As with many great literary works, the town of a television series can become another character in and of itself. The location of a teenage show is especially meaningful. It is where milestones like first loves, breakups, inward growth, family celebrations, and disappointments continually happen.
From Dawson's Creek to The Vampire Diaries, a TV town tells viewers a lot about a show's characters. Characters' surroundings help shape them, and fans wouldn't have it any other way. The best part is, many of the fictional towns are based on real places that fans could actually go visit someday.
The Vampire Diaries: Mystic Falls, Virginia
Mystic Falls, in reality, is a waterfall in Yellowstone National Park. But on The Vampire Diaries and Legacies, Mystic Falls is a quaint town in Virginia.
Although the books were situated in a fictional Fell's Church, that town name was too close to the real Fall's Church, so it became Mystic Falls. Filmed in Covington, Georgia, The Vampire Diaries is set in the perfect unassuming television town for real trouble and drama to transpire.
Dawson’s Creek: Capeside, Massachusetts
Dawson's Creek is the quintessential teen drama that built the form for many others. Though its fictional Capeside is portrayed as a coastal Massachusetts town, filming primarily took place in Wilmington, North Carolina, the mecca of Nicholas Sparks novels today.
The historic beach town has offered walking tours that cover the "Icehouse" (Elijah's Restaurant), Graystone Inn, the coffeehouse, and a slew of other iconic locations.
Everwood: Everwood, Colorado
It's no surprise that Everwood takes place in Everwood, a fictional locale is in Colorado. A surgeon named Andy Brown moves there with his son Ephram, 15, and daughter Delia, 9. The kids and their dad adjust to a much smaller pace in the mountains after living in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The pilot for the series was filmed in Calgary, Alberta, but the rest of the episodes were filmed in Utah.
Gilmore Girls: Stars Hollow, Connecticut
Stars Hollow is the ultimate teen drama town for Gilmore Girls. The picturesque New England locale was inspired by Washington (and Washington Depot), Connecticut, two small towns with gorgeous wooded areas and colonial charm. Even though it was inspired by real places, Stars Hollow is a place all its own.
The TV town was created at Warner Brothers, complete with a town square featuring a gazebo and walkable shops. Without Stars Hollow, fans wouldn’t get to see Rory and Lorelai down cups of coffee at Luke’s or buy groceries at Doose’s or participate in town festivals.
Pretty Little Liars: Rosewood, Pennsylvania
Many fans know that Pretty Little Liars was shot on the same lot at Warner Brothers as Gilmore Girls. Although Rosewood is a fictional town, the author of the Pretty Little Liars books, Sara Shepard, was inspired by a real town named Rosemont.
The show’s set recreates some of the parks and tourist attractions one would actually find on a visit to the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, according to Philly Voice.
Smallville: Smallville, Kansas
Smallville, Kansas has an impressive backstory for a fictional television town. Tom Welling's Clark Kent develops his superpowers while living in the agricultural community.
Clark is the adoptive son of the Kent family, which owns the oldest farm in Lowell, County. Smallville might seem like an ironic place for Superman to develop, but it is the perfect backdrop for Clark to juggle his growing powers with his personal life, including his relationship with Lois.
7th Heaven: Glenoak, California
Glenoak, California is not really a town, but it is the hub of the Camden family on 7th Heaven. The exterior of the large family’s home is located in Santa Monica, California, just down the street from where Courteney Cox used to live.
On the long-running drama, Glenoak is presented as an “Anywhere, USA” kind of town. It has the essentials and offers a simple town center with restaurants, a movie theater, and a pool hall. The town is just peaceful enough for raising a minister’s family, but the Camden kids still find plenty of things to get into.
Twin Peaks: Twin Peaks, Washington
Twin Peaks (1990-1991) is another one of those shows where the town is so important that it is the show's name. A Seattle tourism website reveals that much of Twin Peaks was filmed in North Bend, Washington, which is 30 miles east of Seattle.
This is where fans will find Twede's Cafe (AKA the Double R Diner), the prominent Snoqualmie Falls, and the sawmill and sheriff's office. Pick up a souvenir from the Salish Lodge gift shop (reminiscent of The Great Northern Hotel) while remembering all the murders investigated in the fictional recreation of the Pacific Northwest.
Hart of Dixie: Bluebell, Alabama
Hart of Dixie is centered on a young doctor named Zoe Hart who unexpectedly lands a job in lower Alabama. Bluebell theoretically is not too far from Mobile, Alabama. While the town does throw fairs, festivals, and other special events, its primary focus is the local gossip.
Bluebell turns up the temperature with blistering heat and sizzling, forbidden romances.
Sweet Magnolias: Serenity, South Carolina
Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias has something for adults and teens alike. A second season of the new drama has officially been confirmed for the Southern characters in Serenity, South Carolina.
The small town is fictional but accurately captures the essence of real towns in the Southeastern region. The series was actually filmed in Georgia, and it is full of scenery that is sweeter than lemonade. Both the teens and the parents always know each other’s business, but they try to carry on and support each other.