New Venceia

New Venceia Nova Venceia
Consolidated city-county
City and County of New Venceia
Flag Seal Logo
Location of New Venceia and Alexandria
Country	Cartadania
State	Alexandria
Formed as town	1302
Incorporated as city	1496
Consolidated	1891
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Body	City Council
• Mayor	Vitellia Murena (SDP)
Area
• Total	2,076.7 km2 (801.8 sq mi)
• Land	2,003.1 km2 (773.4 sq mi)
• Water	73.6 km2 (28.4 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,207,100
• Density	580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	New Venceian Viejito(a)
Website	New Venceia Government Website

New Venceia, officially the City and County of New Venceia (Cartadanian: Cidade e Comarca de Nova Venceia), is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Eastern Alexandria, forming the core third-largest metropolitan area in Alexandria with a growing population of nearly 7.5 million, and the sixth largest in Cartadania. With an estimated population of 1.2 million as of 1 July 2030, it is also the third-largest municipality in the state of Alexandria, after Calaine and Portomar, and the tenth-largest in Cartadania. The major Caphirian influence in many cultural aspects of the city makes it a center of Caphiro-Cartadanian culture as well, even so far as Caphiric Latin loanwords borrowed into its dialect of the Cartadanian language. Its foundation as a city in 1496 took place on account of the Imperator's restructuring of governments, whereby the newly formed settlement, priorto known as the Town of Serdica, was reorganized as a directly controlled city of the crown due to its location at the mouth of the Aluna Channel.

The city is named after Venceia, the capital of Caphiria, as an indicator of its importance to the crown at the time. Many of the city's inhabitants also had lineage tracing back to Venceia, which made it an isolate in the Lusia region, as the area had historically been populated by people from the provinces of Amarsia, Desia, Meceria, and the border province of Turiana. New Venceia is sometimes considered the birthplace of early Cartadania due to its original founding as a town in 1306, making it the oldest, continuously inhabited, permanent settlement in organized Cartadania. Despite this, much of the original city has been rebuilt to conform to its modern grid and layout. Some areas of the city feature architecture that borrows heavily from West Audonian architecture.

The city has a very diverse economy and has had a particular trend towards investment and real estate in recent years, especially in terms of high-end development. In line with this, some of the city's districts have become the most expensive areas to own a home in the country as well, with some homes reaching into the upper hundred million range. Two neighborhoods in particular, Aventine Downs and Valerian Sands, both of which are located in the city's Sagittaria Beach district, have homes all starting above €5 million. In a similar vein, New Venceia has the highest average household income in the nation at €132,918 as of January 2030.

New Venceia is one of three primary economic centers in the State of Alexandria, positioned as a significant port city and a major hub for the state’s tourism industry. The metropolitan area also serves as one of Alexandria’s principal industrial zones, contributing extensively to the state’s economy through diverse manufacturing sectors. Key industries include the production of sugar and ethanol from sugarcane, motor vehicles, shipbuilding, electronics, software, and a variety of other goods. The city experienced substantial industrial growth during the 1970s and 1980s, supported by government-led fiscal incentives designed to stimulate regional economic development. These policies attracted numerous industrial companies, promoting an environment conducive to manufacturing and trade. Today, New Venceia remains a key commercial and logistical center for the North and Northeastern regions of Cartadania, benefiting from its strategic coastal location and well-developed port infrastructure. It’s role as a commercial hub is supported by the region's extensive transportation network, supporting the movement of goods and services throughout the state and further abroad. The city’s port connects it to both domestic and international trade routes, though it has waned in international importance in the wake of the São Ricardo International Gateway's expansions to port far larger ships. Additionally, the metropolitan area’s diverse economic base, encompassing tourism, manufacturing, and technology, has helped it maintain economic resilience and attract investment, especially when considering numerous international conflicts and tensions.

History

Cane fields played an important role in New Venceia's history.

The city of New Venceia originated as the small settlement of Serdica in 1302, established primarily as a cane-growing community. Its population consisted largely of Ettian and Caphirian settlers migrating westward from Urlazio, who cultivated sugarcane near the coast and grew rice and pineapple in the hinterlands. During the 14th century, Serdica developed slowly as an agrarian port town, establishing trade links across the Aluna Channel with the Fortuna Isles and facilitating overland trade with the Turiana Province of Caphiria, nearly 1,200 kilometers away. These trade connections and the introduction of tropical crops to western and interior Caphiria contributed significantly to the region’s agricultural growth, serving as a catalyst to Serdica’s status as a key economic port within the then-province of Alexandria.

In the early 17th century, Alexandria’s administrative boundaries were reorganized, placing Serdica within Ventrellis County, which became the state’s most populous county. Amid the tumultuous years that lead to the Great Schism, a high court was relocated from Venceia to Serdica in 1611, prompting the consolidation of Serdica with neighboring prefectures—Nova Armenta, Campi Aurei, Sancta Amicitia, and Villa Clementia—into a single entity renamed New Venceia. This merger enhanced the city’s political and economic stature, though the relocation of the high court back to Venceia in 1630 left New Venceia to focus on local governance and commerce.

Cartadania Coast Survey Chart Map of New Venceia, Alexandria, NW viewing perspective.

Following the Compactum Caridonis in 1630, Alexandria and other Lusia provinces seceded from Caphiria to form the Caridon Federation, the precursor to modern Cartadania. New Venceia served as Alexandria’s state capital during this transitional period until the Ano Vermelho (Red Year) of 1698–1699 and the subsequent relocation of the capital to Calaine in 1709. Calaine, located along the Berkeley River, grew into Alexandria’s largest city and a financial hub, overshadowing New Venceia’s political importance. Despite losing prominence as a political and economic center, New Venceia maintained its relevance as a coastal city. By the 19th century, it had rebranded itself as a luxury destination, attracting affluent Caphirians seeking tropical retreats. The city’s beaches, milder climate, and cultural ties to Caphiria established it as a favored retirement location and vacation spot. This tourism boom persisted even as the city faced competition from larger ports in southern Cartadania.

The First Great War in the early 20th century brought significant challenges for New Venceia. Caphiria’s annexation of parts of Cartadania led to the cessation of bilateral relations, and many Caphirians in Cartadania either returned to their homeland or relocated to other nations. However, New Venceia emerged as a sanctuary for those who remained, creating a climate of tolerance despite rising xenophobia. During the interwar period, many Caphirians in the city assimilated into Cartadanian society, driven by fears of further conflict and discrimination. The Second Great War saw Cartadania reclaim previously annexed territories, though tensions peaked when Caphiria dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Cavosia. The signing of the Treaty of Kartika permanently delineated the border between the two nations, somewhat stabilizing relations but kept tensions high in the wake of the devastation in Urlazio. New Venceia continued to serve as a cultural and economic bridge, albeit under immigration restrictions codified between 1896 and 1950, which particularly affected immigrants from Caphiria and other nations.

New Venceia's Sagittaria District in 1961.

The Ocean Spire Tower, under construction in 2030.

With the relaxation of immigration restrictions in the 1950s, New Venceia underwent a significant period of revitalization, marked by renewed economic growth and urban transformation. Substantial investments in real estate development and the tourism sector catalyzed a rapid modernization of the city’s infrastructure and urban landscape. Luxury hotels, residential high-rises, and cultural landmarks began to dominate its skyline, particularly along its scenic waterfront areas, which saw extensive redevelopment to accommodate both local residents and an influx of visitors. These efforts established New Venceia as a premier destination for high-end tourism and leisure.

Concurrently, the city’s metropolitan footprint began to expand, with suburban and urban growth stretching southward into neighboring Escalia County and establishing greater connectivity with the cities of Portomar and Alahuela. This integration was facilitated by advancements in transportation infrastructure, including highways, regional rail links, and modernized ports, which strengthened economic ties and promoted intercity migration. Over time, this steady growth and urban blending gave rise to the Riviera Esmeralda, a vast urban agglomeration encompassing the metropolitan areas of New Venceia, Greater Alahuela, Folhosa, and the Palm Coast. Stretching to the southernmost tip of Verona’s Palm Coast metropolitan area, the Riviera Esmeralda has become one of the largest and most dynamic urban regions in Cartadania, serving as an epicenter of culture, commerce, and innovation.

Demographics

Ethnicity in New Venceia
Ethnicity			Percentage
Cartadanian			38.9%
Lato-Sarpedonian			34.2%
Levantine			11.2%
Native Cartadanian			4.9%
Cronan			4.6%
Coscivian			2.4%
Vallo-Polynesian			2.6%
Alshari			1.1%
Audonian			1.0%

According to the 2030 census, New Venceia had a total population of 1,453,100 individuals, residing in 486,196 housing units spread throughout the city. The population density was recorded as 580 inhabitants per square kilometer (1,500/sq mi) across its 2,003.1-square-kilometer (773.4 sq mi) area. Of the total households in New Venceia, which numbered at 515,963, 28.3% had children below the age of 18 living with them. Among these households, 57% were married couples living together, while 31.4% were single female-headed households with no spouse present. The remaining 11.6% of households were non-family units. The average household size in the city was found to be 2.82, while the average family size was 4.13, a marked variation from other major cities like Sierra or Valorica, but reflective of Alexandria's higher instance of familial cohabitation.

In terms of income, New Venceia has a median household income of €99,505 while simultaneously having the highest average household income in the nation at €132,918 as of January 2030. Families had a median income of €112,285 and mean of €155,464; married-couple families €138,457 with a mean of €182,832; and non-family households a median of €74,867 and mean of €98,640. A proportion of the population, 0.59% of families and 3.12% of individuals, were recorded to be below the poverty line, a figure that has contracted a lot in recent years in the wake of Alexandria's public housing revitilization projects and social uplift programs. Income levels in the city are notably high across all categories, reflective of its status as Cartadania’s wealthiest city by average household income. The proportion of the population living below the poverty line is comparatively low as well, further emphasizing the city’s strong economic standing and overall affluence in spite of the economic woes it faced in the 20th century.

The linguistic landscape of New Venceia reflects its diverse cultural heritage, with significant influences from Caphiria. The city’s primary dialect of Cartadanian, Aleo, is widely spoken across the state of Alexandria and is characterized by a fusion of Latin and Cartadanian linguistic elements. This dialect incorporates vocabulary and structures influenced by Ettian and early Latin, resulting in a lexicon distinct to Alexandria, particularly in urban areas. For instance, the Aleo dialect retains Latin words such as gratis (thank you) and bis (double), in contrast to the Cartadanian equivalents obrigado and duplo. An Alexandrian might say Bis meu pretio para mais detalhes (“Double my hourly rate for details”) rather than the more common Cartadanian phrase, Duplo meu horário para mais detalhes, used in other dialects, including the neighboring Mendesâno in Alahuela and Attalense in Verona. The Aleo dialect is also marked by a clear accent and precise pronunciation, with speakers rarely eliding vowels and often employing Latin-inspired speech patters. New Venceia’s linguistics are further impacted by its significant Caphirian population, making Latin, alongside Cartadanian, one of the most commonly spoken languages in the city. English ranks as the third most widely spoken language, reflecting the historical and geopolitical significance of the Riviera Esmeralda region.

São Marcos Cathedral in the Campi Aurei district.

New Venceia is characterized by a predominantly Catholic population, reflecting the religious influence of its significant Caphirian community and aligning with broader national trends in Cartadania. Catholicism remains the dominant religious affiliation in the city, with a majority of residents identifying as adherents. This prevalence is consistent with the country’s overall demographic, where Catholicism represents the largest religious group. The city also maintains a relatively diverse religious landscape, though non-religious identification is less prevalent in New Venceia compared to other major urban centers in Cartadania. Approximately 17% of the population identifies as non-religious, a figure lower than the national average for metropolitan areas. This difference underscores the city’s cultural and historical ties to religious traditions, particularly those rooted in Caphirian Catholicism.

In addition to Catholicism, the city is home to a variety of other religious communities, including smaller Christian denominations, as well as followers of Islam, Judaism, and various spiritual practices introduced through immigration and global cultural exchanges. This diversity, while present, is secondary to the predominant Catholic identity, which continues to shape the city’s cultural and social institutions.

Education

K-12

Public schools in New Venceia are governed by the citywide district, New Venceia Public Schools, which is the second-largest school district in Alexandria (after Astoria County Schools). As of January 2025, it has a student enrollment of 281,416 and over 311 schools and centers.

Colleges and universities

Aerial view of the new Village housing at UAL.

The University of Alexandria is the largest university in the state, serving all 117 of Alexandria's counties. It has an active enrollment of around 76,000 students and is ranked 4th in the country for universities. It sits in the University district on Salvada Avenue, between the Imperial Beach district and Hospital district, where the UAL Medical Center is located. It is a Tier-1 Research University and has an endowment of $21.3 billion.

NVSU is the second-largest branch of the ASU system.

New Venceia State University is the other public, four-year university in the city. It is a part of the Alexandria State University system, enrolls 28,000 students, and awards degrees through doctoral in over 150 disciplines. It is a Tier-2 Research university.

New Venceia College is a two-year community college located in the city's Ballentine district. It has an enrollment of approximately 92,000 students and has many areas of study. It has a matriculation agreement with UAL where students may transfer after two years to continue through an undergraduate degree. It also maintains dual-enrollment with New Venceia Public Schools.

Libraries

New Venceia Central Library is actually located on the outskirts of the downtown district Libraries in the city are managed by Metro City Library (MCL), an arm of the municipal government. There are 31 branches dispersed throughout the city, the largest of which is New Venceia Central Library (aka MCL1).

Infrastructure

Utilities

Like most of Alexandria, energy in the city is provided by Meridian Energy. The New Venceia Municipal Water and Waste Commission is responsible for water mains and connections, as well as sewerage. Half of all city water is pumped in from other counties. Refuse is handled through contract by East Alexandria Waste Authority (EAWA).

Transportation

Transportation in New Venceia is unique in that there are only two major highways that bisect the city–Alexandria State Route 1 and Interstate Highway 68. All other highways are local roads owned by the city. The city is crisscrossed by many streets that lead to SR-1 and IH68 or out of the city to nearby IH-45 for intercity movement. The city also has an extensive metro system composed of a bus network and a rapid transit rail system (METROrail). The city's tollway and bridges, together with the aforementioned transit systems, are managed by New Venceia Metro Authority. It sets the policies, procedures, and planning outlook for the systems and their day-to-day operations.