"Simpsons" creator Matt Groening tells the Smithsonian magazine that he based the Simpson family’s hometown on Springfield, Ore., a small town close to his own hometown of Portland.

The revelation comes after the tiny town of Springfield, Vt., beat out 13 other Springfields dotted across the U.S. as the winner of a competition to host the 2007 "The Simpsons Movie" premiere.

Groening said he liked the name Springfield for two reasons: "When I was a kid, the TV show ‘Father Knows Best’ took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown," he told the Smithsonian.

The other reason was that so many towns in the U.S. are called Springfield. "I also figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, ‘This will be cool; everyone will think it’s their Springfield.’ And they do," Groening said.

Asked whether he had ever admitted the town is based on Springfield, Ore., Groening said, "I don’t want to ruin it for people, you know? Whenever people say it’s Springfield, Ohio, or Springfield, Massachusetts, or Springfield, wherever, I always go, ‘Yup, that’s right.’”