Bridgetown

Bridgetown is a small settlement in the kingdom of Skerritt, nestled in the forest along the Hiram River - over which the town's eponymous feature crosses. There has been a river crossing at this location since the area was first settled around two millennia ago, but the town has not always been here. As the river crossing is located in the forest, the size of the settlement has always been limited, and the forest-loving people of Skerritt have long been loathe to deforest more of the area than is necessary for population growth. The town has seen a lot of growth in the last 400 years, as the southern seas have become slightly more treacherous to travel with naval forces of The See patrolling almost constantly.
Nowadays, Bridgetown is a hub of traffic, as it serves to link the eastern and western parts of Skerritt for merchants and travelers. There is one other river crossing, but it is much further north, is heavily guarded as it leads mostly between the border forts, and is just inconvenient for most to use. This frequent traffic has allowed Bridgetown to emerge as a world leader in hospitality culture, with the town boasting numerous different types of inns, taverns, and lounges catering to different clientele. The forest around Bridgetown is not quite as large or as dangerous as the areas west of the river, so the city does not have quite as robust a defense as its western neighbors along the main trade road.

Demographics

The most populous races in Bridgetown are dwarves and humans, much like in the rest of Skerritt, with a peppering of other races spread throughout the town. Notably, there is a non-insignificant portion of orcs and half-orcs that maintain their own neighborhood in town and are descendants of raiders from Legoba who decided to settle peacefully after reaching the lower areas. Parts of this group try to maintain their orcish culture, opening a few different taverns and inns that showcase their rugged mountain-based cuisine and culture to the rest of Skerritt.
Other than the hospitality industry, which has flourished in Bridgetown the last century or two, there are many cartwrights, shipwrights, loggers, and foresters that make their living in or around the town. Unlike Guywoode and Geva's Clearing, there is not a significant need or market for forest guides and protectors in Bridgetown, though there are still a few who offer these services. Within and across all of these industries, Bridgetown has a few wealthy noble families that have become tycoons in the town while the vast majority of Bridgers survive in a modest/comfortable lifestyle.

Government

Bridgetown is run by a small council of 7 made up of representatives of some of the town's different groups: nobles, orcs, dwarves, innkeepers, craftsmen/laborers, and foresters. As each of these groups has their own interests, the town ends up running via coalition government. Certain groups will form a coalition with others they think they can work with, then a Mayor is elected by majority vote of the council (similar to a Prime Minister in most European democracies). These councilors are elected by their constituent groups for four-year terms, with at least one member rotating every year.

Defences

Bridgetown does not have a formal outer wall like other forest settlements in Skerritt. There is a wall that encircles most of the inner city, but in some places it has been dismantled for housing or civic buildings. Outside this wall, members of the Watch's ranger group patrol the streets and keep an eye out for threats that may emerge from the forest. The Watch itself is also present in all of the city - both within and without the wall. The riverbank in Bridgetown boasts several fortified cannonades, to protect from attack coming either way on the water.

Infrastructure

The vast majority of the roads in Bridgetown are paved and well maintained, though some areas nearer the forest have dirt or gravel roads - occasionally resulting from age and deterioration of previous paved roads. The town also has many public parks and green spaces, allowing travelers to experience nature without having to go into the forest where they might encounter dangerous animals. Being on the river provides a source of fresh water for the town, as well as running a few watermills that serve a variety of purposes.

Founding Date

2534 1A

Alternative Name(s)

Bridgeton, Bridgerton, Hiram Crossing

Type

Town

Population

6,519

Inhabitant Demonym

Bridgers (or Bridgies affectionately)

Owning Organization

Skerritt