Apollo County

[r0g3r 1]

Introduction

This is my first attempt at a city journal (not to mention my first post here!) Looking at some of the amazing journals on this forum inspired me to give it a go myself.

This region will use lots of mods and addons, but nothing that I consider cheating will be used... with one exception being the NAM 2x capacity file.

This journal will be light on story elements and will instead focus on the development of my region.

This aerial photo shows what the region looks like in it's undeveloped state:



An overview of the major geography of the region:



Major geographic elements, as well as major cities and towns will be named after things related to Project Apollo.... Lunar Geography, Astronauts, Flight Directors, Spacecraft, etc.(just a way of making it easier to think of names)

[screamomatic 14]

That looks really cool, that region is awsome.

[praiodan 78]

You got some really intersting terra forming there. I'm wondering how the region will turn out (anyway good I think)

[r0g3r 1]

Fra Mauro

The Fra Mauro area was the first to see signifigant development in the region. It grew up around Apollo Regional Highway 1 and currently has a population of 1,739, with a small industrial and farming economy.

Here is how the region looked in it's undeveloped state:



And here is how the town looks currently:



A closer look at a section of downtown Fra Mauro:



This photo shows some of the farmland in the region, as well as the Northrop Grain Elevator facility which services some of the local farms:



A closer look at the Grain Elevator:

[r0g3r 1]

Thanks for the comments

And here is the final bit I have for now, to put my little town into perspective here is a Transportation Map:

[r0g3r 1]

[praiodan 78]

I like it
Espacially the grain elevator, nice use of it!

*looking for more*

[Micah 16]

Snoopy Island? I actually do like this region... I'll be watching it carefully to see further development!

[r0g3r 1]

Hey Micah, thanks for checking it out. Snoopy and Charlie Brown were the names of the two Spacecraft on Apollo 10... in keeping with my Project Apollo naming scheme..... I also admit I was quite a fan of the Charlie Brown cartoons as a kid.

[Simworld 056132 1]

Wow, disign is great! I like how you used the Dirt streets mod. Farmy feeling
I'll be watching

[ChicAgo333 2]

Very nice so far, reminds me of Digby, especially with the newspaper and the region helicopter view...btw, how did you get that?

Looking forward to more

[r0g3r 1]

Yeah, I definitely took some inspiration from Digby... it's probably my favorite CJ that I've seen... I'm trying hard to resist my urge to mimick it too much

The overhead view is made by taking screenshots of every city in the region with the data view window open, then cropping out the little maps from the data views and stitching them all together.

[nycsc4 5,250]

I think this looks great.  I to like the authentic look of the dirt roads with the farms.  is that grain elevator in the game or did you download it from STEX?

[sloppet 3]

Nice start of a new CJ! Good luck!

Sloppet

[r0g3r 1]

Thanks guys.

The Grain Elevator is part of the BSC Farm Rewards , which you can get from the STEX. You also need some tracking enabled (BTE) farms in order to earn the rewards.

[Fabiocb 1]

nice start, it looks really interesting so far and the region seems to be really promissing.

 

 

[r0g3r 1]

Tranquility

To the East of our little town of Fra Mauro, a small city has been growing around the Orion River delta. The Greater Tranquility Area includes the city of Tranquility and the suburbs of Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.

Here is aerial photo of the area in it's undeveloped state:


And here is a shot of the entire Greater Tranquility Area:


A map of the currently populated areas of Apollo County:


And finally a satellite view of the entire region in it's current state:



In the upcoming updates, I will take you on a tour of the city of Tranquility and each of it's suburbs.

[r0g3r 1]

Downtown Tranquility

Downtown Tranquility is divided by Apolllo Regional Highway 1 into two areas, north and south tranquility. North Tranquility has a small industrial district, and most of it's residents work there. South Tranquility has the areas largest commercial district, as well as many of the city's vital services.




South Tranquility
Here's a closer view of South Tranquility, which is home to City Park as well as the Tranquility Titans Softball Field:



And here's a view of City Park:



North Tranquility



And I leave you with a view of the Tranquility countryside:

[praiodan 78]

I love regions with such a rural look... because I can't do something like this! Looks awesome! And the bridge over the Orion River is perfect!

[r0g3r 1]

Thanks very much praiodan. The best looking rural areas of tranquility are still yet to be shown I have more updates coming soon.

[r0g3r 1]

Town of Armstrong

Armstrong is an industrial town across the Orion River from downtown Tranquility. It is connected to Tranquility via the Greater Tranquility Bridge (referred to as the G.T. bridge from here forward). This town is home to the largest industrial facility in the region, as well as the Apollo County Seaport.






Downtown Armstrong
Armstrong is mostly a low wealth area, comprised of industrial workers, but there are a few higher wealth residents in the area, such as Rocketdyne CEO Steve Bales, who's house is shown in this photo. Rocketdyne was the first high tech industry to come to this mostly rural area. They manufacture rocket engines for the space program, and while their research facility is located in Armstrong's industrial district, they test their engines out in the undeveloped countryside nearby.



Brandywine Neighborhood



Kranz Galvanizing Facility
The Kranz Galvanizing Facility is the largest industrial complex in the Apollo County Area. Most of the galvanized steel produced here is shipped out via the Apollo County Seaport. This company is owned by the Kranz family (of which tranquility's mayor is a member), a promient family in the Tranquility Area.




Apollo County Seaport



That's it for now... still two small rural suburbs of Tranquility to look at in the upcoming updates.

[DarkLoki 0]

Interesting region, like the rural feel of your cities.

[r0g3r 1]

Town of Collins

The tiny town of Collins is located to the north west of Tranquility and is centered around the junction of Gibson Road and Fender Street. The Old Mobil station can be seen in this photo:



The town of Collins is also home to the area's Farmer's Co-op:

[elkie 0]

Nice region! Obviously you're giving out Moon-related names. Interesting choice.

[r0g3r 1]

Town of Aldrin

The town of Aldrin is a farming town located on Highway 1 between Tranquility and Fra Mauro. It is home to the Apollo County Farm Bureau, and has it's own Farmer's Market.



In this closer view you can see Sophia's Farm and Garden store. Sophia Farms is a company that started as a family farm in the Fra Mauro area, but now includes several farms as well as this store here in Aldrin, which provides farm and garden supplies for the Tranquility and Fra Mauro areas:

[praiodan 78]

Excellent how you mind many small details... like the Farmer's Co-op or all the labeling! This is (for me) (one of) the finest rural regions!
*can't get enough*

[jacqulina 162]

excellent start

[r0g3r 1]

Aerial Photos
Some of you may be wondering how these aerial photos are taken, since Apollo as of yet has no airport.... By hot air balloon of course!



Map of Populated Areas
This map is kind of a teaser since it shows how the whole region has developed. In this update I will only be showing a small part of what's new on this map, but the rest will be coming soon:



Downtown Tycho

Tycho is a small city that has grown up to the north of Tranquility at the point where the Hadley River flows into the Orion. The area is mostly sustained by commerce, with some industry in the southerly suburb of Stafford, as well as Agriculture in the surrounding countryside.



Luna Hills Subdivision



Scott Carpenter Ave
Scott Carpenter Avenue runs through the center of town, and is the main commercial thoroughfare:


And here's a closer look at the Publix Grocery Store:

[r0g3r 1]

The Corps began it's work in the Tranquility area, with the GT Bridge. The construction of the bridge had been botched by outside contractors.

GT Bridge Before


GT Bridge After



They also began work on the Apollo County Seaport in Armstrong:

Seaport Before


Seaport After



The corps has it's work cut out for it... but Apollo County will be much better for their efforts!

[Pooty 228]

This is like Digby all over again...Haha, Gumdrop Island, sounds like something from Candy Land the board game. Anyway, great layout and awesome presentation!