Can I own land without having a city nearby?
So, I have Civilization 5 with all the expansions and DLC. I'm playing on the largest map and want to start moving units across the world to face my other enemy, but it's quite far and I don't own any cities nearby. There's a small area on an island to a south that nobody owns -- it's just free land.
Is there any way I can take this area without having to set up a city? I have no desire for a city in that area, but I would like a place to act as kind of a forward operating base for my units before I attack. I can ultimately make a city should it be my only option. I just wanted to avoid it because I already have units that can go far and fast and don't really want to bother with the management.
Best Answer
Depending on the location relative to your current territory, it's possible that your borders will eventually envelop this island. It takes progressively more culture per hex annexed into your borders, though, and your borders are unlikely to take tiles on the other side of another player's territory. If it's very close and you've got time to wait, chances are you'll eventually "own" the island.
You can found a city on this island, and then the tile the city is on and the surrounding area will be considered yours. However, the benefits of this aren't really all that awesome if the area is not desirable. The only benefits I can think of is any "in your territory" bonuses from wonders or social policies, and the possibility of airlifting units in and out if you've researched the relevant technologies and built an airport.
You can make a "staging area" there if you wish, even if it isn't in your territory. Having a unit in a hex will prevent other units from being there, so you can just order your units to stop over at the island on their way to the war and get most of the benefits of a staging area without actually building anything there.
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Can you make your own city?
Though each state has its own rules on \u201cmunicipal incorporation,\u201d in general you'll need to get 51 percent of the eligible voters in the area to go along with you. (It's easiest to start a town from scratch, as opposed to by secession; most upstarts begin as \u201cunincorporated communities\u201d within a larger county.)How many acres makes a city?
In fact, according to some estimates, a city needs at least 200,000 acres even to meet its basic food needs. So a city needs plenty of space to grow its food. But it also needs space to maintain its infrastructure - roads, utilities, parks - as well as provide homes for its residents.Can you own an entire town?
The reality is that it's very very difficult.\u201d Whole towns for sale occupy lots of different legal positions, based on their history and what exactly is for sale. Each town has its own story, a totally unique path that brought it to the point of sale.How do you buy a piece of land?
If you're curious how to buy land, here are the essentials you need to know.One Way Poor People Can Buy Land With No Money
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Answer 2
For future games you could install the Fortress Borders mod. This mod allows your workers to build forts in neutral territory which will convert one ring of tiles around it to your territory. They will also steal territory from enemy rivals.
I haven't tried it yet, but it looks cool.
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