People of all nations and races can be found in this thriving metropolis, and trade from all across the Flanaess passes through Greyhawk. The people of Greyhawk persue knowledge and wealth. The University of Martial Arts and the Grey College, among it's many schools, attract students from all across the land. Those who wish to talk, too, come to Greyhawk. With it's reputation as a Free City standing at the center of it's laws, Greyhawk provides a safe haven for diplomats and ambassadors who cannot travel to faraway lands. While this volatile mix often breeds intrigue and occasional small-scale violence, the Lord-Mayor brooks no major incident - and getting banned from the Free City is something no diplomat wishes. Still, some do not care for the Free City's benifits. The dreaded Horned Society has shown this - recent ritualistic murders beneath Greyhawk's streets concern many citizens.
Ultradan
The border between the Domain of Greyhawk and the Duchy of Urnst lies in the Cairn Hills, rugged uplands dotted with hundreds of tombs and burial grounds, the remnants of a bygone era. Most crypts were explored long ago, the wealth excavated from them accounting for the first "treasure boom" that thrust a trading post named Greyhawk into urban greatness. The hills are home to thousands of gnomes, halflings, dwarves, and humans, some of the latter group as bandits and troublemakers. The region's major products are wool and fine gems, especially rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. Greyhawk controls much of this area now; part of the southern hill country once owned by the Duchy of Urnst was ceded to Greyhawk in 584 CY, an ill-advised decision in the best light. Treasure hunters continue to explore the hills in search of any number of lost tombs and cairns, particularly the legendary fifth Star Cairn, so named because sages expect its alignment with four known tombs traces a star pattern, and the bizarr Silver Metal Cairn, where metal tools of unknown origin and use are said to have been found.
Ultradan
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The city of GH is one of the largest in the Flanaess (more than 70.000 souls), with a good mix of races (less orcs and 1/2-orcs than the usual, due to the strong hate of the former leader of the assassin's guild toward orcs).
The gouvernment is an oligarchy, around 20 representatives from the most powerful Unions from the city (merchant, beggar, thief, assasin, mage, militia & military...), lead by its Lord Mayor, Nerof Gasgal (2nd of the thieves' guild).
Unknown to some of those representatives, there is a secret inner circle of oligarcs, whose leader is the head of the thieves' guild, Org Nenshen, and in that inner circle, you find the beggar's headmaster, assassin's headmaster...
However, GH is a bastion of trade, peace, diplomacy, and even neutraly-aligned, GH stands as a strong place of balance, meaning that it favors the "good" side (the evil side on the Flanaess is very strong). GH helps good countries all around, since they act as a buffer against evil countries (mostly Iuz far across the Nyr Div, a huge inner sea, whose favourite dream is to destroy the free city of GH).
You may find every neutral and good churches, and even a few evil or close to evil (Hextofr, Wee Jas and so on).
Most of evil cults (Nerull, Vecna, Iuz, Tharizdun, Erythnul, Incabulos, Kyuss...) may be found hidden in the sewers or secret places.
The security is strong in most quarters of the city (except the docks on the river and the slum quarter) with lots of watchmen patroling at night.
Keep in mind, this is coming from a Forgotten Realms junkie, but why the heck isn't the City of Greyhawk boxed set available as a PDF? That boxed set was great, and I was going to suggest that for anyone interested in learning more about the city, but apparently that was one of the few 2nd edition items that never got the PDF loving . . .
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You may find every neutral and good churches, and even a few evil or close to evil (Hextofr, Wee Jas and so on).
Most of evil cults (Nerull, Vecna, Iuz, Tharizdun, Erythnul, Incabulos, Kyuss...) may be found hidden in the sewers or secret places.
According to Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins, all evil churches and cults were banned some years ago after problems with local cultists. Operatives of Iuz, Nerull, Erythnul, Vecna, and Kyuss (recently) do exist but they lack formal churches. I'm not sure about Wee Jas however. I'll have to check my books to make sure.
...but why the heck isn't the City of Greyhawk boxed set available as a PDF?...
It is.
[url]http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/aDAndD1/greyhawk/v5748bt py7meh[/url]
I can't attest to the quality of it, but you should be able to find all your basic info there.
Another great pdf source for Greyhawk is AD&D Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins. I downloaded this file for use with the Age of Worms campaign. It contains complete details on the city. Granted the stats are for 2nd edition, but most of the source material is easily convertible.
http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/aDAndD2/greyhawk/v5748bt py7mnc