Locus was a settlement situated on the planet called Nyriaan, functioning as the world's primary capital.
Locus was organized into several distinct zones, each under the control of a different faction. The Corporate City Sector was the largest; it was managed by the Corporate Sector Authority and housed facilities for CSA activities and employees. The second largest, the Republic Sector, was the most well-known part of the city and its control shifted several times during Nyriaan's history.
The Neutral Zone, located in the city's center, housed the planetary government and Nyriaan's single spaceport. Most of the crime on Nyriaan took place within the Neutral Zone, where Black Sun and the Hutt kajidics operated without restraint.
Additional sectors included the Hyperspace Navigator's Guild Sector and the Mining Guild Sector. There were also four other sectors, including ones governed by the Tapani aristocracy and native Nyriaanans.
Locus was built around the wreckage of the Locus, a survey vessel that suffered a crash landing on Nyriaan in the year 87 BBY.
In 30 BBY, the Galactic Republic enacted the Luire Accord to try and ease tensions among the inhabitants of Nyriaan; according to the agreement's terms, Locus was divided into several different sectors. It also became the location of a new planetary government, known as the Nyriaan Concord.
Later, the Galactic Empire took over from the Republic as the leading galactic power, and in 13 BBY, the Empire began to construct an ion shielding station just outside of Locus.