Even cartoons have an origin, and Garfield is no different. This lasagna-loving, dog-hating cat is from Muncie, Indiana. Check out how this became Garfield’s birthplace.

Learn about Jim Davis and his best cartoon. Scroll on for more details about everyone’s favorite newspaper comic.

Garfield is known as “The Most Widely Syndicated Comic Strip in the World," and its creator, Jim Davis, is actually from Indiana.
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This famous cartoonist was born in Marion and grew up on a farm where there were always stray cats around. He attended Ball State University in Muncie where he studied art and business.
Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Childs
He originally attempted to sell a comic about a bug but the paper he was pitching to didn't like the idea, so he changed it to a more relatable cat character. Davis said it was based on a combination of all his favorite cats from his youth.
Flickr/JD Hancock

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Though fans were always meant to think that this cartoon was their neighborhood cat, Garfield's birthplace actually Muncie, which is where the writer went to school and eventually started teaching.
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In 1978, the Chicago Sun-Times canceled Garfield but had to reinstate it after receiving more than 1,300 angry calls and letters.
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The comic has won numerous awards and Davis has won four Emmy Awards. It has since been turned into TV shows and movies as well as games and other forms of entertainment and franchising.
Wikimedia Commons/James A Jameson
Garfield is a phenomenon that will likely outlast its creator. This timeless character embodies everything we all wish we could enjoy all day.
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If you’ve ever been to Garfield’s birthplace, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.

For more like this, check out this Garfield trail in Indiana that takes you past unique statues.

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Muncie, IN, USA