually Matt Greoening is from Maryland. Towson area i belive. i think he mentioned it on the season one dvd commentary.

my guess is that springfiend is in maryland. maryland has MOST of the features of springfield, minus the desert....

He might live there now, but he was born in Oregon, which is what the other poster was referring to.

As for the topic question, it is purposefully not any state in particular. Lots of people like to claim it for their state, though....

There was an opening gag where they did a zoom-out from their couch to outer space. Anyone remember?

Well, the hurricane hitting the town in one episode would mean Springfield would have to be in a state along the Eastern seaboard, Gulf of Mexico, or West coast.

I remember one episode where Homer or another character returns a bottle to the Kwik-E-Mart for 10 cents... Michigan???

...probably not.

IMO, It's Illinois.

IMO it's nowhere. It's ambigious, and it's supposed to be that way. Recall the episode where Lisa points Springfield out on a map. Except, Bart walks in front of the camera just as her finger reaches the map so all we see is the back of Bart's head. So, in the end, we can suppose all day but there's no correct answer, as I'm sure it's not supposed to be in any specific location.

I always thought that it was Springfield, NJ

Behind the Laughter says Kentucky....thats the only time its been mentioned....where does that place capital city

Well there is a statue on the Univeristy of Oregon campus that looks exactly like Jebediah Springfield.

Yes now i remember, it is definitely either Missouri or Kentucky.

It isn't either.

If you still don't believe me....
http://www.snpp.com/guides/lisa-3.html#3.2.1

If you still insist it really is in a real state...
http://www.snpp.com/guides/springfield.list.html

The section about "Behind the Laughter":

There is one episode where Otto gets his drivers license revoked. As Selma is stamping it "VOID" you can freeze-frame the part where they do a close-up of Otto's driver's license, and the state abbreviation is a made-up concoction:

Springfield, OT, I believe it reads.