Pickering

Pickering (Traditional Chinese: 麗碧; French: Nouvelle-Picardie) is an autonomous country in north-central Nicholasland. Pickering was an integral part of the French colony La Pacifique Concorde, and today Pickering is largely French-speaking.

Etymology
The area was first named as Lai Pik Lake (麗碧湖, lit. Beautiful Green Lake) for the nearby Lake Haldimond by the indigenous Cantonese people.

As the area was conquered by the French in late-16th century, the French had included the area as part of its colony of La Pacifique Concorde. The area became a department in the colony, and the department was named Nouvelle-Picardie, after the Picardy region in France.

As the British forces attempt to penetrate the area in the 18th century (War of Rainwater, 1793) through a series of conquests under the command of General Phillip Pickering, the British were able to capture territories west of Lake Haldimond (the Lisi area which is now under Gravenhurst Region's jurisdiction). To commemorate this victory, the British had named the area Pickering County.

History
The conquest of the British into the French territory in late 18th century was the cause of territorial dispute between the largely English-speaking Gravenhurst Region and the French-speaking county in the 20th century. The King had officially announced the end of the dispute.

Administrative Divisions
Since Pickering County is sparsely populated, there are only nine incorporated municipal bodies in the county, acting as administrative subdivisions of the county. The remaining portions are primarily wildnerness, under the direct jurisdiction of the county as Territoire inorganisée de la Nouvelle-Picardie.

As the British have conquered the area in the 18th century, many places were re-named in English. As such, many locations have two names in both English and French, some with three if it was settled by the indigenous population prior to European settlement.

Economy
Agricultural industries exists sporadically close to the border with Gravenhurst Region, such as in Towns of Rainwater, Parisvale, and Lieu Charleton, and also along the shores of Lake Haldimond. Forestry is also one of the largest industry in the county.

Muiléh is by far the largest economical centre of the county, which heavily relies on the shipping and manufacturing industries.

Transportation
Pickering maintains a couple of at-grade highways across the populated parts of the county.

Languages
Nouvelle-Picardie