I am making this post to compile all of the information I have gathered about Panem to help the members of my Hunger Game Swaps on Swap Bot. Feel free to use it for whatever you want. I took as much as possible directly from the books and official sources, as far as I know everything stated below is confirmed, unless otherwise noted.
I know I missed a few people from the districts, particularly people mentioned in Catching Fire and Mockingjay. If you know someone I missed, please let me know. Also, if you see something incorrect or missing, let me know. I am trying to keep up with information, and I know some knew stuff is being released with
thecapitol.pn but I am not perfect, and want this to be as accurate as possible.
NOTE: Information I am covering goes across The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. If you have not read all three books and do not want spoilers, then you may want to look elsewhere.
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History of Panem: Panem was formed at an undetermined time in the future out of the remains of North America after war and disaster destroyed it's countries but altered it's landscape. Panem originally consisted of the Capitol, surrounded by 13 Districts. Seventy-four years before the start of 'The Hunger Games' was the end of a period known as the 'Dark Days' where many of the districts rebelled against the capitol. The rebellion was ended when District 13 was 'destroyed'. In Catching Fire this was found out to be a lie based on an agreement that District 13 would not blow up the capitol in exchange for pretending to be destroyed.
I don't know if any specifics were giving for the rebellion, but If Panem 74 years ago is anything like Panem today, it is probably due to poor treatment and severe segregation of it's citizens. It is also mentioned many times that people feel war may reduce their numbers too greatly, so presumably the population of Panem is far less then current North America (current population is approximately 528,720,588 million).
As punishment for the rebellion, every year each district must send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 to fight to the death until one remains, while the whole country watches.
As far as I know, no official map of Panem has ever been given. Many people have speculated based on details given in the books. This map was made by a teacher who teaches these books to her kids, and she has pretty sound reasoning for each placement of districts, but again, this is NOT official. Just an educated guess.
Capitol: The capitol is the center of Panem. ONLY the capitol has contact with all districts as the districts have very minimal contact with each other and knowledge about each districts is vague. All of the wealthy live in the capitol, although it is revealed that many people are deep in debt, most likely due to their 'never wanting' life style. Many people in the capitol are ignorant of the goings on in the rest of Panem. They do not understand the starvation and suffering. To them the Hunger Games in entertainment (no on from the capitol must participate) and they watch with furver, bet on the games, and many spend absorbent amounts on their favorite tributes.
What we know about the capitols location is there is mountains protecting it from most or all of the districts (part of the reason the districts lost the first rebellion) and the capitol itself is fairly square. The capitol is completely dependent on the districts for everything, they do not produce any of their own food or energy.
District 1: District One is known as a 'career' district in the games, as tributes often train for years to compete in the games and will gladly volunteer to take another tributes place. The tributes from the three 'career' districts are often volunteers and make up most of the winners.
District One makes luxury items for the capitol, although I don't think it is ever expanded on what that means exactly.
Notable Persons: Glimmer and Marvel (Tributes from the 74th games)
District 2: District Two is known as a 'career' district in the games, as tributes often train for years to compete in the games and will gladly volunteer to take another tributes place. The tributes from the three 'career' districts are often volunteers and make up most of the winners. District Two is considered to have the closest relationship with the Capitol and was the last to join the rebellion.
Officially District two is known for stone quarries and masonry work, but unofficially they are the center of defense for the capitol (formerly the job of District 13) and supplies and trains Peace Keepers.
Notable Persons: Cato and Clove (74th games), Enobria (returning tribute for 75th games)
District 3: There is not much known about district three other then it's industry and a few small tidbits. District three is known for electronics. This is thought to include a variety of devices, everything from mines to holo projectors to everyday things like sewing machines. It is my theory that in order to do more complicated work, people in District Three are better educated, because when Beetee is explaining things, no else seems to understand, even though it seemed easy to me.
Notable Persons: Beetee and Wiress
District 4: District four is known as a 'career' district in the games, as tributes often train for years to compete in the games and will gladly volunteer to take another tributes place. The tributes from the three 'career' districts are often volunteers and make up most of the winners.
District four is known for fishing and providing seafood, so there for it must be on the coast somewhere. Most people outside of District four, cannot swim, at least not well.
Notable Persons: Finnick and Annie
District 5: Next to nothing is known about District 5. Only recently it was confirmed that it's industry is power, but it is uncertain what kind of power. If one district produces power for the whole country, my thoughts are that it is fairly small.
Notable Persons: Foxface (74th Games)
District 6: Next to nothing is known about District six, although it was recently confirmed it's industry is transportation. Presumably it is in charge of manufacturing and maintaining cars, hovercrafts, and trains.
District 7: District seven is known for lumber and paper goods. It is thought to be located either up north or Down south/south west where dense forests are located.
Notable Persons: Johanna Mason
District 8: District eight is known for producing textiles and manufacturing clothing, or at least peacekeeper uniforms. Most people work in the factories, it is even revealed in Catching Fire that students (and teachers) go to work in factories after school.
Notable Persons: Bonnie and Twill (Refuges passing through the wilderness by District 12 in Catching Fire)
District 9: Very little is known about District Nine until recently when it was revealed that District Nine's industry is grain. It is believed most people work in factories that involve processing and refining grains for various uses (food, oil, fuel, textile).
Notable Persons:
District 10: It is revealed in (I believe) Mockingjay by a refugee from District 10 that it's industry is livestock. The person in question was in charge of impregnating cattle with frozen embryo's to keep genetic diversity. Presumably this district is in charge with the care, breeding, and possible slaughter and processing of livestock and their products (ie: eggs, milk, ect).
District 11: District Eleven in confirmed by Katniss in Catching Fire to be one of the largest districts. District Eleven is in charge of a large amount of food growing and production. During harvest season EVERYONE works, sometimes until after dark. It is also most likely towards the south or west because it was warm even thought it was winter. District eleven has the most information after twelve and thirteen. Much of the district including the majority of people and the district center are in disrepair. Most people live in shacks/poverty. The border is described as having a massive fence, constantly electrified with Barbed wire coils on top and guard posts along the fence. They are swift to punish, the use of corporol or even deadly punishment, even on children is not uncommon.
Notable Persons: Rue and Thresh
District 12: District twelve is where are main character, Katniss is from so we know a good bit. District twelve is sort of the 'forgotten' district. No on really pays it much attention and it does not get a lot of supervision. District twelve is responsibl for coal mining, and unlike many other districts, the citizens do not start work until they are 18. It is believed District twelve is somewhere in the region of the Appalachian in the Virginia/West Virginia/Kentucky region Most of District twelve lives in poverty.
Starvation and disease related to malnutrition are not uncommon. People receive no regular health care as they can not afford it and must rely on home remedies and Katniss' mother (an apothecary's daughter). There is a black market called the Hob where people may sell, buy, and trade illegal goods including the illegally hunted meat that Katniss and Gale catch.
Punishment for lapses in the law are fairly lax as many of the Peacekeepers will buy things that they know to be illegal goods and some are even friendly. Corporal punishment is rare untill a new head peacekeeper is brought in during Catching Fire. District twelve is one of the smaller districts with only about 8000 people. After the bombing in Catching Fire, only 800-900 people survive and make it as refugees to District thirteen.
Notable Persons: Katniss, Peeta, Haymich, Prim, Madge, Darius, Greasy Sae...
District 13: Everyone in Panem accept a select few believe district thirteen was destroyed seventy-four years before 'Catching Fire'. However, there was a MASSIVE underground network of bunkers where a fairly decent population survived and continued to build a life and live. District thirteen becomes the center of the rebellion against the capitol. It harbors the displaced residents of District twelve and anyone else who shows up.
Things in District thirteen are VERY strict. Food and supplies and kept under strict control and you use ONLY what you need and nothing more. There is no waste. All of the districts people are well cared for and educated, but are severely lacking in fun and entertainment. At the age of 14, everyone is inducted into the military and refereed to as 'soldier' and are trained in combat.
The population of District thirteen has fluctuated over the years. In recent times, there was some sort of pox epidemic which killed many people and made others sterile so they NEED the District twelve people to help maintain a good population.
Notable Persons: President Coin
