This is an outline I decided to create for developing a fictional world. I'm not sure that it will be of any use to anyone else, but these types of things are always useful to me when I'm planning a novel, so I figured I'd post it up in case anyone wanted to use it. Also, in case anyone is interested, this is a character outline, half of which was written by me and half of which I typed up from NaNoWiMo's novel planning packet. Below it is a shortened version designed from the development of secondary characters.

General Info
Year/time period:
Country/area name:
City name:
Current leader:
Type of government:
Population:

Setting
Geographical location:
Notable geographic landmarks:
Neighboring cities:
Neighboring countries:
Climate:
State of climate:
Weather:
Plant life:
Animal life:
Dangerous plants and animals:
Prevalent environmental threats:
Level of pollution:
Population density:
Average level of education:
Notable schools/universities:
Level of medical care:
Quality of hospitals:
Racial/ethnic majority:
Availability of resources:
Quality of life:
Architecture:
Notable architectural landmarks:

Industry
Socioeconomic majority:
Quality of housing:
Agriculture:
Level of industry:
Types of jobs:
Availability of jobs:
Unemployment rate:
Average salary:
Pertinent companies/businesses:
Poverty level:
Minimum wage:

History
How the city came to be:
Notable historical events:
Setting of these events:
Political shifts:
Public reaction to these shifts:
Past wars:
Consequences of these wars:
Past invasions/military occupations:
Past social/political issues:
Past revolutions:
Notable revolutionaries:
Past cultures:
Tragic events:
Public reaction to these events:
Government reaction to these events:

Culture
Religion(s):
Religious conflicts:
Pertinent religious stories:
Pertinent religious practices:
Traditions:
Holidays:
Significance of traditions:
Behavioral expectations:
Expectations for children:
Prejudices:
Discrimination:
Subcultures and countercultures:
Social movements:
Cultural values:
Urban legends:
Fables/mythology:
Superstitions:
Fears:

Media and Trends
Entertainment:
Notable entertainers/actors/etc:
Literature:
Notable writers:
Foods:
Music:
Notable musicians:
Clothing:
Fashion:

Science and Technology
Level of technology:
Notable technologies:
Mode(s) of transportation:
Impact of technologies on daily life:
Current level of scientific knowledge:
Current scientific research:
Energy (fossil fuels, nuclear, solar, etc):
Notable medical practices:
Access to nuclear technologies/weaponry:
Common civilian weapons:
Common military/army weapons:

Politics
Power of leader:
Notable political figures:
Political stance of current government:
Level of corruption in government:
Major political parties:
National alliances:
National enemies:
Current conflicts:
Social services:
Military power:
Level of taxes:
Level of censorship:
Notable activist/lobbying groups:
National goals:

Issues
Police:
Types of crime:
Major crime organizations:
Influence of crime organizations:
Notable criminals:
Gangs:
Drug use/trade:
Drug use in youth:
Level of violence:
Types of violence:
Illnesses:
Financial issues/debt:
Prominent social issues:
Class gap:
Common causes of death:
Dangers to public safety:
Threat of terrorism:

Public opinion on:
The military:
The police:
Political stance of government:
Government policy:
Technology:
Science:
Religion:
Race:
Sexuality:
Quality of life:
Current medical practices:
Socioeconomic class:
Taxes:
Current national conflicts:
Censorship:
Poverty:
Countercultures: