My first map... is having troubles.

[Doughnuteater]

I set all the buildings industry rate from 1-3%, and this is still happening. There is a HUGE cluster of houses and buildings in the center of the cities, and none/1 or 2 along the edges. What is causing this?

[Gwizz]

I use an x in each cell to restrict the cells through a city to make room for a station and track.

On the diagonal it takes 3 cells wide for track, going from corner to corner. 

It takes 2 cells wide for track crossing over the sides of the cells.

You could x out more reserve cells to just make extra room in a city. 

In the editor I use the starting economy setting to thin out the houses, industries, etc.

It tells you where to set the slider for the starting year of the map. 

I tend to pick settings that give fewer houses and industries by picking a date earlier than my start date.

The industry rate gives the percent chance that an industry will be planted by the game.

It is a bit of a misnomer since the game also looks at the total industries trying to be built.

If you only allowed two businesses in a city, at 2 % for each the real rate would be 50-50 for each.

The size of the city and its' foot print also makes a difference.  I bigger city has more room for development.