White Castle

White Castle is a wealthy and politically charged neighborhood of Raven's Grove. The wealthy, celebrities, politicians, and white collar families dwell here in relative safety, an active and alert police precinct One has been doing a fine job of minimizing crime. White Castle does not have violent crimes. What it does have is home invasions, drugs, and a pulsating, Plasticine heart of corruption that seeps into one's very pores.

## History and Demographics

White Castle was once inhabited by the Chumash Indian tribe, whom initially settled in Raven's Grove. During the Ninteenth century white settlers began building in what would become the White Castle neighborhood. This caused skirmishes with the local tribe, whom eventually gave up the fight and largely settled elsewhere until only a very few Chumash families remained. Rather than fight against the superior numbers of the settlers the remaining Chumash gave themselves over to servitude instead, becoming household staff and companions for wealthy children.

In 1889 the incorporation of Raven's Grove Land and Water Company came about. An investor group, the Langely Corporation, purchased land and laid out an eight block area, named it White Castle, and shipped in 12 pre-cut, largely assembled houses from Chicago. Stores sprouted up all along First Avenue, and the first White Castle school was built in 1890 on Second and Beech streets and was used until Damien Elementary School was built in the early 1900s.

The White Castle neighborhood was incorporated into Raven's Grove at the turn of the century, in 1901 when its then most prominent citizen, Alan Granger, ran for a seat on the Raven's Grove city council and despite being an underdog, won by a landslide. Granger was one of the few politicians that kept his campaign promises and because of his sweeping reforms the neighborhood began to blossom and attract the wealthy coming to lay down roots in Raven's Grove.

The White Castle neighborhood continued to expand all through the Twentieth Century, with the wealthy and famous trickling in and slowly replacing poorer families whom couldn't afford the skyrocketing cost of living. By 1985, any family making less than $90,000 annually simply couldn't afford to live in the neighborhood, abandoning it to the economically and socially powerful.

The 2010 United States Census reported that White Castle is made up of 83% White, 12.4% Black, 1.8% Latino, 0.1% Native-American, 0.1% Asian, and 0.1% Other Races.

## Politics and Local Government

The White Castle neighborhood is considered a Conservative stronghold politically, The electorate is often described as solidly Republican. Numerous publications have described the neighborhood as among the most Conservative on the East Coast. White Castle resident and prominent citizen Scott Michael Tremay is one of the four Raven's Grove City Councilmen. He helps appoint both the City Attorney and the City Manager, whom heads the executive branch of Raven's Grove.

## Notable Places

While the White Castle neighborhood is not a draw for most middle-income families, for the wealthy it offers numerous amenities, excitements, and pleasures. The neighborhood gives direct access to the ocean so that beach-going activities, sailing, and fishing happen year round. Yachts cruise the Bay, often disrupting sleep during summer nights with outrageously loud and obnoxious parties.

**Neverknock Estate** is the home of city Councilman Scott Michael Tremay, originally an investment banker with a real talent for sniffing out money-making opportunities. The Estate is a sprawling, turn of the century Old South plantation home, which is a source of pride for Tremay. The Councilman is frequently much too busy to attend to guests, but the grounds and its amazing rose gardens, hedge maze, hiking, and horse-riding trails are open to the public.

**The Velvet Collar** is one of the most praised fine dining establishment in Raven's Grove. The restaurant is owned and operated by two star chef and James Beard Award winning Stephanie Bowser, whom uses her skills in classic French techniques to deliver plates that dazzle the senses. Reservations are mandatory and must be made at least three months in advance. The Velvet Collar features a private upstairs dining area which can only be accessed by a personal invitation from Chef Bowser, whom treats these very special VIPs to an off-menu Chef's Creation dinner.

**Larson Financial Services** is the largest and most successful investment firm and financial management business in White Castle. The corporate headquarters, which employs 382 financial advisors is found on the apex of Larch and Beaumont Streets. The corporate CEO, Victoria Larson, is very well-known for being a no-nonsense and trustworthy financial advisor, and has been in both Time and The New Yorker as one of the Most Influential Women in the United States. She has built her Fortune 55 company from the ground up and taken it multi-national, Larson Financial Services has field offices in Canada, South America, Great Britain, and Paris.

## Notable People

The following individuals make their home in the White Castle neighborhood.

**Scott Michael Tremay** -- Councilman Tremay is a pillar of the community, a community activist, patron of the arts, and a multimillionaire investment banker. He doesn't often speak, but when he does people listen. He often makes the society page headlines, and is known to be very close friends with numerous celebrities, politicians, and artists. Those whom don't like him for whatever reason whisper of truly dark Caligula-esque appetites. They accuse the police and fire department of being on his payroll and insist that under that warm handshake and pleasant smile is a monster.

**Crispin Gallepie**-- Mr. Gallespie is the Editor in Chief and owner od the Raven's Grove Venture, the most widely read newspaper in Raven's Grove. He is known to be a very sour man, with little patience for anyone and an explosive temper that is easy to trigger. Those whom work for him love their jobs, but not their boss. Still, Mr. Gallespie is highly respected because of his massive charitable heart toward childrens' causes.