Grafton

Grafton is a location in Fallout 76.

Background
Grafton's history stretches back to the early European settlement at the confluence of Three Fork Creek and the Tygart Valley River. Relatively small in the first decades of its existence, Grafton was put on the map by the expansion of the Northwestern Turnpike and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company in the first half of the 19th century, which created the first trans-Appalachian railroad. A booming railroad town emerged at the confluence and was chartered on March 15, 1856, as Grafton Junction. As a railroad junction, the city was a strategic point for both sides of the American Civil War. Although the town was quickly secured by the Union, Confederate raiders frequently attacked the railway terminal to disrupt shipping and troop movements. The town survived the war and prospered, developing into a major retail and industrial center for north-central West Virginia, with its economy steadily expanding including the creation of Grafton Dam and the steady expansion of tourist sectors in the wilds around Grafton.

In the 21st century, the robust mixed economy was joined by Grafton Steel, one of the largest mills in the region. Selected as a government preferred war contractor, the biggest employer in the valley was suddenly given free reign to crush labor laws and ignore environmental regulations. By 2077, this resulted in rampant devastation of the ecosystem, accelerated by dumping toxic sludge directly into the waterways, and mounting numbers of injuries and death among the workers. Ignored by the company's owners, most importantly CEO Arthur Wood, the situation deteriorated steadily. By June, the situation was so bad that the only viable option going forward was to shut the mill down, but Governor Evans refused to even entertain the notion - even if it meant strikes.

The company tried the usual heavy-handed tactics: Intimidation and sacking troublesome workers, like Otis Pike. The strikes finally hit in September 2077, following on a string of sabotage attempts at the mill. The striking workers shut down the mill. Sudden loss of steel production from the city resulted in Sugar Grove launching a surveillance operation, to root out suspected communists and saboteurs responsible for damage to what was a vital war asset.

As with the rest of Appalachia, automation did not spare the city itself, with a mainframe installed. Originally meant to act as the mayor's assistant, when the Great War came and the society collapsed, it took over management duties, running the town without human help. Unfortunately, it grew progressively more demented, proportionately to the deteriorating state of the valley - now known only as the Toxic Valley to the survivors.

Points of interest

 * Located on the southern edge of the Toxic Valley, Grafton is overran with mutants, with the Responders long gone. Traces of their presence still remain, with a trading post and Vendor Bot Greg still manning the location on the northwestern edge of the town, in an old museum facing Main Street.
 * The city hall is located at the Beech Street and Main Street crossing next to the trading post, identifiable due to its red and white brick facade. The automated mayor is upstairs, having promoted and re-elected itself ever since the original mayor's demise.
 * The central part of town is dominated by tenements with a number of derelict shops on the ground floor. The Grafton police station is located on the eastern side of the area, along with a derelict, sealed church on the southwestern corner.
 * The Grafton High School is located on the eastern side of the town, overlooking the polluted river. There's a tinker's station on the eastern side.
 * The Grafton Station sits on the western edge of town, past a large train yard with a concrete storage building and warehouse that contain a chem station and a weapons workbench respectively.
 * On the northern shore of the river lies the small local gas station and another polling tent.

Notable loot

 * Darius Angler's Manifesto, part 1: In Angler's home, to the northwest of Grafton.
 * Ghoul note: Pinned to the church door.
 * Overseer's Log - Grafton: In Overseer's cache, upstairs in the city hall.
 * Camp Tomahawk Postcard: Inside Otis Pike's house, in row of southern houses - cannot be picked up.
 * Notice of Termination: Inside Otis Pike's house, in row of southern houses - cannot be picked up.
 * Dynamic spawns

Appearances
Grafton appears in Fallout 76.