Ned Flanders
Flanders was named after Flanders St. in Portland, Oregon, the hometown of Simpsons creator Matt Groening.  Groening wanted Flanders as "just a guy who was truly nice, that Homer had no justifiable reason to loathe, but then did." It was not until after the first few episodes that it was decided Flanders would be a faithful Christian.  Mike Scully said that Flanders is "everything Homer would love to be, although he'll never admit it."  Flanders had originally been meant to just be a neighbor that Homer was jealous of, but Harry Shearer used "such a sweet voice" and Flanders was planned to become a Christian and a sweet guy that someone would choose to live next to over Homer.