Stanmer

Stanmer Sdaamro
File:Flag-sdaamro.png Flag
File:Sdaamrolocator.png The location of Stanmer (red) within Vyvland
Country	Vyvland
Capital	Lyksdal
Largest City	Lyksdal
Population	4,012,409
Area	19,755km²
Population density	203/km²
Government	Socialist-Greens-United Left coalition
Chancellor	Jonas Fenaam (Socialist)
Parliament Seats	82
Municipalities	64 including 1 independent city (Lyksdal)
Official languages	Vyvlander
Number plate code	K

Stanmer (Vyvlander: Sdaamro /zdaːmɾɒː/) is a province in the in north-western Vyvland, and is the nation's most populous province. Its capital and largest city is Lyksdal, whose population makes up just under half of the province's total. Other large cities include Stiven, Meerig, Vamlig, Bajreel, Wevel and Mendon.

History

Stanmer has historically been a dominant force in Vyvland, with its large population, good farmland and easy defence all helping it stay strong throughout the Middle Ages. King Eylav fi Paavyl consolidated this power in the mid-14th century by swiftly conquering the entire country in the aftermath of the Black Death, thus ensuring Stanmer's hegemony for centuries.

In the late 18th century, large coal deposits were found under the provincial capital, Lyksdal, and this prompted a massive growth in industrialisation and population for the province, with Lyksdal growing from 45,000 people in 1790 to 1,200,000 a century later. However, the de-industrialisation of Vyvland left its toll on the area, with western Lyksdal, Meeri and Vamli being some of the poorest areas in the country after the coal seams became unviable in the 1960s. This was exacerbated by the Vlud-based northern government ignoring Stanmer and Lyksdal in particular. These were the main causes of the 1967-8 Stanmer Unrest, which led to major political reform in the North, limiting the power of the monarchy and making the political process more free. Since reunification in 1983, Stanmer has prospered, with new high-tech industries opening around Lyksdal. However, urban and post-industrial deprivation is still a problem.

Geography

Stanmer is characterised by a broad low plain, with the River Stanmer running northwards through Lyksdal. It is also home to the largest lake in Vyvland, Lake Gensing, which is known for its alleged threaputic properties and is endorheic. Historically, Gensingbaad on the lake's shores was known as a refuge from pollution for more wealthy urban livers in Lyksdal.

The Oivi area is notable for being the only provincial exclave in Vyvland. Historically, the area was known as Smogglerlaan (Smuggler-land) due to the exchange of smuggled goods and refugees between North Vyvland and South Vyvland during partition, much of which went through the lightly-guarded county. Stanmer's north is more isolated, with the rugged Pee peninsula protruding from the north remaining the last area to speak the distinctive Stanmeran dialect.

Government

Much of Stanmer has been a hotbed of left-wing thought for centuries, and this is continued in the present, with Meeri having the only Communist-controlled municipal government in the country. As such, the Provincial Diet is controlled by a left-wing Socialist-Greens-United Left coalition, although the rural north tends more towards the Conservatives and Liberal Party.

Stanmer is also notable for its proliferation of small minority parties and independents at national elections; due to the Vyvlander electoral system, Stanmer is the easiest province for minority parties to win seats in. This is due to Stanmer's large seat allocation due to its large population; the province returns eighty members to the Parliament of Vyvland, and as such a party needs only one-eightieth of the vote to gain a seat in Stanmer, or sometimes less. This is known as the Sdaamroefekte ("Stanmer effect").