Northwest Commonwealth

The Northwest Commonwealth was one of the thirteen areas of the pre-War United States. Created in 1969, it was comprised of the former states of Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.

The commonwealth bordered the Southwest Commonwealth, the Northern Commonwealth, the Four States Commonwealth and the countries of Canada and the Soviet Union.

Former Alaska
Alaska was one of the major sites of fighting during the war with China, notably around the Anchorage Front Line. In 2059, the United States established a significant military force to protect its oil interests in Alaska, in light of the ever-dwindling oil reserves in the world, as well as increasing tensions with China. In the winter of 2066, the Americans' fears became reality as the Chinese military invaded Alaska and took over a significant portion of the land. Alaska became a war zone between the United States and China, furthering fears of nuclear apocalypse around the world. On January 10, 2077, the United States finally reclaimed Alaska from the Chinese. The war between the two remained intense, ultimately leading to the Great War on October 23rd of the same year.

The Brotherhood expanded and stopped through Alaska. They thought it was a great place to settle down due to the intact military infrastructure left over from the war, going so far as to move their headquarters to the region. They formed a dictatorial reign over their territory, shooting any mutants on sight, and enslaving the locals as canon fodder, or to work camps along the Alaskan Pipeline. They would eventually be overthrown by the Cause.

Former Washington
Unleashed viruses and irradiation have done strange things to the flora and fauna in the wastelands of Washington and northern Oregon. Blackened devastation is interspersed with wild, exotic, almost prehistoric vegetation and pockets of decaying urban ruins. Refugees from the major populations banded into smaller settlements and medieval-like townships. Isolated survivalists that are encountered remind one of Grizzly Adams. The Issaquah Nation controls the inland landscape.

Former Idaho
In 2281, the Great Khans could have abandoned the Mojave to try and rebuild their tribe in the wilderness of Idaho.

Former Oregon
Little of Oregon is seen in-game, although the southern parts of Oregon appear in Fallout 2. Oregon's cannibals roam around the region, searching for victims to kill and eat. There are a few settlements in the area, those being Klamath and Arroyo.

Arroyo was founded by the Vault Dweller alone with a number of residents from Vault 13 in 2167, turning into a small tribe. In 2242, the Chosen One, the grandchild of the Vault Dweller, went on a quest to find a G.E.C.K. to help their village which was suffering from drought and famine. During these events, the Enclave abducted the villagers of Arroyo for use in FEV experiments.

The Chosen One successfully rescued their fellow tribesmen alongside the rest of Vault 13's population (who had also been taken prisoner), destroying the Enclave's oil rig in the process. The Chosen One, the villagers, and the Vault 13 survivors all returned to Arroyo together. With the use of the G.E.C.K. recovered by the Chosen One, Arroyo prospered, evolving from a tribe to a full-fledged settlement. By 2281, the New California Republic held influence over Arroyo.

The Cause, a revolutionary band of survivalists that would eventually overthrow the Brotherhood of Steel in the Northwest, has its origins in Oregon.

Former Northern California
During the Great War, San Francisco was evidently hit hard by nuclear weapons. However, humanity has clung to life in and around the bay area. The Shi have a large presence around the San Francisco area in 2242, although there are varying claims for their fate beyond that year. The New California Republic sought to expand into northern California, influencing independent settlements. By 2281 they have a foothold in the area, as shown by the presence of Sac-Town and Redding.

The 80s would control the I-80 in Northern California, and could often be found Northeast of Sac-Town.

Major factions

 * Hubologists
 * New California Republic
 * The Shi

Appearances
Parts of the Northwest Commonwealth appear in Fallout 2. A simulation of Anchorage can be seen in the Fallout 3 add-on Operation: Anchorage, and parts of the Northwest Commonwealth, including Anchorage, and possibly other parts of Alaska were to appear in the canceled Fallout Extreme. Parts of the Northwest Commonwealth are also mentioned in Fallout, the Fallout 3 add-on Mothership Zeta, Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Honest Hearts, Fallout 4, in the Fallout 76 update Wild Appalachia, the Fallout Bible, and Van Buren. It was also to appear in Jason Mical's Fallout Pen and Paper d20, Project V13, and J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game.