I’d go with something closer to the center of the country.
Maybe the Kansas/Colorado/Nebraska corner, or the tip of the Oklahoma panhandle?
Location chosen to be marginally more defensible, and more to the point, to be in “flyover” country, in the hopes that people who hate ordinary Americans stay the heck out of government!
(Wouldn’t Atlanta be “peachy”, with Philly being more “cheese steaky”?)...
“Location chosen to be marginally more defensible, and more to the point, to be in “flyover” country, in the hopes that people who hate ordinary Americans stay the heck out of government!”
All that would do would be spread the disease. Best take something with history behind it that’s already infected with Beltway-itis, urban blight and high crime, and leave those good ordinary Americans in “flyover country” in peace. Philadelphia was where the Declaration of Independence was signed, where Ben Franklin had his print shop, and it also served as the Capitol before Washington DC was selected. It’s where it all began. Besides, Harry Turtledove makes it into the working Capitol during times of war with the CSA. He’s an awful writer, but an ok historian, so I follow his suggestion. But you’re right. Cheese Steaky it is.