History

The history of Bikini Bottom can be traced back to the Permian period. During a time-travel incident, Squidward accidentally invents the sport of jellyfishing. Years later, SpongeGar, Patar, and Squog, ancestors of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward, discover fire.

A scene from "Dunces and Dragons" (2006) that depicts Bikini Bottom in the Middle Ages, as a village known as Bikini Bottomshire

In the Medieval Era, Bikini Bottomshire is under the rule of King Krabs, ancestor of Mr. Krabs, and is under attack by the evil wizard, Planktonomor, ancestor of Plankton. SpongeBob and Patrick are transported to this time after a jousting accident, which fulfills a prophecy. Princess Pearl, the daughter of King Krabs, is kidnapped by Planktonomor's fire-breathing jellyfish(which looks and acts very much like a dragon), and taken hostage at Planktonomor's tower. Fulfilling the prophecy, SpongeBob and Patrick save Princess Pearl and defeat Planktonomor. Later, during a parade celebrating SpongeBob and Patrick's heroic deeds, King Krabs invents the Krabby Patty, which would be passed down through the Krabs family, the formula being kept secret.

Sometime in the late 19th century in the Old West, one of Plankton's ancestors, Dead-Eye Plankton, takes over Bikini Gulch and renames it Dead-Eye Gulch. A big, western-style showdown happens between Dead-Eye Plankton, and SpongeBob's ancestor, SpongeBuck SquarePants.

On November 30, 1942, Eugene Krabs was born, along with the birth-friend, Sheldon Plankton. In his childhood, he is discovered as a financial genius. Soon, he went to Poseidon Elementary. The two opened up a restaurant but an argument began between them and they became bitter rivals. After his service in the navy, Mr. Krabs fell into a deep depression, which seemed endless; however, a bankrupt retirement home, gave him hope. Mr. Krabs decided to buy the building and rename it, marking the establishment of the Krusty Krab. The financial success of the Krusty Krab took off and became a premiere eating establishment in Bikini Bottom.

In the modern era, Bikini Bottom has witnessed various occurrences of destruction. In "Dying for Pie", a bomb pie falls on Squidward's face, causing a nuclear explosion. In "Sandy, SpongeBob, and the Worm", an Alaskan Bull Worm strikes Bikini Bottom, making Sandy hunt it down. Bikini Bottom is moved away, but the worm crushes it. In "Wormy", while Sandy is out of town, SpongeBob and Patrick release a butterfly out of fear. They proceed to cause mass hysteria that leads to the city's destruction. Global warming also takes effect in the short "The Endless Summer." Another atomic explosion occurs in "The Krusty Plate" when SpongeBob decides to clean with his "nuclear cleaning gun" on maximum power. It is revealed in the episode, WhoBob WhatPants? that Bikini Bottom's population is 538.

Entertainment

In Bikini Bottom, entertainment contributes to the social interaction within the city. The Krusty Krab houses shows such as The Annual Squidward Tentacles Talent Show, a weekly talent show, and The Komedy Krab, a comedy show. The city has a popular cinema, The Reef, but it is destroyed in the episode "Something Smells", however it reappears in later episodes. Bikini Bottom also has many forms of media, such as news, magazines, radio, and television that contribute to Bikini Bottom's wide spread of news and entertainment. The city paper is called the Bikini Times. It features the regular news, as well as daily comics. There is another newspaper that is called the Bikini Bottom Inquirer, a parody of The National Inquirer. There also are boy bands and rock bands; the first being Boys Who Cry, a parody of The Cure's single "Boys Don't Cry"; Stingray 5000, a possible parody of Powerman 5000, who had released a record entitled "You Rock My Clams"; and Ned and the Needlefish.

Krusty Krab

The Krusty Krab, owned by Eugene H. Krabs, is the most popular restaurant in Bikini Bottom. It has two main employees: SpongeBob SquarePants, the fry cook, and Squidward Tentacles, the cashier. The Krusty Krab is one of the most famous elements in the show, the first episode is based around SpongeBob getting the job. SpongeBob convinces Eugene H. Krabs and Squidward Tentacles that he can work there. Both employees have difficulties with working together: Squidward hates SpongeBob, and SpongeBob in turn exacerbates the situation by remaining completely naive toward Squidward's spiteful attitude. Originally there was a frycook named Jim who left on account of Mr. Krab's small salary. Sheldon J. Plankton, the owner of the Krusty Krab's rival restaurant, The Chum Bucket, is always trying to find out the mystery ingredients for the Krabby patty formula. The secret formula is never actually revealed, though in one episode the paper with the written formula is unraveled, revealing censored gibberish.

Like many buildings in the show, the Krusty Krab does not have a specific floor plan. In most episodes, however, the restaurant includes the main dining room with doors leading to Mr. Krabs' office, the kitchen, and a restroom. The building's exterior is based on a New England lobster trap. In the front, the Krusty Krab has a parking area, even though boats are usually not seen in it. In the back of the Krusty Kraba dumpster is seen in most episodes. The Krusty Krab has regular hours from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm, but is closed on Sunday.