In an alternate timeline where the Federation and Klingons jointly colonized planets under the Organian Peace Treaty, Benecia City was the first Federation colony on Benecia. It would also serve as the capital.
Founded sometime in 2270, Benecia City was soon replaced as the largest Federation settlement on the planet by Zenith Colony in 2275. That same year, the colony experienced a major earthquake which caused much damage. Many suspected the Klingons of having deliberately created the earthquake as a means of driving off Federation settlers and laying claim to the entire planet.
The fact that Federation colonies on Sherman's Planet had also been setback by a series of unfortunate events in 2267 and 2268 only fueled speculation of Klingon involvement on Benecia. (Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel: Honor in the Night)