Cryptomunicipality

A cryptomunicipality is a city "made reference to but appearing on no maps". As Emma Bull noted:
 * And we did explain why we had to do that, right? Because a real county has a real county sheriff's department, and if we're going to cast aspersions on said department, we don't want to go dissing real people in a real place. It's not polite. And if I ever drive through Carroll County, MD, I don't want to spend a night in jail in a case of *ahem* "mistaken identity." *g*

In the Shadow Unit universe, Brattonville, Maryland is such an place.

Ashton, Virginia is also likely a cryptomunicipality, but the closest we have to a definitive statement on the subject is a rather unhelpful one from Will Shetterly.