A colonial city is a city that was founded and developed by a foreign power as part of its colonial empire. These cities often served as administrative centers, trading hubs, or military bases for the colonizing power. They were often built on the sites of pre-existing indigenous settlements or in areas that were previously uninhabited. Colonial cities typically displayed the architectural styles, cultural influences, and economic systems of the colonizing power. They often had large public buildings, such as government offices, churches, and military barracks, as well as residential areas for both the colonists and the indigenous population. Colonial cities also often had a strong economic focus, with industries such as mining, agriculture, or trade playing a major role in their development.