Alphabetica
population 3,330,227

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About Alphabetica

Alphabetica is an imaginary state I created in 2002 on a unique premise. The state is divided into 26 counties, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each county has a five-letter name beginning with its respective letter of the alphabet. In each county there are exactly five towns, which all start with the same letter as the county's name. In each county, there is exactly one town name with exactly six letters, one with seven letters, one with eight letters, one with nine letters, and one with ten letters.

As if that weren't enough, as of the creation of Alphabetica none of the town names turned up any results when entered into Google's search engine. In fact, that was a criterion for their selection. In addition, names beginning with the same letter cannot share any identical sequence of more than three letters, and likewise names with the same number of letters cannot share any identical sequence of three letters.

Since unused, pronounceable five-letter combinations are hard to find on the web, the maximum number of Google search results allowed for county names was nine. However, I did manage to find one pronounceable five-letter "word" with no matches at all: Zumly (containing the towns of Zinoos, Zullton, Zeparita, Zahltbach, and Zumbernard).

Alphabetica's neighbors are named using Greek letters as inspiration, much like Alphabetica: Gammadeltica, Epsilonica, Munuxica (mu + nu + xi), Etazetica, Iotathetica and Kappalambdica.

Topography

Rivers: Alphabetica is well-drained by three major rivers (not labeled on the maps). The Gamma River runs along the state's southeastern border. It is fed by the smaller Kappa River which forms part of Alphabetica's eastern border with Kappalambdica. The Alpha River runs from eastern Iotathetica into eastern Alphabetica and empties into the Gamma near Auckhegan. The Epsilon River enters from western Iotathetica and cuts a deep valley through western Alphabetica before flowing into Epsilonica.

Terrain: Alphabetica's terrain is varied, but tends to be rather hilly. There are flatter areas in the lower Alpha and Gamma river valleys of the southeast. These areas are lush and fertile farm lands, interspersed with numerous cities. Many of the state's large population centers are less 1,000 feet above sea level (ASL). The state's lowest point is 120 feet ASL along the Gamma River at the tri-state border with Epsilonica and Gammadeltica.

Rolling hills characterize much of the remainder of eastern Alphabetica. Much of the land has been cleared and is farmed, but forested hills are found in the higher terrain of Ibsay and Jauis counties in the northeast. West of the Alpha River elevations rise above 1,000 feet in most areas. The land becomes outright mountainous in the northwest quadrant of the state, with numerous forests. Smaller mountains and ridge lines extend into parts of the southwest. The state's highest point is in the northwest corner of Zumly County -- again at a tri-state border, this time with Iotathetica and Etazetica -- at 5,212 feet.

Political organization and population distribution

Counties and towns: As in parts of New England, in Alphabetica all space within a county is part of one town or another, though of course not all of the land mass is urbanized within each town's boundaries. So, in essence, the state runs on a township model of local government, with town centers having ordinance-type jurisdiction over their surrounding countrysides. However, serious law enforcement matters and land-use issues are generally handled by county sheriffs/governments and the state patrol/legislature, as appropriate.

Population distribution: Alphabetica's population is heavily concentrated in the east. Out of the state's 3,330,227 residents, about 1.9 million (57%) live east of the Alpha River. Another 425,000 live immediately west of the river in the Auckhegan suburbs of Finbonn, Foroston, Abbidona and Alsinch. Of the remaining 900,000 residents west of the Alpha, an overwhelming majority -- about 750,000 -- live in Rupaw and Siaxa counties in the southwest, home to the Renewau-Ridmanston-Spannfred and Riptaw-Sullowy metro areas.

The state's ten most populous counties and towns are:

In case you're wondering, the least populous county is Zumly County with 5,089 people. The least populous town is Nolgre with 418 people.

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