Try looking into KY for your setting. Lots of roads, rivers, rails, mountains/hills, lots of small towns and big cities, and a
very diverse population, with lots of weapon ownership. As far as diversity--hillbilly, redneck, backwater man, slack-jawed yokels, liberals/leftists, and then us normal people
. You'll find people doing everything you said about "differing personalities"--and the feces has not already hit the rotation air-moving device, it's just normal life. Though, half the stuff in the nether-regions of the state doesn't work already (ever seen the primary contents of a house scattered across the lawn or the front porch?
), so it basically already is a template for study!!! Some people grow their own food whenever possible (my grandma does), have enough weapons/ammo to supply themselves and a few buddies (I do
), etc. Just an idea...who cares that it's tailored towards stereotypes
.