Fictional TV Hometowns

Credit: Getty Images; Ron Tom/ABC Family via Getty Images; Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection; ABC/RON TOM

Fictional TV Hometowns

If only they really existed! Sometimes a TV show’s setting becomes just another character in the grand scheme of the story. In fact, fictional hometowns often feel like a little slice of home to fans, making it all the sweeter when they get to see them again in future iterations of the series. As was the case with Gilmore Girls, which returned to Stars Hollow in 2016 for the four-part Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. “It was such a whirlwind, from the moment we walked in to pitch it, because we had a clock ticking,” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino told Vogue in December 2016. “If we were going to [do it], we had to do it in a certain time frame because it was the only time the [Warner Bros.] back lot was available to us, which was Stars Hollow. So there was no time to be slow. It was more like, ‘If we’re going to do this, we need to do this now! Start doing costumes; I don’t care what they look like!’ And then the shooting was so intense, and then we put them together and we feel like we’ve been living with these things that we really couldn’t talk about. It’s quite a relief now that it’s out there and that people are seeing them, and that they actually exist and it’s not just two crazy people walking around saying, ‘No, we really did this.’ It was a blast.” As executive producer Daniel Palladino expressed to Collider in November 2016, “Everyone is going to be very happy with the world. It’s the Gilmores. It’s Stars Hollow in all of its nutty glory. It’s a big, wide canvas.” [jwplayer eTtrv57w-l3ahXupL] However, some TV hometowns don’t give viewers the same warm, fuzzy feeling. Riverdale, for one, elicits fear not only in its fans but also from its residents, thanks in large part to the town’s high murder rate and unlimited creep factor. “It may not seem like it, but I genuinely love these characters and I love this quartet. I want them to be OK,” creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa told Us Weekly in July 2019. “It feels like I put them through the wringer, and I do, but there’s a part of me that always thinks that they’ll survive, they’ll be OK, they’ll win.” Scroll down to check out some fan-favorite fictional hometowns from the small screen, including Dawson’s Creek’s Capeside, Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow and more!

Credit: Getty Images; Ron Tom/ABC Family via Getty Images; Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection; ABC/RON TOM

Fictional TV Hometowns

If only they really existed! Sometimes a TV show’s setting becomes just another character in the grand scheme of the story. In fact, fictional hometowns often feel like a little slice of home to fans, making it all the sweeter when they get to see them again in future iterations of the series. As was the case with Gilmore Girls, which returned to Stars Hollow in 2016 for the four-part Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. “It was such a whirlwind, from the moment we walked in to pitch it, because we had a clock ticking,” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino told Vogue in December 2016. “If we were going to [do it], we had to do it in a certain time frame because it was the only time the [Warner Bros.] back lot was available to us, which was Stars Hollow. So there was no time to be slow. It was more like, ‘If we’re going to do this, we need to do this now! Start doing costumes; I don’t care what they look like!’ And then the shooting was so intense, and then we put them together and we feel like we’ve been living with these things that we really couldn’t talk about. It’s quite a relief now that it’s out there and that people are seeing them, and that they actually exist and it’s not just two crazy people walking around saying, ‘No, we really did this.’ It was a blast.” As executive producer Daniel Palladino expressed to Collider in November 2016, “Everyone is going to be very happy with the world. It’s the Gilmores. It’s Stars Hollow in all of its nutty glory. It’s a big, wide canvas.” [jwplayer eTtrv57w-l3ahXupL] However, some TV hometowns don’t give viewers the same warm, fuzzy feeling. Riverdale, for one, elicits fear not only in its fans but also from its residents, thanks in large part to the town’s high murder rate and unlimited creep factor. “It may not seem like it, but I genuinely love these characters and I love this quartet. I want them to be OK,” creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa told Us Weekly in July 2019. “It feels like I put them through the wringer, and I do, but there’s a part of me that always thinks that they’ll survive, they’ll be OK, they’ll win.” Scroll down to check out some fan-favorite fictional hometowns from the small screen, including Dawson’s Creek’s Capeside, Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow and more!

Credit: Getty Images

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Town: Sunnydale

Notable Residents: Buffy Summers, Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Rupert Giles, Spike, Angel

The supernatural are welcome! Sunnydale High School and its library is the center of this California town. Under its normal exterior, however, lies "Hellmouth," the gateway to demon realms. When not studying, students (preferably with their daggers on hand) like to hang out at The Bronze nightclub.

Credit: Getty Images

Dawson's Creek

Town: Capeside

Notable Residents: Dawson Leery, Joey Potter, Pacey Witter, Jen Lindley, Andie McPhee, Jack McPhee

A wonderful place to grow up! The Massachusetts town of Capeside, established in 1815, has beautiful sceneries, annual Spring Regatta boat races and delicious food at The Icehouse restaurant. Teens who attend Capeside High School often canoe and rent movies at the local store. Residents have also taken advantage of buying building walls temporarily so their high school sweethearts can paint.

Credit: Ron Tom/ABC via Getty Images

Desperate Housewives

Town: Fairview

Notable Residents: Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, Bree Van de Kamp, Gabrielle Solis

Mysteries on Wisteria Lane! Though beautiful faces and homes, the housewives in Fairview tend to carry dark secrets, face murder and illnesses, and have extramarital affairs behind closed doors. Gossip and weekly card games are also considered leisure activities.

Credit: Warner Bros./Getty Images

Everwood

Town: Everwood

Notable Residents: Ephram Brown, Dr. Andy Brown, Amy Abbott, Bright Abbott, Hannah Rogers, Dr. Harold Abbott

The cozy yet chilly Colorado town is the perfect spot for a family getaway. Locals often brush shoulders with familiar faces and have not one, but two doctor offices to choose from! Teens fill their time with house parties, family gatherings and carnivals (ferris wheel, anyone!?), and are all around good kids.

Credit: JUSTIN STEPHENS / FOX

Gotham

Town: Gotham

Notable Residents: James Gordon, Bruce Wayne, Harvey Bullock, Oswald Cobblepot, Selina Kyle, Edward Nygma, Alfred Pennyworth, Fish Mooney

Villains, criminal stoppers and plenty of dark bars to get into trouble. The crime rate is high, but the Gotham City Police Department and Detective James Gordon serve to protect locals and take down the mobsters who live in the community.

Credit: Warner Bros/Courtesy of Everett Collection

Gilmore Girls

Town: Stars Hollow

Notable Residents: Lorelai Gilmore, Rory Gilmore, Sookie St. James, Luke Danes, Dean Forester, Jess Mariano, Lane Kim

Where you lead, they will follow! In this small town in Connecticut, everyone knows your name — and your business! It was founded in 1779 and has a town square with a gazebo perfect for annual festivals. Some favorite stops include Miss Patty's dance studio, Doose's Market, Kim's Antiques and the Dragonfly Inn. Don't forget to start off your day with a cup of coffee.

Credit: THE CW

Hart of Dixie

Town: Bluebell

Notable Residents: Dr. Zoe Hart, Wade Kinsella, George Tucker, Lemon Breeland, Lavon Hayes, Annabeth Nass, Dr. Brick Breeland

Y'all, come on by! The Alabama community is packed with bubbly personalities, including a fast-talking NYC newbie, a bad boy bartender, a hot sophisticated lawyer, and has a medical practice worth fighting over. The Rammer Jammer restaurant and bar is fun for first dates, and The Belles (tip-top ladies from town) organize parades and festivals year round.

Credit: Warner Bros./Getty Images

One Tree Hill

Town: Tree Hill

Notable Residents: Lucas Scott, Nathan Scott, Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer, Haley James Scott, Dan Scott

Drama, friendship and basketball! The North Carolina locals can all be found in one place every Friday night: cheering on the Tree Hill High Ravens basketball team! Guests just passing through can have some basketball fun of their own at the Rivercourt and enjoy live entertainment at Karen's Cafe and TRIC nightclub. 

Credit: Trae Patton/NBC

Parks and Recreation

Town: Pawnee

Notable Residents: Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, Andy Dwyer, Tom Haverford, April Ludgate, Jerry Gergich, Donna Meagle, Ben Wyatt

Get your perky spirit on! The Pawnee, Indiana, parks department makes sure that there's plenty of activities to do. Some of its historical landmarks include a community theater, the Jurassic Fork restaurant and the Boone Bread Factory. The town's mascot is a miniature horse named Li'l Sebastian, and it has an annual Harvest Festival.

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Pretty Little Liars

Town: Rosewood

Notable Residents: Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, Spencer Hastings, Emily Fields

Got a secret? Can you keep it? The eerie Pennsylvania town is chock-full of spooky places — and has a murderer on the loose. When some of its locals aren't trying to track down "A," you can find them at Radley Sanitarium, The Brew, April Rose Antiques, Apple Rose Grille, Rosewood Mall or the Shady Pines Cemetery.

Credit: Sergei Bachlakov/Warner Bros./Getty Images

Smallville

Town: Smallville

Notable Residents: Clark Kent, Chloe Sullivan, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lionel Luthor, Lois Lane

Superman's Kansas hometown is filled with superheroes and villains. The otherwise quiet community usually starts off their 9-to-5 workday by reading the Daily Planet newspaper. Their supernatural neighbors, meanwhile, can be found at the Watchtower, Kent Farm, the Fortress of Solitude and Krypton.

Credit: Courtesy of MTV

Teen Wolf

Town: Beacon Hills

Notable Residents: Scott McCall, Stiles Stilinski, Derek Hale, Lydia Martin

A lot of weird things happen in this mysterious California town, which often involve students from Beacon Hills High. The population of nearly 30,000 reside in a gorgeous valley with plenty of wilderness areas — and werewolves.

Credit: Bob D'Amico / ABC via Getty Images

Suburgatory

Town: Chatswin

Notable Residents: Tessa Altman, George Altman, Dallas Royce, Dalia Royce, Lisa Shay, Sheila Shay 

"Pleasant Nightmare"! The preppy suburban town is located in New York's Westchester County. The Stepford Wives-esque area is filled with friendly neighbors who most likely will welcome you to the neighborhood with homemade apple pie.

Credit: Art Streiber/The CW

The Vampire Diaries

Town: Mystic Falls

Notable Residents: Elena Gilbert, Stefan Salvatore, Damon Salvatore, Jeremy Gilbert, Caroline Forbes, Bonnie Bennett, Matt Donovan, Tyler Lockwood, Alaric Saltzman

Enter if you dare! Some blood-sucking families, such as the Salvatore brothers Stefan and Damon, have lived in the Virginia town for generations. There's beautiful historic homes like the Lockwood mansion and Salvatore Boarding House, and guests are encouraged to drop by the Mystic Grill for some grub.

Credit: John P. Johnson/HBO

True Blood

Town: Bon Temps

Notable Residents: Sookie Stackhouse, Bill Compton, Jason Stackhouse, Sam Merlotte, Tara Thornton, Andy Bellefleur, Lafayette Reynolds, Arlene Fowler, Eric Northman

The fangs are coming out to play. Anyone who's anyone drops by Bellefleur's Bar and Grill during their Louisiana stay. Other eye-catching (scary) sights include Maryann's Mansion, the rickety Compton house and the Fangtasia Dungeon.

Credit: Ron Jaffe/Getty Images

Veronica Mars

Town: Neptune

Notable Residents: Veronica Mars, Logan Echolls, Keith Mars, Stosh "Piz" Piznarski, Wallace Fennel, Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie

Have a problem? Just call Veronica Mars! The town between San Diego and L.A. is filled with snobby people like the rich "09ers," but there's also friendly high school students like Mars. As she once said: "Either your parents are millionaires or your parents work for millionaires."

Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC via Getty Images

Once Upon a Time

Town: Storybrooke

Notable Residents: Mary Margaret Blanchard, Emma Swan, Regina Mills, David Nolan, Henry Mills, Mr. Gold

Maine's very own fantasyland! Storybrooke's residents are characters from various fairy tales that have been robbed of their memories. While trying to break the unfortunate curse, they often visit Granny's Diner, Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer, Storybrooke Library and The Rabbit Hole.

Credit: Bettina Strauss/Netflix

Riverdale

Town: Riverdale

Notable Residents: Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, Cheryl Blossom

Killer! Riverdale may seem like a sleepy small town, but murder, deception and downright evil are at its core, keeping things interesting for its teen residents.

Credit: Pop TV

Schitt’s Creek

Town: Schitt’s Creek

Notable Residents: Johnny Rose, Moira Rose, David Rose, Alexis Rose, Stevie Budd, Roland Schitt, Jocelyn Schitt, Patrick Brewer

The Rose family purchase Schitt’s Creek as a joke but end up living there — in a motel! — for years after losing their fortune. Eventually the town becomes their home, as quirky as it is.

Credit: Netflix

Stranger Things

Town: Hawkins

Notable Residents: Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Will Byers, Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathan Byers, Steve Harrington, Karen Wheeler

The ‘80s never seemed so creepy. Paranormal and supernatural experiments lead to strange occurrences in Hawkins, including a portal to an alternate dimension.