Is there a way to influence population distribution? (White Giant)

Is there a way to choose when cities are built?
Is there a way to choose where cities are built?
Do all changes have to be done after the fact, the city gets created and given a random name and then I get to rename it?
Can I automate some features of city building?

Cities are built automaticaly. No player control. you can move them in map section on your home page.

Thanks Barney, that's kind of what I suspected.