Dallas Outskirts
Dallas Outskirts is the general name for the commune that started as an internment camp but has since won legal recognition from the state of Texas. It is the largest commune on this planet by far.
Members of this commune are usually not allowed to leave under Texan law, despite Licentia's years of negociation, so a lot of them seek out other communes that are less prison-like. There is an unofficial underground railroad that takes infected out of Texas and into Taqfleck or across the border to Mexico. Some, however, enjoy their new life enough to stay, while others do not think the risk is worth it.
Demographics
The population consists almost entirely of XRAIs/Zedheads.
Government
Due to its high population, Dallas Outskirts has an incredible 600 formally recognized neighborhoods, each made up of about 200 people. Like Taqfleck, each neighborhood gets a representative on the community council. In addition, the commune is divided into ten "super neighborhoods" that each represent one additional representative. These ten additional delegates hold no political power except in an emergency, because quite frankly it's really hard to get 600 people in the same place at the same time if you're under attack.
Defences
Originally surrounded by a barbed wire fence to keep the inhabitants in, the community has since outgrown it. In desperate attempt to control the outbreak, the CDC and the military forces the community to remain fenced in and avoid letting most of its members outside, but the current fence has some holes in it that the inhabitants are in no rush to repair.
Industry & Trade
Food, water, and some medical supplies are supplied by the CDC and military supporters involved in maintaining this camp.
Infrastructure
Bscause most inhabitants are strictly prohibited from leaving, members have built what they need to live their entire lives in this open-air prison.
History
This commune was originally founded in August 2018 as an internment camp set up by the CDC to prevent further spread of the Z-virus. Poor management and overcrowding (in October 2018 approximately 90,000 infected lived there) lead to several unnecessary deaths by diseases of hygiene and dehydration until a septic tank system was installed two months later. Water was provided by the local military and FEMA once protests died down, but friction between these groups and the interned infected remained high for months. Saoirse "Zero" D'arcy moved from Taqfleck in order to help manage this commune, but not before, ahem, murdering the guy who was originally in charge of the Dallas camp, who wanted to euthanize all Romeros.
Zero was able to reduce some of the encampant's most pressing issues, but it soon became clear the population density combined with almost complete lack of infrastructure required drastic measures. The commune's community council voted to consider ideas and formal proposals from the community for 30 days, then hash out a restructing of the entire settlement.
The restructuring was overwhelmingly supported, but there were a few Dissidents among those who were told their shacks must be moved. Zero was ultimately unable to diplomatically reach a solution with most of these ZIMBYs, and could not abide by some of them carrying on as they were, as unofficial outhouses and other aspects were making people sick. Zero brought the issue to the open in hopes of garnering public support, but her plans ultimately worked too well — a group of these dissidents demonstrating were mobbed by their fellow infected, resulting in a riot. After this riot the council voted to expel members involved, leading to an exodus of about 800 people (0.8% of the population). It is unknown what became of many of these people, but some have been found murdered throughout Texas by non-infected.
Architecture
Prior to the restructuring, this was a slum that was hard to navigate and toxic to all of its members thanks to severe mismanagement and overcrowding. It is still densely crowded and has a slum-like appearance, as the majority of housing are indeed shanties, cars, RVs, and sheds. However, local amenities such as running water, bathrooms, showers, electricity, and buses have greatly improved quality of life.
A system of trains running over the city has been proposed, as has a light rail system. But for now, transportation is mostly done via buses and horses, as there is not enough economic opportunity or funding to support these ambitious plans, and it's not like people can just go outside the prison walls to gather the resources needed.
Geography
Dallas Outskirts benefits from being located on mostly flat land, although it does not suit itself well to farming.
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