Crystal City
From The Kodiak Republic Wiki
This article is about the city in Sjokalade. For the local government area, see Crystal City Council. For other uses, see Crystal City (disambiguation).
Crystal City | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Clockwise from top: West Crescent business area, Sjokalade Innovative University, Harmony Square, Crystal City Port | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname: The City the Sun Never Sets On | |
| Motto(s): The City of Tomorrow, Today! | |
 Crystal City (red) within southern Kodiak | |
| Country | The Kodiak Republic |
| Province | Sjokalade |
| Wards |
|
| Founded | 467 |
| General Assembly | Crystal City West Crystal City North Crystal City South |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Philip Magnusson |
| • MGAs | |
| • Council | Crystal City Council |
| Area | |
| • Territorial | 2,426 km2 (940 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 795.15 km2 (310 sq mi) |
| Population (654) | |
| • Territorial | 1,320,002 |
| • Density | 540/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 965,103 |
| • Urban density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) |
| • Demonym | Crystallines |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (KST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (KDT) |
| Area code | 07 |
Crystal City is the provincial capital of Sjokalade, the province's largest city and the third-most populous city in Kodiak, with an estimated population of 1,740,000 as of February 663. The city is situated on the western coast of the BLANK Gulf, and spans 36 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills of the Ataku Hills, and stretches 72 km from Grovestown in the east to New Clynewood in the west.
It was established by railway magnate Charles Archambeau as a planned city in 467, in order to compete with the near-total monopoly that Robingrad had on maritime trade in Kodiak at the time. The original plans for the city, then known as Searton after Archambeau's late wife, were merely for a port and basic services and accommodation for the port workers. However, the city received significant support and interest from Duckburg, eager to establish a rival to Robingrad on the west coast, and it was thus expanded and renamed to Crystal City, although the name Searton survives, most prominently in the Searton Ward. Archambeau's touch on the city can still be seen in its tramway system, which is unique in Kodiak for its size and popularity.
In modern times, the city is known across Kodiak for its technological advancement, and is sometimes named the "Invention capital" of Kodiak. This is fuelled by the city council's focus on education, which is most prominently seen in the Knowledge Nexus, a hub hosting the Sjokalade Innovative University, Crystal City Technical Research Institute, and the Archambeau Library Service. The city is also host to the Sjokalade Industrial Polytechnic, and the Crawson Institute for Astrophysical Developments.
History
Pre-establishment
Establishment
For a century from the middle of the 300s the Archambeau rail empire grew hugely, as the largest player in the exponentially growing rail sector. By the 450s, Charles Archambeau, who was the head of the company at the time, conceived the idea of a planned city somewhere to the south of Robingrad as a strategic move to break the near-monopoly that Robingrad held over maritime trade in Kodiak at that time. The site of OLDNAME was chosen as
Archambeau's original plan for the city was modest. Searton, as the city would be named after Archambeau's late wife, would focus primarily on serving as a port, with significant rail networks connecting it to the rest of the nation for easy import and export of goods. The city around the port would provide basic services and accommodations for the port workers, but the primary purpose was a city run by Archambeau to import and export goods and distribute them to the rest of the nation. However, the project garnered significant attention and support from Duckburg, who were eager to establish a formidable rival to Robingrad on the west coast, as well as alleviate the considerable overcrowding problem present in Duckburg at the time. As the funding from Duckburg grew, the project expanded substantially, and the planned city was eventually renamed to Crystal City, though the legacy of the original name persists, most clearly in the Searton Ward.
With the substantial increase in planned population, Archambeau was able to implement his most tangible influence on the city, its distinctive tramway system. First rolled out in 472, the tram network has since expanded considerably, and it is now the most-trafficked tram system in Kodiak. Due to Archambeau's links with the rail network, Crystal City's tram network is interchangeable with the Kodiak national rail network, as it was the Archambeau system that was eventually adopted nationwide.
The construction city experienced rapid construction and urbanization. The port facilities were expanded to accommodate increased maritime activities, and the city's layout was carefully planned to facilitate trade and efficient transportation. The infusion of resources from Duckburg and Archambeau's strategic vision led to the incorporation of advanced urban planning principles, setting Crystal City on the path to becoming a beacon of progress in Kodiak.
As the city expanded, so did its identity as a hub for technological innovation. Crystal City's focus on education began to take shape during this period, laying the foundation for institutions like the Knowledge Nexus. This central hub, hosting the Sjokalade Innovative University, Crystal City Technical Research Institute, and the Archambeau Library Service, became instrumental in fostering an environment conducive to research and development.
The establishment of Crystal City marked a pivotal moment in Kodiak's history, breaking the maritime trade monopoly and laying the groundwork for the city's future as an innovation center. The fusion of strategic planning, technological advancements, and educational initiatives during this period set the stage for Crystal City's rise as the "Invention capital" of Kodiak.
