OREGON- ASTORIA
Established: 1811
Astoria happens to be the oldest US settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1811 by John Jacob Astor, our country’s first millionaire. He sent fur traders to the area. Fun Fact: It also has close ties to the Lewis & Clark footpaths.
PENNSYLVANIA- PHILADELPHIA
Established: 1681
In the early 1600s, English, Dutch, and Swedish traders came to the area, but in 1681, Quaker pacifist William Penn arrived, taking over. King Charles II gave him the province, and it quickly became one of the most important cities in the 13 colonies.
RHODE ISLAND- PROVIDENCE
Established: 1636
Roger Williams became exiled from the Massachusetts colony in 1636 due to his unorthodox religious beliefs, and he stumbled upon the Providence area. He purchased the land and named it “God’s merciful providence,” creating one of the oldest towns with the promise of religious freedom.
SOUTH CAROLINA- CHARLESTON
Established: 1670
English colonists stumbled upon Charleston in 1670. This “oldest town’s ” historical claim to fame is that it’s where the first official shot was fired in the Civil War at famous Fort Sumter. When colonization began, it was known as Charles Towne, for Charles II, and eventually became the center of trade in indigo and rice due to its location on the water.
I lived in NJ for many years and Newark wasn’t far from one of the towns I lived in. I also lived in D.C. and traveled to Williamsburg which is definitely worth the trip.
I found the history of these towns relative to Native Americans settling them poignant since these people were replaced by white men. We then put them in “reservations.” Not a very proud history.
My city, Victoria, Texas was founded in 1824 by Spanish Settlers under Martin DeLeon . It was named for Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Jesus Victoria and Guadalupe Victoria, the first Mexican president. We are 201 years old now.
Lahaina is another, located on Maui, Hawaii.
Gloucester MA., Established in 1623.
St. Augustine – oldest continuously occupied, but Pensacola was established in 1559 by Don Tristan de Luna and Spanish settlers and is America’s First (European) Settlement. The king and queen of Spain visited Pensacola in 2009 to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the 1559 Luna Expedition which established Pensacola. Magellan’s ship Elcano visited last year. Lots of heritage for both cities.