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Sunnydale's size and surroundings are implausible, it is designed largely for comic effect and narrative convenience. During the first three seasons, Sunnydale's population is revealed to be 38,500,<ref>The "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign says 38,500 in two early episodes: ''School Hard'' (2.03) and ''Lovers Walk'' (3.08).</ref> very few [[Wikipedia:High school|high schools]],<ref>In ''Some Assembly Required'' (2.02), the three dead cheerleaders attended [[Fondren High]], which is "across town" from [[Sunnydale High]]. In ''Reptile Boy'' (2.05), Kent Preparatory School is mentioned. In ''Dead Man's Party'' (3.02) Joyce mentions a local all-girls' school named Miss Porter's. Yet in most episodes "the high school" refers specifically to Sunnydale High.</ref> forty-three churches,<ref>Giles is surprised at this figure in ''What's My Line, Part Two'' (2.10).</ref> a small private college<ref>Crestwood College is featured in ''Reptile Boy'' (2.05) but never mentioned again.</ref>, a zoo,<ref>there are three visits to the zoo in ''The Pack'' (1.06), including a class trip and one trip by Buffy on foot.</ref> a museum,<ref>The museum director who receives the box containing the demon Acathla in ''Becoming, Part One'' (2.21) refers to Giles as being "right here in Sunnydale".</ref> and one modest main street ([[Maple Court]]). Even so, it has twelve [[Wikipedia:Gothic fiction|gothic]] [[Wikipedia:Cemetery|cemeteries]].<ref>According to Giles in ''[[Revelations]]'' (3.07).</ref> These cemeteries are so heavily used that services are sometimes held at night.<ref>''Once More With Feeling'' (6.07).</ref>
Sunnydale's size and surroundings are implausible, it is designed largely for comic effect and narrative convenience. During the first three seasons, Sunnydale's population is revealed to be 38,500,<ref>The "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign says 38,500 in two early episodes: ''School Hard'' (2.03) and ''Lovers Walk'' (3.08).</ref> very few [[Wikipedia:High school|high schools]],<ref>In ''Some Assembly Required'' (2.02), the three dead cheerleaders attended [[Fondren High]], which is "across town" from [[Sunnydale High]]. In ''Reptile Boy'' (2.05), Kent Preparatory School is mentioned. In ''Dead Man's Party'' (3.02) Joyce mentions a local all-girls' school named Miss Porter's. Yet in most episodes "the high school" refers specifically to Sunnydale High.</ref> forty-three churches,<ref>Giles is surprised at this figure in ''What's My Line, Part Two'' (2.10).</ref> a small private college<ref>Crestwood College is featured in ''Reptile Boy'' (2.05) but never mentioned again.</ref>, a zoo,<ref>there are three visits to the zoo in ''The Pack'' (1.06), including a class trip and one trip by Buffy on foot.</ref> a museum,<ref>The museum director who receives the box containing the demon Acathla in ''Becoming, Part One'' (2.21) refers to Giles as being "right here in Sunnydale".</ref> and one modest main street ([[Maple Court]]). Even so, it has twelve [[Wikipedia:Gothic fiction|gothic]] [[Wikipedia:Cemetery|cemeteries]].<ref>According to Giles in ''[[Revelations]]'' (3.07).</ref> These cemeteries are so heavily used that services are sometimes held at night.<ref>''Once More With Feeling'' (6.07).</ref>
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In later seasons it is revealed that Sunnydale contains a campus of the [[Wikipedia:University of California|University of California]] system, as well as a profitable magic supply shop. The town, or a surrounding area, is also seen to include a large park containing a creek and a lake,<ref>''Once More, With Feeling'' (6.07).</ref> and one of its cemeteries is shown to be adjacent to a lake.<ref>''Help'' (7.04).</ref>[[File:P1010526.jpg|thumb|Sunnydale at night]]
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In later seasons, it is revealed that Sunnydale contains a campus of the [[Wikipedia:University of California|University of California]] system, as well as a profitable magic supply shop. The town, or a surrounding area, is also seen to include a large park containing a creek and a lake,<ref>''Once More, With Feeling'' (6.07).</ref> and one of its cemeteries is shown to be adjacent to a lake.<ref>''Help'' (7.04).</ref>[[File:P1010526.jpg|thumb|Sunnydale at night]]
Sunnydale has a train station,<ref>Buffy finds dead bodies in the train in ''Crush'' (5.14).</ref> a bus station,<ref>The bus station is shown in ''Inca Mummy Girl'' (2.04), ''What's My Line, Part One'' (2.09), and ''Showtime'' (7.11).</ref> a small airport,<ref>Kendra arrives by plane in ''What's My Line, Part One'' (2.09), and the airport itself is shown in ''Choices'' (3.19) and ''Who Are You'' (4.16) as well as ''Bargaining I'' (6.01). The airport shown in this episode is actually [[Wikipedia:Bob Hope Airport|Burbank Airport]] with "Sunnydale" photoshopped over the word ''Burbank''. In ''Tabula Rasa'' (6.08), Giles's ticket shows an itinerary from Sunnydale Airport to [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles International Airport]] and then to [[Wikipedia:London Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow Airport]], which is the same route announced on the public address system as Giles awaits his flight in ''Bargaining, Part I'' (6.01).</ref> and a small military base.<ref>In "Innocence" (2.14), Xander and Cordelia break into the base to steal a rocket launcher as part of his plan to destroy the Judge.</ref>
Sunnydale has a train station,<ref>Buffy finds dead bodies in the train in ''Crush'' (5.14).</ref> a bus station,<ref>The bus station is shown in ''Inca Mummy Girl'' (2.04), ''What's My Line, Part One'' (2.09), and ''Showtime'' (7.11).</ref> a small airport,<ref>Kendra arrives by plane in ''What's My Line, Part One'' (2.09), and the airport itself is shown in ''Choices'' (3.19) and ''Who Are You'' (4.16) as well as ''Bargaining I'' (6.01). The airport shown in this episode is actually [[Wikipedia:Bob Hope Airport|Burbank Airport]] with "Sunnydale" photoshopped over the word ''Burbank''. In ''Tabula Rasa'' (6.08), Giles's ticket shows an itinerary from Sunnydale Airport to [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles International Airport]] and then to [[Wikipedia:London Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow Airport]], which is the same route announced on the public address system as Giles awaits his flight in ''Bargaining, Part I'' (6.01).</ref> and a small military base.<ref>In "Innocence" (2.14), Xander and Cordelia break into the base to steal a rocket launcher as part of his plan to destroy the Judge.</ref>
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Sunnydale has a somewhat isolated location.<ref>When Sunnydale is stricken by a town-wide epidemic -- such as the silence spell in ''Hush'' (4.10) -- no other towns seem to be nearby.</ref>
Sunnydale has a somewhat isolated location.<ref>When Sunnydale is stricken by a town-wide epidemic -- such as the silence spell in ''Hush'' (4.10) -- no other towns seem to be nearby.</ref>
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The town is situated near several acres of woods and forest, including Miller's Woods.<ref>The woods in ''Homecoming'' (3.05) are named "Miller's Woods". In ''Bargaining, Part Two'' (6.02) and ''Villains'' (6.20) the woods are large enough to get lost in.</ref> Breaker's Woods is 45-minute drive from town.<ref>Giles visited there during ''Lovers Walk'' (3.08).</ref>
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The town is situated near several acres of woods and forest, including Miller's Woods.<ref>The woods in ''Homecoming'' (3.05) are named "Miller's Woods". In ''Bargaining, Part Two'' (6.02) and ''Villains'' (6.20) the woods are large enough to get lost in.</ref> Breaker's Woods is a 45-minute drive from town.<ref>Giles visited there during ''Lovers Walk'' (3.08).</ref>
Sunnydale is located on or near the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]]. An ocean port with several docked ships is nearby<ref>The port is seen in ''Surprise'' (2.13) and ''Consequences'' (3.15). In ''Consequences'', Giles refers to Buffy and Faith's return from the docks as "coming back to town", indicating that the docks are not part of Sunnydale itself.</ref>. Nearby, [[Kingman's Bluff]] stands on a tall cliff overlooking the sea.<ref>Kingman's Bluff is the location of Willow's terrible spell (''Grave'', 6.22).</ref> There is a nearby beach.<ref>It is not specified how close this beach is to Sunnydale. It is seen in ''Go Fish'' (2.20) and ''Buffy vs. Dracula'' (5.01).</ref>
Sunnydale is located on or near the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Ocean|Pacific Ocean]]. An ocean port with several docked ships is nearby<ref>The port is seen in ''Surprise'' (2.13) and ''Consequences'' (3.15). In ''Consequences'', Giles refers to Buffy and Faith's return from the docks as "coming back to town", indicating that the docks are not part of Sunnydale itself.</ref>. Nearby, [[Kingman's Bluff]] stands on a tall cliff overlooking the sea.<ref>Kingman's Bluff is the location of Willow's terrible spell (''Grave'', 6.22).</ref> There is a nearby beach.<ref>It is not specified how close this beach is to Sunnydale. It is seen in ''Go Fish'' (2.20) and ''Buffy vs. Dracula'' (5.01).</ref>
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* UC Sunnydale also has a connection to the [[Wikipedia:University of California, Santa Cruz|University of California, Santa Cruz]]. In several episodes of the fourth season, UC Sunnydale dormitories named Kresge and Stevenson are mentioned. Kresge and Stevenson are names of colleges on the campus of UC Santa Cruz.<ref name="MartiNoxon">[http://www1.ucsc.edu/currents/99-00/03-06/buffy.html The horror of it all: Alumna tells tales of vampires, film classes, and a career in television] By Barbara McKenna, March 6, 2000, ''accessed 21-Oct-2012''</ref> Note, however, that in ''Angel'', [[Eve (Potential Slayer)|Eve]] refers to UC Santa Cruz as her alma mater, so UC Santa Cruz is a distinct school in the Buffy universe.<ref>''Life of the Party'' and ''Destiny'' (Angel episodes 5.05 and 5.08).</ref>
* UC Sunnydale also has a connection to the [[Wikipedia:University of California, Santa Cruz|University of California, Santa Cruz]]. In several episodes of the fourth season, UC Sunnydale dormitories named Kresge and Stevenson are mentioned. Kresge and Stevenson are names of colleges on the campus of UC Santa Cruz.<ref name="MartiNoxon">[http://www1.ucsc.edu/currents/99-00/03-06/buffy.html The horror of it all: Alumna tells tales of vampires, film classes, and a career in television] By Barbara McKenna, March 6, 2000, ''accessed 21-Oct-2012''</ref> Note, however, that in ''Angel'', [[Eve (Potential Slayer)|Eve]] refers to UC Santa Cruz as her alma mater, so UC Santa Cruz is a distinct school in the Buffy universe.<ref>''Life of the Party'' and ''Destiny'' (Angel episodes 5.05 and 5.08).</ref>
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* Buffy's home is in the 95037 ZIP Code, according to the text on a letter shown in the show.<ref>Letter shown in "As You Were" (6.15).</ref> This is the real life ZIP Code for the city of [[Wikipedia:Morgan Hill|Morgan Hill]], which is situated southwest of San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. However, Giles once mentioned he was taking a flight from Sunnydale to Oakland, which would eliminate that possibility.
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* Buffy's home is in the 95037 ZIP Code, according to the text in a letter shown in the show.<ref>Letter shown in "As You Were" (6.15).</ref> This is the real life ZIP Code for the city of [[Wikipedia:Morgan Hill|Morgan Hill]], which is situated southwest of San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. However, Giles once mentioned he was taking a flight from Sunnydale to Oakland, which would eliminate that possibility.
* Joss Whedon has remarked that originally he loosely based Sunnydale on [[Wikipedia:Monterey, California|Monterey, California]], but that it was never intended to be an exact parallel.
* Joss Whedon has remarked that originally he loosely based Sunnydale on [[Wikipedia:Monterey, California|Monterey, California]], but that it was never intended to be an exact parallel.
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Sunnydale's name is very close to that of [[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]], a city in [[Wikipedia:California|California's]] [[Wikipedia:Silicon Valley|Silicon Valley]]. There is some evidence of a Sunnydale-[[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]] connection:
Sunnydale's name is very close to that of [[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]], a city in [[Wikipedia:California|California's]] [[Wikipedia:Silicon Valley|Silicon Valley]]. There is some evidence of a Sunnydale-[[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]] connection:
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* In the seventh season, the character [[Cassie Newton]] is shown to have created a website. Screenwriter [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]] created an [[Cassie Newton#Website and trivia|actual website]] for this character, and registered it to "Cassie Newton" at a fake address. The [[Wikipedia:ZIP code|ZIP Code]] she used is 94086, which is an actual [[Wikipedia:ZIP code|ZIP Code]] in [[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]].<ref>''[[Help]]'' (7.04).</ref>
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* In the seventh season, the character [[Cassie Newton]] is shown to have created a website. Screenwriter [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]] created an [[Cassie Newton#Website and trivia|actual website]] for this character and registered it to "Cassie Newton" at a fake address. The [[Wikipedia:ZIP code|ZIP Code]] she used is 94086, which is an actual [[Wikipedia:ZIP code|ZIP Code]] in [[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]].<ref>''[[Help]]'' (7.04).</ref>
* [[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]] borders the city of [[Wikipedia:Santa Clara, California|Santa Clara, California]] whose name bears a resemblance to ''Santa Carla'', another fictional vampire-infested [[Wikipedia:California|California]] coastal town and the setting of the film [[Wikipedia:The Lost Boys|The Lost Boys]], from whence the term ''vamp out,'' used often in Buffy and Angel, originates.
* [[Wikipedia:Sunnyvale, California|Sunnyvale]] borders the city of [[Wikipedia:Santa Clara, California|Santa Clara, California]] whose name bears a resemblance to ''Santa Carla'', another fictional vampire-infested [[Wikipedia:California|California]] coastal town and the setting of the film [[Wikipedia:The Lost Boys|The Lost Boys]], from whence the term ''vamp out,'' used often in Buffy and Angel, originates.
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* The exterior shots of [[Sunnydale High]] are of [[Wikipedia:Torrance High School|Torrance High School]] in [[Wikipedia:Torrance, California|Torrance, California]].
* The exterior shots of [[Sunnydale High]] are of [[Wikipedia:Torrance High School|Torrance High School]] in [[Wikipedia:Torrance, California|Torrance, California]].
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* The exterior shots, and some interior shots, of [[Summers' residence|Buffy's home]] are of an actual home located in Torrance.
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* The exterior shots and some interior shots of [[Summers' residence|Buffy's home]] are of an actual home located in Torrance.
* The exterior shots of the Mayor's office in season three are filmed in [[Wikipedia:Torrance, California|Torrance, California]].
* The exterior shots of the Mayor's office in season three are filmed in [[Wikipedia:Torrance, California|Torrance, California]].
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In ancient times, a magic [[scythe]] was used at the site of the Hellmouth "to kill the last pure demon that walked upon the Earth." After this, the scythe was hidden, and its last [[Guardians|guardian]] remained, waiting in a pagan temple that would somehow remain unnoticed for centuries.<ref>''[[End of Days]]'' (7.21).</ref>
In ancient times, a magic [[scythe]] was used at the site of the Hellmouth "to kill the last pure demon that walked upon the Earth." After this, the scythe was hidden, and its last [[Guardians|guardian]] remained, waiting in a pagan temple that would somehow remain unnoticed for centuries.<ref>''[[End of Days]]'' (7.21).</ref>
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Centuries later, [[Wikipedia:Navajo people|Navajo]] and [[Wikipedia:Chumash (tribe)|Chumash]] peoples lived in this area. One or more groups of [[Wikipedia:Monk|monks]] or [[Wikipedia:Friar|friars]] also settled in this area.<ref>Navajo (Diné) people are mentioned in "The Glittering World" in ''[[Tales of the Slayers]]''. Chumash are mentioned in ''Pangs'' (4.08). One group of monks were mentioned by the ancient guardian in ''[[End of Days]]'' (7.21); a possibly different group in ''Pangs'' (4.08).</ref> As in general [[Wikipedia:California|California]] history, it can safely supposed those friars to be [[Wikipedia:Spanish people|Spanish]] [[Wikipedia:Franciscans|Franciscans]], who arrived in [[Wikipedia:California|California]] in the late 18th century.<ref>Spike and Andrew journey to a different mission in [[Empty Places]] (7.19).</ref> In 1812, there was an [[Wikipedia:Earthquake|earthquake]] in the Sunnydale region that caused a cave-in in which an entire [[Wikipedia:Spanish missions in California|mission]] was lost; the very existence of the mission was soon forgotten.<ref>''Pangs'' (4.08).</ref>.
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Centuries later, [[Wikipedia:Navajo people|Navajo]] and [[Wikipedia:Chumash (tribe)|Chumash]] peoples lived in this area. One or more groups of [[Wikipedia:Monk|monks]] or [[Wikipedia:Friar|friars]] also settled in this area.<ref>Navajo (Diné) people are mentioned in "The Glittering World" in ''[[Tales of the Slayers]]''. Chumash are mentioned in ''Pangs'' (4.08). One group of monks were mentioned by the ancient guardian in ''[[End of Days]]'' (7.21); a possibly different group in ''Pangs'' (4.08).</ref> As in general [[Wikipedia:California|California]] history, it can safely be supposed those friars to be [[Wikipedia:Spanish people|Spanish]] [[Wikipedia:Franciscans|Franciscans]], who arrived in [[Wikipedia:California|California]] in the late 18th century.<ref>Spike and Andrew journey to a different mission in [[Empty Places]] (7.19).</ref> In 1812, there was an [[Wikipedia:Earthquake|earthquake]] in the Sunnydale region that caused a cave-in in which an entire [[Wikipedia:Spanish missions in California|mission]] was lost; the very existence of the mission was soon forgotten.<ref>''Pangs'' (4.08).</ref>.
[[Richard Wilkins]] arrived in [[Wikipedia:California|California]] in the late [[Wikipedia:1800s|1800s]], looking for gold. He founded Sunnydale (after considering the alternate names "Happydale" and "Sunny Acres") in a [[demon]] infested valley after a [[Wikipedia:Navajo|Navajo]] [[Slayer]] died there.<ref>"The Glittering World", in ''[[Tales of the Slayers]]''.</ref> He made a pact with the [[demons]] to found a town atop the [[Hellmouth]] for them "to feed on", in return for the promise of immortality by becoming a pure demon himself. [[Richard Wilkins|Wilkins]] became Mayor of Sunnydale.<ref>''[[Enemies]]'' (3.17).</ref>
[[Richard Wilkins]] arrived in [[Wikipedia:California|California]] in the late [[Wikipedia:1800s|1800s]], looking for gold. He founded Sunnydale (after considering the alternate names "Happydale" and "Sunny Acres") in a [[demon]] infested valley after a [[Wikipedia:Navajo|Navajo]] [[Slayer]] died there.<ref>"The Glittering World", in ''[[Tales of the Slayers]]''.</ref> He made a pact with the [[demons]] to found a town atop the [[Hellmouth]] for them "to feed on", in return for the promise of immortality by becoming a pure demon himself. [[Richard Wilkins|Wilkins]] became Mayor of Sunnydale.<ref>''[[Enemies]]'' (3.17).</ref>