New California Republic ( town ) Shady Sands ( called the New California Republic , NCR in - game ) , is the capital of a federation of towns in California of the same name . With a population in the tens of thousands , it is the largest settlement in New California . It can be found nineteen squares east and twenty - seven squares south of Arroyo . Background . The NCR is a clean town filled with honest , hardworking folk . The NCR does keep order within its walls with a large and competent police force . Outside the walls , the NCR has so far been operating through others , buying and trading for things that they cannot yet take by open force . History . Shady Sands . The New California Republic was born out of the remnants of the survivors of Vault 15 , a sister vault to Vault 13 that opened earlier and released its occupants out onto the wasteland . Abandoning their vault ( after scavenging most of what they could from the surviving technology and collapsed lower levels ) , the former residents of Vault 15 founded the small farming community of Shady Sands , a town midway between Vault 13 and 15 . In the 2160 ' s , the community was led by Aradesh . Rise of the NCR . The daughter of Aradesh , Tandi , eventually rose to the title of president of the sprawling New California Republic . At the time of " Fallout 2 " , Shady Sands has been renamed " New California Republic . " The town has since been transformed from a small farming town into the largest civilized population center in New California , made prosperous through trading with other towns . Almost nothing of Shady Sands remains , only a few familiar looking buildings . NCR ' s main resource are its great brahmin herds , which provide most of the wasteland with as much meat and leather as they require . The brahmin barons and ranchers in NCR ( along with the Stockmen ' s Association ) hold a great deal of sway with the caravans and the government . Layout . NCR is divided into four sections . Bazaar . The Bazaar is the outside section of the city . It is there that the player can get used to the laws of the city ( although they are not fully applied outside the city ) . The Bazaar is predominantly a merchant area : the Buster ' s Fine Emporium of Armament is a good place to buy heavy weaponry , as well as ammunition . In addition , the player can stop by the Rawhide Saloon for a drink , or Son of Bob ' s Iguana Bits for some snacks . Vortis , the slaver , also operates in this area . NCR Downtown . Being naturally the central part of town , NCR Downtown is where the player gets first contact with the NCR culture and lifestyle . Many buildings are displayed around , and the police is a present force . There the Chosen One can find a police station , a cantina , a merchant ' s union , a hospital , a Hubologists outpost , and the NCR power plant . In addition , NCR Downtown is where the player can buy the map with directions to Vault 13 from Dr . Jubilee , who is located in the city hospital . Westin Ranch . The Westin Ranch is Roger Westin ' s private property . Located west to NCR Downtown , it is a wealthy ranch heavily guarded by local policemen , with three small buildings and the ranch house where Westin lives . In order for the player to enter the property , they must have business with Westin , which can be gotten after they talk to the NCR Sheriff and ask for " honest work " ; another way of getting in is having a low intelligence level , which will make the guard at the entrance feel sorry for the player . Also , there the player can find Saltbeef Bob , a delusional old man who says that Dr . Jubilee has a map to Vault 13 . Council Hall . The Council Hall is where the power of the NCR is concentrated . Two buildings ( the Hall of Congress and the Presidential Mansion ) are located there , but the Hall of Congress is the main one . It is politically the most important part of the city , and where President Tandi is located . Also , her aide Gunther can be found in this section ; he is the one the player must talk to in order to have business with the president . In the middle of the area , a statue dedicated to the Vault Dweller can be found . Notes . The background music is " A Trader ' s Life " , which was originally used for the Hub in " Fallout " . Appearances . The New California Republic was first mentioned in the " Fallout " end cutscenes for Shady Sands and it first appeared in " Fallout 2 " . Although not seen in " " , several NCR soldiers mention that the city of New California Republic is their hometown . ( Curiously , several other prominent NPCs actually refer to the city as " Shady Sands " , suggesting that the city may have regained its old name once the NCR name came to refer to the nation - state as a whole as it grew . )