Americaโs Fourteen Recognized Megaregions:1. New York SeaboardStanding as the most populous and largest megaregion in America, the New York Seaboard is an amalgamation of the sprawls of all major northern east coast cities. The megaregion itself is thusly a melting pot of Americans from all around the country as well as immigrants from around the globe. The New York Seaboard is known for its heavy politicization. It acts as a sort of experimental zone for policy makers, though this comes with heavy backlash. The Seaboard has a large population of Enforcers to subjugate the population. Despite its issues, the New York Seaboard is also known for its massive population of high level executives from corporations around the globe. If there is any place for the games of the one percent, its New York.
2. Greater DCGreater DC is the host of all major federal and political undertakings. Considered the capital of America, the megaregion is extremely dense with people. Greater DC is divided into two subsectors and the difference between the regions is extremely evident. While the political sector of Greater DC is lavish with vegetation and regal megastructures, the general sector is cramped, unstable, and broken. The constant riots in the general sector that push against the political sector are quelled only by the massive installment of Enforcers that protects DC. It is estimated that the Enforcer branch in DC is the number one most funded and largest in all of America.
3. The Derelict CityThroughout the 21st century, midwestern industry was broken down, abandoned, and rebuilt dozens of times. Megacorporations occasionally took to manufacturing in the skeletal buildings that curtain major industrial locations like Cleveland and Pittsburgh. When those industries fell others would take their places. This cycle repeated time and time again until the effects of climate change ripped through the midwest, leaving it a deserted and polluted shell of the agricultural land it once was. With the constantly attacking dust storms, most citizens of the eastern midwest chose to evacuate, finding solace in the megacities across America. Over time, the once bustling midwestern sprawl became a mostly abandoned ghost town. The shells of once mighty factories run by the titans of industry are now desolate and empty, not fit for even the squatters that fled the midwest. Any remaining residents find themselves taking up not even a fraction of the available space. This area has since been dubbed The Derelict City.
There are still a few large industries running a handful of factories in the Derelict City which employ most of the remaining natives. Crime rates are surprisingly low in the area considering just how empty the Derelict City is. Unless they stand as one of the operators of the last few industrial plants, the residents of the Derelict City sprawl are likely part of the small council of midwestern politicians constantly fighting on the Derelict Cityโs council to preserve and rebuild the area. Of course, not much headway is gained as an equal part of the council seats are taken by corporate representatives acting as the mouthpiece of the Derelict Cityโs last few remaining industries. These company representatives are often pushing for entire deregulation of corporate affairs while the natives of the midwest fight to bring the land back to prosperity. The Derelict City currently has no region specific police force. Enforcement of the law comes exclusively from sparse federal Enforcers and local corporate hires.
4. The Detroit StacksAs the uncontrollable sprawl of the Derelict City enveloped the land around Ohio, the Detroit megaregion grew more and more dense as there was nowhere to expand to without undertaking the expensive costs of wrecking the derelict sprawl. Without anywhere to go, Detroit corporations opted to expand upwards, with region officials having little choice but to accept the proposal. In no time at all, the Detroit Stacks were born and the megaregion became a system of layers easily marked according to the financial hierarchy of Detroitโs citizens.
5. MetrochicagoDespite Metrochicagoโs once booming megalopolis state, the megaregion has since fallen from grace. Disagreements in policy between smaller regions within the city have left its governing parties not only going against the federal government but also going against its own people. As such, Metrochicago has devolved into something of a warzone as the governing body is unwilling to relinquish power to anyone who isnโt willing to take it by force. Corporations still run productions in Metrochicago but not without massive paramilitary presences. Most of the citizens seek safety in the massive network of old era tunnels snaking beneath the megaregions known as โthe Catacombsโ.
6. The BastionWhen the rising water levels started to pervade further into south Florida from the Everglades, the smart few began to migrate north in fear of what was to come. It wasnโt until massive hurricanes and cyclones began to flood the entire southern half of the state that mass migration took place. People ran for their lives in hopes to escape the rising tides. In a ditch effort to save their land, a chain of northern counties began construction of a massive tidal wall. When the whole of Florida began to submerge and the experiment in flood prevention technology was the last thing protecting the whole state from going under, any survivors of the Florida floods rushed to the newfounded megaregion. Named for its position as Floridaโs last bastion of defense, the Bastion is a massive city of refugees struggling to find a place amongst the already packed fortress city.
7. The Miami PlatformsThe Bastion wasnโt Floridaโs only hope to maintain itself as active state. Through desperation, the governing parties of the Bastion approved massive corporate projects to create oceanic platforms where Miami once stood. This was almost wholly regulated by the corporate conglomerate funding the project known only by the title Miami Corp. It is believed that Miami Corp is made up of a number of other international corporations who are using the Miami Platforms as a massive center for production, research, and development away from the eyes of the nation. Getting in and out of the Miami Platforms is very difficult, and there isnโt much media coverage going on within.
8. Neo OrleansThe Bayouโs become a lot more than a swamp at the bottom of Neo Orleans. Despite the issues with rising water levels, Louisiana decided to deal with the problem quite differently than Florida. While the Bastion built its walls, Neo Orleans built its city higher. Flood waters rose to overtake the old city, but Neo Orleans was built on top of it. On the cityโs lowest levels in the southern zones of the megaregion, you can still see the remnants of the city that once was and the vegetation that sprouts up from below.
9. The Texas SprawlWhen Texas became the first free state of America, its population grew immensely, allowing the state to expand rapidly and create one of the largest megaregions in terms of total area. Some speculate the Texas Sprawl was built so wide to alleviate the intense dust storms that scar the deserts around the megaregion. This has caused central sprawl real estate prices to skyrocket, creating a clear wealth division in the Lone Star State. The Texas Sprawl has become a city of districts internally placed within each other with governmental officials and extremely wealthy individuals residing at the center.
10. The Vegas TriangleThe crown jewel of the Free State of Nevada, the Vegas Triangle has one of the greatest incomes of any megaregion globally. Free of most federal regulation, businesses throughout the region are booming with revenue. One would think this Laissez-Faire stance on economics would lead to innumerable cases of malpractice and corruption in business, and while that is true, the Vegas Triangle maintains its appearance as an oasis in the desert. As comfortable as it can be, though, the region isnโt without its problems. With the craziness and uncontrollable daily goings on of The Strip, the region is a hotspot for outlaw action, drug crimes, and dangerous streets.
11. South City โThe City of AngelsโThe self-proclaimed paradise of the west, South City is one of the most populous megaregions in America encompassing what was once Los Angeles as well as the surrounding area where the city expanded into throughout the 21st century. In reality, that much couldnโt be further from the truth. As the 2064 elections grow closer and closer, chaos is ever present in the streets. Political turmoil in the cityโs urban sprawl is at an all time high with riots in the streets, veiled and corrupt political dealings in the shadows, and a populous with views split between all five of the major political parties. Small districts in the city are more contested than ever both in terms of elected offices and street rivalries that tear violently through South Cityโs slum districts. South City is one of the two major megaregions that make up the โTwin City Sprawlโ, a sprawl of urban cityscape that covers Americaโs western coast along California. Its sister region is The Bay Region to the north.
There are a number of smaller โdistrictsโ in the megaregion, but for one reason or another, you find yourself in the Reclaim Zone. The Reclaim Zone is a large district emanating out from one main street. The district gets its name from the origin of its architecture and infrastructure. Most of the buildings in the Reclaim Zone are now defunct factories of corporations that have either gone under or moved to better locations. These shells are now the basis for cheap hotels, smaller scale manufacturers, as well as innumerable clubs and bars. Believe it or not, the Reclaim Zone used to hold the greatest employment rates in South City Sprawl, but times have changed. As more and more people migrated to the district, the Reclaim Zone became a home to slumming populations and street vagabonds. As population increased, so did the tension in the streets as did the demands for better conditions.
When riots began to tear through Reclaim Zone streets in 2035, Enforcers were barely able to hold back the crowds from turning strikes and protests into a full-blown war in the streets across South City. As violence continued for a span of three weeks, large scale companies shut down production activity in the district temporarily, but when the riots ended in the Reclaim Zone, the turmoil they brought didnโt leave. The Reclaim Zone became known for its most dangerous times, attracting a completely new sort of individual and corporation. With the decreased regulation due to broken infrastructure and lack of Enforcers in the area, seedy business practices began to take root in every Reclaim Zone industry. Crime began to flourish and the monolithic factories that once housed reputable corporations were bought out by gangs and criminal organizations. Clandestine business has become the trademark of the Reclaim Zone, whether its corps, gangs, or mercs in power.
12. The BayThe Bay is certainly the most flourishing megaregion in the west. Due to the astronomical investment that was the western tidal wall, The Bayโs sprawl has managed to redirect the rising tides into a small channel in between itself and its sister region. A massive hydroelectric power plant was constructed between The Bay and South City and it provides most of Californiaโs power. The Bay is also known for being the political capital of the west, having all five major parties actively participating and relevant in politics. The same could be said for gangs of course, as there are few areas more lucrative for underground business than The Bay.
13. PortlandThe engineering powerhouse of the Northern coast, Portland is a scourge of industrialization. Factories plague every block with hazy smog. While the factories of Portlandโs sprawl barely manage to protect themselves from the nearly lawless streets, paramilitary organizations are hired on by every well-respected company, making the business of muscle very lucrative in the Portland megaregion. This is done mostly because of the constant gang violence in the streets. While a number of small time groups rule the streets with an iron fist, one criminal mob stands above all the others and is respected even more than the megaregionโs law: The Lords of War. The Lords are the biggest weapon-running mafia in America and have an unparalleled record of crushing their enemies.
14. SeattleIncreases in population density have sent Seattleโs economy skyrocketing. Production hit an all time high and the city couldnโt expand fast enough. As such, the expansion of the megaregion shot along the southern border to prevent the expansion of Portland into Washington territory. The cooperation between the cities has all but turned into a full blown war as both vy for control of the northern coast. Seattle bites back against its enemy in the streets by way of the ruling gang, the Civilis Cipher. Civilis Ciphers are known for their incredibly advanced mental augmentations that give them impeccable cognition. The group was once branded as a terrorist organization, manipulating technology and media to bring about its goals, but as they have slowly gained control over Seattleโs day to day business, that reputation has since been met with swift elimination.
