Lionsgate
What’s a dystopian novel without a post-apocalyptic world? In The Hunger Games that world is Panem, the nation which rose out of the ashes of current day North America. Panem is split up into 12 districts (we don’t talk about District 13) and a glittering and wealthy capital city.
Taking a page from The Colbert Report, this ongoing “Better Know a District” series will take a look at the districts that make up the brutal Hunger Games world.
Welcome To District 12: The Hungry Coal Miners!
Location: District 12 is most likely located somewhere around the Appalachia.
Industry: District 12 is known for its coal mining.
Classes: District 12 is notable for containing two classes of people: the miners and the merchants. Despite providing the district with its main export, the mining class tends to be much poorer (and in much worse health) than the merchant class.
Notable Residents: Most of the main characters in The Hunger Games trilogy hail from District 12. This includes heroine Katniss Everdeen, her sister Prim, her best friend Gale, and fellow competitor Peeta. Their mentor is the boozy Haymitch Abernathy, one of the few former winners of the Games from District 12.
The Seam: The Seam is where the poorest residents of District 12 live, right near the forest that borders the district. This forest is where Katniss and Gale go to hunt in order to keep their families from starving. Unlike the blonde haired and blue-eyed merchant class, the residents of The Seam tend to have dark hair, gray eyes, and olive skin.
The Hob: The Hob is the black market in District 12, where Katniss and Gale often bring their hunting hauls to make some extra money or trade for needed supplies.
Hunger Games Prospects: Before Katniss and Peeta shocked all of Panem with their win, the tributes from District 12 tended to do very poorly in The Hunger Games. This is probably because of the relative poverty of the district and the lack of Games training.
