Oranjestad

Oranjestad is the most populous city in Central Shire, and the capital city of Oranje County. As of 2016, Oranjestad was the most dense city in the Shire, and had one of the largest areas. The Mainland Metropolitan Area (MMA) is the most populous metropolitan area in the Shire, with Oranjestad being the dominant city in the region. Classified as an alpha global city by the GaWC, Oranjestad is an international centre of business, finance, arts, and culture.

The area now called Oranjestad has been inhabited for thousands of years by various Aboriginal peoples. The urban history of the city dates back to the 1780’s, when Shire Revolutionary War hero J.F. Grunto established the Grunto Plantation. The town of Orangetown was incorporated as the City of Oranjestad in 1834, and became the capital of the Oranje County in 1867. Oranjestad has occasionally expanded through amalgamation with surrounding municipalities throughout its history, the results of which can be seen in the 14 independently unique and clearly defined official neighborhoods that make up the city.

Located in Central Shire on the eastern shore of Homestar Bay, Oranjestad is situated on a narrow plateau intersected by an extensive network of rivers, deep ravines, and urban forest. It anchors the Mainland Metropolitan Area, a densely populated region surrounding the whole of Homestar Bay that is home to around 26% of the entire population of the Shire. The cosmopolitan and multicultural population of Oranjestad reflects its current and historical role as an important destination for immigrants to Oldeshire. It is one of the world's most diverse cities, with about 30% of residents having been born outside of Oldeshire, and over 20 distinct ethnic origins represented among its population. While English is the primary language spoken by the majority of Oranjestadians, there are over 16 different languages spoken in the city.

Oranjestad is a prominent center for music, theatre, and is home to several headquarters of the Shire’s major national broadcast networks and media outlets. Its varied cultural institutions, which include numerous museums, festival events, entertainment districts, historic sites, and sports activities, are key attractions to the thousands of tourists that visit the city every year. Oranjestad is well known for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings.

History

Before 1800

When modern Shirelings first arrived at the site of present-day Oranjestad, the vicinity was inhabited by the Shai. The name Oranjestad is likely derived from the Shai word Ojasten, meaning "place where trees stand in the water". This refers to the southern rim of Homestar Bay and the modern-day Dukeside National Park. A portage route from Homestar Bay to Budapest River running through this point, the Oranjestad Carrying-Place Trail, led to widespread use of the name. In the 1660s, the Shai established a village just north of what is today Oranjestad, Shai-Ling. This village still exists today and is still predominantly made up of native Shai. A band of traders known as The Rapid Raccoons founded the Explorers Guild in the current Haverhill neighborhood in 1750, but abandoned it in 1759. In 1793, Governor H.W. Nebbers established the town of Orangetown. The town's settlement formed near the present-day intersection of the Haverhill and Connoor River Canals.

1800–1950

Orangetown was incorporated as the City of Oranjestad on March 6, 1834, to more closely reflect its original native name. The city grew rapidly through the remainder of the 19th century, as a major destination for immigrants to Oranje County. The first significant population influx occurred when the Great Ravenholm Fire brought a large number of Ravenholmese to the city. By 1851, the Ravenholm-born population had become the largest single ethnic group in the city. Smaller numbers of refugees from throughout the Shire were welcomed by the existing population. Oranjestad was twice for brief periods the capital of the Shire: first from 1849 to 1852, following unrest in the Mainland, and later in 1856–1858 during the construction of many government facilities in the Mainland. Since then, the capital of the Shire has remained the Mainland.  In the 19th century, an extensive sewage system was built, and streets became illuminated with gas lighting as a regular service. Long-distance railway lines were constructed, including a route completed in 1854 linking Oranjestad with the Quintis and Juris lines. The advent of the railway dramatically increased the numbers of immigrants arriving and gave a major boost to commerce and industry.

The city received new immigrant groups beginning in the late 19th century into the early 20th century, particularly Sammichians, Acadians, Equosians, and Enderps from various parts of the Shire. They were soon followed by Gong-Chengshians, Minas Tirithians, and Old Modaorans. As the Ravenholmese before them, many of these new migrants lived in overcrowded shanty type slums, such as Abacus Tower, Amsterdam Tower, and Beach Fossils tower, which were centered on Willemstad Drive, now the heart of the city.

Since 1950

Following the elimination of racially based immigration policies by the late 1960s, immigration began from all parts of the world. Oranjestad's population grew significantly in 1951 when large-scale suburbanization began, and doubled by 1971. By the 1970s, Oranjestad had surpassed the Mainland as the Shire’s most populous city and the chief economic hub. During this time, in part owing to the political uncertainty raised by the resurgence of the Mainland sovereignty movement, many national and multinational corporations moved their head offices from Mainland to Oranjestad.

Economy

Most, if not all, items can be found in Oranjestad throughout the various stores.

List of Oranjestad Businesses

Topography

The city is intersected by several creeks, rivers, and canals. The main three: the Connoor River in the north, which becomes the Connoor Canal and delineates the East and West portions of the city; and the Haverhill Canal north of Olde Orangetown, linking Homestar Bay to the Connoor Canal and extending to the Budapest River, and the Alfa River in the city’s south. The many creeks and rivers cutting from east to west created large tracts of densely forested ravines, and provide ideal sites for parks and recreational trails, such as Saturn Valley. However, the ravines also interfere with the city's grid plan, and this results in major thoroughfares being cut off or spanning above the ravines. These deep ravines prove useful for draining the city's storm sewer system during heavy rains, but some sections, particularly near the Connoor River, are prone to sudden, heavy floods. Despite its deep ravines, Oranjestad is not remarkably hilly, but does increase in elevation steadily away from the bay. There are occasional hilly areas; in particular, Brahmin Beach neighborhood has a number of rolling hills. Much of the current bayshore land area fronting the Homestar Bay is artificial landfill filled during the 19th and 20th century. Much of the adjacent Alfa Beach is also fill.

Neighborhoods

Oranjestad is often called the "City of Neighborhoods" for its numerous distinctive neighborhoods. Each of them is listed below - follow the links for the main articles for each neighborhood.

1.) Alfa Beach is a relative newcomer to Oranjestad, having replaced the dilapidated Isfahan neighborhood starting in the 1950's. The area is known for its pristine beach and has become a tourist destination in recent decades. Alfa Beach can be found straight north of Skylan Mountain and the Irvington neighborhood, on the southern edge of Homestar Bay.

2.) Brahmin Beach is located directly east of Alfa Beach, south of Summit, and north of Meijin Hills. The area is known for the Jimmy Nuclear Power Plant, which dominates the landscape. It is a middle-class suburban neighborhood. Prior to it's development in 1970, it was the home of the Dillman Farm, which specialized in Mooshroom milk production for over 130 years.

3.) Gala, officially known as Gala Apple neighborhood, is a neighborhood on the northern rim of Homestar Bay. It is bordered by Haverhill to the east. The area was once an apple plantation, remnants of which can still be seen today. In August 2015, a sudden collapse of the Gala Apple Canal rendered much of the area uninhabitable. The area has since been revitalized with mid-rise apartment and condominium buildings.

4.) Haverhill is a neighborhood directly north of Olde Orangetown. It is mostly an urban residential area, and sits directly above the Grand Narthex.

5.) Homestead is an upper-middle class residential neighborhood in northwest Oranjestad, near Shai-Ling.

6.) Irvington was originally created as an independent community. It formed along winding roads of brick that reflected landscape design in the Romantic era. The town was built as a quiet suburb where artists, politicians, academics, and heads of local industry resided.

7.) Lusus is an underground network of arcologies beneath the Summit neighborhood. The area features extremely dense housing and boasts a zero-waste, high efficiency model for living.

8.) Meijin Hills is an eclectic neighborhood in the southeast corner of Oranjestad.

9.) Olde Orangetown is the historical center of Oranjestad and contains the highest concentration of high-rises in the city.

10.) Parkview Island is an island in the middle of Homestar Bay, with Gala to the North, Olde Orangetown to the east, and Alfa Beach to the south. The island is now synonymous with the Parkview Convention Center, which is the sole structure on the island. It was developed in 1972. Prior to this, the island was choked with dense jungle.

11.) Saturn Valley is a steep canyon and natural stone archway that lies directly north of Summit, west of Haverhill, and east of Homestead. It is a popular tourist destination.

12.) Submerciful is an underground market beneath Olde Orangetown, interconnecting several neighborhoods and buildings through tunnels and stairways.

13.) Summit is the eastern half of the CBD, with Olde Orangetown comprising the western half. It is mainly modern high rises and government buildings.

14.) Aboite is the largest neighborhood by area. It is known for its wide lanes, imposing stone buildings, and impressive parks.

15.) Pennsy is a rustic community on the far eastern edge of Oranjestad. It features a winery and an enormous library.

16.) Monon sits just south of Pennsy and east of College of Minds, across the Petra River. It is mainly a farming region and hosts some important CoM structures, including their Off-Campus housing facility.

Behind The Scenes

Oranjestad was created by Nebbers in mid 2012 as part of an "Infrastructure Build Competition". The original BC plot encompassed a small block area that currently straddles over the northern edge of where Summit and Olde Orangetown meet. The plot included a raised highway, power lines, a rail line, police, public housing, canals, sewers, and bridges. After the competition was over, the plot was relocated to its present location. From there, the city expanded outward. Many of the first buildings were copies of other Shire buildings, with several being built by Keikei and Shanevr. Today, almost all the buildings are original creations, with exception to a few in the Olde Orangetown area.

The tiers grew as a result of the raised highway. Roads would spur out from the highway and connect directly into tall buildings nearby. Over time, this networked into an entire tier system. Tier 3 and 4 were added later, and underground layers were also added for additional complexity. Oranjestad was purposefully designed to be a dense, multi-layered city full of complex features and abound with details and hidden gems.

The land Oranjestad is on was once home to The Explorers Guild, a small outpost created by RapidRaccoon.