I generally build residential zones along the coast (I'm partial to rivers and beaches), then work out 8*8 grids in anticipation of high density zones later. I put down my schools (from elementary to city college, as well as a library and museum), a fire station and hospital (med centers overcrowd too quickly!). Then I build my residential zones within those circles. I don'tr build industry until my Sims are educated and manage to keep them employed in commercial zones. I always add lots of parks around the hospital (a quiet zone, if you will) and then have playgrounds and soccer and baseball fields near the schools.
This can drain your coffers PDQ, but it'll even out by the time your sims are smart enough to work in high tech industry, then I zone those.
I admit, I also cheat a little, going for the casino and running red to get that army base, missile silo and federal prison, which I lump together near the landfill and power plants.
I also followed the advice of one poster who suggested the farming community with the small resdientail blocks at the corners of farm zones. Tha twroked out great! Farmville is quite prosperous!
Next I build an all-out industrial city with landfills, waste to energy plants and use that to power the surronding cities.