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A 
Settlement is the basic unit of a civilization in Civilization VII and its expansions. Settlements are home to 
Citizens who can work the tiles within their borders, providing yields to the empire.
Mechanics[]
Settlements are the foundational components of a civilization's empire. They are directly responsible for generating yields and producing units, which are essential resources for becoming a prosperous and powerful civilization, securing a foothold on the map, and ultimately determining victory or defeat, as losing all Settlements results in elimination.
Each game begins with a Founder, allowing the player to establish their first Settlement: the 
Capital, which serves as the heart and base of the civilization. From that point on, players aim to expand by acquiring more Settlements through various means: founding new ones with Settlers, conquering and annexing rival Settlements, or diplomatically incorporating 
City-States. This gives players multiple pathways to victory, whether aggressive or peaceful.
City center[]
When founding a Settlement with a Settler, the 
City Center is placed directly beneath the unit, surrounded by a border that initially claims the six adjacent tiles. The City Center functions as a special urban District — the first in any new Settlement — and always contains one unique 
Building: either a City Hall (for regular Settlements) or the Palace (for the Capital).
The City Center is the most critical District in a Settlement, as many core mechanics are tied exclusively to it:
- It always counts as a fortified District, providing +50
HP. If no additional fortifications are present, the Settlement is lost when the City Center is captured. - It provides +10 healing to units resting on the tile.
- It houses key Buildings that contribute essential yields for early and ongoing Settlement growth.
- Most trained units spawn on the City Center tile.
- Adjacent rural tiles never lose their Appeal bonuses due to proximity to the City Center.
- Borders can expand up to 3 hexes away from the City Center, forming the maximum territorial range.
These traits illustrate — but do not fully encompass — the strategic value of the City Center. Its placement should be considered carefully, not only for development efficiency but also for its defensibility against enemy capture.
Yield generation[]
Settlement yields
As previously mentioned, Settlements are vital for acquiring yields. This is achieved by:
- Constructing Buildings
- Constructing Wonders
- Placing Tile Improvements
- Training units
- Pursuing projects
Each Settlement controls a number of tiles, shown by borders in the civilization's color. These tiles are where Buildings and 
Improvements can be placed. Citizens will then work those tiles, generating yields and 
Resources tied to each one. Tile control can be expanded by developing the Settlement — through growth, Buildings, or Improvements.
Expanding settlements[]
Because yields are primarily generated through Settlements, expanding your borders — either by acquiring new Settlements or growing existing ones — is a key strategy. The map becomes a competitive space, with civilizations racing to claim land and snowball into greater wealth and power.
With the introduction of 
Towns, players should always aim to found or conquer as many Settlements as possible for optimal empire growth and efficiency. Players typically adopt one of two core expansion strategies, defined by the ratio between Towns and Cities in their empire:
- Wide – In this strategy, a large number of Towns are converted into Cities, resulting in an almost 1:1 Town/City ratio. These Cities are usually smaller, as the available resources are spread thin across many Cities. Each City will contain core yield Buildings to provide the necessary empire-wide output.
- Tall – This strategy focuses on a few large metropolises, heavily investing in Food and population to grow them. The Town/City ratio is typically around 3 or 4:1, meaning each City is supported by several Towns funneling their yields inward. This allows for Cities with high populations and many Specialists, Wonders, and Resource slots, covering more ground per City, but fewer Cities overall.
Settlement Limit[]
Settlements cannot be acquired endlessly. At any given time, players have a Settlement Limit which dictates how many Settlements they can own at no penalty. Each Settlement in excess of the limit imposes a -5 
Happiness penalty, to a maximum of -35. The Settlement Limit can be increased by discovering new 
Technologies and 
Civics, through 
Attributes, and by advancing to the next Age.
Settlement management[]
While all Settlements can produce every type of yield, three key yields are especially important for maintaining local development:
- Food – Vital during early development. Food increases population, and each population growth triggers a growth event, allowing players to either:
- Place a Tile Improvement (expanding borders and unlocking more yields).
- Assign the Citizen as a Specialist in a Building (usually providing stronger empire-wide yields).
- Place a
- Production – Crucial at every stage of the game. Production determines how fast Buildings, Wonders, and units are completed. It also speeds up border expansion and accelerates yield generation. High Production allows for faster and more efficient Settlement and empire development.
- Happiness – Citizens need to be content to work effectively. If Happiness drops below 0, yields begin to suffer a -2% penalty per point (to a cap of -50, at which point Citizens stop working entirely). Buildings and Specialists consume Happiness, requiring players to grow their Happiness yield alongside their Settlements. For these reasons, monitoring this resource is vital, as Unhappy Settlements will develop more slowly and risk falling into Unrest.
Unrest[]
Settlements in 
Unrest cannot purchase Buildings, switch Town-focus, or increase population, as they are considered too unstable for infrastructure growth. There are two main causes of Unrest:
- Plagues or other Crises – These can temporarily destabilize Settlements by destroying Buildings and damaging affected units.
- Conquest – When a rival Settlement is captured, it will automatically enter a 10-turn Unrest period. However, these Settlements can still generate yields as long as Happiness is maintained.
Revolt[]
Beyond the standard 
Unhappiness penalties, Revolts 
Crises introduce a far more dangerous consequence: Unhappy Settlements can break into open revolt.
A revolt is triggered the moment a Settlement remains Unhappy for a full turn during one of these Crises. Once a Settlement enters revolt, the player has 10 turns to restore a positive Happiness balance. If not resolved in time, the Settlement will be permanently lost.
During the revolt:
- One Building or Tile Improvement per Age is damaged every turn.
- All yields from the Settlement are severely reduced.
This creates a dangerous negative spiral — reduced yields and lost infrastructure further decrease Happiness, making recovery increasingly difficult and raising the risk of total loss.
Settlement types[]
Settlements in Civilization VII are divided into three types: Capitals, Towns, and Cities.
Capital[]
The Capital is the Settlement that is founded by a civilization's Founder at the beginning of the game. It is the only Settlement which immediately becomes a City, not a Town, after being founded. Aside from containing the Palace, the Capital behaves identically to all other Cities.
The Capital can be relocated when transitioning to the next Age by selecting the legacy option to change Capitals. This will upgrade the chosen Settlement to a City for free and designate it as the new Capital, while the original Capital Capital will revert to a standard City.
There are several benefits to changing the Capital. The Capital contains the Palace, which provides significant upgrades compared to a standard City Hall, enhancing the City's growth and development rate. Relocating the Capital can be beneficial for boosting a newer Settlement with ample space for expansion and infrastructure projects, especially if the original Capital is already well-developed and self-sustaining.
Another key factor is Resource management, as some City Resources behave differently in value depending on whether they are housed in the Capital or a regular City. Because the Capital is typically the most important and valuable City, it is generally ideal to position it in a well-protected, strategically located area with room for extensive infrastructure.
For these reasons, swapping Capitals when given the opportunity is often advantageous.
Town[]
Town focus infographic (from launch)
A Town is a Settlement that is founded by a Settler. Towns cannot produce Buildings, but warehouses and some select others can be purchased with 
Gold. Additionally, all of their accumulated 
Production is converted into Gold.
Town specialization[]
A Town always begins with the 
Growing Town focus, which provides a +50% growth rate bonus to the Settlement. Once the Town reaches 7 Population, its owner may select one of the available Town Specializations listed in the table below. This choice is permanent — after specialization, the Town can only switch focus between the Growing Town and its chosen specialization.
| Town Specialty | Description | Antiquity | Exploration | Modern |
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 Farming/Fishing Town
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+1  Food per Age on Farms, Pastures, Plantations, and Fishing Boats.
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 Mining Town
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+2 Production per Age on Camps, Woodcutters, Clay Pits, Mines, and Quarries.
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 Fort Town
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+5 healing to Units and +25  HP to Walls in this Town. Allows purchasing of additional walls beyond the first.
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 Urban Center
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+100% Gold and Happiness towards maintaining Buildings in this Town. The following Tier 1 Buildings can be purchased directly: Antiquity: Barracks, Garden, Library, Market, Monument |
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 Trade Outpost
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Bonus Happiness on Resource tiles and Trade range.
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 Religious Site
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+1 Happiness on every Building in the Town and an additional Relic Slot on Temples.
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 Hub Town
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+1  Influence for every connected Town
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 Factory Town
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+100% Gold towards purchasing a Factory in this Town and adds an additional Resource Slot. +5 Trade Range.
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 Resort Town
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+1 Happiness and Gold on Towns with Natural Appeal. +50% yields on  Natural Wonder tiles in this  Town.
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When specializing, all accumulated Food is distributed among connected Cities. However, if a Town lacks a connection to a City, it can continue growing independently. In most cases, specialization halts a Town's growth, which may initially seem like a drawback. However, this is far from the truth — when utilized correctly, specialization results in a net increase in overall yields, particularly in later Ages. Because of this, Towns introduce one of the most complex and strategic mechanics in the game, offering nearly limitless possibilities for optimization.
Settlement connection[]
Settlements are considered connected if they have a direct road link over land (not passing through other settlements), or if both possess a Fishing Quay in the same ocean and are within trade range. Most friendly Settlements are automatically connected, but in some cases, using the 
Build Road to Settlement action through Merchants is advisable — especially to ensure that Towns are properly linked to key Cities in need of Food provisioning.
When to specialize[]
One of the first challenges players face is determining the right time to specialize. On one hand, you want to unlock the Town's bonuses as soon as possible; on the other, the Town needs sufficient growth to provide enough tiles and yields to make specialization worthwhile. The larger the Town, the greater its potential value — but waiting too long delays any bonuses, which are better the sooner your Cities get them.
While specialization timing depends heavily on the game's context and the intended role of the Town, two general rules apply:
- Specialize no later than 30 turns before an Age ends. Ages typically last 75-125 turns, depending on game settings and success. To maximize a Town's impact, it should contribute to your empire's most crucial phase of development before the Age ends. Specializing too late means missing out on vital yield gains, City development, and potential Legacy progression.
- Let early-established Towns grow until they need 10 turns to gain their next Citizen. Town growth increases its long-term value, but once reaching a point where acquiring an extra Citizen takes more than 10 turns, further growth is inefficient. The delayed specialization bonus outweighs the benefit of a single additional tile.
Choosing the right specialization[]
As mentioned, Town specialization depends on game phase and strategic needs at any given time. Below are some of the most straightforward and valuable specializations:
Food distribution for cities[]
The primary benefit of specialization is enabling Towns to supply large amounts of Food to Cities. This frees Cities to focus on Production and other global yields while relying on Towns for Food.
This mechanic is invaluable throughout the game, but it becomes especially crucial in the Modern Age when Cities start running out of tiles for districts and 
Wonders, forcing them to be built over any remaining Farms. Without Towns, Cities would stagnate, limiting 
Specialist growth and thereby slowing Cultural and Scientific progression — both of which are essential for securing victory.
By converting Towns into Farming Towns, they can provide 100–150 Food per turn in the Modern Age, ensuring continuous urban expansion and maximizing the number of Specialists.
Economic powerhouses[]
Towns also serve as the primary source of Gold income, as their Production is converted to Gold. This makes them vital for maintaining stability, adaptability, and expansion in all game phases.
Mining Towns can significantly boost Gold income by increasing Production Improvements within the Town. However, this focus is only useful when improving a lot of Rough tiles, which comes with a major drawback: slower Town growth. Because of this, Mining Towns are best utilized from the Exploration Age on, where they can be supported by Buildings that provide additional Food and Resources, allowing them to grow while focusing almost entirely on Production and Gold accumulation.
Military & defensive strongholds[]
Towns are less valuable than Cities, making them ideal as buffer zones to protect core Settlements. They can be strategically placed to stall enemy advances while supporting your military efforts.
- Defensive Role: Towns can fortify their centers, purchase units, and serve as garrisons for stationed troops, making them effective defensive positions.
- Vision & Scouting: Towns provide extra vision, making it easier to anticipate enemy movements and deploy defenses accordingly.
- Healing & Reinforcement: Units heal faster within a Town's borders and can upgrade while inside. This makes Fort Towns particularly useful when besieging enemy Settlements, as they act as rally points for reinforcements.
- Naval Warfare: Fort Towns built on islands in the middle of the Open Ocean can serve as safe havens for naval units, as well as buffers protecting Coastal Cities. This is especially useful in the Exploration Age, when combat at sea significantly increases due to the competition for Settlements on Distant Lands.
Future city sites[]
In some cases, it's better not to specialize at all if a Town is located in a prime spot for a future City. Players can allow the Town to grow rapidly while purchasing cheaper Buildings with Gold, making it easier to convert into a fully developed City later.
Other uses[]
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Share your wisdom!
How do you use Towns? |
How many towns should you establish?[]
Because Towns significantly benefit an empire, players should establish as many as the Settlement Limit allows — or even exceed it if their empire has a large Happiness surplus.
- Towns typically contain 7–15 Citizens, meaning they require minimal planning and can be placed almost anywhere.
- They require little micromanagement, making them an efficient and low-maintenance feature.
Ultimately, well-managed Towns provide unparalleled flexibility in empire development, making them one of the most powerful and strategic tools in the game.
City[]
A Town can be upgraded into a City after meeting a certain set of criteria.
While Towns are beneficial to a civilization's strength, Cities are its true source of power. Like Towns, they can generate yields such as 
Science and 
Culture, but the crucial difference between the two is that Cities generate Production, which they can use to produce Buildings, units, and Wonders. This makes them vital to an empire that wants to engage in combat or construct powerful Wonders before opponents do.
Independent Power settlements[]
An Independent Power use three special types of Settlements: Villages, Encampments, and City-States.
Village[]
A Village can only be founded by an Independent Power. A Village can be dispersed by units or upgraded to a City-State if a civilization becomes its Suzerain.
Encampment[]
An Encampment can only be founded by the Barbarian Independent Power during the Invasion Crisis. An Encampment functions like a Village, but unlike it, it uses the name of the people and cannot be upgraded to a City-State.
City-State[]
Once a civilization becomes the Suzerain of an Independent Power, its Village is upgraded to a City-State. A City-State functions as a Town and can be conquered or incorporated into its Suzerain's empire as a new Town with a project.
Videos[]
Will you build tall or wide in -Civ7? 🏗️
Towns & Cities Gameplay
See also[]
External links[]
| Civilization VII Settlements [edit] | |
|---|---|
| Antiquity | |
| Exploration | |
| Modern | |
| 1 Requires DLC | |
| Civilization VII [edit] |
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