Elwood City

Elwood City is the city that the Arthur book and TV series take place in. The population is 79,567, as announced in episode 72.

History

Elwood City was founded in 1903 by Jacob Katzenellenbogan although he had originally intended the town to be called "Elmwood" but someone misspelled it and the corrupted name stuck. The then U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was present at the founding and gave the dedication speech and so were prominent American businessmen Henry Ford and J. P. Morgan, who were partners of Katzenallenbogan. In the episode "On This Spot", it was said that in 1885, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, staring Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull came through Elwood City on the banks of Mill Creek while on tour. In an episode called "Elwood City Turns 100!" in the year 2003 the city celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Location

Much like Springfield from The Simpsons, the exact whereabouts of Arthur’s hometown have never been explicitly stated. Arthur's writers have given conflicting evidence regarding Elwood City's actual whereabouts. While Elwood City bears strong resemblance to the Boston area (home of WGBH), such as Waltham, Massachusetts, there are references to Brown's hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania in some episodes (For instance, Elwood City, like Erie, has a Mill Creek Mall). Various anthropomorphic animals populate the city itself. In some instances animals are shown both in anthropomorphic form as well as realistic animal form. For example, Arthur has a pet dog, Pal, and two friends who are dogs, Binky and Fern.

Other evidence that suggests that Elwood City is located in New England is because it is not a right to work state as suggested by Francine's dad when he said Buster had to be in a union to drive a sanitation truck. More evidence of a New England location, much like suburban Boston, Massachusetts, would be the portrayal of the fictional city's professional baseball team, the Elwood City Grebes, as a fictional representation of the real life Boston Red Sox, referencing baseball lore such as The Curse of the Bambino and vaguely, the rivalry between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees, by having the Grebes' World Championship (reference to World Series) opponent being the Crown City Kings, with Crown City, a large metropolis featured in a few episodes, being apparently a representation of New York City, and the Crown City Kings being a representation of the New York Yankees. In one episode, Arthur's family drives to Washington, D.C., only taking a few hours. In Arthur's Birthday, Arthur and his classmates indicate that Elwood City is very far from Ohio, where Arthur's relatives live. In another episode, Arthur and the Brain (Alan) visit the Exploratorium, which is located in San Francisco, though this does not mean that they didn't visit a fictional Exploratorium.

There are, however, various references throughout the series to a Canadian location. One of those references is the fact that measuring distances is with metres (spelled the British way) instead of feet, and kilometres instead of miles. In "The Good, the Bad, and the Binky", a five dollar bill given to Binky is blue and a twenty given to him is green (Though that might be a simple cartoonist shortcut to show that it is a different kind of bill), characteristics of Canadian paper money. The show is also recorded in Montreal, Quebec, which also contributes to the possibility of Elwood City being in Canada. However, this is refuted by many other factors, such as the Presidents bearing resemblance to Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and that D.W (In Episode 5, "D.W the copycat") states that they are in America. Also they visit the Read family visits the White House

The above lends to maybe Arthur's Elwood City is in Delaware or Central PA like Harrisburg, Arthur's family drove to Washington, DC while they Flew to NYC. Leading to the conclusion they are closer to Washington, DC than New York City. Elwood City could be referring to a town in Maryland called Hunt Valley. Again Washington, DC would be a quick weekend trip, while New York City would be someplace you fly too. So, logic dictates Arthur lives in the Great State of Maryland! Also, Baltimore has an impressive Science Museum, and many schools takes trips there hence the Exploratorium. Also Baltimore City is known for trains (which could be Crown City).

Stores & Businesses

Mill Creek Mall is the main mall in Elwood City. [D.W.]] thought that this was where babies came from.

Perske's Kitchen Shop: A shop owned by Mrs. Perske where Arthur's dad bought a cake plate for a wedding he was making the cake for in the episode "Flaw and Order."

Crosswire Motors: An automobile dealership owned by Muffy's father Ed. Arthur's mother Jane is a work-at-home tax accountant and one of Ed's employees. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Ice Cream Shop: An ice cream shop owned and operated by the Brain's mother, Mrs. Powers. It is located in Southwest Elwood City.

The Sugar Bowl: A dessert parlor where Arthur and his friends often go out for dessert. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Salon de Beauté: A hair salon owned by Flossie, who is also a hairdresser, and the place where Muffy gets her hair done. The name of this place is French for "Beauty Salon", and it often plays French-style music inside. It first appeared in Season 1 Episode 1 Part B

Tasty Cone: An unseen ice cream parlor and retailer where Francine purchased the lamp that involved an ice cream in a cone, shortly before its business was shut down.

Best Repair Shop: An automobile repair shop owned by a mechanic named Joe. He once attempted to repair the Read family's car in Pick a Car, Any car

Jack's Joke Shop: A store that sells prank items in Southwest Elwood City, neighbored by the ice cream shop.

Meteor Comix: a comic book store where Arthur and D.W. bought their first comic books. It is only seen in "The Secret Origin of Supernova"

Chickin Lickin': a fried chicken restauraunt chain. There are locations of this store in Elwood City, but there may also be some in different cities.

Elwood City Katzenelenbogan Airport: an airport named after the founder of Elwood City, Jacob Katzenelenbogan. (The spelling in unknown for his actual name.)

Manny's Diner: a diner owned by Manny. It is located near the city limit of Elwood City, and is only seen in "Lost!"

Municipal Places

Lakewood Elementary School: The public elementary school where Arthur and his friends go to school, plus where the staff work. The interior includes offices, classrooms, a lunchroom, gymnasium, and etc. Outside, there is a playground and baseball field. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Elwood City Public Library: Elwood City's Offical Library. The Librarian is Paige Turner. It is one street away from the Reads' House. It is located in Northwest Elwood City.

Elwood City Dump: A local dump where Francine's father Oliver works at. It is located in Northeast Elwood City. It is where arthur got cut, and it's also where Francine's Dad got the recycled parts to make Francine's bicycle.

Bear Lake: More commonly known as "The Lake" is a lake in Northwest and Southwest Elwood City. It's name is said on the episode "D.W. All Wet" D.W. is afraid there are octopuses there.

Mill Creek River: A river in Northwest Elwood City that is south of the Mill Creek Mall. It also flows down into Bear Lake.

Puffer's Pond: A local pond in Northeast Elwood City where Arthur's family goes fishing.

Elwood City Times: A news station where newspapers get published, and the place where Buster's mother Bitzi, an editor-in-chief works at.

Mighty Mountain Elementary School the rivals to Lakewood Elementary School. The Tough Customers went here before getting transferred to Lakewood Elementary. The actual building (only the outside) is seen in April 9th, and only for a couple of seconds.

Residences

Reads' House: A yellow Cape Cod-esque house with a green roof and two dormers where Arthur and his family reside. Arthur has his room to himself in the right dormer, but D.W. and Baby Kate both share a room in the left dormer. They also own a pet dog named Pal. Its address is 562 Main Street and is located in Northwest Elwood City.

Mr. Ratburn's House: A yellow house with a green roof, a brown front door, a green garage door, and green window shutters. Arthur's third grade teacher Mr. Ratburn resides in that house independently, although the house there is rarely seen. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Molinas' House: A purple house located right beside the Read's house. Vicita and her family reside in that house. They also own a pet dog named Amigo. The house was formerly owned by Susy Sipple from the books and early seasons, until the Molina family from Ecuador acquired the house shortly after Susy Sipple moved out in the Season 6 segment Arthur and Los Vecinos. It is located in Northwest Elwood City.

Dattilos' House: A white house with light blue accents and a yellow front door. A blind girl named Marina and her mother reside in that house, and it is close to Marina's best friend Prunella's house. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Barneses' House: A yellow house with a blue roof where Binky and his parents, plus the newly-adopted Mei-Lin reside. It is located in Southwest Elwood City.

Deegans' House: A pinkish-orange house with a purple roof where Prunella, her sister Rubella, and their mother Wanda reside. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Armstrongs' House : A gray house with a front porch with a balcony above it, an orange roof, a yellow front door with orange accents, and a green garage door. Sue Ellen and her parents reside in that house, and were one of the most recent families that have moved to Elwood City. It is located in Southeast Elwood City.

Walterses' House: A white house with blue accents and a gray roof where Fern and her parents reside. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Lundgrens' House: A white house with brown accents, a gray roof, and a front porch where George and his family reside. It is located in Southeast Elwood City.

Tibbles' House: A large pink house with a dark red roof and a cupola. The twins Tommy and Timmy Tibble reside with their grandmother Mrs. Tibble in that house, plus they own a pet black cat. It is located in Northwest Elwood City, and is a few blocks from the Read's house.

Crosswires' Mansion: A lavender and yellow mansion with a bluish-green roof, brown front doors, and a balcony above the front doors. It has twenty rooms, a colossal yard, and a swimming pool. It is the largest residence in Elwood City. Muffy and her family reside in it, although her family is very small and she has only one brother: Chip. Their chauffeur and butler, Bailey also lives there. It is located in Southeast Elwood City.

Westboro Apartments: A campus of apartment complexes owned by landlord Mr. Sanders. Francine and her family reside in Apartment #3 in the red complex. Like D.W. and Kate, Francine and Catherine both share a room, also. The Frenskys also own a pet cat named Nemo. Another resident named Mrs. Pariso lives in Apartment #4 right next to the Frenskys, after she moved in Francine Goes to War. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Powerses' House: A yellow house with a reddish-orange roof, two purple front doors, and a purple garage door where the Brain and his parents reside. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Elwood City Condominiums: A yellow condominium complex with a red roof, balconies, and porches. Buster and his mother Bitzi reside in one of these units. It is located in Northeast Elwood City.

Tree House: A private place inside of a wooden structure built at the treetops above the tree trunk where Arthur and his friends hide when doing homework, reading books, and spending time together. It is the closest to the Read's house. It is located in Northwest Elwood City. It is also where Buster got asthma.

Trivia

The episode Elwood City Turns 100! takes place in 2003 although the episode aired in 2002. In an episode of Season 14 it is revealed that the date is 2012, although the characters have not aged at all in the series.