Appalachia

Appalachia is the name given to an expanse within the pre-War states of West Virginia and Virginia. The comprised stretch, of which there are several different regional names, serves as the game world of Fallout 76.
Spared from most of the destruction and carnage of the Great War due to its relative isolation and lack of strategic targets, much of the surviving human population nonetheless perished over the following years due to the Scorched Plague. In 2102, Vault Dwellers emerged into Appalachia after 25 years of isolation inside Vault 76 and began to reclaim the wilderness. In 2103, survivors from the surrounding regions arrived in Appalachia and began to resettle it.
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==Background==
===Early history===
Appalachia is a region with a rich history, and one closely associated with the mining industry.Vault Dweller: "A construction crew without its own equipment. I'm regretting this partnership already."Paige: "Yeah. So am I. You don't like reality? Deal with it. Get out there and find us a drill for this crazy plan of yours. Appalachia is your stomping grounds, right? This whole area was mining country. Plenty of drilling companies around for you to look into."(Paige's dialogue) In 1907, an explosion occurred at Monongah Mine, killing hundreds.Monongah Mine terminal entries; mining supervisor's terminal, Supervisor's Notes - 04.18.75 This event served as a precursor to similar events that would occur centuries later, before the Great War.Vault Dweller: "That's a little morbid, isn't it?"Maggie Williams: "In 1907 that mine had one of the worst mining disasters in history, and then almost two centuries later more people get trapped and buried in it. So yeah, don't be too spooked if you see a skeleton or two. The world is littered with dead bodies now, get used to it."(Maggie Williams' dialogue)
===21st century===
By the late 21st century, Appalachia's political and economic landscape shifted away from its frontier roots and mining but remained plagued by many of the same problems. Although mining remained a major part of its economy, West Virginia experienced a boom in other sectors, including ever-lucrative tourism, cutting-edge robots, defense, and many more. However, the pressures of the resource crisis and the rise of powerful megacorporations like Poseidon Energy, West Tek, Atomic Mining Services and RobCo Industries ensured the economic boom continued despite the Resource Wars, benefitting only the wealthy.The Rusty Pick terminal entries; Mick Flanagan's terminal, Entry 01The Rusty Pick terminal entries; Mick Flanagan's terminal, Entry 07
The United States government and the military proved indifferent to the plight of the common man, using the situation as an opportunity to expand the network of military facilities across Appalachia, especially the central part of the Appalachian mountains. These developments included the Whitespring Congressional Bunker constructed using funds embezzled from the Department of Agriculture,Department of Ag projectsIntelligence memo - 8/16/77 the Sugar Grove Naval Intelligence Station, National Isolated Radio Array, and three fully automated missile silos. These silos, part of the Appalachian Automated Launch System, possessed robotic construction systems, which allowed them to restock their supply of nuclear payloads in just a few hours, with the ultimate goal of the United States retaining nuclear strike capability in a doomsday scenario.The Whitespring bunker nuclear training: "" Many other prototype technologies were developed and tested in Appalachia, including the unmanned Cargobots, which were introduced by the U.S. military in 2060 for reconnaissance purposes and to provide supply drops even under hostile conditions.Fallout 76 loading screens: "Late in 2060, the U.S. military deployed their unmanned Cargobots all over Appalachia. They proved ideal for providing reconnaissance and delivering supplies in even the most hostile conditions."
Major companies also began to exert influence in Appalachia during the 21st century, the first of which was the Vault-Tec Corporation, which took over Morgantown's local college and renamed it to Vault-Tec University in 2031.Fallout 76 loading screens: "In 2031, Vault-Tec re-branded Morgantown's local college as Vault-Tec University, and some of their top executives and scientists either taught or graduated from there. Go Fighting Wendigos!" Many professors were fired as the curriculum changed to focus on Vault-Tec specialized classes.Vault-Tec University terminal entries; Terminal: Blake, Michael, VTU Grafton Steel caused extensive environmental damage in the northern part of Appalachia (later known as the Toxic Valley), leading to the deaths of many from the "poison" that their steel mill pumped out.Letter to the mediaGrafton terminal entries; terminal, February 26, 2077 The Hornwright Industrial Mining Company created similar damage in the south (later known as the Ash Heap).Hornwright Industrial Headquarters terminal entries; CEO's terminal, Personal Entry 03 The Rockhound, a massive bucket-wheel excavator developed by Hornwright, extracted resources from Mount Blair,Mount Blair terminal entries; Rockhound terminal six, Standard Bulletin ST17-44PRD with the company advertising it as a "revolution" in the mining industry.Bolton Greens terminal entries; facility director's terminal, Outgoing Parental Mail 9JMY117 An old ghost town was built overFallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 492: "28. WATOGAThis area was built at the site of an old ghost town. The titans of industry and robotics crafted this shining new center of commerce to be the jewel of southeast Appalachia—a fully autonomous city, where robots catered to your every whim. As the more cynical detractors pointed out at the time, there was likely to be a downside if these robots were to ever malfunction. Now Watoga is abandoned aside from a sizable mechanical population. Exercise extreme caution as you explore the rusting towers of the Cranberry Bog Capital; emotionless automatons and extremely long drops are just the start of the threats that abound in these parts!"(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia) to make way for Watoga, the "City of the Future," founded in 2042.Watoga Municipal Center terminal entries; Mayor's terminal, Selection Committee Letter [Archived] Atomic Mining Services tore through the Cranberry Bog with underground nuclear tests to retrieve the powerful ore known as ultracite.Bad newsAMS corporate headquarters terminal entries; receptionist terminal, Atomic Mining ServicesAMS corporate headquarters terminal entries; CEO Kilson's terminal, Ultracite R&D Report
As early as 2061, the region was rife with impoverished workers in the region struggling to make ends meet or provide for their families.Herald Editorial on Allegheny Asylum Workers lost their jobs to rapid automation, many of whom had been working in the mines. RobCo Industries was a key player in the region's automation efforts.RobCo Research Center terminal entries; receptionist terminal, Welcome to RobCo Its wide range of robots was ostensibly meant to replace human workers in jobs deemed too dangerous,Dyer Chemical terminal entries; station control terminal, Plant Automation but many people in Appalachia rightly saw them as a threat to their jobs.Protest sign - Jobs today or blood tomorrow! They replaced miners with the aptly-named Auto-Miners,Join the Auto-Miners Support Squad! and even public servants such as the police and security were phased out in favor of Protectron equivalents.Eastern Regional Penitentiary terminal entries; Warden Brennan's terminal, Warden MainframeThe Whitespring Resort terminal entries; Candy Shoppe Office terminal, The Whitespring 2080 Initiative These automation efforts also extended to the military presence in Appalachia, with Camp McClintock being led by a Master Sergeant Gutsy,Camp McClintock terminal entries; administrative facility terminal, Training Report - May 2077 as well as town mayorships with the MAIA Project.RobCo Research Center terminal entries; engineer terminal, MAIA Project
The Free States was one of the few well-organized groups in Appalachia that fought against this trend. Deeply suspicious of the motives of the government, military, and big money, they were vilified as political agitators and traitors.Overseer's log - Free StatesFallout 76 loading screens: "Most of Appalachia considered the Free States movement to be nothing but political agitators and traitors. After the war, many of these same people would turn to the Free States for help."Fallout 76 loading screens: "Paranoid that the government was lying to its people about the Vault program, the Free States movement built their own concrete bunkers to survive in case of nuclear devastation." Persecution by the United States military and accusations of treason culminated in the Free States openly seceding from the nation and retreating to fortified bunkers erected across the bogs of the northeast.Sugar Grove terminal entries; project director's terminal, 10-13-77: Free States
The frenzied campaign of automation culminated with Ballot Measure 6. Set for a vote in November, the measure would issue a $2.6 billion bond to begin the process of replacing all human workers in the Appalachian government with automated systems, with the goal of complete automation by 2087.Voter services terminal entries; voter services terminal, Active Ballot Measures Although it was touted as a way to eliminate unwanted bureaucracy,Voting advertisement this boasting was pushed by a source with lots of money, while the Charleston Herald sought proof that it was none other than Hornwright Industrial.Charleston Herald building terminal entries; editor's terminal, Ballot Measure 6 Among the many opponents of the measure, Senator Sam Blackwell was the most notable, advocating against what he described as a "slow-moving disaster" that would leave the people with nothing but pink slips and empty bellies.Sam Blackwell: "No" on Measure 6 Blackwell's reputation was later tarnished and he resigned after it was revealed he had close ties to the Free States movement and its leader, Raleigh Clay.Carter and Blackwell - Traitors!Fallout 76 loading screens: "While Raleigh Clay was the public face of the Free States, his arrest would reveal US Senator Sam Blackwell to also be a driving force behind the movement." Behind the scenes, Hornwright Industries CEO Daniel Hornwright had a hand in intimidating Blackwell and his family.Hornwright Industrial Headquarters terminal entries; CEO's terminal, TO:We're coming for you
===Last days===
The unrest boiled over in early October 2077. When families were forced out of the town of Welch by Atomic Mining Services,AMS: Corporate Bully the locals of Appalachia began to fight back,Eviction notice recording: The Kaminskis resulting in full-scale riots beginning on October 3.Hornwright Industrial Headquarters terminal entries; Terminal - Penelope Hornwright, Archived Message - 10.3.77 The bloodshed was particularly severe around the area later known as the Ash Heap. On Mount Blair, miners seized the Rockhound owned by Hornwright Industrial, in an operation led by Mick Flanagan, and caused damages that the company estimated to be in the tens of millions.Hornwright Industrial Headquarters terminal entries; Terminal - Penelope Hornwright, Archived Message - 10.4.77 However, by October 12, the National Guard cleared out the last of the rioters by force and returned control of the Rockhound to Hornwright.Hornwright Industrial Headquarters terminal entries; Terminal - Penelope Hornwright, Archived Message - 10.12.77 Another group of rioters, led by O'Conner, bombed the Mega Mansions in Bramwell that were owned by the mining companies. They used stolen blasting explosives to topple one of the Mega Mansions, killing two and wounding several.Garrahan Mining Headquarters terminal entries; security terminal, Log Entry 10-3-2077
A more symbolic battle took place in 2077, as well; a highly publicized mining contest between the automation-focused Hornwright Industrial and the more worker-friendly Garrahan Mining Company."Witness the epic battle between man and machine!" in-game poster In a race that captured the media's attention, Hornwright deployed its Auto-Miner units, while Garrahan fielded their tenacious Excavator power armor to settle once and for all, whether it was man or machine who reigned supreme.Charleston Herald - Man vs. Machine Both effortlessly chewed through the rock at their designated sites, and at the end of the day, Hornwright had the edge winning by a mere margin of 1.85 tons.Charleston Herald - Hornwright Wins! Although victorious and poised to implement its plans for Appalachia on a great scale, the victory was short-lived, thanks to the Great War.
===Great War===
A nuclear detonation was felt near mine site Kittery in the region later known as the Ash Heap.Mine recorder tape - 10.23.77 An undetermined amount also detonated in the general vicinity of Grafton.John Bunton's holotape The area once known as the South Mountain nuke crater (since built over with the Foundation Outpost) is an irradiated crater that provides another example of the damage of the Great War, and is also the site of a Vertibird crash.Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide p. 449: "Savage Divide (Zone C) - Secondary Locations134. Vertibird Crash Site (South Mountain Nuke Crater): A vertibird has crashed on the rim of a huge crater, which took out a building, according to the debris you'll be wading through."(Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Atlas of Appalachia) Another nuclear detonation was witnessed by a man named Adam from his house at Johnson's Acre, located on the south-central edge of Appalachia.Taking a chance
===Post-War===
Although government officials made it to the Whitespring Congressional Bunker, the shadow government known as the Enclave led purges that eliminated unaffiliated members.Whitespring surveillance recording 1.1.2 Appalachia was left to fend for itself as Thomas Eckhart, the leader of the Enclave, focused his attention on covertly continuing the war against China.Whitespring surveillance recording 6.9.7
In Charleston, abandoned by Governor Evans and his supporters,Charleston Capitol Building terminal entries; governor's terminal, Can't reach D.C. the Appalachian Territory officials organized an emergency government, working in conjunction with the Responders, a group of Appalachian first responders helping people in the aftermath of the war.Charleston Capitol Building terminal entries; registrar's terminal, Suspension of Services Charleston became an oasis of stability amidst the devastation and chaos. Taggerdy's Thunder and other military units were lost without contact with command and decided to sit tight, waiting for orders.War games The fate of civilians outside Charleston depended largely on where they wound up. Watogans fared the worst, forced out of their city by a virus attack that hit it shortly before the bombs dropped.Letter to Jennica and Letter from JennicaBarbara Elizabeth: "I've failed. Whoever you are, you're mayor of a dead city. Those I couldn't evacuate have perished. There's no one... nothing left."(Mayor for a Day) Morgantown was torn apart by rival cliques formed by the students of Vault-Tec University.History of Morgantown: Vol. III Harpers Ferry struggled to survive and were forced to ask the Free States for help, even though they had shunned them before.Harpers Ferry proposalHarpers Ferry terminal entries; Miranda's terminal, The Free States
Affluent vacationers in the elegant resorts that dotted the Appalachians were snowed in and isolated from the rest of the region.Fallout 76 loading screens: "After the bombs fell, several wealthy tourists on Appalachian ski holidays reverted to their baser instincts. Selfishness turned to violence, and these entitled elitists became vicious Raiders." Their money, power, and influence turned out to be meaningless when the food supplies ran out part-way through the winter and they turned on one another, fighting over scraps just to survive. The experience of the winter of 2078 broke many of them, leading to the violent establishment of the raiders.Charleston Capitol Building terminal entries; Holbrook's terminal, It was a massacre
In the following years, the Responders steadily expanded their sphere of influence from Charleston, while Camp Venture served as the nucleus of a new chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel under Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy (though they later relocated to Fort Defiance).Formation of the Brotherhood of Steel The Free States also left their bunkers in 2079,Charleston Capitol Building terminal entries; Holbrook's terminal, They've left their bunkers helping re-establish Harpers Ferry.Harpers Ferry terminal entries; Ella's terminal, The Carson Family They also controlled the Thunder Mountain Power Plant before Taggerdy's soldiers wrestled control of it from them.Thunder Mountain Power Plant terminal entries; Free States terminal, Entry 05
As the region entered the 2080s, President Thomas Eckhart, in a bid to raise the DEFCON level for Appalachia, monitored by automated security, started unleashing horrors on the region, beginning with the Chinese Liberators secured at Fujiniya Intelligence Base, a covert intelligence facility established to monitor the region's "factory cities" and later missile silos.The Whitespring bunker terminal entries; archival terminal, Tricking DEFCONFujiniya Intelligence Base terminal entries; security terminal, 0.0.2.8 The raiders grew in strength and clashed with the Responders. On Christmas Day 2082, after losing a patrol to Charleston and with it, his lover, Rosalynn Jeffries, David Thorpe, the leader of the Pleasant Valley Raiders, blew up the Summersville Dam with mini nukes stolen from the Brotherhood, wiping Charleston out.The Christmas Flood (holotape)
This attracted the attention of the elusive Order of Mysteries, which started a campaign of covert operations against the raiders, buying time for the Responders to rebuild at Morgantown.Riverside Manor terminal entries; Headmistress' terminal, Personal journal 12/25/82 In addition, the move solidified relations between the Responders and the Brotherhood, as well as opened relations with the Free States.Mission to Abigayle The Responders and the Brotherhood fought together at HuntersvilleBattle of Huntersville speech against super mutants unleashed from behind the scenes by Eckhart and the Enclave in January 2086.West Tek Research Center terminal entries; Front desk terminal, Remote Team Operation ReportWhitespring surveillance recording 2.9.6 (if numbers correspond to year/month/day, counted from October 23, 2077) The victory at Huntersville promised a new dawn for Appalachia.
Meanwhile, desperate to trick the DEFCON system, Eckhart released the scorchbeasts in the Cranberry Bog, a project he kept secret even from his officers.Whitespring surveillance recording 5.4.8 As the Enclave descended into an ultimately lethal civil war between his loyalists and those too disgusted to follow the president's orders, the monsters wrought havoc on the region, steadily spreading out.Whitespring surveillance recording 8.5.2 The Scorched Plague was ultimately the death-knell for Appalachia's original survivors, as it created hordes of dangerous creatures known as the Scorched, a hivemind created by the plague completely overtaking its hosts.Overseer's log - MorgantownFallout 76 loading screens: "The Scorched are human beings afflicted by a strange condition known as the Scorched Plague, and are now controlled by a violent hive mind. But what is the Plague's source? And can it be stopped?" Harpers Ferry was destroyed in 2086, ending a seven year long project and forcing the Free States back to square one.Abbie's bunker terminal entries; Niraj's terminal, The Scorched Meanwhile, the Brotherhood focused on eliminating the threat, relying on the Responders for a good part of their logistics.Morgantown Airport terminal entries; Responders laboratory terminal, Scorchbeasts However, the relations between the two groups slowly soured, as the Brotherhood demanded more resources and supplies from the Responders, to the point of intimidation.Morgantown Airport terminal entries; Responders HQ terminal, Dealing with the Brotherhood The raiders, once suppressed by the war, reemerged in the Divide, taking territory once more and destroying the Order thanks to a defector from the Orders' ranks.Shannon Rivers' recording
===Scorched Plague===
The next decade was marked by a steadily disintegrating social order across Appalachia, as each faction focused on itself and its goals, instead of working together.Overseer's log - Fort Defiance The Free States struggled to come up with a response and their plans for an Appalachia-wide Scorched Detection System were hamstrung by the isolation and the mountains filled with raiders.Abbie's bunker terminal entries; Abbie's terminal, The ScorchedAbbie's bunker terminal entries; Abbie's terminal, Radio Signal The Brotherhood fought a desperate campaign to contain the threat in the Bog,Fort Defiance terminal entries; Paladin Taggerdy's terminal, Personal Notes with dwindling support from the Responders.Fort Defiance terminal entries; Scribe Grant's terminal, RE: Mission 099-01 The Responders, in turn, struggled to cope with the increasing number of clashes with the raiders and the influx of Scorched coming over the mountains.Morgantown Airport terminal entries; Responders laboratory terminal, Anti-Scorched Tactics
By 2095, the Brotherhood was on its last legs. After pulling out from all outlying positions and rallying at Fort Defiance and the Thunder Mountain Power Plant, they launched Operation Touchdown in January 2095 but lost their most veteran members, including Paladin Taggerdy.Fort Defiance terminal entries; Senior Knight Wilson's terminal, 95-FEB-02 Although she succeeded in temporarily holding the scorchbeasts back, the communications breakdown prevented them from building on this success and as the scorchbeasts re-emerged,Fort Defiance terminal entries; Senior Knight Wilson's terminal, Touchdown Recovery (Supplemental)Fort Defiance terminal entries; Senior Knight Wilson's terminal, 95-AUG-13 the Brotherhood fell in August 2095.Final standThunder Mountain Power Plant terminal entries; communications terminal, 95-Aug-19
As the magnitude of the Scorched threat grew, the Responders attempted to counterattack by coming up with a vaccine for the Scorched PlagueAVR Medical Center terminal entries; AVR Medical laboratory terminal, July 6th, 2096 and launching surgical strikes against locations like Big Bend Tunnel, to stem the tide.Orders from Melody However, it was too little, too late. By November 2096, the scorchbeasts threat descended on Morgantown Airport and destroyed the last major stronghold of humanity in Appalachia.AVR Medical Center terminal entries; AVR Medical laboratory terminal, November 7th, 2096Maria's last words Although some pockets of survivors managed to hold out until at least 2097, they, too, succumbed to the Scorched.Scattered journal pages
Poised to become an extinction-level event for humanity if left unchecked, the scorchbeasts continued to multiply and spread, using fissures below the earth as nests. In the background, the automated robots in Appalachia continued on as normal. It was not until 2102 and the opening of Vault 76 that humanity returned to Appalachia and the Vault Dwellers, confronted with the hostile world, took upon themselves the burden of saving humanity.Events of the Fallout 76 main storyline.
===Resettlement===
By 2103, survivors began to return to Appalachia and resettle the region.The Wastelanders update shifted the in-game date from 2102 to 2103. Although the Vault Dwellers did not fully exterminate the scorchbeast threat, they were able to mitigate the threat by widely distributing an inoculation in the form of Nuka-Cola Vaccinated to the new arrivals.Events of The New Arrivals. Two main groups were the first to establish their claims in the region. Firstly, the Settlers broke ground at what was once known as Spruce Knob, creating the settlement of Foundation. They are primarily descended from those fleeing PennsylvaniaPaige's journal, entry 1 and are led by Paige, the former head of a Construction Workers Union in Washington, D.C.Fallout 76: Inside The Vault - New Arrivals Coming To Appalachia In Wastelanders The second large group are Raiders who built their base on the remains of the crashed space station Valiant-1, now known as the Crater. They are led by Meg Groberg, a former Diehards gang member.Concerns with Margie Both groups have an uneasy stalemate with one another, at least until the knowledge of Vault 79 and its gold bullion becomes known.Events of the Wastelanders main storyline.
Later in the year, the remaining three official Brotherhood First Expeditionary Force members arrived at ATLAS Observatory, renaming it Fort Atlas, along with various initiates and hopefuls, to salvage technology in the facility, re-establish communications with High Elder Roger Maxson, and to determine the fate of the Appalachian Brotherhood, along with sorting out multiple occurrences in the region.Events of the Steel Dawn storyline.
==Geography==
===Environment===
Radioactive fallout from other areas of the former United States has mutated much of the local wildlife, unchecked coal mine fires have blanketed an area centered around Mount Blair in ash, factories and industrial sites around Clarksburg started churning out pollutants cloaking the area in a white powder, and a G.E.C.K. in Vault 94 was destroyed by a group of wastelanders, causing heavily mutated plant life in the northeast.
Of particular concern is the Scorched Plague, caused by a hazardous, mutagenic plague indigenous to the vast caverns beneath Appalachia.AVR Medical Center terminal entries; AVR Medical laboratory terminal, Inoculation Project OverviewBrotherhood transponder EL-7B It is spread by scorchbeasts, which periodically breach the surface and terrorize the countryside.
===Regions===
Appalachia is divided into six regions in Fallout 76.
====The Forest====
Bounded by the Ohio River to the west and the Allegheny Mountains to the east, the Forest is a loosely defined geographic area known for its diverse fauna and flora. Home to a wide range of industries before the Great War, including logging, agriculture, tourism, and even high technology sectors spurred by Vault-Tec in Morgantown and Hornwright Industrial in Charleston, the region became a haven for survivors, thanks to its rich plant and animal life, and ample supply of food and water.Fallout 76 loading screens: "The region surrounding Vault 76 was known as "the Forest" to the survivors of Appalachia. Still rich in plant and animal life, it is an ideal place to scrounge for food and water."Fallout 76 loading screens: "Although relatively untouched by the bombs, the Forest region of Appalachia is still home to the mutated beasts that now roam the countryside. Survivors even reported finding mutated plants with unusual properties...	"
The Forest was controlled predominantly by the Responders, who leveraged the intact infrastructure and resources in their attempt to rebuild Appalachia. A quarter of a century later, the region is still rich in both and effectively a springboard for rebuilding human civilization. However, although relatively untouched by the bombs, the Forest region of Appalachia is still home to the mutated beasts that now roam the countryside.
====Ash Heap====
Sitting on the southern edge of the Forest, beyond Charleston, the Ash Heap is a descriptive term used to refer to the polluted areas surrounding Mount Blair. Historically a center of Appalachian mining thanks to rich deposits of coal and numerous metals, the Ash Heap gained its name after liberal exploitation of the resources and especially strip-mining the mountaintop resulted in incredible amounts of pollution, turning the ground, water, and air into poison.Fallout 76 loading screens: "Smoke and cinders constantly bellow up from the mines in the Ash Heap. Survivors believed this was caused by fires in the tunnels below, raging unceasingly for some unknown reason."Fallout 76 loading screens: "In the region survivors dubbed the "Ash Heap," a thick layer of filthy smoke blankets the area, providing cover for friend and foe alike."
====Toxic Valley====
Surrounding the city of Grafton, the Toxic Valley is a term referring to a stretch of land surrounding the city, and the Grafton Steel Mill served as the center of economic development in the area but likewise contributed to pollution.Fallout 76 loading screens: "Grafton Steel Mill was the center of economic development for the town of Grafton, and its large, industrial machines remain relatively intact."Charleston Capitol Building terminal entries; governor's terminal, Grafton Steel The company's irresponsible environmental practices coupled with industrial sabotage caused by Darius Angler turned a previous lush region into one largely devoid of life.Darius Angler's manifesto, part 6 The lake and other polluted waters of the Toxic Valley region are home to all manner of mutated, aquatic beasts, while the announcements of an AI - the current mayor of Grafton - are still heard throughout the town.Fallout 76 loading screens: "The region known to survivors as the "Toxic Valley" is covered by industrial white powder and polluted water sources."
====Savage Divide====
The Appalachians bisecting West Virginia were a popular vacationing spot, including numerous natural parks and extensive infrastructure to support the burgeoning tourist industry. Ski resorts, bed and breakfasts, cabins, and countless hiking trails were popular with Americans seeking refuge from the challenges of everyday life. The remoteness and isolation of the mountains also made the region popular with the military, which heavily invested in classified military bases and infrastructure to bolster the war effort abroad and quell dissent on domestic soil.Examples include Sugar Grove, the converted munitions factory, the National Isolated Radio Array, and the missile silos belonging to the Appalachian Automated Launch System.
Numerous landmarks dot the region's rocky landscape, lovingly dubbed the Savage Divide by survivors. These include The Top of the World, an enormous ski lift station, complete with shops and restaurants at its peak, the Palace of the Winding Path with its unique architecture, and the historic Whitespring Resort.
====The Mire====
A loosely defined marsh region east of the Appalachians, centered around Harpers Ferry, the Mire is a densely forested area with numerous swamp areas. The Mire was most known in the 21st century for the center of the Free States movement that heavily invested in private nuclear shelters, skeptical of the government's efforts and intentions for its citizenry.
The explosion of the Vault 94 G.E.C.K. created a rapidly mutating, expanding bog together with a number of unique mutations like anglers and numerous plant species. The strangler plant, entirely unique to the Mire, has largely grown unabated after the Great War and is a common sight in the Mire constricting around buildings, trees, and even unearthing swaths of land and into the air. 
====Cranberry Bog====
Occupying the southeastern corner of Appalachia, the Cranberry Bog took its name from the colorful red florae endemic to the area.Fallout 76 loading screens: "The colorful red florae of the Cranberry Bog were originally West Virginia's naturally occurring cranberry, pitcher, and sundew plants."Voice of Watoga: "The Transit Hub of Watoga offers monorail and bus services to the greater Cranberry Bog area and beyond."(Voice of Watoga's dialogue) The advanced city of Watoga was founded in the region in 2042. Over 35 years of logging, expansion, and underground nuclear tests performed by AMS culminated in a vast expanse of unsteady and cracked earth, with Watogan high-rises towering above the surroundings. Those who lived outside the city were steadily pushed out by encroaching AMS interests, right up until the Great War, when a virus released by a saboteur turned the city's robotic custodians against its human inhabitants.
After the nuclear war erased the United States, the Bog became one of the least popular destinations among survivors. The deteriorated natural environment including carnivorous plants and hostile robots contributed to this aversion. The remoteness and isolation of the Bog made it perfect for the Enclave's experiments. President Thomas Eckhart used the region to hide the scorchbeasts until 2085 when he unleashed them on Appalachia. The Bog became a stronghold of the monstrosities, which managed to destroy their handlers and even the Appalachian Brotherhood of Steel that tried to stem the tide using a ring of fortifications established on the Bog's perimeter.The in-game events Distant Thunder and Surface to Air reflect this, as well as several locations, including Survey camp Alpha, The Thorn, etc.
==== Skyline Valley====
 Nestled in the south of Appalachia, between the mountainous borders of the Ash Heap and the Cranberry Bog, Skyline Valley covers the area of Shenandoah National Park and its Skyline Drive scenic road in Virginia. Prior to the Great War, much of the land here became owned by the Stolz family (Hugo and Cassidy Stolz), wealthy businesspeople who were also affiliated with the Vault-Tec Corporation (Hugo, in fact, was on their board). Hugo arranged for Vault 63 to be built underneath Shenandoah, but not merely as a Vault: he envisioned a series of separate but connected research sectors with multiple entrances all around the park so as to create the building blocks for a new post-War society. From the Vault's main entrance in the Ash Heap, underground train systems would connect the sectors to one another.
Following the Great War, the valley has become inflicted with a unique weather phenomenon known as the Storm, a swirling red thunderstorm concentrated over the Stolz family's former mansion, Dark Hollow Manor. This is a result of the Vault 63 dwellers experimenting with ATLAS Observatory's weather control technology; their Vault was not finished by the time the Great War struck, causing many of the residents to suffer ghoulification and eventually turn feral. Seeking a way to prevent their degeneration, they found that the weather experimentation alleviated the symptoms of going feral. However, things soon took a turn for the worse, with many ghouls going insane and becoming Lost. By 2105, the Lost are scattered all around Skyline Valley and invariably hostile to everyone who is not one of them.
===Map===
==Government and politics==
Appalachia was represented by the Senator of the Appalachia Territories. Samuel Blackwell was its last senator prior to resigning in 2077,Sam Blackwell Interview, Pt. Two and elections were set for November the 2nd.Special election poster The last governor of the Appalachian Territories was Governor Evans.Charleston Capitol Building terminal entries; Governor's terminal, Can't reach D.C.
===Regional names===
Appalachia is referred to by different regional names, such as the plural "Appalachian Territories,"Official notice the singular "Appalachia Territory"Grafton mayor: ""(Grafton mayor's dialogue) and "Appalachian Territory,"Charleston Herald newspapersSenate orientation letterBack off Sam the "Territory of Appalachia,"Valid ballotMaster Sergeant Gutsy: "Marksmanship, agility, and patriotism. Our courses, like all things in the great Territory of Appalachia, are automated, so you overpromoted mammals can do them as you see fit!"(Master Sergeant Gutsy's dialogue) the "Greater Appalachia Region,"Notice of termination and the "Appalachian State." West Virginia was one of the regions in Appalachia,Harold Clark - To the Members of the Board, pt.1 and Watoga is mentioned as being a part of an unnamed commonwealth.AMS corporate headquarters terminal entries; Security terminal, 10-24-76: Re: Hey Stranger! There are also references to the state of West Virginia and mentions of specific counties.
Pre-War counties 	References
Greenbrier County	C.H. Monthly, October
Jefferson County 	
Kanawha County 	Kanawha County Cemetery
Marion County 	Marion County Sheriff's Department
Tyler County 	Tyler County Dirt Track, Tyler County Fairgrounds
Watoga County 	
Wayne County 	Widow Maker poster
Raleigh County 	Product brainstorming 2Note: This holotape is not implemented properly and cannot be found in-game.
==Organizations==
In the aftermath of the Great War, a number of factions formed among the survivors, including continuations of pre-War groups like the Enclave and the Free States, along with post-War organizations such as the Brotherhood of Steel, raiders, and Responders. These groups were all wiped out prior to 2102 by the Scorched, though there are some remnants such as the Enclave's AI, MODUS. By 2103, humans began to resettle, with the two major factions emerging being the new Raiders at the Crater, as well as the Settlers in Foundation. The Brotherhood First Expeditionary Force, sent from Lost Hills in California, arrived later in the year, setting up Fort Atlas.
==Notes==
* Old Appalachia brand bourbon can be found around the Commonwealth. 
* Appalachia is also mentioned in the Creation Club content "Capital Wasteland Mercenaries."Scratch's logs; APPLE AND ORANGE
* Some characters comment that Appalachia fared better compared to other locations. Isela Mejia from Virginia comments, "There's a lot more hot zones that way. And the few spots that're livable, well, they got picked clean fast. I mean Appalachia's dangerous, really dangerous, but it's better than where we've been." Frida Madani comments, "The coast is bad. Very bad. It was hit a lot harder than home was." A patron of the Wayward comments, "The Capital... it's... it's.. hell on Earth. No way I'm going back there."
==Appearances==
Appalachia appears in Fallout 76, all subsequent updates, and is mentioned in Fallout 4.
==Behind the scenes==
* The name Appalachia refers to an extensive cultural region in the Eastern United States stretching across mountainous portions of the country, including the state of West Virginia and its surrounding areas.
** The in-game region of Appalachia covers mainly West Virginia, stretching from its border with Ohio along the Ohio River in the west to parts of Virginia in the east and southeast; at least part of both Skyline Valley and the Cranberry Bog are located in Virginia. Furthermore, the real-world Harpers Ferry is located on the tristate border of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.
* Ferret Baudoin, lead designer on Fallout 76, stated, "West Virginia was lightly nuked compared to-was less heavily nuked compared to some places, and so, this was a chance for humanity to really, you know, sort of try to have a resurgence, to try to come back."Ferret Baudoin - 12/16/2020 Fallout for Hope - CHAD: A Fallout 76 Story Podcast Twitch stream 1
* According to Ferret Baudoin, some of the nukes dropped on Appalachia were pure airbursts and left no craters.Ferret Baudoin - 12/16/2020 Fallout for Hope - CHAD: A Fallout 76 Story Podcast Twitch stream 2: "Mind you, there are some (nukes) which were pure airbursts… you aren't going to see a crater for those, but it was overall pretty light compared to other places. I think players post launch have nuked Appalachia more…"
* The outline of several real world U.S. states appear as the backdrop of the special election poster for "Senator of the Appalachia Territories," including West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
==Gallery==
FO76 collector's map E3.png|Early collector's edition map presented at E3
FO76 collector's map E3 glowing.png|Early collector's edition glow-in-the-dark map presented at E3
Excavator - Miners - Prospector's map.jpg|Simplified grid version of the map
FO76 Responders map.png|Marked map used by the Responders
FO76 Appalachia Night View.png|A night in Appalachia
Fallout Magic Rampant Growth.png|Magic: The Gathering card
==References==
Non-game
Non-canon
 
Category:Fallout 4 mentioned-only locations
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