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Ponderosa
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The Republic of Ponderosa, commonly called Ponderosa, is a federal republic in southwestern North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States, on the south by Mexico, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Ponderosa covers over 2 million square kilometers and has has an estimated population of over 100 million. Ponderosa is a federation comprising of 14 states.

Ponderosa was first inhabited by indigenous peoples of the Americas before European exploration. It was first conquered by Spain, then became a part of Mexico. The Mexican-American War in 1848 resulted in independence of Ponderosa. Ponderosa fought with the Union Army during the American Civil War, seizing Texas and Oklahoma. Ponderosa embarked on a period of high economic growth, helping to complete the transcontinental railroad and serving as home to many gold, silver and oil booms. Ponderosa sided with the Western bloc during the Cold War, emerging as a middle power.

Ponderosa is a developed country, with a high national GDP of $4.63 trillion. The per capita GDP of $43,679 ranks highly in the world, although the country also ranks highly in income inequality. The economy is fueled by an abundance of natural resources and high productivity, as well as a free market economy that allows business to thrive. Ponderosa ranks highly in civil rights, political freedom, and economic freedom. Ponderosa is a recognized middle power, as well as a member of several international organizations, including the region of Wintreath and the World Assembly.

Etymology

The Ponderosa Pine is a very large pine tree native to western North America, and very common throughout Ponderosa. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826. The Ponderosa Pine is the official national tree of the Republic of Ponderosa, and is depicted on the Ponderosa flag.

The standard way to refer to a citizen of Ponderosa is as a "Ponderosan."

History

The first known inhabitants of Ponderosa were members of the Clovis culture of Paleo-Indians. Later inhabitants include American Indians of the Mogollon and Ancestral Pueblo peoples cultures. By the time of European contact in the 16th century, the region was settled by the villages of the Pueblo peoples and various nomadic groups such as the Navajo, Apache, and Ute.

The first Europeans arrived in the early 1500's, in the form of Spanish conquistadors. The first of these was Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, sent on a wild-goose chase to locate the Seven Cities of Gold. The infamous Juan de Oñate became the first governor of the Province of New Mexico, comprising the southeastern portion of present-day Ponderosa. Oñate founded Santa Fe, the present day capital of Ponderosa, while brutally oppressing the indigenous peoples. The province was abandoned briefly after the successful Pueblo revolt, but reconquered by Diego de Vargas.

The Mexican War of Independence led to a transition from Spanish to Mexican rule. As turmoil raged in central Mexico, the northern areas of present-day Ponderosa grew economically closer to the United States. American merchants met with Mexicans in trading hubs such as Santa Fe and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, corruption and incompetent bureaucracy, coupled with the rise of Santa Anna, led to northern disenchantment with Mexico City.

The successful secession of Texas from Mexico in 1836 inspired prominent leaders of New Mexico to threaten with secession themselves. However, in 1846, American troops arrived on their march across Ponderosa.

The result of the Mexican-American War was the Treaty of Guadolupe Hidalgo, which failed to pass the US Senate at a margin of 24-28. US troops continued to occupy the land, however, and declared the independence of the Republic of Ponderosa on March 1, 1848. Mexico, in no condition to fight a second war, recognized Ponderosan independence in April of that year. Santa Fe became the new capital in 1849, with the signing of the Ponderosa Constitution.

Ponderosa, while sympathetic to southern independence interests, announced its intentions to remain neutral in the American Civil War. However, this changed when a faction of the Confederate army attempted to stage a coup in the capital of Santa Fe, and convinced several southern counties to defect to the CSA. This provided justification enough to declare war on the Confederate States of America (simultaneously recognizing it as a legitimate state). Rebellions were quashed by Ponderosa army forces, with help from Union Army forces arriving from Oregon. The New Mexico theatre of the Civil War concluded at Glorieta Pass, where New Mexico and Colorado militia forces repelled CSA Major Pyron's Texan force.

The Ponderosa Army continued its incursions into Texas, despite Union protests. After the war, Ponderosa occupied the whole of Texas and the Indian Territory, and annexed them both as states. The Ponderosa position was that both territories were land taken from a hostile power. The American position was that it was American land, and the peace at Appomattox proved the Confederacy was simply an organized rebellion. Ponderosa retorted that this made the United States legally responsible for the significant casualties and damage done by Confederate troops on Ponderosan soil. In the end, the United States agreed to withdraw any claim to Texas. In return, Ponderosa agreed to permit the US to build a transcontinental railroad across the southern half of the country. However, Ponderosa quickly realized such a railroad would not be possible, due to the rocky terrain in what was then southern New Mexico and Sonora. it therefore purchased suitable land from Mexico to allow completion of the railroad.

Meanwhile, an American pioneer named Brigham Young led hundreds of Mormon settlers to the Salt Lake Valley and founded Salt Lake City in 1847. Over the next 20 years, over 70,000 settlers came to this region, and organized themselves into the state of Deseret in 1874.

Ponderosa remained neutral in the American Civil War, although it harbored Southern refugees after the surrender at Appomattox. Eastern Ponderosa became a major ranching hub, while California experienced a population explosion with the discovery of gold in the Silicon valley.

Ponderosa was officially neutral in both World Wars, but served as the location for the secret Manhattan Project, which was marked by the success of the explosion of the first atomic bomb in the Socorro desert. After the end of World War II, Ponderosa joined the United Nations (replaced in 2008 with the World Assembly.

Ponderosa's capitalist tradition led it to side with the United States during the Cold War. Although Ponderosa had previously maintained a policy of avoiding military alliances, Ponderosa's capitalist tradition and economic and political interests were at odds with those of the Soviet bloc. Ponderosa remained a center of nuclear research, and diverted much of its budget towards education and industry spending. Ponderosa also played a major role in the Space Race, working closely with the United States on space research. Ponderosa's contributions were ultimately recognized when one of its citizens, Matilda Pulliam, became the second person and first woman to walk on the Moon. After the end of the Cold War, Ponderosa reduced its military influence, but remains moderately influential on the world scale.

Geography

The land area of Ponderosa is 722,093 mile² (2,941,439.4 km²). The climate on the west coast is mostly Mediterranean. The Rocky Mountains, at the western edge of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the country, reaching altitudes higher than 14,000 feet (4,300 m) in Colorado and Durango. The fertile Great Plains spread across Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of New Mexico and Colorado. Extreme weather is not uncommon in this part of the country: Texas and Oklahoma are prone to tornados, and hurricanes often cause damage to the Texan coast.

Much of Ponderosa is semiarid, with large deserts such as the Mojave and Chihuahua in the Nevada Territory and in the southern regions of Sonora and Socorro. The Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges run close to the Pacific coast, both ranges reaching altitudes higher than 14,000 feet (4,300 m).

The highest point in Ponderosa is Mount Whitney in Yosemite, with a height of 14,505 ft (4,421 m). The lowest point is Death Valley, also in Yosemite, with an elevation of −282 ft (−86.0 m).

A detailed map of Ponderosa can be found here.

Left: Satellite image of Ponderosa
Center: Ponderosa Pine forest

Demographics

Ponderosa has an estimated population of 106 million, ranking 35th in the recognized world. A census is taken every ten years, with the first taking place in 1850. While the birthrate is only 15 per 1000, the population growth rate is 0.8%, the result of immigration. The largest ancestry groups included Mexicans, Hispanic groups, American Indian tribes, and white Americans. Ponderosa is a minority-majority country. 48% of the population are non-Hispanic whites, 31% are Hispanic, 15% are American Indian, and 6% are other races.

English is the de facto national language. Approximately 70% of the population speaks English as a first language, with another 23% speaking Spanish as a first language. The third most dominant language was Chinese, with 0.9% of the population being native speakers.

The majority of Ponderosa's population identifies as Christian. 32% identify as Catholic, with 29% identifying as Protestant and 10% as Mormon. The nonreligious account for 24% of the population, while Jews make up 3%. All other faiths collectively make up 2% of the population. The Bill of Rights of Ponderosa guarantees religious freedom, and prevents legislation that favors any religion over another. In addition, discrimination based on religion is illegal, with the exception of explicitly religious organizations such as churches.

According to a survey in 2045, 46% of the population said that religion played a "very important role in their lives." Catholics and Mormons are the most devout groups in Ponderosa, while church attendance among Protestant sects is fairly low. The percentage of irreligious people is steadily increasing, especially among younger generations.

Largest Cities

Rank	City	Metro area population	State
1	Phoenix	6,526,548	Sonora
2	Los Angeles	6,086,538	California
3	San Diego	4,659,205	California
4	Houston	4,591,112	Texas
5	San Francisco	4,304,997	Sequoia
6	Denver	3,500,026	Colorado
7	Dallas	3,318,486	Texas
8	El Paso	3,140,069	New Texas
9	San Antonio	2,824,724	Texas
10	Albuquerque	2,729,110	New Mexico

Phoenix	Los Angeles	San Diego	Houston

Government

The Republic of Ponderosa is a constitutional federal republic, in which majority rule is blended with minority rights protected by law. The Ponderosa Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and closely models the US Constitution on which it was inspired.

The citizens of Ponderosa are subject to three levels of government: federal, state, regional, and local.

Local Government: Administers police and fire forces, as well as other public works. Protects private property rights.

Regional Government: Responsible for education, infrastructure, and taxation.

Federal Government: Headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the federal government is responsible for national defense, foreign policy, and guarantees basic human rights that the regions cannot override, many of which are listed in the Ponderosa Bill of Rights. It is also responsible for regulating inter-regional and international commerce. Since 1945, the Department of Science has been responsible for coordinating and funding scientific research into a wide array of fields, notably nuclear power and weaponry, space technology, and renewable energy.

The federal government is composed of three branches:

Executive: Headed by the President of Ponderosa. Can veto legislative bills, appoint cabinet members and Supreme Court Justices, and is commander-in-chief of the Ponderosa military.

Legislative: Made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Makes federal law, declares war, allocates federal funds, and approves treaties.

Judicial: Made up of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. Has the power of judicial review, and is the highest legal authority after the Constitution.

Foreign Relations and Military

Ponderosa takes an active role in the world diplomatic stage. It is a member of the World Assembly and the region of Wintreath. With the exception of the American Civil War, Ponderosa has been officially neutral in all armed conflicts since its founding, although it did serve as the location of the Manhattan Project. The Fighting Force of Ponderosa Foreign Legion serves as the nation's ambassador to other regions.

Total Ponderosa military spending in 2040 was $307.66 billion, over one-third of the federal budget. Up-to-date statistics about Ponderosa's military may be found here.

The President serves as commander-in-chief of the Ponderosa military, which is headed by the Department of Defense. The military is divided into three branches: the Air Force, the Navy, and the Marines. All of these branches serve professionally, and have no other occupation. In the event of a war, the Ponderosa Army is to be reestablished and made up of volunteer troops. Conscription is illegal under the Ponderosa Constitution.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ponderosa

Ponderosa operates under a system of free market capitalism. According to the NationStates Tracker, the nominal GDP is $4.63 trillion. The private sector is estimated to constitute 98% of the economy, with federal, regional, and local government accounting for 2%. Unemployment is at 2.10%, largely due to the lack of employment regulations throughout the country.

Ponderosa is one of the world's largest exporter of goods, with a trade surplus of $94.5 billion. The United States is its top trading partner, followed by Mexico, China, Canada and Japan.

Information technology is currently the nation's largest industry, followed by retail, arms manufacturing, and gambling. Mining and livestock agriculture are other important drivers of the Ponderosan economy.

Culture

Ponderosa is home to a variety of cultures, a result of a liberal immigration policy. Ponderosan culture is generally considered Western, derived from traditions of European and American culture. There are also large Hispanic and Native American populations. Like other North American nations, Ponderosa has been described as a melting pot where several cultures join into one.

Ponderosans have been described as very individualistic, competitive, and hardworking, even more so than their American counterparts. This has resulted in great economic productivity, and a libertarian form of government. This has also made Ponderosa a popular destination for immigrants. Ponderosans are also firm believers in equality, and do not think that one social class should have more rights than others.

Food

Mainstream Ponderosan cuisine is similar to that in other Western cultures. Ponderosa is also famous for its Southwestern cuisine, featuring contributions from Spanish, Mexican, Indian, and American culture. The chili pepper, an important part of Southwestern cuisine, is a major agricultural export of Ponderosa. Ponderosan cuisine features dishes such as the burrito, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, and sopaipillas, which are believed to be a major cause of Ponderosa's heart disease epidemic.

Sports

Ponderosa's market for professional sports is roughly $35 billion. While the most popular spectator sport is football (soccer), the national sport is considered to be track and field. Ponderosan athletes have set several world records and won 420 Olympic medals in athletics alone. In addition, the 2036 Olympic Games were held in San Francisco. Basketball, ice hockey, baseball, and tennis are also popular sports.

Infrastructure

Personal transportation is dominated by automobiles, which operates on a system of 1,899,554 miles of roads. Ponderosa has one of the largest automotive industries in the world.

There are no public transport systems. Bus, rail, and subway systems do exist, but they are privately owned and operated. Many people in urban areas walk or bike to work to avoid traffic and transit fees.

The civil airline industry is also privately owned. Unlike most other industrialized nations, most airports are privately owned and run. Houston International Airport is one of the busiest in the world, serving not only Ponderosa, but airlines in the United States and Mexico as well.

Energy
Ponderosa uses a high amount of energy per capita. About 25% of Ponderosa's electricity comes from nuclear power plants, with uranium mined in Socorro and imported from Canada. Other electricity sources are from vast natural gas and coal reserves, and from solar energy, especially in Sonora. Most of Ponderosa's transportation sector uses petroleum, although rising fuel costs have led to a development in green energy.

References

NS Tracker - Economic Info, Military Info
Wikipedia - History, Template
Factbooks of Auralia, Turkish Federation, Maltropia, etc. - Inspiration
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