Revision 2

Overview

Crosstown is a working-class district in Vice City, part of Vice-Dale County in the state of Leonida. The neighborhood is defined by its position at the intersection of two major interstate highways, making it one of the most important transit junctions in the Vice City metropolitan area. Crosstown is GTA VI's interpretation of Overtown, a historically significant neighborhood in central Miami known for its working-class character and its bifurcation by highway construction in the mid-20th century.

The district sits at the convergence of Interstate 404 and Interstate 97, a massive highway interchange that dominates the neighborhood's landscape. This infrastructure defines Crosstown's identity: the elevated highways create shadowed underpasses, divide the neighborhood into sections, and generate constant traffic noise. Despite the highway's disruptive presence, Crosstown maintains a strong local community character with its own businesses, gathering spots, and street life.

Geography and Location

Crosstown occupies a central position in the mainland portion of Vice City, roughly between Downtown Vice City to the southeast and Stockyard to the north. The district's geography is dominated by the intersection of two major highway corridors: Interstate 404 (running roughly north-south) and Interstate 97 (running east-west). This interchange creates a complex tangle of elevated ramps, on-ramps, and overpasses that tower above the neighborhood streets below.

At street level, Crosstown features a mix of low-rise residential buildings, small businesses, vacant lots, and community institutions. The architecture is functional rather than decorative, with concrete block construction, chain-link fencing, and utilitarian commercial signage dominating the streetscape. The contrast with the art deco elegance of South Beach or the corporate glass of Downtown could not be more stark.

The elevated highways that run through Crosstown create distinct zones within the neighborhood. Areas beneath the overpasses are shaded and underutilized, while streets that run parallel to the highway corridors experience heavy traffic from vehicles entering and exiting the interstate system. This highway-dominated layout makes Crosstown a critical transit point for players traveling between different parts of Vice City.

Points of Interest

Crosstown contains several notable locations, some of which were first identified in the September 2022 developer build leak.

The Interstate Interchange

The Interstate 404/97 interchange is the defining feature of Crosstown and one of the most significant pieces of road infrastructure in Vice City. The interchange consists of multiple levels of elevated highway, with sweeping on-ramps and off-ramps that carry traffic between the two interstates. For players, this interchange serves as a major navigation landmark and a junction for traveling between the coastal areas and the interior of Leonida.

The highway system in Grand Theft Auto VI is significantly more detailed than in previous entries in the series. Highway signs, lane markings, barrier walls, and exit numbering systems are all visible in trailer footage. The Crosstown interchange, being the largest highway junction shown in the game, demonstrates this attention to infrastructure detail. Players can use the interchange to rapidly travel between different parts of Vice City, though the heavy traffic during peak hours may create challenges.

Criminal Activity

Crosstown's working-class character, highway infrastructure, and lower police visibility compared to tourist areas make it a significant center of criminal activity. The neighborhood is likely home to street-level drug dealing, car theft operations, and territorial disputes between gangs and factions. The highway underpasses provide concealed locations for illicit exchanges, while the interstate on-ramps offer quick escape routes.

The Jack of Hearts strip club may serve as a front for criminal operations, a meeting point for contacts, or a location tied to story missions. Strip clubs have functioned as mission hubs in previous GTA games, and the club's Crosstown location positions it in a neighborhood where such activity would feel natural.

For Lucia and Jason, Crosstown represents the type of gritty, street-level environment where their criminal careers take root. The neighborhood's character aligns with the game's themes of upward mobility through crime, with the towering Downtown skyline visible just blocks away serving as a constant reminder of the wealth gap.

Real-World Inspiration

Crosstown is based on Overtown, one of Miami's oldest and most historically significant neighborhoods. Overtown was established in the early 1900s as "Colored Town," a segregated community that became the cultural center of Black Miami. During the mid-20th century, the neighborhood was home to a thriving entertainment scene, with clubs and hotels along NW 2nd Avenue hosting performers like Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole.

The construction of Interstate 95 and Interstate 395 through Overtown in the 1960s devastated the neighborhood. The elevated highways physically split the community, displaced thousands of residents, and destroyed much of the commercial district. This history of highway-driven destruction is directly reflected in Crosstown's identity, where the Interstate 404/97 interchange looms over the neighborhood and fragments its streetscape.

Modern Overtown is undergoing gradual redevelopment, but it remains one of Miami's lowest-income neighborhoods. Crosstown in GTA VI captures this mix of historical resilience, infrastructure damage, and persistent community identity.

Trivia

• Crosstown's name likely references its position at the crossroads of two major interstate highways, literally the point where major traffic routes cross through town.

• The Jack of Hearts strip club was first identified in the September 2022 developer build leak, making it one of the earliest confirmed interior locations in GTA VI.

• Interstate 404 and Interstate 97 are fictional highway designations. In the real world, the equivalent highways through Overtown are Interstate 95 and Interstate 395.

• The elevated highway infrastructure in Crosstown may provide opportunities for dramatic stunt jumps and vehicle chase sequences, similar to highway-based missions in previous GTA games.

• Crosstown borders Stockyard, creating one of the starkest wealth contrasts in Vice City: a working-class neighborhood directly adjacent to a gentrified arts district.