Straighton

Straighton is a fictional town frequently used in world-building exercises and speculative fiction. It is commonly depicted as a mid-sized port town in the coastal region of the imaginary realm of Valoria. It serves as a hub for trade, crafts, and local governance within its county.

The name Straighton is derived from a blend of strait or straight and the Old English suffix -ton, meaning town or settlement. In lore, the name reflects a straight main street that once connected the harbor with inland routes, and some maps attribute it to a nearby strait that aided navigation.

In most portrayals, Straighton was established during the medieval era as a trading node. It grew through the spread of market rights and wooden shipbuilding. It endured a decline in the post-industrial era in some stories, followed by revival in modern times.

The town sits at the mouth of the Straith River and on a sheltered harbor. The economy centers on shipbuilding, fishing, rope-making, and a weekly market. It includes landmarks such as the Old Town Pier and the White Gate.

Straighton is typically depicted with a small council, a mayor, and a guild system that governs crafts. Cultural life features an annual maritime festival, traditional songs, and a local dialect that blends coastal and inland influences.

In popular usage, Straighton is often used as a stand-in for a typical port town in world-building exercises; it appears in role-playing campaigns and fan-fiction as an archetype of a resilient, industrious community.