Difference between revisions of "Gotham City"

From TheHolo.Net Forums Wiki

Jump to:navigation, search
(Wayne Enterprises)
(Appendices)
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==What is Gotham?==
+
{{NuBox_Place
Gotham is in southern New Jersey, east of Route 9 between Ocean City and Sea Isle City. Gotham is a pretty amorphous term - not quite as confusing as New York, but it's still pretty hard to be sure what someone means when they say "Gotham". They could be referring to Gotham County; or rather, the consolidated city-county of Gotham. That includes not only '''Gotham City''' itself, but also the '''Greater Gotham Metropolitan Area''' - all the little towns and cities spread about around the place. No matter where you are in Gotham County, it's still the GCPD who pull you over for speeding, and it's the Gotham DA you need to sweet-talk to make sure it doesn't all get too public.
+
|Setting=DC
 +
|Title=Gotham City
 +
|Image=Gotham City.jpg
 +
|Description=''Crime Capital of the United States''
 +
|Name=City of Gotham
 +
|Location=[[Gotham County]], [[New Jersey]]
 +
|Summary=-
 +
|Affiliation=[[Gotham City Police Department]]<br>[[Wayne Enterprises]]<br>[[Bat Family]], [[Outsiders]]<br>[[Queen Consolidated]] / [[Intergang]]
 +
|Faction=[[United States of America]] <small>([[Earth-1]])</small>
 +
}}
  
Another alternative is that people are referring to Gotham City. In theory, the term "Gotham City" applies to everything on the island - or rather islands - on which Gotham is built. You'd think that being surrounded by water was a pretty definite and specific geographical boundary, but apparently the US Postal Service disagrees, and in practice all of the neighborhoods and urban areas on the mainland as well - like '''Bristol''' and the '''Palisades''', overlooking the city-proper - are lumped under the term Gotham, too.
+
'''Gotham''' is a city located in [[Gotham County]], [[New Jersey]].
  
==Neighborhoods==
+
Largely ignored and abandoned by the federal government of the {{United States}}, Gotham is notorious for corruption, crime, poverty, and vigilantism. Gotham is home to [[Batman]] and the [[Outsiders]] among other crimefighters, and criminal entities like [[Intergang]]. It is also a place where people go to lose themselves, particularly those hiding from the law, including [[metahumans]] and individuals of a supernatural nature.
===Old Gotham===
+
The main part of Gotham City is split across two pretty damn big islands, connected together by a ton of bridges. The northernmost of these islands is where you'll find Old Gotham. The realtors want us to call it '''Gotham Heights''' nowadays to try and push up housing prices, but anyone who has ever lived in Gotham knows the truth. Despite all of the renovation and redevelopment, everyone knows that Old Gotham is the scummier, seedier end of town: not the worst, but far from the shining glass and steel of New Gotham's skyscrapers. Hell, there's even a part of it called '''Crime Alley''', which is where [[Bruce Wayne]]'s mom and dad got shot; kinda sets the tone.
+
  
===New Gotham===
+
Gotham City had a population of 271,939 at the time of the last census.
On the south island - separated from Old Gotham by the Sprang River - is New Gotham. Which, well, is new. And kinda shiny. Well, technically it's two islands, with Finger River slicing through the middle of them. But anyway. New Gotham is where all of the money comes in - where you'll find all the skyscrapers, swanky hotels, big corporations, and all of that kind of stuff. It's where you'll find places like Wayne Tower, the Clock Tower, the Hospital, Police Headquarters, the Courthouse, City Hall... and everything else you'd expect to find in the middle of a big metropolitan area. The place is crammed full of what I'm told are some very high-end and fashionable shops, but since I either get things tailored or send someone else to do my shopping for me - lets face it, ladies: you'd mob me if I went in there in person - I can't confirm that first hand. Also, since what's good enough for New York is good enough for us, we've got Robinson Park right in the centre of New Gotham which, well, is a big sort of central park thing, with a reservoir lake type thing.
+
  
===The Palisades===
+
== '''History''' ==
Apparently, large stretches of water are no obstacle to urban sprawl. The metropolitan area of Gotham has spilled over onto the opposite bank of the river that separates Old and New Gotham from the mainland (called Gotham River - our city founders weren't all that original, it seems). The people that branched out there in ye olden times however were opportunistic little so-and-so's, and a lot of the old rich colonial types bought up a lot of the land out there, making for some pretty lucrative real estate. Specifically, the term Palisades refers to the sweet cliff action going on to the north of Old Gotham, atop which you'll find the quaint, spacious and leafy suburb of Bristol, as well as Crest Hill: where all the wealthy people like Bruce Wayne have their mansions. However, Gotham is surrounded on all sides (well, three sides, since the fourth is the Atlantic) by all manner of suburbs and coastal locations, including Archie Goodwin International Airport.
+
The islands that became Gotham City were originally home to a tribe of Native Americans called the [[Miagani]], who were displaced when European settlers arrived in the 17th Century. The area was colonised first by the Dutch as '''New Rotterdam''', but the land was later lost to the British, who founded what is now '''[[Gotham Village]]''', on the banks of the [[Gotham River]].
  
===Other Islands===
+
=== ''19th Century'' ===
Gotham is built on six islands main islands, three of which are taken up by the city-proper. However there are still three more, plus a bunch of smaller ones kicking about the coast. Sandwiched between Old and New Gotham is what initially seems to be a surprisingly underused chunk of land. When you take into account the fact that this island is home to Arkham Asylum however, it starts to make sense why so few people live around there: who wants to be stuck on an island full of whackos, am I right? Some people unfortunately have to: one of the most densely populated - and sleazy - residential areas in Gotham, known locally as the Narrows, is on this island.
+
The settlement of '''Gotham Town''' - located on the site of what is now "[[#Old Gotham|Old Gotham]]" - had become a major port by the early 1800s, becoming the foundation of what is now [[Gotham Harbor]]. It was a British stronghold during the Revolutionary War, but was liberated during the Battle of Gotham by '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Wayne Anthony Wayne]''' and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_the_United_States Legion of the United States]. A parcel of land near Gotham was awarded to the General, upon which [[Wayne Manor]] was built by his brother, [[Darius Wayne]].
  
Off the south coast of New Gotham meanwhile are the other two main islands. To the southwest is a heavily industrialised island almost entirely owned by Wayne Industries: the heavy industry branch of Wayne Enterprises. As well as various factories for WayneCorp's electronics and aerospace divisions, it is also home to the Tricorner Yards, where Wayne Industries works naval contracts for the private sector and the military. The southeastern island meanwhile is another of Gotham's prison isles, this time home to Blackgate Penitentiary, Gotham's correctional facility for detaining criminals who aren't crazy: just a bunch of lawless, sadistic bastards.
+
In 1840, '''[[Solomon Wayne]]''' - grandson of Darius Wayne - led a major urban planning initiative, turning Gotham Town into what is now Old Gotham. He commissioned the architect [[Cyrus Pinkney]] to design ''a bulwark against the godlessness of the wilds'', drawing inspiration from the gargoyles and towering edifices of gothic architecture to inspire, intimidate, and humble the people of Gotham before God. Though widely criticised, Pinkney's architectural style became emblematic of Gotham, and was adopted and adapted for civic structures in Gotham for almost a century to follow.
  
==Landmarks==
+
=== ''20th Century'' ===
===Gotham City General Hospital===
+
Modern-day '''Gotham City''' was incorporated shortly after the turn of the century. By then it had become a thriving industrial centre, but suffered greatly during the Great Depression, leading to widespread poverty and a surge in criminal activity that never truly subsided. Gotham City - or parts of it, at least - was eventually led back to fortune by '''[[Patrick Wayne]]''', heir to the [[Wayne Chemical]] and [[Wayne Shipping]] fortunes. He established [[Wayne Industries]], and later [[WayneTech]], and led a rejuvenation of what is now [[#Downtown|Downtown Gotham]] in much the way his great-grandfather had with Old Gotham a century earlier, advancing Gotham into the modern era. Many civic structures in Gotham - perhaps the most striking of which is [[Wayne Tower]], and its associated transit and utility networks - were designed and financed at Patrick Wayne's behest.
It's a hospital. In Gotham City. It is fairly generic.
+
  
===Gotham City Police Department===
+
By the end of the century, Gotham had fallen into decline again, Patrick's son '''[[Thomas Wayne]]''' focusing more on social programs and charitable giving than on urban development. His efforts proved ineffective at stemming the rise in poverty and crime, ultimately resulting in the deaths of himself and his wife during a mugging in what is now [[Crime Alley]].
Located in an area called Five Points, Gotham City Police Headquarters is - not surprisingly - the headquarters of Gotham City Police Department. A few years ago, there was a massive floodlight with a Batman logo painted on it, so that '''[[Jim Gordon]]''' - before he was Commissioner - could switch it on and scare the willies out of criminals (and occasionally summon Batman, too), but after the whole incident with Harvey Dent, he had to smash the thing up and sever ties with the Dark Knight. Among various departments that operate out of Headquarters (and various other buildings throughout the city) is the Major Crimes Unit: a team which investigates extreme crimes committed by Gotham's mafia and her multitude of costumed criminals.
+
  
===Gotham Clocktower===
+
=== ''21st Century'' ===
I'd love to tell you an awesome story about how, in 1955 the Clock Tower was stuck by lightning, and that transported some guy thirty years into the future in a pretty sweet-looking car. Unfortunately, I can't. All I can tell you is that, well, it's sort of a Clocktower, owned by history professor '''[[Carter Hall]]'''. Someone should totally turn it into a superhero hideout or something.
+
Despite social decline, Downtown has continued to evolve and modernise, and despite Gotham's reputation for danger and rampant crime, businesses and corporations continue to establish offices and headquarters in Gotham, including the likes of [[Galaxy Communications]], [[Kord Industries]], and [[Queen Consolidated]]. Crime and corruption are more pervasive than ever, however, and today Gotham is much a haven for criminal enterprise as it is for corporate enterprise. This has cultivated a resurgence in "costumed criminals" such as the [[Riddler]] and the [[Joker]], which has in turn provoked vigilante activity in Gotham by individuals such as the '''[[Batman]]'''.
  
===Gotham Museum of Antiquities===
+
== '''Geography''' ==
One of Gotham's many museums and public attractions, the Museum of Antiquities is home to various collections of artwork and historical artefacts. Located at the base of the Gotham Clocktower, the museum is heavily supported by the Wayne Foundation. Gotham University maintains a computer lab on the grounds. One of the museum's main custodians is archaeologist and history professor '''[[Carter Hall]]'''.
+
Gotham is [http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/batman/images/6/6b/Gotham_New_Jersey.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111228234050 located] in [[Gotham County]], [[New Jersey]], in the Great Bay at the mouth of the [[Liberty River]], ten miles north of Atlantic City. It is served by US Route 9 and the Golden State Parkway, and [[Gotham International Airport]].
  
===Gotham Public Library===
+
<small>''In the real world, Gotham's islands do not exist. Liberty River is analogous with the real Mullica River, and Gotham County is equivalent to real-world Atlantic County. It was intended to represent New York City at night, while [[Metropolis]] represented it during the day, though recent depictions of Gotham draw inspiration from Chicago as well.''</small>
In addition to one of the most impressive selections of literature on the eastern seaboard, Gotham Public Library's special collection contains various rare and historical books available for research.
+
  
===The Docks===
+
{{Links|{{Link|Gotham Heights}} {{bar}} {{Link|Burnley}} {{bar}} {{Link|Midtown}} {{bar}} {{Link|Downtown}} {{bar}} {{Link|Old Gotham}} <br> <small>{{Link|Gotham County}} {{bar}} {{Link|Bristol County}}</small>}}
On the east coast of New Gotham are the Port Adams dock: an extensive hub for the transfer of cargo used extensively by Wayne Shipping. The region is heavily industrialized, and boasts an extensive warehouse district; though some disused buildings have been transformed into some of the hottest venues on the Gotham club scene. The Gotham mafia and various other underground elements are known to make use of the region, and though unconfirmed there are rumours that Batman has a secret base hidden in the area.
+
  
===Robinson Park===
+
=== ''Gotham Heights'' ===
As Gotham grew into a sprawling city, and the richer land owners began to buy up broad areas of the undeveloped land around the '''Palisades''', city developers realised the importance of maintaining an area of open space within the city limits for use by the public. The area now called Robinson Park was one of several areas designated for that purpose. Over eight hundred acres in size, Robinson Park includes a large reservoir, numerous public attractions including the Wayne Botanical Gardens, and is bisected by Finger River.
+
Consisting of the area north of the Uptown Freeway, which connects the New Trigate Bridge with the Robert Kane Memorial Bridge, '''[[Gotham Heights]]''' is one of the least densely urbanised areas of Gotham, even in poorer neighbourhoods. Despite the presence of public attractions like [[Gotham Zoo]] the [[Giordano Botanical Gardens]], and the [[Knights Dome Sporting Complex]] however, the borough went through a population collapse during the late 20th Century, leaving many abandoned buildings and leading to a spike in local crime. Several neighbourhoods have seen gentrification, including The Hill - now '''[[Cherry Hill]]''' - to the east, and [[Newtown]] to the west. '''[[North Point]]''', on the north shore, is home to the [[Rogers Yacht Basin]] and [[Amusement Mile]].
  
===Wayne Foundation Building===
+
<small>''Gotham Heights is like The Bronx, or Freeland in Black Lightning, mixing urban areas with open space. Crime in Gotham Heights is dominated by '''[[The 100]]'''.''</small>
The headquarters of the Wayne Foundation, this building is located in central New Gotham. The various stories provide offices for the staff behind the Robert Wayne and Martha Wayne Foundations, which provide grants and funding for medical research and for art and culture respectively. Additionally, the building contains a free medical clinic - one of many across the city operated by Wayne Medical, with funding from the Robert Wayne Foundation - a gallery that regularly showcases local Gotham artists, and several function rooms for fundraising events. The penthouse apartment is kept by '''[[Bruce Wayne]]''' as his place in the city, though the charming and charismatic '''[[Oliver Queen]]''' is currently living there, loaned the apartment by his old school friend because Bruce is a real stand-up guy. There is also a secret sub-basement below the building used by Batman, which I know absolutely nothing about.
+
  
===Wayne Tower===
+
=== ''Burnley'' ===
The most impressive structure in Gotham, right at the heart of the city, Wayne Tower is a hub for Gotham's transport and utilities networks, as well as the headquarters of '''Wayne Enterprises''' and various subsidiaries. Within the tower are the offices of Wayne Industries, Wayne Technologies, Wayne Pharmaceuticals, Wayne Foods, and Wayne Entertainment. There are also various labs and research facilities for WayneTech, in addition to facilities the company has around the city.
+
Located to the south of the Uptown Freeway, '''[[Burnley]]''' is dominated in the west by brownstones and African American communities, and is seen as a thriving cultural district, boasting venues such as the [[Monarch Theatre]], while in the east - also called the '''[[Gotham East End]]''' - it encompasses the neighbourhoods of [[Brideshead]], [[Bowery]], and [[Robbinsville]], and is a notorious battleground for gang violence. In fact, Brideshead and Bowery are separated by [[Park Row]], an infamous street better known as '''[[Crime Alley]]'''.
  
==Businesses==
+
[[Mercey Island]], better known as '''[[Arkham]]''', is considered to be part of Burnley as well. The island was once owned in its entirety by the Mercey family, but has since become public land. The old Mercey Mansion and grounds have since become the [[Arkham Asylum|Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane]].
===Gotham Gazette===
+
Though Gotham has many newspapers, the Gotham Gazette is widely accepted to be the classiest; though that's about as much of a compliment as winning a caveman beauty pagent. The Gazette at least tries to hold itself to higher standards of journalism, and while it's not quite as high brow as broadsheets like the Daily Planet, it is at least less trashy than its major tabloid counterpart, the Gotham Globe. The Gazette is owned by Wayne Entertainment, a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises.
+
  
===Monarch Theater===
+
<small>''Burnley is similar to Harlem. Crime in Burnley is controlled by the '''[[Burnley Town Massive]]''', as well as smaller gangs like the [[Sprang Bridge Soldiers]] and the [[East Side Dragons]].''</small>
Originally owned by Robert Queen (founder of Queen Industries), it used to be that Monarch Theater was one of the only good things left in Old Gotham; that was until Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered in the streets after leaving an opera performance. Association with the death of one of Gotham's civic heroes proved to be the death of the theater as well, and it closed, falling into a near-derelict state. The criminal underworld moved in, and for a time it was thought to be a hub of illegal activities of sorts. However, the criminals were eventually cleared out by the Batman, allowing Bruce Wayne to approve a sizeable grant from the Martha Wayne Foundation to have the theater completely restored.
+
  
===Queen Industries===
+
=== ''Midtown'' ===
Though originally founded in Star City, Queen Industries moved it's head offices to Gotham more than two decades ago, following the death of founder and original CEO, Robert Queen. The move was thought by many to represent a fresh start on the part of the new company President, '''[[William Glenmorgan]]''', severing ties with the Queen legacy as much as possible. Predominantly an electronics and technology firm, Queen Industries is a direct rival to Wayne Technologies (a Wayne Enterprises subsidiary), and the two businesses regularly compete for government contracts. Prominent Gotham businessman '''[[Roman Sionis]]''' is the current CEO.
+
The area surrounding [[Robinson Park]] is known as '''[[Gotham Midtown|Midtown]]'''. Much of the island was given over to industry, but has slowly been reclaimed for residential use over the decades.
  
Queen Industries is secretly a front company for the government agency '''Checkmate'''.
+
'''[[Gotham Village]]''' lies to the west, and is one of Gotham's oldest neighbourhoods. In recent years it has become a centre for art and culture, thanks in large part to the [[Gotham University]] campus bringing in money and new residents to the area. Between the Village and the [[Gotham River]] is [[Red Hook]], a docklands neighbourhood with a small Eastern European community.
  
===Sherwood Florists===
+
'''[[Coventry]]''' lies north of Robinson Park, and is connected to Burnley via the southern tip of [[Arkham]]. Much of the area was once industrial, particularly warehouses associated with the nearby docks. It is home to one of Gotham's largest Latino populations.
A small, independent floral store in Bristol, founded back in the seventies. The original owner sadly passed away; Sherwood Florists is now run by [[Carter Hall]], an archaeologist and employee of the Gotham Museum of Antiquities, though he seldom staffs the store himself. The florists' founder was the biological mother of Gotham Gazette reporter [[Dinah Hall]]; Carter's adopted daughter.
+
  
===Wayne Enterprises===
+
The '''[[Upper East Side]]''' is east of Robinson Park, and is one of Gotham's wealthier communities, home to much of the city's middle class and professional residents, and has been since the decades after the Civil War. Many of Gotham's most fashionable boutiques and venues, such as the [[Iceberg Lounge]], are located here. Some hallmarks of the city's industrial past remain, however, such as the [[Ace Chemical Plant]].
A massive conglomerate of businesses unified under a single banner, '''[[Wayne Enterprises]]''' is arguably the corporate titan of Gotham, responsible for the majority of industry in the city, as well as providing a number of public services - often free. Wayne Enterprises itself is primarily an umbrella for over a dozen subsidiaries, covering everything from electronics and biotech technologies to aerospace, mining, steel and chemical industries; pharmaceuticals, healthcare, entertainment, and much more. Though '''[[Bruce Wayne]]''' serves as President of the Board, much of the day-to-day running of Wayne Enterprises and its subsidiaries is overseen by '''[[Lucius Fox]]''', the company CEO; sexy socialite '''[[Oliver Queen]]''' meanwhile heads up the '''Applied Sciences''' division.
+
  
==Other Locales==
+
<small>''Crime in Midtown is dominated by the '''[[Bratva]]''', who control the Red Hook docks; the '''[[Escabedo Cartel]]''' who control the drugs through Coventry; and '''[[Intergang]]''' who dominates white collar crime on the Upper East Side.''</small>
===Arkham Asylum===
+
Founded by Jeremiah Arkham, and officially known as Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, the island sanitarium has become something of a collecting ground for the more psychotic and eccentric costumed criminals that stalk Gotham's streets. Practices at Arkham are suspect at best; former employee Professor [[Jonathan Crane]] was known to experiment on patients, as well as using pleas of insanity to help members of the Gotham mafia to escape jail time in Blackgate Penitentiary. Security measures at the Asylum are a little suspect, with numerous "supervillains" having escaped over the years.
+
  
===Blackgate Penitentiary===
+
=== ''Downtown'' ===
The detention facility for those who aren't completely psychotic, Blackgate Penitentiary - also known as Gotham County Prison - is the main jail for subjects of the Gotham justice system. Like Arkham, the prison is isolated on an island away from populated areas of the city, and is considered particularly difficult to escape from; though the more resourceful or connected members of Gotham's underworld seem to manage with alarming frequency.
+
Also called "New Gotham" to contrast with its neighbour, '''[[Downtown Gotham|Downtown]]''' collectively refers to the [[Fashion District]], the [[Financial District]], and [[Gotham City Hall|City Hall]]. It represents the bulk of Gotham's wealth and economy, home to the offices and headquarters of numerous corporate entities including [[Wayne Enterprises]], [[Queen Consolidated]], [[Kord Industries]], and [[Galaxy Communications]]. It was built as part of the Gotham City renovations spearheaded by [[Patrick Wayne]], in the hopes of attracting new businesses to Gotham and thus stimulating the local economy. The endeavour was only partially successful, with many of Gotham's poor being displaced to make room for an influx of the wealthy.
  
===Brentwood Academy===
+
Off the coast of Downtown is '''[[Blackgate]]''', a largely inaccessible island that marks one side of [[Gotham Harbor]]. It is the location of [[Gotham State Penitentiary|Gotham State Penitentiary]] - better known as '''[[Blackgate|Blackgate Prison]]'''.
Located in a wealthy up-County area of Gotham - north of the Palisades - Brentwood Academy is a distinguished educational establishment, attended by some of the wealthiest (and theoretically finest) students in Gotham, and indeed from America and aboard as well. The school was attended by a young [[Bruce Wayne]] and by [[Oliver Queen]], the latter as a boarding student while his parents were busy running the family business. The school has a high reputation for educational excellence, and most of its students go on to achieve great success, particularly in business, law, and politics.
+
  
===Slaughter Swamp===
+
=== ''Old Gotham'' ===
Located several miles beyond the city limits, Slaughter Swamp State Park is a region of supposed environmental importance, which provides a habitat for various protected species. In practice however it is a region of utter wasteland, frequently used by members of Gotham's underworld as a venue for clandestine meetings, as well as a dumping ground for bodies.
+
Built with "old money" on the site of old Gotham Town, the historic gothic architecture of '''[[Old Gotham]]''' stands beside the art deco skyscrapers and highrises of the early 20th Century, all of which towers over and overshadows the poverty, homelessness, and slums that much of Gotham's wealth is built upon. While the wealthy live in comfort in the [[Diamond District]] and on the [[Upper West Side]], surrounded by the [[Gotham Museum of Antiquities|Museum of Antiquities]], [[Gotham Natural History Museum|Natural History Museum]], countless banks, boutiques, and the [[Gotham Academy]], a few blocks away citizens live hand to mouth in [[Chinatown]], [[Ranelagh]], or the [[Narrows]] - a slum built on an island in the middle of the [[Midtown River]]. Old Gotham is thus understandably lawless, though the crime is largely disorganised and chaotic, with an uneasy sense of peace and safety provided by the officers at [[Gotham Central]].
  
===Wayne Manor===
+
'''[[Tricorner]]''' is also considered part of Old Gotham, located on the island of [[Sandy Hook]] just off the coast. Tricorner is similar to Brooklyn, built on the back of industry - particularly at the [[Tricorner Naval Yards|Naval Yards]], and [[Gotham Harbor]] - and later transformed into a fashionable residence for those who can't afford to live in Old Gotham or Downtown.
Originally one of the oldest properties in Gotham, the original Wayne Manor burned down a few years ago during an overzealous birthday celebration by Bruce Wayne]], and has only been recently rebuilt. It sits atop Crest Hill, and is surrounded by vast grounds and open landscape, dotted with the hopes of other rich and famous members of Gotham society.
+
  
===The Batcave===
+
<small>''Crime in Old Gotham is dominated by the '''[[Cosa Nostra]]''', particularly the [[Falcone Crime Family]]. Several [[Gotham Triads|Triads]] control Chinatown and its docks, while the Irish and other gangs control the ports at Ranelagh and Tricorner.''</small>
We of course know absolutely nothing about the Batcave, whatsoever. Even if we did know, we certainly wouldn't be permitted to tell you. That said, there are several Batcaves dotted around Gotham City: that is, several secret facilities maintained by the Batman as bases of operations, and as storage for his various vehicles. The original Batcave is located beneath Wayne Manor, deep in Crest Hill, and can be accessed via a secret passage directly from the house; this serves at Batman's headquarters, and as the primary hub of his vigilante activities. Another facility is located at Port Adams, and can be accessed via a hidden elevator in a Wayne Enterprises owned shipping container. A third is hidden in a secret sub-basement beneath the Wayne Foundation Building, and can be accessed via a secret elevator from the penthouse apartment, providing Batman with a base of operations right in the heart of New Gotham. Other facilities may exist, but are extremely well hidden.
+
  
==Groups==
+
== '''Appendices''' ==
===The Police===
+
[[Category:United States of America]] [[Category:New Jersey]] [[Category:Gotham|#]]
Gotham City Police Department has a long and distinguished history of protecting law and order in Gotham City (and Gotham County), but in recent years it has been plauged with allegations of corruption, and infiltration by the mob. Following the death of '''Gillian Loeb''', the former head of the Major Crimes Unit - '''[[James Gordon]]''' - was appointed Commissioner, and began the task of cleaning up Gotham PD's ranks, and reputation. He is assisted by '''Clancy O'Hara''', the Chief of Police, and relies heavily on '''Captain Maggie Sawyer''' as his replacement as head of Major Crimes. Under Gordon's direction, Gotham PD is working to clamp down on the abundance of unlawful vigilante activity taking place in Gotham City, though Gordon is known to have been sympathetic to the Batman in the past.
+
 
+
===The Mob===
+
Though thought of as a unified group by many, the Gotham mafia is a collection of rival crime families in constant competition for each other for superiority, though they have been known to forge alliances and to unite behind a single cause from time to time. For a time, the '''Falcone''' family held supremacy over the Gotham mafia, but following the actions of Batman, the League of Shadows, and of course '''Carmine Falcone''' being committed to Arkham after a run-in with the [[Scarecrow]], the Maroni family rose to prominence. Many of the mob families uniting behind the mysterious '''Joker''', but after he was defeated by Batman, and after '''Sal Maroni''' was left wheelchair bound after a run-in with a scarred and disillusioned '''Harvey Dent''', the mafia was thrown into chaos.
+
 
+
Currently, several crime families are embroiled in a bitter turf war. Having recovered - mostly - after the Scarecrow's attack, Carmine Falcone continues to lead the Falcone Crime Family, though he is now heavily reliant on the support of his daughter, Sofia Gigante. The Maroni Crime Family also retains some of it's old power, though the crippled Sal Maroni does not command the same respect as he did. Other crime families include the Italian '''Galantes''', '''Sabatinos''' and '''Bertinellis'''; the Russian '''Odessas''' and '''Dimitrovs'''; and the Irish '''Rileys''', as well as street gangs like the '''Golden Dragons''' and other groups like the '''Yakuza'''.
+
 
+
Recently a mysterious crime boss known as '''[[Black Mask]]''' has risen to prominence in Gotham, making attempts to unify the crime families under a single banner once more. Many of the mafia members are reluctant however, fearing a repeat of what transpired when they rallied behind the Joker.
+
 
+
===The D.E.O===
+
The Department of Extranormal Operations is a government agency with no appreciation for secret identities and awesome costumes. They are blind to trivial little things like good and evil, and consider anyone who operates outside of the law as being the bad guy, regardless of whether they're a vigilante or a villain. With so many would-be heroes and costumed villains in Gotham City, the DEO Field Office is one of the most active in the country. '''Ted Kord''' and his partner '''Michael Holt''' are two of the myriad agents assigned there. The DEO's outlook isn't completely black and white however: they occasionally recruit lesser criminals and vigilantes like '''Selina Kyle''' to help them in their efforts against worse threats.
+
 
+
==People of Gotham==
+
* [[:Category:People of Gotham (by alias)|People of Gotham (by alias)]]
+
* [[:Category:People of Gotham (by name)|People of Gotham (by name)]]
+
[[Category:Gotham]]
+

Latest revision as of 19:26, 10 January 2019

Contents


Gotham is a city located in Gotham County, New Jersey.

Largely ignored and abandoned by the federal government of the United States, Gotham is notorious for corruption, crime, poverty, and vigilantism. Gotham is home to Batman and the Outsiders among other crimefighters, and criminal entities like Intergang. It is also a place where people go to lose themselves, particularly those hiding from the law, including metahumans and individuals of a supernatural nature.

Gotham City had a population of 271,939 at the time of the last census.

History

The islands that became Gotham City were originally home to a tribe of Native Americans called the Miagani, who were displaced when European settlers arrived in the 17th Century. The area was colonised first by the Dutch as New Rotterdam, but the land was later lost to the British, who founded what is now Gotham Village, on the banks of the Gotham River.

19th Century

The settlement of Gotham Town - located on the site of what is now "Old Gotham" - had become a major port by the early 1800s, becoming the foundation of what is now Gotham Harbor. It was a British stronghold during the Revolutionary War, but was liberated during the Battle of Gotham by Anthony Wayne and the Legion of the United States. A parcel of land near Gotham was awarded to the General, upon which Wayne Manor was built by his brother, Darius Wayne.

In 1840, Solomon Wayne - grandson of Darius Wayne - led a major urban planning initiative, turning Gotham Town into what is now Old Gotham. He commissioned the architect Cyrus Pinkney to design a bulwark against the godlessness of the wilds, drawing inspiration from the gargoyles and towering edifices of gothic architecture to inspire, intimidate, and humble the people of Gotham before God. Though widely criticised, Pinkney's architectural style became emblematic of Gotham, and was adopted and adapted for civic structures in Gotham for almost a century to follow.

20th Century

Modern-day Gotham City was incorporated shortly after the turn of the century. By then it had become a thriving industrial centre, but suffered greatly during the Great Depression, leading to widespread poverty and a surge in criminal activity that never truly subsided. Gotham City - or parts of it, at least - was eventually led back to fortune by Patrick Wayne, heir to the Wayne Chemical and Wayne Shipping fortunes. He established Wayne Industries, and later WayneTech, and led a rejuvenation of what is now Downtown Gotham in much the way his great-grandfather had with Old Gotham a century earlier, advancing Gotham into the modern era. Many civic structures in Gotham - perhaps the most striking of which is Wayne Tower, and its associated transit and utility networks - were designed and financed at Patrick Wayne's behest.

By the end of the century, Gotham had fallen into decline again, Patrick's son Thomas Wayne focusing more on social programs and charitable giving than on urban development. His efforts proved ineffective at stemming the rise in poverty and crime, ultimately resulting in the deaths of himself and his wife during a mugging in what is now Crime Alley.

21st Century

Despite social decline, Downtown has continued to evolve and modernise, and despite Gotham's reputation for danger and rampant crime, businesses and corporations continue to establish offices and headquarters in Gotham, including the likes of Galaxy Communications, Kord Industries, and Queen Consolidated. Crime and corruption are more pervasive than ever, however, and today Gotham is much a haven for criminal enterprise as it is for corporate enterprise. This has cultivated a resurgence in "costumed criminals" such as the Riddler and the Joker, which has in turn provoked vigilante activity in Gotham by individuals such as the Batman.

Geography

Gotham is located in Gotham County, New Jersey, in the Great Bay at the mouth of the Liberty River, ten miles north of Atlantic City. It is served by US Route 9 and the Golden State Parkway, and Gotham International Airport.

In the real world, Gotham's islands do not exist. Liberty River is analogous with the real Mullica River, and Gotham County is equivalent to real-world Atlantic County. It was intended to represent New York City at night, while Metropolis represented it during the day, though recent depictions of Gotham draw inspiration from Chicago as well.

· · ·

Gotham Heights | Burnley | Midtown | Downtown | Old Gotham
Gotham County | Bristol County

· · ·

Gotham Heights

Consisting of the area north of the Uptown Freeway, which connects the New Trigate Bridge with the Robert Kane Memorial Bridge, Gotham Heights is one of the least densely urbanised areas of Gotham, even in poorer neighbourhoods. Despite the presence of public attractions like Gotham Zoo the Giordano Botanical Gardens, and the Knights Dome Sporting Complex however, the borough went through a population collapse during the late 20th Century, leaving many abandoned buildings and leading to a spike in local crime. Several neighbourhoods have seen gentrification, including The Hill - now Cherry Hill - to the east, and Newtown to the west. North Point, on the north shore, is home to the Rogers Yacht Basin and Amusement Mile.

Gotham Heights is like The Bronx, or Freeland in Black Lightning, mixing urban areas with open space. Crime in Gotham Heights is dominated by The 100.

Burnley

Located to the south of the Uptown Freeway, Burnley is dominated in the west by brownstones and African American communities, and is seen as a thriving cultural district, boasting venues such as the Monarch Theatre, while in the east - also called the Gotham East End - it encompasses the neighbourhoods of Brideshead, Bowery, and Robbinsville, and is a notorious battleground for gang violence. In fact, Brideshead and Bowery are separated by Park Row, an infamous street better known as Crime Alley.

Mercey Island, better known as Arkham, is considered to be part of Burnley as well. The island was once owned in its entirety by the Mercey family, but has since become public land. The old Mercey Mansion and grounds have since become the Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane.

Burnley is similar to Harlem. Crime in Burnley is controlled by the Burnley Town Massive, as well as smaller gangs like the Sprang Bridge Soldiers and the East Side Dragons.

Midtown

The area surrounding Robinson Park is known as Midtown. Much of the island was given over to industry, but has slowly been reclaimed for residential use over the decades.

Gotham Village lies to the west, and is one of Gotham's oldest neighbourhoods. In recent years it has become a centre for art and culture, thanks in large part to the Gotham University campus bringing in money and new residents to the area. Between the Village and the Gotham River is Red Hook, a docklands neighbourhood with a small Eastern European community.

Coventry lies north of Robinson Park, and is connected to Burnley via the southern tip of Arkham. Much of the area was once industrial, particularly warehouses associated with the nearby docks. It is home to one of Gotham's largest Latino populations.

The Upper East Side is east of Robinson Park, and is one of Gotham's wealthier communities, home to much of the city's middle class and professional residents, and has been since the decades after the Civil War. Many of Gotham's most fashionable boutiques and venues, such as the Iceberg Lounge, are located here. Some hallmarks of the city's industrial past remain, however, such as the Ace Chemical Plant.

Crime in Midtown is dominated by the Bratva, who control the Red Hook docks; the Escabedo Cartel who control the drugs through Coventry; and Intergang who dominates white collar crime on the Upper East Side.

Downtown

Also called "New Gotham" to contrast with its neighbour, Downtown collectively refers to the Fashion District, the Financial District, and City Hall. It represents the bulk of Gotham's wealth and economy, home to the offices and headquarters of numerous corporate entities including Wayne Enterprises, Queen Consolidated, Kord Industries, and Galaxy Communications. It was built as part of the Gotham City renovations spearheaded by Patrick Wayne, in the hopes of attracting new businesses to Gotham and thus stimulating the local economy. The endeavour was only partially successful, with many of Gotham's poor being displaced to make room for an influx of the wealthy.

Off the coast of Downtown is Blackgate, a largely inaccessible island that marks one side of Gotham Harbor. It is the location of Gotham State Penitentiary - better known as Blackgate Prison.

Old Gotham

Built with "old money" on the site of old Gotham Town, the historic gothic architecture of Old Gotham stands beside the art deco skyscrapers and highrises of the early 20th Century, all of which towers over and overshadows the poverty, homelessness, and slums that much of Gotham's wealth is built upon. While the wealthy live in comfort in the Diamond District and on the Upper West Side, surrounded by the Museum of Antiquities, Natural History Museum, countless banks, boutiques, and the Gotham Academy, a few blocks away citizens live hand to mouth in Chinatown, Ranelagh, or the Narrows - a slum built on an island in the middle of the Midtown River. Old Gotham is thus understandably lawless, though the crime is largely disorganised and chaotic, with an uneasy sense of peace and safety provided by the officers at Gotham Central.

Tricorner is also considered part of Old Gotham, located on the island of Sandy Hook just off the coast. Tricorner is similar to Brooklyn, built on the back of industry - particularly at the Naval Yards, and Gotham Harbor - and later transformed into a fashionable residence for those who can't afford to live in Old Gotham or Downtown.

Crime in Old Gotham is dominated by the Cosa Nostra, particularly the Falcone Crime Family. Several Triads control Chinatown and its docks, while the Irish and other gangs control the ports at Ranelagh and Tricorner.

Appendices