Beaufort
| Beaufort | |
 A view of the City of Beaufort at night. | |
 Cities of Nouvelle Alexandrie | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | City of Beaufort |
| Nickname(s) |
La Porte de Lyrica ("The Gateway to Lyrica") The Pearl of the Strait Ciudad del Estrecho ("City of the Strait") |
| Region | North Lyrica (Vinveil) |
| Established | 1685 AN |
| Founder(s) | Jacques de Beaufort |
| Government | |
| Type | Mayor-Council |
| City Legislature | Beaufort City Council |
| Population | |
| City Proper | 412,635 (1750 AN) |
| Metro Area | 587,420 |
| Density | 3,240/km² |
| Demonym | Beaufortois |
| Geography | |
| Area | 127 km² |
| Elevation | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Climate | Temperate oceanic; mild winters, warm summers |
| Infrastructure | |
| Principal Roads | Route Nationale 1, Boulevard de la Libération, Avenue Jacques de Beaufort, Carretera del Estrecho |
| Principal Districts | Vieux-Beaufort, Quartier du Port, Les Hauts, Barrio del Mar, Faubourg Saint-André, Zone Industrielle, Cantonments District, Ward of the Citadel |
| Public Transport | Beaufort Municipal Transit, CityBus Beaufort, Beaufort Central Station, O'Rea Ferry Terminal |
| Airport(s) | Beaufort International Airport |
| Port(s) | Port of Beaufort |
| Economy & Culture | |
| Major Industries | Oil and Gas, Shipping, Tourism, Military Services, Government Administration |
| Notable Landmarks | Citadelle de Beaufort, Place Jacques de Beaufort, Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Détroit, Phare d'O'Rea, Palais du Gouverneur, Mémorial de la Pacification |
| Universities | Grand Institute of Public Policy, Humanist Grammarian School, Beaufort Maritime Academy |
| Sports Teams | Beaufort FC, Club Nautique de Beaufort, O'Rea Mariners (Baseball) |
Beaufort is the capital and largest city of North Lyrica, a Region of Nouvelle Alexandrie. Located on the coast of the O'Rea Strait on the island of Lyrica, the city has an estimated population of 412,635 within the municipal limits and approximately 587,420 in the greater metropolitan area as of 1750 AN, making it the sixth most populous city in the Federation. Founded in 1685 AN as one of the first permanent settlements on Lyrica established by Nouvelle Alexandrie following the collapse of Stormark, the city is named after the Alexandrian cleric, statesman, and economist Jacques de Beaufort.
The city served as the primary staging ground for the Pacification of Lyrica that brought the rest of island under federal control into the regions of North Lyrica and South Lyrica. Beaufort remains a vital administrative capital and is unofficially regarded as the capital of the entire island, not merely the northern region. The city's strategic location on the O'Rea Strait has made it one of the dominant maritime hubs of Lyrica, hosting a major international airport at Beaufort International Airport and major commercial facilities at the Port of Beaufort. The local economy is anchored by a thriving tourism sector, extensive oil and gas operations in the waters east of the coast, and the substantial military presence maintained by the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie.
History
Growth and development
The Great Vanic Revolt
The Great Vanic Revolt tested Beaufort's defenses and reshaped its institutions. During this period, the Federal Gendarmerie contingent in the city developed a more paramilitary organizational structure and operational procedures than their counterparts elsewhere in the Federation. The military cantonments on the northern and eastern edges of the city were expanded to house additional forces, including elements of the Alexandrian Legion.
Modern era
The discovery of significant oil and gas reserves in the waters east of Beaufort in the early 1700s AN transformed the city's economic prospects. The inauguration of the Grand Institute of Public Policy in 1714 AN established Beaufort as an educational center for administrative cadres throughout North Lyrica. The licensing of the Humanist Grammarian School in 1721 AN further enhanced the city's role in training the next generation of regional leadership.
Coat of arms and flag
Geography
Climate
Cityscape
Architecture
Wards and Districts
The city of Beaufort is subdivided into Wards for administrative purposes:
- Vieux-Beaufort (Old Beaufort)
- Quartier du Port (Port District)
- Les Hauts (The Heights)
- Barrio del Mar (Sea District)
- Faubourg Saint-André
- Zone Industrielle
- Cantonments District
- Ward of the Citadel
- Quartier des Pêcheurs (Fishermen's Quarter)
- Les Jardins (The Gardens)
- Playa del Estrecho (Strait Beach)
- Nouveau Beaufort (New Beaufort)
Vieux-Beaufort
Quartier du Port
Cantonments District
The Cantonments District on the northern and eastern edges of the city houses the military installations of the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie, including barracks, training facilities, and administrative buildings for Operational Manoeuvre Group (North) attached to the 210th Army.
Demographics
The population of Beaufort has grown steadily since the city's founding, from approximately 324,921 in 1710 AN to 412,635 in 1750 AN. The demographic composition reflects the city's role as a colonial settlement, with a majority population of New Alexandrian descent alongside a significant minority of indigenous Lyrican inhabitants and migrants from across the Federation drawn by economic opportunities in the oil, gas, and tourism sectors.
Economy
The economy of Beaufort is diversified across several major sectors. Oil and gas operations in the waters east of the coast represent the largest contributor to the local economy, supporting thousands of jobs in extraction, processing, and related services. The Port of Beaufort handles the majority of maritime commerce for the island, while Beaufort International Airport, serves as the primary gateway for tourism and air freight. The substantial military presence also contributes significantly to the local economy through personnel spending and contracted services.
Tourism
Port of Beaufort
The Port of Beaufort serves as the primary maritime hub for North Lyrica, handling commercial cargo, petroleum products, passenger ferries, and cruise ship traffic. The port facilities have been expanded several times since the original naval dockyard was established in 1697 AN, with the most recent modernization completed in 1738 AN to accommodate larger container vessels and increased petroleum traffic.
Administration
The city of Beaufort is governed as part of the State of Vinveil, a state within the Region of North Lyrica. Municipal administration is conducted through the Beaufort City Council, with the city subdivided into Wards for electoral and administrative purposes.
Garrison
Federal Forces
The city's connections with the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie date back to the Pacification of Lyrica, begun in 1685 AN. The naval dockyard at Beaufort serves as the main anchorage and station of the Apollonian Fleet, whilst the cantonments of the Grand Army of the Federation, located on the northern and eastern edges of the city, house Operational Manoeuvre Group (North) attached to the 210th Army. Between the Great Vanic Revolt and 1750 AN, the cantonments also served as a primary barracks for the 9th Demi-Brigade, 17th Regiment, and 18th Regiment of the Alexandrian Legion, prior to their redeployment to Boriquén.
Federal Gendarmerie
The Federal Gendarmerie presence in the city can trace its origins back to the federalized police contingents assembled on the quayside in 1699 AN following the passage of the National Police Act. The conditions of the Great Vanic Revolt would see the Gendarmerie contingent in Beaufort develop a more paramilitary organizational structure and operational procedures than their counterparts elsewhere.
Today the city is host to barracks for the Territorial Division of Vinveil, the corresponding state of which Beaufort is also capital, as well as a regional bureau for specialist personnel assigned to operations in North Lyrica.
North Lyrican Constabulary
The North Lyrican Constabulary maintains its headquarters in Beaufort, providing regional law enforcement services in coordination with the Federal Gendarmerie and municipal police forces.
Culture
Beaufort's culture reflects its dual heritage as both a New Alexandrian colonial foundation and a city with deep connections to the indigenous Lyrican population. Annual festivals celebrate both the founding of the city and traditional Lyrican cultural practices, while the city's museums and cultural institutions preserve artifacts and traditions from across the island's history.
Education
Colleges and universities
- Grand Institute of Public Policy - Inaugurated in 1714 AN, providing training for administrative cadres throughout the Region of North Lyrica.
- Humanist Grammarian School - Licensed in 1721 AN, providing selection and merit-based education for children of Federal Humanist Party regional sector cadre members, with enrollment costs subsidized by bursaries arranged through the Humanist Vanguard and the FHP Central Secretariat.
- Beaufort Maritime Academy (Académie Maritime de Beaufort).
- Lycée Jacques de Beaufort.
- Institut Technique du Pétrole (Petroleum Technical Institute).
Public and private schools
- Colegio Municipal de Beaufort
- École Primaire Saint-André
- Escuela Lyrican Heritage School
Transportation
Public transport
- Beaufort Municipal Transit (bus network)
- CityBus Beaufort
- Beaufort Central Station (rail terminal)
- O'Rea Ferry Terminal (connections to mainland Alduria)
Air transport
Maritime transport
Health and utilities
- Carrillo National Health System
- Hôpital Central de Beaufort
- Clinique du Port
- Centro Médico del Estrecho
