Midway

Midway
Federal City
Midway / Annadine-Belgia
Official seal of Midway Seal
Nickname:  Link
2016 Map 2016 Map
Region	Bheiljic-Annadine
Country	Woodstead
World Region	File:Astyria 826917.png Astyria
Settled	c. 300AD
Federal City	2015
Districts	Renewal zone and 30 boroughs
Government
• Type	Federal subject
• Body	Midway Government
• Elected body	Assembly
• Governor	Karianne Westerberg
• OA Assembly	33 constituencies
• Federal Parliament	18 constituencies
Population  (December 2015)
• Total	4,239,000
Demonym	Midwaysian
Time zone	UTC+0 (Astyrian Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (Astyrian Summer Time)

Midway, officially the Federal City of Midway or The Federal City of Annadine-Belgia, is one of ten federal cities in the Woodsteasian Federation. As a rather central area on Provincial Island it has emerged only recently as a built-up area which has, since 2014, garnered support and new investments in to its development. Since the early 4th Century AD, the area has been said to have been populated by later Belgae tribespeople. Midway was informally coined for the area in the 1990s after it was marketed as a mid-way stop between Oppidum and Woldland, and later a mid-way stop between Saint Edward and Stormthorpe. Midway is now the official name for the federal city as of September 2015.

Midway is somewhat of an unconventional city, even by the standards of the Woodsteasian Federation. Until 2005, Midway had no major infrastructure and most of its inhabitants worked in the local Interchange Service Centre, where the post-2000 motorways intersect- hotels, the truck stop, and several eateries made up a considerable amont of local income, and was the main employer.

Federal Statistics Agency estimated the population of Midway to be 4,239,000 in December 2015; due to the re-organisation of administrative borders, both its urban and proper population are exactly the same. However, the first annual Midway Plan Report in 2016 argued that it has a much larger commuter area, accounting for up to 10.3 million people. When only accounting for languages of more than 1,000 speakers, there are 20 languages spoken across Midway- mainly Irish Gaelic, French, and Urdu. Despite the fact that Midway is currently the first federal subject for Woodsteasian-born inhabitants, studies have shown that it is still rather diverse, and is particularly popular with second and third-generation migrants.

History

Founding

Whilst Oppidum, to the West, had enjoyed an influx from Apennine peninsula, it was not until around 295-315AD that infrastructure and settlements populated the area. It is said that later Belgae tribes had immigrated to the general area, and to the north. Such evidence has only been substantiated further since January 2016- beforehand, it was believed, that the area was untouched predating the rise of the Argholeic State.

Junction

The King Erlen Road was built in 1723 to mark the tenth year of the Erlenic Empire: it connected Iley (Yledh) to the Ey Channel at the ancient Port of Alburgh; in 1729, a crossroads formed as the Prince Deyn Road passed from Winechurch to Cants. A coaching house was built as a stop for both roads. By the time of the first motor cars rolling through the countryside, a light cluster of several hamlets emerged to house workers in the public houses and the new Royal Gardens overlooking the Belgae Downs. The Empire's Guardian later built a hilltop fortification to train and house adult men and women as the nineteenth century approached. The Junction hillfort provided free housing and education, churning out a colonial inventory of reserves and so-called 'front invaders'. The closure of this fort for military purpose in 1930 freed up hundreds of practical homes for those who were displaced by severe clashes between monarchists and republicans in rural counties nearby.

Rapid growth

By order of the Town Planning Commission of Woodstead, the City of Annad became the county headquarters of Annadine-Bheilja in 1934. Annad was a garden city which offered an escape from older urban areas which were becoming crowded. Industrialisation in cities was on the up and demanded more zoning in their favour, so these cities offered cash incentives for those who would like to try a quieter life in a newer city. The success of Annad was evident, and so the TPC commissioned the lower density garden city, the Town of New Belgium. New Belgium, by 1965, became just as populated as Annad and begun to fill out suburban exclaves until 1985. By the 1990s, the growth has stagnated. The only attraction of the area was to actors and famous sportspeople who wanted second homes and rural retreats- but near a town. In 2001, several motorways took form to the western border of the county (now part of Fairhill County, Westyew Province) and the existing service station was expanded with several flagship stores in a shopping complex, a food court, hotels, and a larger truck stop: the Interchange was an overnight success and was the major employer.

Government

Local Government

The metropolitan administration is made up of two-tiers- a metropolitan authority and a local tier. The former tier is the Midway Authority composed of the executive Midway Directorate, the Midway Cabinet, and the 150-strong Midway Assembly. The Midway Authority are based in three locations across the city while the space is being allocated for this new administrative structure. The local tier consists of the councils of 30 boroughs which share some responsibilities with the Midway Authority.

Federal Parliament

The Federal Parliament is still new, and is yet to be housed in a permanent, purpose-built building; however, 18 of the 500 Federal Parliament seats are allocated to listed candidates. A few Oppidumite MPs are independent (7); most aligned representatives are social liberals and left-leaning with a strong Green Party, UParty, and Social Democratic Alliance presence in the other 15 seats (6,4,5 respectively). Midway is mainly represented by Social Democratic Alliance with 9 of 18 seats; Green Party and Spectrum both have 3 seats; the remainder are held by independents who are mainly right-wing.

Transport

Airports

Midway Authority is leading the designing process for Midway Airport as part of a joint plan with Fairhill County Council, the Federal Government, and the Province of Westyew's Department for Transport and Aviation. The site is located in Fairhill County, straddling the western border of Midway; if the plan is accepted, construction may begin by Summer 2016.

Rail

Midway is principally served by Annad City Station and the newly remodelled New Belgium Station, but will be downsized from national network stops to regional and local. Several other rail stations will become disused as part of a replacement from rail to light rail, tramways, and a cable car. The Midway Development Corporation is currently building a large station which will connect to regional, nation, and suburban railways- Midway Central Station will have 10 mainline platforms, and will accommodate for 4 suburban light rail services at a time.

Sports

Midway Development Corporation is currently working toward an international-standard fitness and sports centre which will work as the national training facilities for any major international sporting events.

Twin Cities

Since 1998, Annad has been twinned with the Cez-Zaern city of Wellsey Point. As part of the 2015 federalisation process, Wellsey Point is now twinned with the entirity of the new Midway Federal City.