Elwood City (Arthur)
Encyclopedia
Elwood City is a fictional city in the TV show Arthur
. The population of the city was revealed in episode 72 as 79,567.
was present at the founding and gave the dedication speech and so were prominent American businessmen Henry Ford
and J. P. Morgan
, who were partners of Katzenallenbogan. In the episode "On This Spot", it was said that in 1885, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, staring Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull came through Elwood City on the banks of Mill Creek while on tour. In an episode called "Elwood City Turns 100!" in the year 2003 the city celebrated its 100th anniversary.
, numerous parks, forests, an animal shelter, a newspaper office (The Elwood City Times), a bike shop, an ice cream shop, a fresh water lake, ponds and streams, a reservoir, a waterpark, a library (Elwood City Library), a bowling alley, many churches, a synagogue,a mosque, a pizza restaurant, a community theater, a soccer field, a car dealership (Crosswire Motors), a community garden, a veterinary office/hospital, a professional baseball stadium and team (Elwood City Grebes), a pet store, a glass shop, a YMCA
, diners, a community pool, a recycling center, fast food restaurants, industries, factories, and warehouses, a joke shop, a doll hospital, beauty salons, barber shops, and many other houses and stores. Arthur and the Read Family live at 562 Main Street.
Much like Springfield from The Simpsons
, the exact whereabouts of Arthur’s hometown have never been explicitly stated. Arthur's writers have given conflicting evidence regarding Elwood City's actual whereabouts. While Elwood City bears strong resemblance to the Boston
area (home of WGBH
), such as Waltham, Massachusetts
, there are references to Brown's hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania
in some episodes (For instance, Elwood City, like Erie, has a Mill Creek Mall). Various anthropomorphic animals populate the city itself. In some instances animals are shown both in anthropomorphic form as well as realistic animal form. For example, Arthur has a pet dog, Pal, and two friends who are dogs, Binky and Fern.
Other evidence that suggests that Elwood City is located in New England is because it is not a right to work state as suggested by Francine's dad when he said Buster had to be in a union to drive a sanitation truck. More evidence of a New England location, much like suburban Boston, Massachusetts, would be the portrayal of the fictional city's professional baseball team, the Elwood City Grebes, as a fictional representation of the real life Boston Red Sox
, referencing baseball lore such as The Curse of the Bambino and vaguely, the rivalry between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees
, by having the Grebes' World Championship (reference to World Series) opponent being the Crown City Kings, with Crown City, a large metropolis featured in a few episodes, being apparently a representation of New York City
, and the Crown City Kings being a representation of the New York Yankees
. In one episode, Arthur's family drives to Washington, D.C.
, only taking a few hours. In Arthur's Birthday, Arthur and his classmates indicate that Elwood City is very far from Ohio, where Arthur's relatives live. In another episode, Arthur and the Brain (Alan) visit the Exploratorium, which is located in San Francisco, though this does not mean that they didn't visit a fictional Exploratorium.
There are, however, various references throughout the series to a Canadian location. One of those references is in "The Good, the Bad, and the Binky", a five dollar bill given to Binky is blue and a twenty given to him is green (Though that might be a simple cartoonist shortcut to show that it is a different kind of bill), characteristics of Canadian paper money. The show is also recorded in Montreal
, Quebec
, which also contributes to the possibility of Elwood City being in Canada. However, this is refuted by many other factors, such as the Presidents bearing resemblance to Bill Clinton
and George W. Bush
, and that D.W (In Episode 5, "D.W the copycat") states that they are in America
.
The above lends to maybe Arthur's Elwood City is in Delaware or Central PA like Harrisburg, Aruther's family drove to Washington, DC while they Flew to NYC. Leading to the conclusion they are closer to Washington, DC than New York City. Elwood City could be referring to a town in Maryland called Hunt Valley. Again Washington, DC would be a quick weekend trip, while New York City would be someplace you fly to. Also in Baltimore has an impressive Science Museum, many schools takes trips there hence the Exploratorium. Also Baltimore City is known for trains (which could be Crown City).
On the other hand, there is some evidence that Elwood City is located in West Virginia
. The strongest candidate or this is in the episode "The Blackout", the DJ Dr Jake, gave the radio call sign
as "WELD
", which refers to two radio stations in West Virginia.
Arthur (TV series)
Arthur is an American/Canadian animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for the Public Broadcasting Service...
. The population of the city was revealed in episode 72 as 79,567.
History
Elwood City was founded in 1903 by Jacob Katzenallenbogan although he had originally intended the town to be called "Elmwood" but someone misspelled it and the corrupted name stuck. Then the U.S. President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
was present at the founding and gave the dedication speech and so were prominent American businessmen Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
and J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan
John Pierpont Morgan was an American financier, banker and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time. In 1892 Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric...
, who were partners of Katzenallenbogan. In the episode "On This Spot", it was said that in 1885, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, staring Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull came through Elwood City on the banks of Mill Creek while on tour. In an episode called "Elwood City Turns 100!" in the year 2003 the city celebrated its 100th anniversary.
General Information
Elwood City is a large city that has a soda shop (Sugar Bowl, located on the corner of Maple St. and Elm St.), a shopping mall (Mill Creek Mall), a movie theater (Loring Cinema), 15 schools (including a preschool and Lakewood Elementary School where Arthur and his friends go), a science museum, a fire department with fire stations, a police department, a hospital, a city hall, doctors offices, a dump, a planetariumPlanetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
, numerous parks, forests, an animal shelter, a newspaper office (The Elwood City Times), a bike shop, an ice cream shop, a fresh water lake, ponds and streams, a reservoir, a waterpark, a library (Elwood City Library), a bowling alley, many churches, a synagogue,a mosque, a pizza restaurant, a community theater, a soccer field, a car dealership (Crosswire Motors), a community garden, a veterinary office/hospital, a professional baseball stadium and team (Elwood City Grebes), a pet store, a glass shop, a YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, diners, a community pool, a recycling center, fast food restaurants, industries, factories, and warehouses, a joke shop, a doll hospital, beauty salons, barber shops, and many other houses and stores. Arthur and the Read Family live at 562 Main Street.
Much like Springfield from The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, the exact whereabouts of Arthur’s hometown have never been explicitly stated. Arthur's writers have given conflicting evidence regarding Elwood City's actual whereabouts. While Elwood City bears strong resemblance to the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area (home of WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
), such as Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
, there are references to Brown's hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
in some episodes (For instance, Elwood City, like Erie, has a Mill Creek Mall). Various anthropomorphic animals populate the city itself. In some instances animals are shown both in anthropomorphic form as well as realistic animal form. For example, Arthur has a pet dog, Pal, and two friends who are dogs, Binky and Fern.
Other evidence that suggests that Elwood City is located in New England is because it is not a right to work state as suggested by Francine's dad when he said Buster had to be in a union to drive a sanitation truck. More evidence of a New England location, much like suburban Boston, Massachusetts, would be the portrayal of the fictional city's professional baseball team, the Elwood City Grebes, as a fictional representation of the real life Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, referencing baseball lore such as The Curse of the Bambino and vaguely, the rivalry between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, by having the Grebes' World Championship (reference to World Series) opponent being the Crown City Kings, with Crown City, a large metropolis featured in a few episodes, being apparently a representation of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the Crown City Kings being a representation of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. In one episode, Arthur's family drives to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, only taking a few hours. In Arthur's Birthday, Arthur and his classmates indicate that Elwood City is very far from Ohio, where Arthur's relatives live. In another episode, Arthur and the Brain (Alan) visit the Exploratorium, which is located in San Francisco, though this does not mean that they didn't visit a fictional Exploratorium.
There are, however, various references throughout the series to a Canadian location. One of those references is in "The Good, the Bad, and the Binky", a five dollar bill given to Binky is blue and a twenty given to him is green (Though that might be a simple cartoonist shortcut to show that it is a different kind of bill), characteristics of Canadian paper money. The show is also recorded in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, which also contributes to the possibility of Elwood City being in Canada. However, this is refuted by many other factors, such as the Presidents bearing resemblance to Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, and that D.W (In Episode 5, "D.W the copycat") states that they are in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The above lends to maybe Arthur's Elwood City is in Delaware or Central PA like Harrisburg, Aruther's family drove to Washington, DC while they Flew to NYC. Leading to the conclusion they are closer to Washington, DC than New York City. Elwood City could be referring to a town in Maryland called Hunt Valley. Again Washington, DC would be a quick weekend trip, while New York City would be someplace you fly to. Also in Baltimore has an impressive Science Museum, many schools takes trips there hence the Exploratorium. Also Baltimore City is known for trains (which could be Crown City).
On the other hand, there is some evidence that Elwood City is located in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. The strongest candidate or this is in the episode "The Blackout", the DJ Dr Jake, gave the radio call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
as "WELD
WELD
WELD can refer to:* WELD , a radio station broadcasting at 690 kHz on the AM band, licensed to Fisher, West Virginia* WELD-FM, a radio station broadcasting at 101.7 MHz on the FM band, licensed to Moorefield, West Virginia...
", which refers to two radio stations in West Virginia.