Starpine Refuge

Starpine Refuge is a small town in the Pine Needle Barrens. Barring Mt. Aris and Aquastria, it is currently the only known settlement south of the Sea of Clouds.

Government

Like most Equestrian settlements, Starpine follows a standard mayor-council system. A mayor is elected by voters and serves a term of four years. The number of terms is not limited.

History

Starpine was founded in 1004 S.E. as the first stop made by the South Equestrian Explorers League. However, at the time it was named Stairsail Camp, after the then-leader of SEEC, Star Sailor.
In 1006, the population had reached ~600, and the settlement was voted to be renamed Starpine Refuge. The town's current namesake comes from the abundant pine forests in the area, while still standing in memory of the missing Sky Sailor.
As of the 1009 census, including surrounding farmland, Starpine's population is 1,496.
In September 12, 1007, after much deliberation by the Canterlot crown, several existing developing settlements were sanctioned to be official refuges for the assimilating Transient population. Starpine Refuge was one of them. Becoming a Transient town was done by mutual agreement between the crown and Starpine. However, the decision was controversial among some residents.
With an influx of Transients, Starpine had to expand to accommodate them. More population brought more labor, more business, more mouths to feed and even a little more crime. Transients in Starpine have generally assimilated seamlessly, though some enjoy forming fellowships to come together and discuss the human lives they once had.

Geography

The town is situated atop a tall cliff that juts out over the ocean, and hugs the east bank of Southstar's Divide. Starpine's borders touch both rocky cliffs to the south and calm shores to the west.
The southwest point (nicknamed "Arimaspi's Eye") is a flying cliff suspended over the water and held up by a pillar of basalt. Despite Arimaspi's Eye's precarious and fragile appearance, the basalt archway has been found by earth pony geologists to be astoundingly stable and solid.

Type

Town

Population

~1500

Location under

Pine Needle Barrens