ILLINOIS- PEORIA
Established: 1680
French colonists Robert Cavalier Sieur de LaSalle and Henri de Tonti built Fort Crevecoeur on the bank of the Illinois River in 1680, and soon after, a village grew around it. But the history of this town goes back a lot further than that. Archaeologists have traced signs of inhabitants as far back as 10,000 BC thanks to artifacts and burial mounds of a Native American civilization found here.
INDIANA- VINCENNES
Established: 1732
This was a French fur trading post when it was founded in 1732 along the Wabash River. This oldest town was founded by French military officer Francois Marie Bissot-Sieur de Vincennes. It was part of New France, and an army post was built here to keep the British away. And once the fur trade died down, agriculture took the reigns!
IOWA- DUBUQUE
Established: 1837
Dubuque is one of the oldest colonies west of the Mississippi River. This oldest town was founded by Julien Dubuque, a French-Canadian fur trader. He worked closely with the Mesquakie Indian tribe to manage lead mines in the area.
28 thoughts on “50 Incredible Oldest Towns In The US”
Hampton Virginia was established in 1610 and is the oldest, continuous English speaking settlement in the New World.
St. Augustine, FL, is the old European settled city in the US – established in 1565.
what happed to Gloucester City, Fort Nassau 1623 ?
I sincerely want to thank you for description of Maryland. Maryland was settled as “The Free State,” for religious freedom. The democrat governor and failed president attemptee took away the free state slogan and made the official logo “The Old Line State.” Yes, it was the old line state, but it was for religious freedom before anything else.
Some of the oldest cities are in Vermont and Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
I lived in Astoria Oregon from 1957 to 1961. It was a thriving fishing town. The Navy had a base on the Columbia River. This was long before the bridge was built and ferries crossed the river to Washington. It was an interesting city. Small and friendly people.
What about Va. Hampton-the oldest English speaking town in America.
St. August, FL, is the oldest settlement of European origin in the US – established in 1655 and still going strong.
Santa Fe was settled by Spain in 1610
I am a native Mississippian and have visited Natchez several times. Of all the things you COULD have said about Natchez (beautiful antebellum homes, Mississippi River town, casino, etc.), you chose to hang the “states most active slave-trading city” moniker around its neck. Is that the best you could do – perpetuate the city’s 200-years-ago history that no one is proud of today? Wouldn’t it have been better to describe it in a manner that would draw someone to the area? I thought that was the whole point of this article – to encourage people to visit the 50 oldest cities. That’s surely not likely to happen with that glowing (NOT) description of Natchez.
Thank you for defending our wonderful Mississippi! I guarantee the racial divide is not nearly so wide here as in many other states. Mississippi is, for the most part, a deeply religious state, and we have learned from those terrible mistakes of the past.
Thank you for your candid comment, which I believe expresses the feelings of most true Americans !
thank you so much my husband and i are retired and love to travel and we like to spend our $$$$$ in our country to keep our economy healthy so thanks again.
Actually, the first shots of the (Un)Civil war were fired upon “Star of the West” as she attempted to resupply Fort Sumter on January 9,1961.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/star-of-the-west-is-fired-upon
Civil war began 1961?
I have been to Hawaii 4 times including Barbers Point and both Hickam Air Base & Pearl Harbor where I attended School 5th and 6th at Hickam and 7th at Pearl Harbor Intermediate. Lots of memories even at my age as you never forget the great times growing up.
I Love Hawaii and still think it is the best place in the world as I have been there 4 different times with the first time growing up as I went to 5th and 6th grade at Hickam Air Base and 7th at Pearl Harbor Intermediate back in the 50’s.
West Virginia got a few sentences. :/
One of the most beautiful states & has a lot of history. Yet….
I lived in Providence,RI for many years. I’ve been to Connecticut a lot and also Massachusetts. I would definitely love to visit some more of the older states in my lifetime.
I like 👍. I just retired and getting ready to travel and spend my money here in the US 1st many beautiful places to travel thank you.
AUGUSTA Georgia missed, an important pre revolutionary town. ALSO Darien in that state
How about Southampton, Long Island, NY? Founded in 1640 by Edward Howell. A truly charming village.
I found it very interesting.
Been to Bath NC numerous times, as it lays across the Pamlico River where I reside in Chocowinity NC. A quaint town with no amenities that I’m aware of.
You forgot Marietta Pennsylvania founded in 1719 named after Mary and Henrietta Anderson
Newark NJ might have been settled in 1666 but that was well after Burlington City NJ was settled in 1621.
I think I have been to them all except STEILACOOM.
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.