What about 1997?

In Part 9, the Fuscoes detectives discover that there is "nothing" on Dougie Jones before 1997.

As Dougie been "manufactured" in 1997? By who? See the page about Dale and Laura doubles: here.

There are 2 other things about 1997 in the show, both linked to Bill Hastings. Small details, probably of no importance. First, his record stops in 1997.

And, on the fake Hastings' website "The search for the Zone" (created by Rhino for the promotion of the music of the show), we can see that the website was created in 1997. The last entry is November 2015, but it is not the one mentionned in the show ("we entered the Zone and we met with the Major").

Hastings' website created in 1997:

The Search For The Zone