Gotham – Batman’s city…
Gotham is a fictional city, best known as the home of Batman. Batman’s place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 (December 1940). The city is located in the Northeastern United States, in close proximity to Metropolis, with the majority of DC Comics references placing Gotham City specifically in New Jersey.
Gotham City is a major economic center within the United States of the DC Universe. Its important industries include manufacturing; shipping; finance; fine arts, represented by its numerous museums, galleries, and jewelers; and the production of giant novelty props. In addition to its commercial seaport, it also supports a naval shipyard.
A common misconception is that Gotham is based on Chicago. In fact, Gotham was based on New York City, but some Chicago influences obviously crept in from time to time. So, actually that is a mix of New York and Chicago.
Writer Bill Finger, on the naming of the city from New York City to a fictional city, said, “Originally I was going to call Gotham City ‘Civic City.’ Then I tried ‘Capital City,’ then ‘Coast City.’ Then I flipped through the New York City phone book and spotted the name ‘Gotham Jewelers’ and said, ‘That’s it,’ Gotham City. We didn’t call it New York because we wanted anybody in any city to identify with it.