Where in Georgian can I set this fictional university town--please help (Atlanta: credit, lawyers)

[livefromfantasyland]

Hi Everyone1

[I need your help with some weird Georgia questions. I’m setting my Urban Fantasy story in a fictional college town, only I’m not sure where in Georgia to put it. Could you please help me?


For now I’m calling the school “Peach State University” which is underfunded and worn. I’m thinking it used to be a big agricultural school, but now might slowly be moving towards the hard research sciences. There’s a strong ROTC presence. Though the psychology department is small and underfunded, there’s a tiny, privately funded parapsychology department which studies ghosts, hunting, swamp gas (maybe), and other spectral anomalies (but does not work with psychics or try to prove psychic powers). There are haunted places in the town and a general feeling of superstition in the area, not that anyone gives the department any sort of credit or thinks them legitimate.


The town itself is kind of gritty and but could still be beautiful in some places and proud. I have a feeling it’s quite old (because of the ghosts) and that the university itself was once a plantation. The town might be named for him. There could still be agriculture/agrabiz nearby, I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s too close to a major city.


My so far unnamed town is not stylish or glamorous, but isn’t devoid of wealthy and has a small social scene. For those who’ve read the Nocturne City books, I’m trying to create something along those lines but not quite as dark and gritty. There’s a stark contrast between the students who live and party mostly in the U-district, which has shops, bars, and restaurants like any U-district, the “haves” most of which have been there a long time and probably are the bankers, commercial land owners and developers, lawyers, doctors, whatever, and everyone else, who are just trying to get by, working for the university, as civil servants, working in the local businesses. There may be a research hospital affiliated with the university or research facility on the outskirts. Not sure what other kinds of industry they have....


Oh, there are also paranormals living in this town (no vamps yes, mostly witches, clarvoyants, psychics, beings from other demensions, and shapeshifters), but they’re not known to the public in this world. Most of them live in the financial districts where the few young, hip, wealthy people live or the garden district where the old, wealthy families live. The founders of the city may have been paranormal, not sure.


So, there you have it. Any ideas on what part of Georgia my city could be in? Industry? History for my little town? None of this is set in stone except for the parapsychology department...

Thank you so much!

~S

[lilmusket]

The first thing that comes to my mind is Carrollton west of Atlanta.. it is home to West Georgia University.

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

The first thing that comes to my mind is Carrollton west of Atlanta.. it is home to West Georgia University.

ha. that's not the first thing that came to my mind, but I was thinking it too!

only because you mention an agricultural college, tifton came to mind. it is the home of abraham baldwin agricultural college (ABAC). Its very much an agricultural area, and ABAC has a very large agricultural research center.

It recently became a 4-yr institution, but still offers 2-yr programs.

[stillkit]

Macon.

[livefromfantasyland]

Thanks! I'll take a look at all those. They sound great! It also dosen't have to be a real town, a region or area will work too. Thanks again!

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by livefromfantasyland

Thanks! I'll take a look at all those. They sound great! It also dosen't have to be a real town, a region or area will work too. Thanks again!

If you're looking for a plantation area; southwest georgia.

[livefromfantasyland]

Originally Posted by southgeorgia

If you're looking for a plantation area; southwest georgia.

Thank you!!! What's the geography like? Flat and fully of trees? Swampy? Are there lots of historical places where one might find ghosts...

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by livefromfantasyland

Thank you!!! What's the geography like? Flat and fully of trees? Swampy? Are there lots of historical places where one might find ghosts...

that would be southeast georgia.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by southgeorgia

If you're looking for a plantation area; southwest georgia.

La Grange?

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by southgeorgia

that would be southeast georgia.

Statesboro?

Or better--Valdosta?