This is one of the most confusing aspects of Atlas Earth for new players! The issue comes down to how official city boundaries work versus what we see in everyday life.
How Atlas Earth defines cities:
Official boundaries - Our maps are for the most part based on official city limits, so some parcels that seem like they should be in a given city might not be
Legal vs. visual - Some cities have very strange official city limits, such that it might seem and look in the real world like you're standing in a city, but according to the city limits, you're not technically in the area recognized as the city
Common boundary surprises:
Suburbs and neighborhoods - Many areas that feel like part of a city are actually separate municipalities
Shopping centers - Major malls or business districts might be in different jurisdictions
School districts - Your school zone might not match the city boundaries
Address confusion - Your mailing address might say one city, but you're legally in another
Small town limitations:
Size requirements - It is also possible that some small towns are not recognized as "cities" for game purposes, meaning they do not have a mayor or a badge
Population thresholds - Very small communities might not meet the criteria for Atlas Earth city status
No competition - These areas won't have mayoral races or city-specific leaderboards
What this means for gameplay:
- Mayor competition - You can only compete for Mayor in officially recognized cities
- Badge availability - City badges are only available for recognized municipalities
- Leaderboard placement - You'll appear on the leaderboard for your actual legal city
- Land ownership - You can still own parcels, but they won't count toward mayoral rankings
How to find your actual game city:
Check the bottom of your map - The game displays your current city/township at the bottom
Watch as you move - Notice how the city name changes as you cross boundaries
Look at leaderboards - See which city you're listed under in the rankings
Pro tips:
- Research boundaries - Use online city boundary maps to understand your area better
- Strategic positioning - If you want to be Mayor, focus land purchases in the officially recognized city center
- Embrace your real city - Sometimes your actual legal city is different than expected, but that's where the real competition is!
Remember: These boundary quirks exist in real life too - it's not just an Atlas Earth thing! The game is simply reflecting the complex reality of municipal boundaries.