Summary

• The survivors in The Walking Dead progress from basic shelters to elaborate, stable communities in the post-apocalyptic world.
• Different towns like Alexandria, The Bricks, Oceanside, and more emerge as key locations where survivors rebuild society.
• Rivalries among communities for resources, land, and prominence drive the narrative forward after a decade of the outbreak.

There were several towns in The Walking Dead by the time the show concluded, with the survivors of the zombie apocalypse slowly but surely on their way to rebuilding some semblance of the society they'd lost. When The Walking Dead began, the living huddled together in the wild, taking whatever shelter they can find in the hope that rescue will come. The Walking Dead's early seasons play out mostly on the road. However, as the survivors adapt to their new, violent surroundings, proper communities begin to emerge. Initially, these settlements were rudimentary dwellings and they quickly fell.

As the timeline of The Walking Dead progressed, the communities became more homely, elaborate, and stable. The Walking Dead is less about groups of survivors fighting in the woods and more about rival communities going to war for resources, land, and prominence. Over a decade removed from the beginning of the outbreak, The Walking Dead main series ended, and spinoffs continue the story — all with new communities. This includes major ones in New York City and Paris, and, of course, the remnants of the towns in The Walking Dead's main series.

Alexandria Safe-Zone

Located in Alexandria, Virginia

The main settlement of The Walking Dead throughout much of the series is Alexandria, which is located in Virginia and was built before the outbreak as a modern housing settlement. After adding some iron fencing, Alexandria became the perfect place to shelter when the apocalypse began, with access to water, fertile land, and solar power. Initially under the control of Deanna Monroe, the people of Alexandria were naive to the reality outside their walls, and Rick Grimes promptly took charge after Deanna's death.

Following Rick's disappearance, Alexandria fell under the control of a democratic ruling council and is now allied with several other local settlements. Alexandria bounced back from numerous hordes and invasions and, despite being abandoned due to a brush with the Whisperers, remains standing firm. After the end of The Walking Dead, Aaron and Father Gabriel lead the Alexandria Safe-Zone and have an alliance with the Commonwealth.

The Bricks

Located In New Jersey Or New York

Alexandria's closest ally, also situated in Virginia, was Hilltop, which later became The Bricks. Hilltop was originally a tourist attraction based around a mansion, but the old-school facilities provided an excellent foundation for civilized life once the zombie apocalypse hit, with a blacksmith's forge for making weapons and plenty of room for housing outside the main residence. Meanwhile, the "hill" of Hilltop offered a key strategic advantage against the undead and would-be attackers. With its abundant resources, Hilltop remained a soft target until an allegiance with Alexandria prompted a leadership change.

Corrupt and cowardly, Gregory first led Hilltop until Maggie assumed control. However, after Maggie left, the top job became a poisoned chalice, with Jesus and Tara dying in rapid succession. The Whisperers burned down Hilltop, but most of its people escaped. Maggie returned and helped Hilltop residents relocate to a new location called The Bricks, which is located in either New York or New Jersey. It remains mostly a farming settlement with a school for the children, and Maggie serves as the leader.

Oceanside

Located On The Coast Of Virginia

One of the allies that Rick's people found when he ran Alexandria was in the all-female Oceanside. Easily the smallest of the ed settlements, Oceanside was previously a beach camping destination, but the safe zone now offers fishing spots and weapon stashes instead. Like Alexandria, Oceanside was tactically abandoned during the Whisperer War, but remained in one piece, ready for its people to return in The Walking Dead's final season. Oceanside was initially resistant to outsiders and took some convincing before working with Alexandria.

Oceanside remains a part of the coalition that trades goods and services with the Commonwealth, Alexandria, and The Bricks.

The death of the original leader, Natania, greased the wheels, with command transferring to her granddaughter, Cyndie, along with Rachel Ward. During the war with the Commonwealth, it was Rachel who led a rebellion and helped liberate her community once again. Oceanside remains a part of the coalition that trades goods and services with the Commonwealth, Alexandria, and The Bricks.

The Commonwealth

Located In Ohio

The Commonwealth and Alexandria were in for some time thanks to Eugene. However, this ended up leading to the biggest and most dangerous war the survivors of The Walking Dead ever experienced. Situated in Ohio, the Commonwealth had 50,000 survivors and boasted superior resources and a well-drilled army. The Commonwealth was run by a Governor named Pamela Milton, and it includes shops, restaurants, and event stadiums. However, it also boasted inequality and corruption.

When the Commonwealth attempted a military takeover of Alexandria, Oceanside, and the Hilltop, it came time for the people to fight back. Thanks to Maggie, Negan, and more, they overthrew Pamela and took over the city. After the war, the people elected Ezekiel as the new governor, and he implemented a democratic government and more equality between the people. They are now trading with other communities, including the Civic Republic of Philadelphia.

The Civic Republic Of Philadelphia

Located In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Civic Republic was the biggest mystery in the entire Walking Dead franchise, a shadowy, clandestine, overarching organization working to restore civilization. However, they quickly showed that, while they had 250,000 residents strong, they were run by evil people, as evident when they killed everyone in a school town in The World Beyond. However, everything was cleared up in the Rick and Michonne series, The Ones Who Live. The Civic Republic is located in Philadelphia, and while they claim to want to connect to other societies, their goal is genocide of all but them.

The Civic Republic opened up its doors to let others in and allow citizens to leave and finally started working to trade with other communities, including the Commonwealth.

However, the goal of genocide was part of the plans of a sect of the upper government of the Civic Republic, and not of its people or other of the governing council. When Rick and Michonne single-handedly took down the entire renegade military group that was killing other communities, the government in the Civic Republic opened up its doors to let others in and allow citizens to leave and finally started working to trade with other communities, including the Commonwealth.

MADRE

A Community That Is Spread Across The United States

The main mystery of Fear the Walking Dead resulted in the introduction of a location known as PADRE, which was run by evil people and was located in Georgia. This used to be an old island fort, and this was a safe-zone that the United States government set up with a plethora of resources to help feed people and keep them safe. However, it ended up failing with the dead overran it, and soon the corrupt forces chose to keep these resources away from communities and let everyone else die, while also abducting children and programming them to be soldiers.

By the end of Fear the Walking Dead, Madison Clark took over PADRE and helped reunite families whose children were stolen, and she began turning it into what it was meant to be — a community that helped supply food and supplies to other communities. Madison ended up seemingly sacrificing her own life to protect the community and other people took up her cause. The survivors renamed it MADRE and continued the mission that Madison started, helping people all across the United States.

Portland

Located In Portland, Oregon

Portland was part of the Alliance of the Three, alongside the Civic Republic of Philadelphia and Omaha, Nebraska. However, what they didn't know was that certain people in the government of the Civic Republic didn't want allies. The Civic Republic had already used poison gas to destroy Omaha and committed genocide on that entire community before going to the Campus Community and killing everyone there as well. Portland was next on the list, and the Civic Republic planned to use poison gas to destroy that town in The Walking Dead as well.

Almost nothing is known about Portland, other than the fact that they are a safe-zone, and they believed they had protection from the Civic Republic of Philadelphia.

Almost nothing is known about Portland, other than the fact that they are a safe-zone, and they believed they had protection from the Civic Republic of Philadelphia. The Civic Republic tried to destroy Portland once, but Jennifer Mallock stopped them in World Beyond. Portland never knew how close they were to dying. Two years later, another attempt was made, and this time, Rick and Michonne stopped it and shut down the corruption in the Civic Republic's government. This time, Portland learned of the attempt, and the overthrown government, and now they are a trading ally with them.

New Babylon

Located In Virginia

New Babylon is located in Virginia, and it seems to be the capital of the New Babylon Federation, which includes marshals who hunt down and kill fugitives. This community appeared in The Walking Dead: Dead City and is where Marshal Perlie Armstrong works. He is the Marshal who sets out to kill Negan, but he ends up realizing that not everything is as it seems. When he returns home to what he calls a small town with tree-lined streets and families who care for each other, he looks uncomfortable at the city's choice to hang people as a form of punishment.

Not much is known about New Babylon, and it seems like it will play a bigger role in The Walking Dead: Dead City. When it comes to towns in The Walking Dead, this one seems to have a law enforcement group protecting it and surrounding communities, but it also seems to have dystopian rules and seems like the polar opposite of what The Commonwealth and the Civic Republic of Philadelphia turned into. There is no telling how big the New Babylon Federation actually is.

Manhattan Island

Located In New York

When it comes to the towns in The Walking Dead, Manhattan is not so much a community, but a series of communities — much like it is in real life. These groups include the Burazi, a group of survivors led by The Croat, while also allied with a mysterious villain known as The Dama. This is the group that kidnapped Herschel Rhee and then later traded him for Negan, as The Croat was once part of The Saviors when Negan ran that group. However, this is not the only community in Manhattan.

Most of the organized Tribespeople were killed by the Burazi, but there are certainly more in hiding in Manhattan.

The Manhattan Tribespeople also have various hideouts around the city. They use these hideouts not to hide from the zombies, but to hide from the Burazi, who are more dangerous than the walking dead. The Tribespeople just refer to the survivors of New York, who live as nomads to stay alive while the Burazi try to assume control, while also avoiding zombies and attempting to survive. Most of the organized Tribespeople were killed by the Burazi, but there are certainly more in hiding in Manhattan.

The Union Of Hope

Located In Paris,

A group of human traffickers kidnapped Daryl Dixon and tried to transport him to Europe. He escaped and ended up in Paris, , where he ended up in the first of the new towns in The Walking Dead outside of the United States. This community was called the Union of Hope. The Union of Hope is a large religious network of groups that believe that the Messiah will cure the zombie virus. While Daryl wasn't interested and just wanted to get back home, he gets sucked in and is asked to help transport the boy they believe is the Messiah to safety.

The main group that Daryl encounters are the Nuns, who are followers of the Union of Hope. They are who finally decide Daryl is who needs to accompany the boy, named Laurent, and send him on his way to hopefully find a way to save the world. The actual leader of the Union of Hope has yet to be introduced on The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, but if it follows the same trend as the main show, this group might not be as pure as one might hope.

Other Communities In

Located In

Just like in the United States, has several smaller communities that have survivors huddled together for safety in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Daryl meets up with a community that Fallou is part of, and they help him in his journey with Laurent. They are good fighters and seem like loyal and trustworthy people. Fallou helps Daryl escape and all that fans learn about this community is that they are aligned with the Union of Hope - but unlike the nuns, they are much better equipped to fight and defend their home from attackers.

The Nest is where Daryl was tasked with delivering Laurent. This is an outpost in and they are also a part of the Union of Hope - the central hub for the network of communities. When Daryl reaches The Nest, he also realizes they are prepared for counterattacks and they have trained people there who can handle and shoot guns, and are a legitimate force to be reckoned with.

Pouvoir du Vivant Territories

Located In Paris,

The Pouvoir du Vivant (meaning Power of the Living) is a political group that controls most of Paris, . It was established during the outbreak and adopted paramilitary roles to gain power and control over the country. There are various communities and groups around Paris that answers to the Pouvoir du Vivant, so this is like the Civic Republic of Philadelphia, but one that seems to have no intentions other than holding power and controlling others at all costs. They are the main villains in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

The leader of the Pouvoir du Vivant is a woman named Genet, and she is part of the group that kidnaps and traffics Americans, bringing them to Paris to experiment on as they seek to find a cure. They also see the young Messiah Laurent as a threat and send out a team led by Codron to stop them and kill Daryl once and for all. Like The Commonwealth, Codron's group is a paramilitary unit that serves to force everyone to bow down to this new Walking Dead villainous community.