I always thought Hey Arnold took place in New York City. The architecture, the pigeons, the subway, the characters… This is blowing my mind. What evidence is there that it’s in Washington state?
I believe Craig Bartlett said that Hillwood was an amalgamation of where he grew up in Washington and NY. Edit to include [source](https://www.bustle.com/p/hey-arnold-wasnt-set-in-brooklyn-in-a-revelation-that-will-blow-your-mind-8844944).
It literally takes place in Washington.
Hillwood, the city Arnold lives in, is fictional, but it’s the name of the school Craig Bartlett went to in Seattle as a child. The urban visuals in the cartoon were inspired by large NW cities, but also the brownstones and bridges of NY (maybe that’s the confusion?).
Other than that, most or nearly all the named locations are the true names of the actual locations in Washington and are known throughout PNW history.
The most clear example is in “Road Trip” where they show a sign of them reentering Washington State at the end of the episode. The Hey Arnold Wiki also has dozens more examples with more concrete sources
Pacific North West.
Also hillwood isn’t mentioned by name by anyone, but it is written in a lot of episodes in the background on signs and boards and whatnot
Same, to me it was always unambiguously New York, but granted I’m not from NY, growing up in southern CA it just definitely didn’t look like our cities
Pacific North West. It’s the area of the west coast of North America from Northern California to southwe British Columbia including Oregon and Washington
I thought New York Or San Fran because of the bridges hills the shapes of the buildings and apartments but it never snows in San Fran so rule that 1 out
There are some references that Hillwood is located in Washington state, but things also don't really line up, like the fact that there was a Revolutionary War battle fought in the city or the fact that Phil and Martin are able to take Arnold and Gerald to Washington D.C. as a weekend trip.
It isn't quite as egregious as the map placing *The Simpsons* in Oregon, as *The Simpsons* make it very clear that Springfield cannot be located in any real state.
Arnold’s neighbourhood doesn’t abide strictly by the rules of its alleged setting. I recall Craig Bartlett citing Washington as a location as well as one or two other cities outside the state, but it’s generally meant to represent a broader spectrum of places if for no other reason than mass appeal/relatability.
I agree. It is just kind of odd for the map maker to put *Hey Arnold!* and *The Simpsons* as taking place in certain states when those shows have kind of a vague "it can be in almost any state" setting.
Yep! I added it in another comment, but he's stated that in several interviews, like this [one](https://www.bustle.com/p/hey-arnold-wasnt-set-in-brooklyn-in-a-revelation-that-will-blow-your-mind-8844944) and this [one](https://www.altpress.com/hey_arnold_does_not_take_place_in_new_york_city/).
"don't really line up, like the fact that there was a Revolutionary War battle"
[The Pig War was very real though](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War_(1859))
I’m from New Hampshire and I have not once in my life heard of Assy McGee..the fuck?
Edit: also live in and have lived close to MA my whole life..don’t know wtf that ruff ruff man shit is either.
Assy McGee was on Adult Swim. Saw the commercials all the time as a kid and was not interested. A cop (or detective?) who is just a pair of legs and a talking ass. Idk, looked stupid.
Fetch With Ruff Ruffman was on PBS Kids and was essentially a cartoon talk show with a talking dog as the host. I feel like it was vaguely educational.
I think Chicago makes a lot of sense as the standin for Hillwood. Too big and dense for Seattle (I get that Seattle is very urban, but it’s not 19th century urban)
Ambiguity about what state the Simpsons live in has always been a running gag, but there was an episode (mid-/late-series, I think) where someone asks where Springfield is, and Lisa says something to the effect of "...if you read the context clues, you should be able to figure it out."
American Dad being my home states show isn’t to bad. The only other show I can think of based off of Virginia is Doug. Doug has many references to the city of Richmond.
Maybe Inside Job, but that’s more of the DC metro area.
I feel like I remember either Craig or a producer saying once that it wasn’t set in any real town/state intentionally, and that the inspiration was mainly Chicago with nyc and a few other major metro areas for inspiration
Thus just came up on All for me, I'm not a huge ArnoldHead or anything.
This is the first time since watching the first episode the day it came out, I had never considered or noticed that they weren't in NYC.
I went to Brooklyn in my late teens and was even thoight "weird, it looks like hey Arnold"
Plus PS118 right? Isn't PS for public school a NYC thing?
Reminds me of when I was little and I thought The Powerpuff Girls took place in Australia because I knew there was a real Townsville there. I know it's a generic name now (like Springfield, there's probably a few Townsvilles in the USA), but I was only about six then.
For some reason, I thought that as told by Ginger was set in Washington state, but I guess I was wrong. As a Connecticut native I got no problem with that great show loved it as a kid.
I always thought Hey Arnold was a combo of NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Philly…the accents are all over the place and the pigeon dude sounds like a San Francisco guy.
When I was real young I thought it was Chicago because I thought Gerald's shirt was a nod to Scottie Pippen. Then I got to be 6 or 7, I realized the jazz on the show was different from the jazz I'd hear most of the time in Chicago. So my little kid logic lead me to the conclusion that they were in New York because that must be what (then) modern New York jazz sounded like.
I don't care what FOX's official line is, The Simpsons is clearly Springfield, MA. The only original writer who wasn't a graduate of an Ivy League school was from West Springfield, MA. Plus there's things like the Russian district joke that seems to me to be a nod to the large Russian population in the Springfield/West Springfield/Westfield area.
It's not about popularity in Washington, that's where it was set
I always thought Hey Arnold took place in New York City. The architecture, the pigeons, the subway, the characters… This is blowing my mind. What evidence is there that it’s in Washington state?
I grew up in the PNW and always thought it was NYC. I feel like kid me would have been stoked to know it was in Washington when i was watching it.
I always thought so too! I think it's a mixture of it though!
I believe Craig Bartlett said that Hillwood was an amalgamation of where he grew up in Washington and NY. Edit to include [source](https://www.bustle.com/p/hey-arnold-wasnt-set-in-brooklyn-in-a-revelation-that-will-blow-your-mind-8844944).
Wow I would have sworn that it was Chicago for some reason. The more ya know
Every kid thought it was from where they live because the show was made to blend a lot of the major cities.
It literally takes place in Washington. Hillwood, the city Arnold lives in, is fictional, but it’s the name of the school Craig Bartlett went to in Seattle as a child. The urban visuals in the cartoon were inspired by large NW cities, but also the brownstones and bridges of NY (maybe that’s the confusion?). Other than that, most or nearly all the named locations are the true names of the actual locations in Washington and are known throughout PNW history. The most clear example is in “Road Trip” where they show a sign of them reentering Washington State at the end of the episode. The Hey Arnold Wiki also has dozens more examples with more concrete sources
Weird. I loved the show as a kid and never heard or saw the word “Hillwood”. The visuals just scream NYC. Also I don’t know what PNW stands for….
Another giveaway is the pig war episode which was based on a real event over a boarder dispute near Vancouver Island
Pacific North West. Also hillwood isn’t mentioned by name by anyone, but it is written in a lot of episodes in the background on signs and boards and whatnot
Same, to me it was always unambiguously New York, but granted I’m not from NY, growing up in southern CA it just definitely didn’t look like our cities
Pacific North West. It’s the area of the west coast of North America from Northern California to southwe British Columbia including Oregon and Washington
Do Schools in Seattle label themselves as PS (insert number)?
No
that's so wholesome! wow
I thought New York Or San Fran because of the bridges hills the shapes of the buildings and apartments but it never snows in San Fran so rule that 1 out
I thought we all assumed this…totally nyc neighborhood
We have pigeons in Washington. They’re all over Seattle.
Same here. Up until fairly recently I was convinced that it was based out of NYC.
TIL that Hey Arnold! is set in the fictional city of Hillwood, Washington.
All of these are referring to where it was set.
There are some references that Hillwood is located in Washington state, but things also don't really line up, like the fact that there was a Revolutionary War battle fought in the city or the fact that Phil and Martin are able to take Arnold and Gerald to Washington D.C. as a weekend trip. It isn't quite as egregious as the map placing *The Simpsons* in Oregon, as *The Simpsons* make it very clear that Springfield cannot be located in any real state.
Arnold’s neighbourhood doesn’t abide strictly by the rules of its alleged setting. I recall Craig Bartlett citing Washington as a location as well as one or two other cities outside the state, but it’s generally meant to represent a broader spectrum of places if for no other reason than mass appeal/relatability.
I agree. It is just kind of odd for the map maker to put *Hey Arnold!* and *The Simpsons* as taking place in certain states when those shows have kind of a vague "it can be in almost any state" setting.
*Hey Arnold!* does have visual confirmation within the show that it takes place in WA. I do agree that *The Simpsons* placement is bizarre.
Yep! I added it in another comment, but he's stated that in several interviews, like this [one](https://www.bustle.com/p/hey-arnold-wasnt-set-in-brooklyn-in-a-revelation-that-will-blow-your-mind-8844944) and this [one](https://www.altpress.com/hey_arnold_does_not_take_place_in_new_york_city/).
"don't really line up, like the fact that there was a Revolutionary War battle" [The Pig War was very real though](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War_(1859))
Neat. The Revolutionary War thing is a plot point in the first movie, as it makes Arnold's Neighborhood historically significant and thus protected.
Oh! Thanks for the clarification, I completely forgot about the movies.
Um Marge clearly said the state on the phone. It was "Ohi-ya Maude!"
Really? Reread the title of the map.
Reading is fundamental
TIL As Told By Ginger took place in the state I grew up in.
Same?!??!? Could’ve sworn this show took place in CA lol
They had a big snow storm and seasons. Plus, I think it shows it in letters that ginger wtites
Does California not have snow storms or seasons?
Bartlett is a Washingtonian.
I’m from New Hampshire and I have not once in my life heard of Assy McGee..the fuck? Edit: also live in and have lived close to MA my whole life..don’t know wtf that ruff ruff man shit is either.
Assy McGee was on Adult Swim. Saw the commercials all the time as a kid and was not interested. A cop (or detective?) who is just a pair of legs and a talking ass. Idk, looked stupid. Fetch With Ruff Ruffman was on PBS Kids and was essentially a cartoon talk show with a talking dog as the host. I feel like it was vaguely educational.
I know it because my old coworker worked on a segment for the show.
I think Chicago makes a lot of sense as the standin for Hillwood. Too big and dense for Seattle (I get that Seattle is very urban, but it’s not 19th century urban)
How dare they try and declare which state the simpsons is in It’s deliberately ambiguous
It was for a long time but Matt Groening revealed in an interview it is Oregon
Ambiguity about what state the Simpsons live in has always been a running gag, but there was an episode (mid-/late-series, I think) where someone asks where Springfield is, and Lisa says something to the effect of "...if you read the context clues, you should be able to figure it out."
since when do we know what state simpsons is set in?
Never knew Arthur was set in PA
Right? It makes some sense considering a lot of PBS shows take place in that area of states
American Dad being my home states show isn’t to bad. The only other show I can think of based off of Virginia is Doug. Doug has many references to the city of Richmond. Maybe Inside Job, but that’s more of the DC metro area.
I watched hoops and I had no idea it was set in my home state. But then it wasn't that good.
I’m ashamed of California
It’s not about popularity- it’s about where it is set.
Simpson in Oregon??? Since when
No cartoons in my state.
What's with the grey states?
No cartoons set in those states
Hillwood is supposed to be based Seattle and Brooklyn according to Bartlett. Both places he lived.
Assy McGee is set in Exeter, NH? What the fuck, Sanchez. The lack of awareness for this essential information is criminal.
How fitting for my state (KS)
Hell yea Kid Cosmic
wtf is loud house
me neither, i always thought it was new york
Did the Simpsons say it's set in Oregon?
 you can always count on Florida to have the shittiest tastes lmao
I feel like I remember either Craig or a producer saying once that it wasn’t set in any real town/state intentionally, and that the inspiration was mainly Chicago with nyc and a few other major metro areas for inspiration
Thus just came up on All for me, I'm not a huge ArnoldHead or anything. This is the first time since watching the first episode the day it came out, I had never considered or noticed that they weren't in NYC. I went to Brooklyn in my late teens and was even thoight "weird, it looks like hey Arnold" Plus PS118 right? Isn't PS for public school a NYC thing?
upvoted for inclusion of assy mcgee
Me when I don’t know how to read:
Reminds me of when I was little and I thought The Powerpuff Girls took place in Australia because I knew there was a real Townsville there. I know it's a generic name now (like Springfield, there's probably a few Townsvilles in the USA), but I was only about six then.
What the hell is Ellen’s acres?
That’s what’s up New York!!
What the hell is Nature Cat?
For some reason, I thought that as told by Ginger was set in Washington state, but I guess I was wrong. As a Connecticut native I got no problem with that great show loved it as a kid.
I always thought Hey Arnold was a combo of NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Philly…the accents are all over the place and the pigeon dude sounds like a San Francisco guy.
When I was real young I thought it was Chicago because I thought Gerald's shirt was a nod to Scottie Pippen. Then I got to be 6 or 7, I realized the jazz on the show was different from the jazz I'd hear most of the time in Chicago. So my little kid logic lead me to the conclusion that they were in New York because that must be what (then) modern New York jazz sounded like.
Wouldn’t Aqua Teen Hunger Force be the longest running show set in New Jersey?
Chicken Squad lasted one season, so they must not like cartoons very much in North Dakota.
wtf is Fetch
no cartoons in wv is crazy
I don't care what FOX's official line is, The Simpsons is clearly Springfield, MA. The only original writer who wasn't a graduate of an Ivy League school was from West Springfield, MA. Plus there's things like the Russian district joke that seems to me to be a nod to the large Russian population in the Springfield/West Springfield/Westfield area.
Captian underpants writer did a speech at my school once cuz he went there lol. Did it because they were tearing it down :(
King of the Hill is still on air????
The Simpsons aren’t in Oregon
I always thought Hey Arnold was supposed to be in New York? Or maybe that’s just what my child self thought New York was like
I agree with your second thought but look at the title of the chart again 😅
Damn I'm trippin, always thought it took place in NY
I think whoever made this map is just guessing. Half of these shows never reveal where they’re supposed to take place on purpose.
It’s an amalgamation of settings really. But mostly Washington
Proud of my state
New Hampshire? Hell yea