Settlements in the Dreamlands

By definition, a settlement is any collection of families living together in an independent community for common cause. This distinguishes settlements from neighborhoods, which are dependent communities contained within a larger independent community. There are five types of settlements: villas, hamlets, villages, towns, and cities. Most begin when a group of families settles in a new area to practice a common trade or profession, such as farming, fishing, or mining. An exception are those seeking some form of freedom, such as the freedom to worship as they see fit. Another exception are the so-called market settlements, which are established to facilitate commerce, though it can be argued that the merchant founders bring or establish their own families once the settlement is created. Still another form of settlement is that which is created by soldiers who retire or are discharged while serving in a fort and decide to live in that same vicinity. These, too, however, will usually either establish families or bring their existing ones to the settlement.

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