Springfield Trivia Quiz

Answer: Illinois

Springfield, in addition to being the capital of Illinois, lays claims to being the Chili Capital of the World. It also claims the first drive-through restaurant and to be the home of the corn-dog-on-a-stick. Much of the economy is based on being the center of government for Illinois and a cultural hub for history, particularly for Abraham Lincoln. Springfield was originally Calhoun after John C. Calhoun but when Calhoun fell out of political favor, the city fathers renamed the city Springfield. In 1908 the city was the scene of a bitter race riot that required 3,700 troops to quell.

Answer: The Simpsons

The Simpsons were first seen as interlude on the "Tracy Ullman Show" in 1987 and became a regular half-hour series in 1989. It has won numerous awards for its satire on modern issues. A portion of the Hollywood Walk of Fame is dedicated to "The Simpsons". This Springfield is fictional.

Answer: Rick

This Australian won two Grammy awards and was nominated for three others in the early 1980s. Born Richard Lewis Springthorpe, he played Dr. Noah Drake on "General Hospital" 1981-1983 and returned 23 years later to recreate the character from 2005-2008.

Answer: Oregon

Springfield is over-shadowed by Eugene. Lumber and filbert nuts are local products, and Matt Groening claims that the Simpsons' Springfield was a model on Springfield, Oregon.

Ken Kesey attended Springfield High School and the University of Oregon. His two most notable works are "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1962) and "Sometimes a Great Notion" (1964). He was the inspiration for Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test"(1968) although Neal Cassady was the central character. He returned to live in the Springfield area.

In April 1998 a 15 year old named Kip Kinkel, a student at Thurston High School in Springfield, went on a shooting rampage, killing his parents, two students, and injuring twenty-two others. This was eleven months before the similar incident at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Answer: Wisconsin

There are thirty-six Springfields in the United States. Five of them are in Wisconsin in Dane, Jackson, St. Croix, Marquette, and Walworth counties. In addition there are fifteen in the United Kingdom, six each in Canada and Australia, and one in New Zealand and South Africa.

Answer: American Civil War

The Springfield M1903 caliber .30-06, is a clip-fed, 5-shot, bolt-action service rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. It was replaced but still remains because of its balance and is a popular rifle with drill teams and ROTCs. It was originally produced in Springfield, MA. as the Government decreed Springfield as the site of its military armory.

Springfield is the third largest city in population in Massachusetts behind Boston and Worcester.

Answer: Massachusetts

The famous Indian Motorcycle was manufactured in Springfield, Massachusetts from 1901 to 1953. Rolls-Royce had an assembly plant there from 1921 to 1931. Springfield is sometimes called the City of Homes.

James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891 at Springfield College, basically using a soccer ball and a peach basket. A ladder was used to take the ball out after a basket until someone came up with the idea to cut a hole in the bottom. The National Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield.

Answer: Dusty

Born Mary O'Brien, with her beehive hairdo, she sang her way through the 1960s and beyond. Her album, "Dusty in Memphis" is regarded as one of the greatest albums of our times. She easily won admission to both the Grammy and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She died at 59 from cancer after over-coming drug and alcohol abuse.

Answer: "Guiding Light" and " Father Knows Best"

"The Guiding Light", including both radio and television, ran from 1937 until 2009, and is considered by the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running program.

"Father Knows Best" ran from 1949 to 1960 considering radio and television. When the show turned to TV in 1952, the family remained the same but the characters were made more likable and less sarcastic.

In both cases the setting of Springfield is rather amorphous and serves a vague background to the story line.

Answer: Missouri

This Springfield is located in southwestern Missouri. It claims to be the birthplace of the fabled Route 66. According to legend, when an election was held to name the town, a man from Springfield, Massachusetts gave free whiskey to all who voted for Springfield.

In 1865 Springfield was treated with a quick draw contest between Wild Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt over a debt. A plaque commemorates this occasion at Park Central Square. Hickok won.

In 1906, a mob lynched two men for allegedly assaulting a white female. Later they returned to the jail and lynched another man. They were hanged on the town square from the Gottfried Tower under a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Two commemorative coins were reportedly issued to celebrate the occasion.