If your still thinking of combining some of the realms here are a few ideas:
-Maine and New Brunswick are pretty similar culturally and economically
This one makes sense, although currently Maine is part of Massachusetts!
-I'm not sure, but, it looks like central Illinois in a native state in TTL named Tecumseh? I'm not sure what the deal with OTL Indiana is, maybe you could combine them.
Central Illinois is Kaskasia, which I was pegging as a quasi-French realm; Tecumseh is Central Indiana!
-Not sure what the three states that make up OTL Ontario have going on in this timeline, maybe the two western ones can be combined? Their populations seperatly would be pretty low.
This is a good suggestion!
-Same with OTL Minnesota and Manitoba
Same as above!
Long Island was historically settled by a lot of people from New England, maybe you can give it to one of the tiny New England realms?
Hmmm, maybe Connecticut? Although I am fond of a separate Long Island realm! It was a holdover from my first take on this concept a few years back
You could combine the Carolinas, but, that's kind of boring. Culturally they're very different so keeping them separate makes sense.
Pretty much my thoughts exactly!
I feel like the huge blobs west of the Mississippi OTL Iowa, Nebraska, etc could be combined.
They could! Though I’ve been hesitant to have blobby realms, I may just combine the more northern realms a bit like you suggested with Ontario
Maybe give North Jersey to New York and South Jersey to Pennsylvania?
I really like this idea
Just my take.
Also when can we expect an update on Chicagou? As a resident I'm interested to see what the history of my city is.
I’ve been living in Chicago now for a few months, I’m eager to work on it! Plus, it being the newest realm, it has some intriguing recent history - I have to do substantial research before I tackle it, though, and I need to square up the surrounding history as well!
Thank you for the reply! I’ve added my comments in red!