There are many reasons why players love Red Dead Redemption 2. From the masterfully written redemption story of Arthur Morgan, the open-world crafted with attention to every little detail, all the way to the lush and realistic wildlife that populates the game's wilderness and lives its own life according to the specific rules of its ecosystem. RDR2's regions are what make Rockstar's Wild West so varied and worthy of exploration.
West Elizabeth, where places like Blackwater, Beecher's Hope, and Strawberry are located, is one of those regions. As opposed to the swampland of Leymone, or the unforgiving winter climate of the Grizzlies, West Elizabeth is mostly green, with beautifully realized forests, and grasslands, but also a complex and interesting history.
9 It's One Of The Most Modern & Industrialized Areas In The West
Although at the beginning of the game West Elizabeth is not as "civilized" and well-developed as Leymone and the city of Saint-Denis, it did show promise of future industrialization and modernization, even back in 1899.
As the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 moved forward, and players found themselves exploring the game's world eight years later, in 1907. Unlocking access to Blackwater will reveal that the town has paved roads, uniformed police, and is well on its way to becoming the bustling port town known from the first game.
8 Blackwater Is The State Capital Of West Elizabeth
West Elizabeth is one of the only two states in the entire Red Dead franchise to have a confirmed state capital. The other one is, of course, Leymone, with Saint-Denis. This may not seem as important from the modern perspective, but back in the days of the dying Wild West, it was kind of a big deal.
This is because state capitals and things like a uniformed police force symbolized the relentless march of the government's influence on the "free" territories, something that Dutch's gang and many other characters in RDR deeply feared and resented.
7 The Great Plains Is Based On The Real-Life Central US
Probably one of the most empty regions in the entire game (albeit still with quite a lot of secrets and things to do), the Great Plains is actually based on the real-life Great Plains, located in the central United States.
Just like their video game counterpart, the Great Plains is, well, quite plain. One significant difference is the fact that the real-life Great Plains is much bigger than those found in the game, as it stretches from Texas all the way to Western Canada.
6 Players Are Locked Out Of Parts Of West Elizabeth
West Elizabeth plays a crucial role in the plots of both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2. In the first game, it is the first state the players see as John Marston embarks upon his journey, but they are locked out of it right until the final parts of the story.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, on the other hand, Arthur Morgan and the rest of Dutch's gang are allowed to roam West Elizabeth, but can't enter Blackwater under any circumstances, as they are wanted dead or alive there for a ferry robbery gone awry.
5 There Is No Gunsmith Or Fence
Players will not find any establishment that will allow them to buy or sell guns in West Elizabeth. The same thing goes for fences, who buy up just about anything that outlaws may have in their inventory, and also sell contraband items.
This may not carry too much meaning at all, but some fans theorize that the lack of gunsmith and fences is actually a commentary on how the West Elizabeth authorities are transforming the region into a government-controlled territory that limits its citizens' freedoms one step at a time.
4 It Has Three Trapper Locations
The Trapper is one of the many minor characters found in Red Dead Redemption 2. He will buy pelts, furs, meat, and all sorts of other animal-derived produce. He will also sell unique items that the players obtain by completing various hunting challenges in the game.
West Elizabeth has three locations where the Trapper can be found: Riggs Station, west of the Black Bone Forest, and the Tall Trees, just west of Bear Claw. No other state in the game has this many Trapper locations.
3 Big Valley Is Based On Yosemite Valley
The Big Valley from RDR2 is one of the most beautiful places the players can travel through in the game. With magnificent natural rock formations, lush plant life, and a wide variety of animals, it feels almost like traversing across a national park.
This is because it is based on an actual national park – Yosemite. All of Big Valley's environmental beauty is directly inspired by the Yosemite Valley in California's Sierra Nevada mountains.
2 Strawberry Is A Real Settlement
As opposed to the majority of towns and settlements in Rockstar's titles, which are based upon real-life locations but with changed names and landmarks, Strawberry is actually a real settlement that existed in the 19th century. It can still be found on the map of the United States today.
In fact, there are quite a few towns that go by that name in America, but the one that RDR2's Strawberry is likely based on is located in El Dorado County, California. It served as a resort in the second half of the 19th century.
1 West Elizabeth Is The Smallest Of Red Dead Redemption's Territories
Compared to New Hanover and Leymone, West Elizabeth is actually quite a small state, although that doesn't mean that there is nothing to do there. In fact, it is packed with various activities and side missions, not to mention its relevance to the main plot of the game.
Square mileage-wise, it is the smallest state in Red Dead Redemption 2, but West Elizabeth more than makes up for it by its verticality, with Mount Shann and Big Valley heights being open to exploration.