Bridgeport

Population:
40,000 (according to the last census, though including the distributed population in the nearby area it may be more in the ballpark of 50,000)

Location:
North-West coast. Bridgeport is surrounded on three sides by mountains and temperate coastal rain forests and faces out onto the Pacific Ocean.

Climate:
Warm summers in the 20-25/68-77 range. Winters can get cold, but due to the nearness of the Pacific Ocean, temperatures normally stay within the 0- -10/30-14 range. There are only a few weeks of snow a year, but plenty of rain throughout all seasons - especially through fall and spring.

Access:
Bridgeport can be accessed by car (via several highways), as well as by ship on sea, rail by train (rail is mostly used for shipping/transporting goods, not for personal transportation) and by airplane.

Industry:
Bridgeport is a hub for the transportation and shipping of natural goods - this trade consists mostly of lumber and fish, but there is also a smaller trade in minerals and ore mined from the surrounding mountains. The majority of Bridgeport’s population work in its harbor, either on fishing vessels, transferring goods off large freighter ships and onto trains/trucks (or vice-versa) or in repair/maintenance. The remaining percent of the population work out of town in the forests as loggers or miners, or in the general service industry needed to run a town (i.e., minimum wage jobs). Bridgeport is a predominantly “working class” town, with simple people that hold simple values, it has very few extravagances that one would find in a city (there is no starbucks, let alone one on every corner), and the few that exist are Mom and Pop style deals. There is a small population of artisans and craftspeople who mostly live in the “old town” of Bridgeport. There is no formal tourist or vacation/holiday industry to speak of - the single hotel in the town can hardly be counted.

History:
Bridgeport got its start in the gold rush of the 1850-1890s. It was a stopover town for people traveling up the coast en route to Alaska and the Northern parts of British Columbia. After the gold rush had subsided, Bridgeport experienced several years of recession and was on the verge of becoming a ghost town when it was rediscovered by the freighters and cargo-ships who sailed along the coast. These days it is a profiting city with a growing population, its fishing industry, for example, is relatively young and brings new people into the town monthly.

Other:
Bridgeport is not your big jump and jivin’ big-city kinda place. It has a grand total of three strip malls that boast large Wal-Mart department-store style establishments (no fancy boutiques or trendy brand-name outlets) but the majority of its retail industry is made up out of “mom-n-pop” style shops that sell everything from hardware to homeware to locally brewed beer. Its “culture centre” consists of a two screen movie theatre, the rhythm and blues bands that play at the local bar, and the yearly high school talent show. It does have one (small) college campus, but it’s not highly attended seeing as the majority of youth begin working in the docks straight out of high school. While most people in Bridgeport have their own means of transportation (mostly old pickups) there are three buses that form a vaguely reliable public transportation system.

Main Shopping Area
While shopping is distributed throughout all of Bridgeport, this marks the largest/most commercialized shopping area in town. Boasting the biggest of the three strip-malls in the city, it also features a hardware store, the largest liquor store, a bank, the city's only movie theater, etc.

Teal Deer Coffee and a semi-posh lounge called The Flamingo are also located here.

The Cemetery
Located on the northern outskirts of town. Not very large, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in being an overwhelmingly creepy place.

Raven Heights Park
Located on the northwest part of town, close by the bay. It's got an elegant fountain, wet grass, and a generally nice family atmosphere. A rugged old lighthouse at the edge of the park serves as a historic landmark.

Bridgeport University
Not a large or well attended campus by any stretch of the imagination.

Fisherman's Hook
One of several bars/pubs in town, Fisherman's Hook is located on the edge of the industrial/working part of Bridgeport and is therefore the largest and most frequented.

The Night Market
Mostly taking place throughout the Summer, the Night Market offers the chance to buy handicrafts and produce from artisans. Although the fact that it takes place after dark draws in a different crowd too...

Laura's Diner
A simple, small, down-to-earth eatery situated a block from the harbor and frequented by many of Bridgeport's residents.

Quay/fish market
A permanent dock-side market that sells all manner of edible creatures fresh from the sea, as well as fresh fruits/veg, flowers and a variety of crafts and pieces made by the local artisans.

Lumber Yard and Rail Yard
Both located near the freighter docks in the southeast part of town.

Abandoned Theater
The theater has been abandoned and falling to pieces for years, although recently it's become a part-time home to newcomer monster-folk in Bridgeport before they find a more permanent residence.

Hospital
A small, serviceable hospital located on the same block as the legal/town hall/court/government buildings. Not a large scale hospital- for any large/complicated procedure the patient will have to drive/fly to one of several nearby towns that have larger hospitals.


Always open for additions! Feel free to suggest things!