Toledo proper, given its relative protection from the rest of the Wastelands by the thick swamps that surround it, was allowed to flourish for a long time. It's one of the most populated regions in the wastes, not that many people outside of it would know that. The New Black Swamp is an isolated region, having next to no communication with anything outside of it, as getting in or out is very difficult by any means except the sliver of dry land between the two major swamps and Lake Erie, which is a whole perilous thing onto itself.
~Factions~
Brotherhood of Steel:
-The Brotherhood of Steel are completely new to the region. A small group of soldiers and paladins arrived in Four Corners mere weeks before this adventure starts. They were attracted to the New Black Swamp by rumors of a suspiciously large quantity of power armor, of bionically enhanced humanoids, and of the overwhelming population of ghouls and super mutants in the region. The techy brethren have acted friendly to the townsfolk so far, so the locals see no reason to distrust them. (Will explain more if someone chooses this Origin).
Swampfolk:
-In the New Black Swamp, the murky depths have born a new breed of irradiated people, neither super mutant nor ghoul, a highly mutated and feral human called the Swmapfolk. The Swampfolk are in a never-ending war with the local Children of Atom for control of the irradiated swamplands. There are two groups of Swampfolk in the New Black Swamp, those who still have their mind, and those who don't.
--Those who do remain in tiny settlements nestled deep in the swamps where they don't have to worry about persecution from the rest of the civilized folk while the feral Swampfolk don't bother them. Whether or not these settlements actually exist depends on who you ask though.
--Those who don't, well I think their name says enough: The Bloody Rudders are territorial and highly aggressive, slaughtering anyone who dares enter into their stinky domains.
Children of Atom:
-The New Black Swamp is both hideous and beautiful... in a weird fanatical type of way. The Children of Atom, or at least this region's sect, revere the New Black Swamp as their god's personal sanctuary. They have a fortress deep in the Eastern Swamp called the Radiant Sanctuary, a massive settlement/commune where hundreds of Children of Atom flock to every year.
-They're biggest enemy, however, are the Swampfolk, who also lay claim to the swamplands. The two factions exist in constant bloodshed with each other, both too territorial and stubborn for their own good.
Maumee Nation:
-5 years ago, the Maumee Nation had near-complete control over downtown Toledo. From West Swamp to East Swamp, nearly every settlement, both large and small, was under the Maumee Nation's control. They had a militaristic government that created a thriving downtown Toledo, if not a little rigid and overbearing. However, they eventually became too comfortable with their holdings, and didn't realize a revolution was starting right under their noses until it was too late. Nowadays though, they remain in an endless battle with both the Swarm and the Rocketmen.
--They still control much of Northern and Eastern Toledo.
The Swarm:
-The most organized and sophisticated raider group in the region, the Swarm is an especially bestial pack of raiders who control much of southwestern Toledo, Rossford, and Perrysburg. No one is quite sure who the leader of this swarm is, but no one really wants to find out.
The Rocketmen:
-The Rocketmen are a group of revolutionaries who chafed under the tight grip of the Maumee Nation. They claim to fight for freedom, but many can't see the difference between the war tactics of a raider gang and the Rocketmen. Their headquarters are the ruins of the University of Toledo, and they control much of Western Toledo proper.
The darkened regions are the swamplands.