In Stephen King’s novel It, the fictional Maine city terrorized by the creature known as It is Derry.
Derry is the principal setting for the novel and is portrayed as a large Maine city with a deeply troubled history. The supernatural entity called It usually appears as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, but the creature can take many forms, exploiting the fears of children and adults.
The story follows the Losers’ Club across two periods, especially 1957–1958 and 1984–1985. The characters return as adults after a new outbreak of violence suggests that It has awakened again. Derry’s history, including disasters and unexplained massacres, is central to the novel’s mythology.
Derry is one of King’s best-known fictional Maine locations. It is often confused with Castle Rock, another recurring setting, but the two are distinct towns. Derry also appears or is mentioned in several other King works, reinforcing its importance in his fictional universe.