Small settlements (8)
I believe the answer is:
villages
(Other definitions for villages that I've seen before include "Settlements smaller than a town" , "They're smaller than towns" , "Rural communities" , "Rural settlements" .)
I believe the answer is:
villages
(Other definitions for villages that I've seen before include "Settlements smaller than a town" , "They're smaller than towns" , "Rural communities" , "Rural settlements" .)