Vanfontein

The Commonwealth of the Vanfontein Islands is a country located in the [?] Ocean off of the coast of the continent of Laurentia. The Vanfontein Islands were first mapped by Schweisserland explorers in 1722 by Hanck van Fontein. The islands were controlled by Schweisserland until 1859, when they were purchased by Laurentia, when the island had a population of a little over 5,000 residents, most of whom lived in the trading post of Vanfontein (founded 1724). Today, the islands have a population of 108,573 (2030), with an average population density of 21.7 p/km2. The Vanfontein Islands became a state in 1912, becoming the State of Vanfontein. On March 4th, 2031, an independence referendum turned out with 66% for independence, Vanfontein will become an independent nation on May 1st, 2031 and will change its name to The Commonwealth of the Vanfontein Islands.

History
The Native Laurentian presence on Vanfontein has existed since 11,000 BCE, however the population has not been estimated to be more than 5,000 Native Laurentians at any point in its native history. The Native Laurentians that lived here practiced native religions, built totem poles, and hunted for salmon which was their primary food source. In August of 1722, Schweisserland explorer Hanck van Fontein had discovered and mapped the islands. They were promptly named after him (they were referred to as the Van Fontein Islands until Laurentian colonization). The Schweisserland explorers returned in the Spring of 1724, mapping out Fountain Bay and founding the settlement of Poort Oranje, which is located near Modern-Day Vanfontein. In March of 1859, Laurentia purchased the islands from Schweisserland, some of the ~5,000 Schweisserland settlers moved back to their homeland, while most stayed. The 1860 Census records the total island population at 7,520. Many Schweisserland immigrants to Laurentia settled in the Vanfontein Islands, mainly due to the amount of ethnic Schweisserlanders there and due to the abundance of good forestry land. In 1916, the capital city of Poort Oranje's name was changed to Bay City, a name which stuck until 1978 when the name was changed to Vanfontein. In March of 2031, the islands voted to leave Laurentia and become an independent nation 66%-34%. The Islands will become their own nation on May 1st.

Geography
The Vanfontein Islands are exactly 5,000 km2 in size and are characterized by dense forests and rugged cliffs with the three biggest islands all having a lowland in the east. The islands were formed as a result of volcanic activity, however all volcanoes on the island are now dormant and the last volcanic explosion was recorded on October 2nd, 1889. There are four main islands in the archipelago - Vanfontein Island, which is the largest and holds the capital of Vanfontein, Liber Island which is the second most populous, Ploutos Island, which is the third most populous, and Isle Borealis which is the least populous and farthest from the capital and major population centers. A large bay called Fountain Bay extends into almost the middle of Vanfontein Island, it is known for its calm waters and ease of catching fish such as salmon. The capitol is located on the southern shore of the lake.

Demographics
The Vanfontein Islands had a total population of 108,573 people in the 2030 Laurentian Census. This is up from 104,995 people in 2020. The racial demographics were 75% White, 14% Native Laurentian, 10% Guangxian, and 1% Black. Naurite of any race were 15% of the population. The ethnic demographics for Whites were 40% Schweiss, 35% Wessian, 20% Slavonian, and 5% Other. Males were 48% of the population, while Women were 52%. 45% identified as Christian, 30% as Agnostic or Atheist, 20% as Hindu or Buddhist, and 10% as Others. 96% spoke Wessian as a first language, and 99% understood it as a first or second language. The fertility rate of the Islands are 2.0 per woman, which is barely below what is needed to sustain population growth. The last time it was 2.11 or over was 2010.

Economy
The economy of Vanfontein was primarily timber, logging, and fishing. However, in the last 50 years the economy has diversified and due to Vanfontein's status as a tax haven, most workers are employed in the Service sector. Timber, logging, and fishing combined today only make up 35% of the total economy, with 20% of that being fishing alone. Several manufacturing and trade companies are headquartered in Vanfontein, despite many not having the majority of their operations there. This is due to the 5% flat tax on yearly gains being the sole tax in Vanfontein. Vanfontein has historically been supported solely by economic activity and has suffered from economic recessions much greater than any other state.

Culture
Vanfontein's culture has historically been separate from mainland Laurentia. Common foods are Salmon and Beef products, with many fish recipes originating from the Natives that used to occupy the land. It has been a popular filming spot and tourist destination for people around the world.

Health
The average life expectancy in Vanfontein is 80.1 years, which is higher than most Laurentian states as well as Laurentia as a whole. The healthcare system in Vanfontein is privately owned, and insures 90% of its population, made easy due to its small size.

Education
The majority of Vanfontein's schools (90%) are privately owned. The average graduation rate is 95%. The Vanfontein education system differs from the rest of Laurentia, as it focuses primarily on job skills rather than education. This has been attributed to Vanfontein's lower than average IQ rate of only 98. Vanfontein State University is located in the city of Evergreen.

Transportation
Vanfontein Route 7 is Vanfontein's longest highway and was completed in 1979. It runs from the northern tip of Isle Borealis to the southern end of Liber Island, connecting the 3 major islands together. The highway is known for being a popular tourist route for both in and out of state travelers coming to take in the views.