Shady Sands Shady Sands is the capital city of the New California Republic . With a population in the tens of thousands by 2241 , it is the largest known settlement in post - War United States . Background . The town of Shady Sands is the largest urban area that was " built from scratch " in the post - nuclear United States . Founded in 2142 by one of the groups emerging from Vault 15 , it was jump - started using the G . E . C . K . , which allowed the dwellers to establish a self - sufficient community and erect adobe buildings . In the 2240s , the small settlement grew and expanded , forming one of the most influential political factions to emerge in the post - War United States , the New California Republic ( or NCR ) . By 2161 , Shady Sands was merely a small , thriving settlement , completely self - sufficient , managing to irrigate some of the wasteland soil to support their crops ( primarily maize and cabbage ) , drill a well to provide them with water , and even establish brahmin herds . Citizens kept mostly to themselves , but proved large enough to deter most of the problems the wastes presented ; primarily the local Khan raider s and repeated attacks by radscorpions . Both of these threats slowly escalated , as radscorpions became more numerous and aggressive , while the raiders constantly focused their strength and numbers on the fledgling township . Their grown crops and resources managed to sustain the region , but were also always in short supply . These problems were alleviated by the Vault Dweller , who discovered the settlement en route to Vault 15 . Initially distrusting of the stranger , the inhabitants quickly warmed up to the hero as they successfully rid the community of the radscorpion threat , and later rescued Tandi , Aradesh ' s daughter , from captivity at the hands of the Khans . Following the establishment of the New California Republic ( NCR ) , the township expanded rapidly , eventually transforming itself from a small agrarian settlement into the largest civilized population center in New California , further prospering via trade with smaller , outlying townships . Almost nothing of the original Shady Sands remained , with only a few familiar looking buildings . The heart of the city is the congress district , where the Hall of Congress and the presidential mansion are located . The NCR ' s greatest resource is its vast herds of brahmin , which provides most of the NCR with as much meat and leather as is required . The brahmin barons and ranchers in NCR territories , along with the Stockmen ' s Association , hold a great deal of sway with the trade caravans and government . Appearances . Shady Sands first appeared in " Fallout " , with the New California Republic being first mentioned in the end cutscenes for Shady Sands in Fallout and it first appeared in " Fallout 2 " . Shady Sands is also mentioned by the faction NCR , which expanded over southern California , playing a major role in " " . Also is mentioned in the " Fallout Bible " . Although it does not appear in " Fallout : New Vegas " , several NCR soldiers state that Shady Sands is their home town . In " Fallout 3 " , the " stalwart ghoul manservant " Argyle mentions a " Shady Sands Shuffle " - reverse - pickpocketing - as he slides live grenades into the pockets of hostile super mutants . In " Fallout 4 " , there is a reference to Shady Sands in a case file about the " Mysterious Stranger " that can be found in the " Valentine Detective Agency " under a bed . One can also hear Shady Sands mentioned on the radio in the childhood memories of Kellogg .