The Republic of Hickory is a mammoth, pleasant nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. The hard-nosed, hard-working population of 6.92 billion Hickoryians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Welfare. The average income tax rate is 18.5%.

The strong Hickoryian economy, worth 327 trillion League Credits a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Uranium Mining industry, with major contributions from Woodchip Exports, Basket Weaving, and Furniture Restoration. Average income is 47,339 League Credits, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.5 times as much as the poorest.

Organ donation rates are among the lowest in the region, the country's famous rainforests are being bulldozed by the mining industry, Harry Potter books are banned, and hidden bedroom-cams are installed to catch mothers doing their kids' homework. Crime is relatively low, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Hickory's national animal is the Eagle, which teeters on the brink of extinction due to toxic air pollution.

Hickory is ranked 138,227^th in the world and 1^st in Islamic Army for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring 1,298.15 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.