Shops City

Shops City is the capital city of Shops Island and is the third largest city in the country, trailing behind Sunset City and Vonkouver. Shops City has forged its way into prominence as the seat of the government's executive and legislative branches, as well as most Shopper government bureaus and agencies. Two notable exceptions to this are the Shops Island Council, which is seated in Vonkouver, and the Bureau of Agriculture, which is seated in CK Town. Shops City has an estimated population of 1,900,000 residents as of the 2018 census. Shops City is also the only major metropolitan area within Central Shops.

Shops City also serves as the country's primary economic hub. Most Shopper corporations have their headquarters in Shops City, and the national stock exchange is also located here. One of the epicenters of Shopper financial activity is the Financial District, which is located right downtown and just blocks away from Shops City Square, which is the centerpiece of the city as a whole.

As the city is landlocked, all travel in and out of the city relies heavily on road, rail, or air. Shops City is equipped with a state-of-the-art LRT system, high-quality public transportation, and an intricate system of freeways within its city limits to allow for easy commuting. Most freight which is shipped via rail is also processed in Shops City, as it is directly in the middle of key rail lines that connect the eastern and western coasts of Shops Island.

Although it is considered by many to be the "shining star" of Shopper cities, Shops City is plagued with poverty and crime. Its central location has led to many homeless penguins concentrating in the area, although the local government tries its hardest to isolate these vagrants to the outskirts of town. Crime is also a rampant issue; theft, arson, murder, and jaywalking are all committed in Shops City at a much higher rate than anywhere else in Shops Island. White collar crime has also become a major problem recently, as influential characters in the financial and political sectors have increasingly took to unethical practices to get the upper hand in deals and politicking. The SIA frequently warns of racketeering, fraud, and bribery occurring in Shops City's inner circles, although the local government tries to sweep these accusations under the rug.

History


Shops City was founded around September 2010 by then-president Ben 100022, as the new Shopper country clearly needed somewhere to be the supposed capital. Seeing as how many other smaller, personalized settlements were beginning to pop up across the island, Ben decided to establish a proper "capital" in the Shopper heartland, so that there would be no competition between other cities for the title. With monetary grants from the USA, Shops City was quickly built from the ground up and became an important economic hub for the young Shopper state. The city kept expanding, until it became one of the largest and most influential cities in Shops Island.

Shops City has flourished into a world-class city, and is often visited by the rich and those willing to travel luxuriously. Though Shops City is usually most active during political events, the capital is frequently targeted during times of war, as it is the seat of the Shopper government. Shops City has received damage from foreign bombings and terrorist attacks during the Asiapelago War, the Fall of Nexon, and during the Frosian War. Over time, the municipal government of Shops City has focused heavily on expanding and diversifying the city, hoping to make it more than just the host city of the government. As such, the local government has invested large sums of money into establishing an advanced public transport system, a flourishing school system, and a thriving downtown sector which is known for economic, political, and touristic prestige.

Economy
Shops City mainly generates its income through the sale of textiles and souvenirs to tourists. It's one of the most popular destinations for tourists coming to visit Shops, and the city is full of hotels, clothing stores, and nightclubs. Paparazzi generate lots of money for the city, as they come when political leaders come on diplomatic missions to Shops City; it happens quite often.

Local Politics
Shops City's local government operates independently of both the state and federal governments, and is by far the largest levier of taxes against its citizens. Like most major cities, Shops City's local government is led by a mayor and a number of municipal councilors; half of these councilors represent a specific district within Shops City, while the other half are considered at large, and are elected by the whole city. Municipal elections are held every four years, and all elected offices are up for contest at the end of each election cycle. The local government is located in Shops City Square, and its bureaucratic offices are located just below those of representatives from the Common Legislature in the Shops City Square Towers.

Locations
Shops City has many different locations, and is the epicenter of Shops' economy and its political system.

Shops City Center
The City Center is, in president Lavender's words, "a monument to power and prosperity". It is home to a giant fountain, and the presidential home. With it is a balcony, so he can speak out to the citizens. The presidential home lies between the twin government towers, which are home to the Shops Island Council, the Common Legislature, and all of Shops' government facilities. It also serves as the city square of Shops City.

Shops City Financial District
The Financial District is the economic hub of Shops Island. It is the epicenter of all economics, is home to the national stock exchange, the bank headquarters, and home to the central bank system. It's made up of 3 differently designed towers, all very tall. The Financial District is also a popular tourist destination, and the district's towers are the tallest in Shops City.

Chill57181 International Airport
The Chill57181 International Airport is the only airport in Shops City, and is one of the largest flight hubs in Shops Island, falling just short of Vonkouver and Penguin City. The Chill57181 Airport is the second largest hub for Penguin Air traffic, after Penguin City. Shops City, though being the capital, mainly only handles domestic flights and other flights to places in the Asiapelago and the Seal Islands. It's located to the outskirts of Shops City, like most major airports.

Military Industrial Complex
The Military Industrial Complex is the main command center of all of Shops' military operations. While a secret base in Southern Shops serves as the official SIA base, the MIC serves as a hub for most military matters. It is a gargantuan complex of many hangars, repair shops, training grounds, prison cells, and much more. The MIC produces much of Shops' war machines, such as tanks and missiles. It's heavily guarded; equipped with a perimeter of countless land mines and watch-posts. The complex is only the headquarters of Shops' military operations, not the SIA as a whole.

Transit
Shops City has an extremely fulfilling transit program; the most effective in all of Shops Island. There are many venues of travel around and to/from the city.

Subway
The subway transit system in Shops City is managed by the Shops Island Subway. There are many serviceable locations as to which the Shops City-exclusive subway system takes its passengers, and with efficient routes, too. The subway travels above ground for travel to the Chill57181 International Airport.

Shops City's subway has much smaller, and slower cars than those that work on the national level. The subway cars used in Shops City are often imported from other major countries that use and produce them, such as the USA. Shops City's subway system is generally considered slow, yet it works for common domestic use around town.

Bus
Unlike other cities, Shops City's bus transport system is efficient and clean. The city's buses are Eco-friendly, cost-efficient, and can hold many passengers. Bus travel is the most common form of government-sponsored transit inside the city. The bus system has a variety of vehicles to fit certain needs, such as regular buses, double-Decker buses, articulated buses, and other less common models. All of Shops City's buses are manufactured in the USA, with the exception of the double-Decker bus, which is manufactured jointly in UnitedTerra and Puffle'and.

Road
Road/car travel is the most popular form of transportation in Shops City. There are many roads in the city, and a large interstate system surrounding the perimeter and cropping outwards. All average families have at least one car. Road servicing is considered of average quality for a city of around 1,000,000 penguins, yet the roads get worn out quickly, even though the city is quite young. Taxis are also commonplace, and are allowed to set their own fees without government restriction, as long are those fares are within reason.

Gallery
 File:ShopsCitySquare.png|Shops City Center File:ShopsCityFinancialDistrict.png|Shops City Financial District File:MilitaryIndustrialComplex.png|Military Industrial Complex 

Trivia

 * Shops City was ranked as Shops' most dangerous city.