HTown

HTown is located in the Watson Development district of northern Night City.

History

Early history

HTown began as a contemporary tent city and low-income neighborhood for the jobless and dispossessed in Night City, named for the last initial of the US vice president who enabled the Gang of Four. Another popular moniker was Potatoetown, named after an obscure historical event.

During the 2040s, the homeless community was "dealt with" by the NCPD, who bulldozed the tents and burned down all personal effects found around. Afterwards, any vagrancy in this area was punished by incineration, and if the cells were full, by braindance torture. The large homeless population, however, had caused a drop in property values, which in turn caused a beaver fight, eventually leading to a number of enterprising real estate developers to buy the entire parcel where the former shanty town had been located. These companies soon expelled anyone without a home still living there, and began construction of tract housing for the working class. A portion of the homeless were pushed out to other areas of Night City, while any residents still living in the neighborhood were squeezed out by the rising rents and gentrification. Although this area was given a more palatable name, it was still known as HTown by the locals.

2045

By 2045, a large number of homeless still lived here, though the ever-present tent city was now surrounding the recently constructed community, which had been walled-off. As such, tensions in the neighborhood were notoriously high.