My map (Part 1)

Following my last post, I mentioned that I would create a map.

So I did.


Since I'm running low on time, I'm going to give you a quick set of descriptions of the western nations outlined. By the way, all statistical numbers are from American FactFinder, courtesy of the US Census.

Democratic Republic of Pacifica (California, Hawaii, Pacific territories)
Capitol: Honolulu, HI
Population: 35.1 million (2000 Census)
Summary: The most pleasant to visit country in quite possibly the world, and also probably the most expensive to live in, at least in this hemisphere. This country adopts a European-style government with European-style social protections at European prices and has some of the most stringent environmental protections in the world.

Nirvana Republic (Alaska, Washington, Oregon)
Capitol: Seattle, WA
Population: 10 million (2000 Census)
Summary: Originally part of Pacifica, Oregon and Washington began to swiftly break away when the Pacifica Aqueduct project, designed to ship water from the Columbia River to ever-thirsty Southern California, was pushed through the Pacifica legislature behind the nearly indomitable strength of the California vote. Alaska later joined when Pacifica made oil drilling and fishing illegal, thus completing the creation of Nirvana.

Confederated Republics of Sagebrush (Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico)
Capitol: Phoenix, AZ
Population: 9 million (2000 Census)
Summary: An extremely dry country with relatively fierce libertarian leanings; between the relatively permissive social attitudes in Nevada, the strong distrust of authority in Arizona, and some unique Castillan heritage in New Mexico, Sagebrush is united for one reason and one reason only - protection against their much larger and more powerful neighbors to the south, east, and west. However, Sagebrush is faced with a severe water problem, a situation exacerbated by the division of the Colorado River through four different rival countries, and a severe transportation problem, with there being only two ways to travel from Arizona to Nevada by land and both involve driving on top of narrow dams. Furthermore, Nevada's transportation system is designed for east-west travel, making it highly susceptible to interference from both neighboring Pacifica and Deseret.

Deseret (Utah, Southern Idaho up to, but not including, Idaho County)
Capitol: Salt Lake City, UT
Population: 3.25 million
Summary: Deseret is the official homeland for the followers of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, otherwise known as "Mormons". Incorporating Utah and Southern Idaho (Northern Idaho voted to become part of the Rocky Mountain Republic in a plebiscite), it's run by the President of the LDS Church through the Quorum of Twelve and the various institutions and bodies of the Church. Deseret is orderly, clean, and is more than happy to accept visitors, provided they don't drink, smoke, gamble, swear, or say the word "polygamy".

Rocky Mountain Republic (Montana, Northern Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado)
Capitol: Laramie, WY
Population: 6 million
Summary: In many respects, the Rocky Mountain Republic is similar to Switzerland - mountainous and neutral. Outside of relatively cosmopolitan Denver, however, things are very different, with the inhabitants maintaining a very proud and rural outlook on life.

Coming soon... the Plains countries