City beside river, any benefit?

[Acidrain]

Is there any benefit for the city being on river tile?
I know that it's good to have river tiles for the extra gold and better farms, but I want to know is there any benefit for the city itself?

 

[kaltorak]

Nope. Altho many times I find myself favouring river tiles whn planning a location

 

[Any_One]

Well, only if you count being able to build a couple of buildings that need water/rivers (eg. watermill) as a benefit, otherwise not much. I don't think the city hex gets the extra gold from rivers so it is kinda a waste of the tile unless you need those buildings. (someone correct me on this if I'm wrong)

 

[fermionorama]

several buildings require the city to be on a river tile ...
waterwheel (+2 -2)

Hydro Dam (+1/river tile -1Aluminum)

Might be others, not sure

 

[B-29 Bomber]

Well River Defense Bonus but I'm not sure that's what you meant.

 

[Eomer]

You might get more river tiles in your initial influence area. This might be a reason, but imo its a waste of a water tile, if you can use a hill just besides the rivertiles.

I also favoured river tiles in my first games, but the more you think about it, the more its a waste of an early high food yielding tile. This habit is from civ4, but since rivers won't establish trade routes any more, there is no need to build cities there.

 

[Xendance]

+25% GP generation, Garden requires either a river or something else (can't remember what) next to the city.

 

[Eomer]

+25% GP generation, Garden requires either a river or something else (can't remember what) next to the city.

requires a river or lake

 

[aimlessgun]

River or lake. Garden can be an important building. If you are planning on running the city as a GP farm then obviously you want it to be on the river.

Waterwheel is a subpar building in most people's eyes, I wouldn't give up a river tile just for it, all other things being equal.

Hydro plant is an extremely powerful improvement, but it comes very late in the game, too late to matter much of the time. If you are gunning for a spaceship win I could see this being a compelling reason to found on the river.

 

[Surgeon]

Is there any benefit for the city being on river tile?
I know that it's good to have river tiles for the extra gold and better farms, but I want to know is there any benefit for the city itself?

Hydro plant. Huge diff if your going for space victory.

 

[Ahriman]

Very importantly; it start with culture coverage on both sides of the river. Without this, it is more costly (and much less likely randomly) to acquire the tiles on the other side.
If you build away from the river, you risk that river becoming the border, and not getting the nice tiles on the other side.

Minor importance; it means enemies may well get the river crossing penalty if they attack the city.