Arcade City

Arcade City is fictionalized 1920s city set in a metropolis in Southeastern Illinois, above the city of St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America. It is a vast, bustling city. It's population includes the Transcendent, people who are able to perceive extraordinary events and hold the powers of various video game characters, and regular everyday people, unaffected by the "mist" of the city.

Arcade City is divided by a river, and has several districts of commerce. Notable figures of the city include Samantha Erran, a pioneer in activism who brought the city to it's diverse population and social reform.

Their baseball team is the Arcade City Haunts.

History of Arcade City

1789 - 1821: Pre-Founding

Arcade City was inadvertently founded by a military captain after the end of the American Revolutionary War
Setro Zest Licht, Zauver Arnauld, Flora Banderas, and Teol Williams were four legends who helped turn the tide against the British Empire
Setro Zest Licht moved to Illinois and made his home after their campaigns helped significantly turn the war in America's favor
His children and grandchildren, as well as his former company of solders, settled near Setro's home, making a village there
More and more people came and commerce began to grow within the city as a community was formed near the riverside

1821 - 1846: Founding

Arcade City was founded in the year 1821 by Solo Vandrer, the first mayor.
At first, businesses were geared up for preparing travelers to head Westward and explore the rest of the United States.
The freshly dubbed Quarterville was named because often individuals would spend a quarter for their last meal before embarking on the long journey, to celebrate.
As business continued, Quarterville became the home of many dedicated and hardworking tradesmen making everything from stagecoaches to packaged meals.

1846 - 1861: Urbanization

Quarterville grew in leaps and bounds as more and more people decided to stay instead of make the journey to the West.
Railroads, telegraph networks, and large highways were established, and large construction projects were encouraged by Quarterville officials.
Soon enough, Quarterville was formally renamed to Arcade City and was established a commercial trading center and industrial city.
Arcade City began to shift from traveling goods to manufactured furniture, clothing, and firearms that were shipped via the large river running through the city.

1861 - 1865: Civil War

Arcade City fought on the side of the Union, and its factories were mobilized to help in the war effort with the help of federal subsidies from the US Government.
After the Civil War, Arcade City went back to business as usual, but many of the tradesmen that had fought in the war struggled with PTSD, so production suffered.
Women began taking up more of the workforce, and products marketed towards women became far more common, began to dip into cosmetics.

1865 - 1917: Social Reformation

Many sweeping liberal reforms began taking hold in Arcade City at this time, spearheaded by Samantha Erran, a social activist and advocate of egalitarianism.
Citizens rallied behind her and passed many laws that were seen as very radical at the time, but were instrumental in ensuring rights for all Arcade City's citizens.
Samantha was opposed by remnants of the Peace Democrats, but despite many smear campaigns, her policies were enshrined as law.
Due to her policies, Arcade City began developing ethnic boroughs and a diverse population, which kept the city afloat and ensured its survival.

1917 - 1918: The Great War

Fewer troops were called upon from Arcade City due to its more diverse population and biases within the US Army, but the citizens still did what they could.
Those who did not fight made sure to put in extra hours at the factories, which had been refitted to assist in the war effort like they had been in the Civil War.
The few troops who did see combat often performed exceptionally well, including Captain Stephen Rotchford, who went on to become a Police Captain.
Rainfall Cosmetics contributed the most of any company, and was heavily rewarded with government subsidies, making them the premier business in Arcade City.

Present Day Arcade City

The city is currently in the Prohibition Era, and is riding on the coattails of The Great War. Rainfall Cosmetics runs most of the city's commerce and manufacturing, and the rest of the city has gone from a goods-based economy to a service-based one. Artistic pursuits are being encouraged in the city, especially with the relatively new Theater District, and educational ends are also subsidized as the UAC grows. However, a corresponding spike in crime has resulted in Captain Rotchford's creation of the Civilian Operations and Intelligence Network Division, also known as the C.O.I.N. division.

After the arrest of former mayor Yusuf Haddad, there has been a power vacuum, which has resulted in an intense mayoral race. After the attack by Leviathan, Arcade City was flooded and partially destroyed, and there have been efforts to rebuild.

Arcade City Districts

Arcade City is split into 9 different districts, each handling a portion of the city's commerce and culture, with sub-districts located within.

Financial District

Home to the new-money titans of industry in recent memory, this district is marked my soaring skyscrapers and art deco architecture. Most of the buildings here are new, expensive, and displays of newfound wealth in the postwar economic boom. Right on the river, it boasts easy access to the commercial districts and is the seat of young wealth, as opposed to the manors beyond the city's limits held by old-money family lineages.

Commercial District

Shops upon shops line the streets of the Commercial district, from family-owned grocery stores to elegant boutiques. Few people live here, but everyone comes by at least once a month to peruse the wares present.

Gacha Street: New York City has Fifth Avenue, Boston has Newbury Street, and Arcade City has Gacha Street. Designer stores are present all the way from start to finish, with many of the brands receiving sponsorships from Rainfall Cosmetics. You'll also find the most premier dining experience that Arcade City has to offer, Les Grande Hors D'oeuvre, a French bistro of impeccable taste and excellent meals. The price tags match the glamour, so expect to spend a lot of money on five-star quality.

Downtown

If you ever have the chance to visit Arcade City, this is where you'll likely end up. Home to dance halls, street vendors, and the city's aquarium and zoo, this district is a tourist trap above all else. Locals enjoy the amenities as well, but it's also a nice way to keep unknowing visitors away from anything actually important.

Theatre District

A flourishing center of the arts in the urban jungle. Some might consider this the crown jewel of the city. You'll find many concert halls or theaters, including the Château Vide. Peachy Princeton hosts his radio broadcasts from this district, bringing the news off the street and the tunes to tap your feet.

Historical District

Home to the original Quarterville, this district is full of old brownstone buildings and antiquities from across the city's history. It is home to both the public library and cemetery, as well as the senior center, which has recently had to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Industrial Outskirts

Back when the city used to manufacture goods, this district was where most of the work was done. Towering chimneys belched clouds of smoke into the sky at alarming volumes, but nowadays, the buildings lie silent and empty. Few visit there, and even fewer live there, but sometimes scavengers and scrappers come by to sift through the remains of yesterday's manufacturing plants.

Chinatown

Initially home to a large Chinese population, it has since expanded to encompass all of Asia. There are neighborhoods from Korea, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and more, with citizens originating from Istanbul to Indonesia. A wonderfully distinct array of cultures can be found along every street, along with open air markets and ethnic restaurants.

Little Italy

Look no further for a taste of the old country. You'll find people capable of woodworking, locksmithing, automotive work, and a good deal of imported wine, kept under the table of course. You'll also be able to walk into pretty much any building and be served a decent Italian meal, even if it's a barber shop.

Government Circle

The seat of power resides in this circular district, and all roads lead to it. Home to the Mayor's office and the Arcade City Police Department, this is where all public servants of the city go to work. The buildings might be older and the people might be a bit dead inside due to the daily grind, but there's still a lot to do here, even if tourism to this area is nonexistent.

Residential District

This is where most of the citizens go home to rest after their days of work and leisure. Apartment buildings reach for the sky, some cramped and creaky, some comfortable and cozy. You'll find people walking their dogs, running businesses out of their homes, and many of the public schools here.

The Suburbs - Towards the city limits, there are a few actual houses instead of apartment buildings. This is where the urban sprawl and the suburban terrain meet and mingle.
The Irish Borough - A much smaller ethnic borough wherein many people of Irish descent migrated from Boston.

Raccoon Slums

Across the river from the towering High-Rises of the rich and powerful lies a den of poverty and danger. Boarded-up buildings house squatters or tenants who can only afford so much on rent. Alleyways promise robbery at knifepoint at the very least, and you should never, ever walk through alone at night, no matter who you are.

Arcade City Infrastructure

Government

Arcade City Government Officials
University of Arcade City (U.A.C.)
Arcade City Fire Department (A.C.F.D.)
Arcade City Police Department (A.C.P.D.)
- Civilian Operations and Intelligence Network Division (C.O.I.N.)
Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I.)

City-funded Businesses

Arcade City Theater
Arcade City Library
Arcade City Radio Station
Arcade City Haunts
Arcade City Aquarium
Arcade City Art Museum
Church of Bell Mountain
Faith's Summit Academy

Civillian-owned Businesses

The 151
Latte's Restaurant
Kingman Fruit Mart
The Wulf of Hall Street
Koito Law Agency
Arase At Law
Holdt & Co. Law Offices
The Daily Informer Press
Harper's Sketch Stand
Rainfall Cosmetics
Manari Construction
The Bank of Schwertzhund
Roanoke's Rowan and Oak
Scion's Source Delivery Service

Influential Organizations

The Pack
Kahnum Clan
Dragmire Crime Family
Robot Masters
Cult of the Moon
Bart's Gang
Raccoon Rogues
Los Vaqueros

Other

Gambol & Afton's Travelling Circus
Caelum Hotel & Scala Resort