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Leonida
April 5, 2026 at 07:59 AM
Added 1 internal cross-links
Leonida is the fictional state in which Grand Theft Auto VI takes place. It is the GTA universe's version of Florida, continuing the franchise's tradition of creating satirical versions of real U.S. states (San Andreas for California/Nevada, Liberty for New York/New Jersey).
Leonida spans a diverse landscape from dense urban coastline to vast inland wilderness. The state's major regions include Vice City (Miami), the Leonida Keys (Florida Keys), Grassrivers (Everglades), Port Gellhorn (decaying coastal town), Ambrosia (rural interior), and Mount Kalaga National Park (forests). A large freshwater body, Lake Leonida (inspired by Lake Okeechobee), sits in the state's interior. For detailed region information, see the Map and Regions article.
Leonida is divided into multiple counties, visible on in-game maps and license plates in the trailers. Confirmed counties include Vice-Dale (Vice City), Kelly (Port Gellhorn), Leonard, Ambrosia, and Mariana. This administrative structure adds a layer of world-building detail not present in previous GTA games.
Leonida is a satirical lens on modern Florida and broader American culture. The game's in-game social media platforms, viral video culture, and diverse population reflect contemporary themes. GTA has always used its fictional locations to parody American excess and contradictions, and Leonida's version of Florida leans into themes of wealth inequality, immigration, tourism, retirement culture, and the collision between scenery and urban development.
The state's name itself follows GTA convention: Liberty City (New York), San Andreas (California), and now Leonida (Florida). The name's origin has not been officially explained by Rockstar.
Vice City, Leonida's capital, first appeared in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002), set in 1986. It returned in Vice City Stories (2006), set in 1984. Both games depicted Vice City as a fictional Miami during the 1980s cocaine trade era. GTA VI marks the first time Vice City (and the broader state of Leonida) is depicted in a modern-day setting.
The wider state of Leonida beyond Vice City is new to GTA VI. Previous games set in Vice City used only the city and nearby beach areas. GTA VI expands the explorable area dramatically to include swamps, rural countryside, island chains, forests, and small towns across the full state.
The State of Leonida is divided into at least five counties, each with distinct geography, industries, and communities. These counties range from the dense urban sprawl of Vice-Dale to the rural farmland of Kelly County. Together they form one of the most varied open-world environments in the Grand Theft Auto series.
County | Real-World Inspiration | Major Settlements | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
Miami-Dade County | Urban core of Leonida; nightlife, finance, art deco architecture | ||
Broward County | Port Gellhorn, suburban communities | Suburban sprawl and natural landscapes; transitional zone between city and countryside | |
Collier / Lee County | Rural towns, farming communities | Agricultural heartland; rural settings, ranches, and open fields | |
Hendry / Glades County | Ambrosia town, Lake Leonida shore, Allied Crystal refinery | Industrial and rural; sugar refineries, biker gangs, outlaw culture | |
Mariana County | Monroe County | Tropical archipelago; coastal vistas, island communities, nautical recreation |
Leonida's economy mirrors the real-world dynamics of the Sunshine State, built on a volatile mix of tourism, agriculture, real estate, and organized crime. Vice City serves as the commercial hub, home to banks, luxury retail districts, and the Sahara Arena entertainment complex. The city's hospitality and nightlife industries generate enormous legitimate revenue, while drug trafficking and money laundering operate just beneath the surface.
Outside the city, the economy shifts dramatically. Ambrosia relies heavily on the Allied Crystal sugar refinery, which is the county's biggest employer. Kelly County is dominated by agriculture and ranching. Port Gellhorn, once a thriving tourist destination, has fallen on hard times and now sustains itself through truck stops, liquor stores, and an underground economy. The Leonida Keys depend on fishing, tourism, and the kind of small-scale smuggling that has defined the real Florida Keys for decades.
Leonida is world-renowned for its beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, and nautical recreation. The state hosts the busiest port in the country and attracts millions of visitors annually. Vice City's cultural identity blends Latin American, Caribbean, and American Southern influences, reflected in its music, food, architecture, and street life. The city's art deco hotels, neon signage, and beachfront promenades give it a distinctive visual character that has defined the Grand Theft Auto series' vision of Miami since the original GTA Vice City in 2002.
Beyond the city, Leonida's cultural landscape includes the Grassrivers swamplands with their airboat tours and alligator encounters, the rural Americana of Kelly County, and the laid-back island lifestyle of the Leonida Keys. The state's social media culture, influencer economy, and reality television presence are satirized extensively throughout the game world, with fictional platforms and content creators appearing on billboards and in-game apps.
Leonida is characterized by a warm, subtropical climate and a varied landscape. The state's most recognizable feature is its extensive coastline, lined with beaches that serve as both recreational hubs and cultural landmarks. Inland, the terrain shifts from flat agricultural plains in Kelly County to the dense mangrove swamps of the Grassrivers region (the game's equivalent of the Florida Everglades). Lake Leonida, a massive freshwater body at the state's center, mirrors Florida's Lake Okeechobee and anchors the industrial communities around Ambrosia.
The Mount Kalaga National Park provides elevated terrain unusual for a Florida-inspired setting, drawing from the topography of northern Georgia. The park features towering forests, rivers, and wildlife, offering hunting, fishing, and off-road driving opportunities. The Leonida Keys form a tropical archipelago at the state's southern tip, connected by causeways and bridges. Leonida's geography also incorporates influences from the U.S. state of Georgia, particularly in its northern and mountainous regions.
The State of Leonida is divided into at least five counties, each with distinct geography, industries, and communities. These counties range from the dense urban sprawl of Vice-Dale to the rural farmland of Kelly County. Together they form one of the most varied open-world environments in the Grand Theft Auto series.
County | Real-World Inspiration | Major Settlements | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
Miami-Dade County | Urban core of Leonida; nightlife, finance, art deco architecture | ||
Broward County | Port Gellhorn, suburban communities | Suburban sprawl and natural landscapes; transitional zone between city and countryside | |
Collier / Lee County | Rural towns, farming communities | Agricultural heartland; rural settings, ranches, and open fields | |
Hendry / Glades County | Ambrosia town, Lake Leonida shore, Allied Crystal refinery | Industrial and rural; sugar refineries, biker gangs, outlaw culture | |
Mariana County | Monroe County | Tropical archipelago; coastal vistas, island communities, nautical recreation |
Leonida's economy mirrors the real-world dynamics of the Sunshine State, built on a volatile mix of tourism, agriculture, real estate, and organized crime. Vice City serves as the commercial hub, home to banks, luxury retail districts, and the Sahara Arena entertainment complex. The city's hospitality and nightlife industries generate enormous legitimate revenue, while drug trafficking and money laundering operate just beneath the surface.
Outside the city, the economy shifts dramatically. Ambrosia relies heavily on the Allied Crystal sugar refinery, which is the county's biggest employer. Kelly County is dominated by agriculture and ranching. Port Gellhorn, once a thriving tourist destination, has fallen on hard times and now sustains itself through truck stops, liquor stores, and an underground economy. The Leonida Keys depend on fishing, tourism, and the kind of small-scale smuggling that has defined the real Florida Keys for decades.
Leonida is world-renowned for its beach resorts, amusement parks, warm and sunny climate, and nautical recreation. The state hosts the busiest port in the country and attracts millions of visitors annually. Vice City's cultural identity blends Latin American, Caribbean, and American Southern influences, reflected in its music, food, architecture, and street life. The city's art deco hotels, neon signage, and beachfront promenades give it a distinctive visual character that has defined the Grand Theft Auto series' vision of Miami since the original GTA Vice City in 2002.
Beyond the city, Leonida's cultural landscape includes the Grassrivers swamplands with their airboat tours and alligator encounters, the rural Americana of Kelly County, and the laid-back island lifestyle of the Leonida Keys. The state's social media culture, influencer economy, and reality television presence are satirized extensively throughout the game world, with fictional platforms and content creators appearing on billboards and in-game apps.
Leonida is characterized by a warm, subtropical climate and a varied landscape. The state's most recognizable feature is its extensive coastline, lined with beaches that serve as both recreational hubs and cultural landmarks. Inland, the terrain shifts from flat agricultural plains in Kelly County to the dense mangrove swamps of the Grassrivers region (the game's equivalent of the Florida Everglades). Lake Leonida, a massive freshwater body at the state's center, mirrors Florida's Lake Okeechobee and anchors the industrial communities around Ambrosia.
The Mount Kalaga National Park provides elevated terrain unusual for a Florida-inspired setting, drawing from the topography of northern Georgia. The park features towering forests, rivers, and wildlife, offering hunting, fishing, and off-road driving opportunities. The Leonida Keys form a tropical archipelago at the state's southern tip, connected by causeways and bridges. Leonida's geography also incorporates influences from the U.S. state of Georgia, particularly in its northern and mountainous regions.
License plates in Trailer 2 reference "Gloriana State," potentially indicating a neighboring state (possibly inspired by Georgia). Whether any part of Gloriana is accessible in the game has not been confirmed by Rockstar. It may simply be a detail on vehicles imported from out of state.
