50 Incredible Oldest Towns In The US

Oldest Towns

Some of America’s oldest towns have transformed into thriving cities that continue to grow, while others seem to have been forgotten by time yet still retain their history and charm. There have inevitably been disputes between towns over who was really “first,” but the places on our list are most likely the oldest.

The US is considered a relatively young country, but of course, plenty of these “oldest towns” and cities have been around for a very long time. By looking at the year settlers founded each town, we’ve figured out the oldest towns by state. Of course, we shouldn’t forget that before European settlers arrived on the land known as The United States Of America, Native Americans called these places their home.

Unfortunately, many towns that were “established,” expelled or wiped out Native Americans by colonizing settlers who claimed the land. Colonial America’s history often erases these stories. So even though it’s not always pretty, history is fascinating! Click “Next” below to see which 50 oldest towns made our list, some of them you might not even know about!

ALABAMA- MOBILE
Established: 1702

Did you know that Mardi Gras celebrations originated here? Check out the Mobile Carnival Museum to learn its history! This “oldest town” is a port city on the Gulf Coast in Alabama with a lot of French influence. While some would argue that Childersburg is the oldest continually occupied city in Alabama, dating back to 1540, it wasn’t established until 1889.

ALASKA- KODIAK
Established: 1792

This oldest town is on Kodiak Island and was founded by Aleksandr Andreyevich Baranov, a Russian trader, and merchant. It was initially called Pavlovsk Gavan, which is Russian for Paul’s Harbor. Besides those beautiful views, you can still find a large Russian Orthodox church there.

ARIZONA-TUCSON
Established: 1775

Even though the City of Tucson’s official website says it has been continuously settled for over 12,000 years, it was established in 1775.
Today it’s the second-largest city in the state, but it began as a small Spanish fortress and was considered part of Mexico once.

ARKANSAS- ARKANSAS POST
Established: 1686

Georgetown is considered the oldest town in the state, founded in 1789, but Arkansas Post was technically the first city in Arkansas, established as a trading post by the French in 1686. Unfortunately, it was mostly destroyed in the Civil War and is now a state park.

CALIFORNIA- SAN DIEGO
Established: 1769

What was first San Miguel became San Diego when Spanish explorers dedicated the first California mission, San Diego de Alcalá, in 1769. It’s one of the largest cities in the state and is just north of Mexico. In the 16th century, the Diegueño, Cahuilla, Luiseño, and Cupeño peoples settled the area.

COLORADO- SAN LUIS
Established: 1851

San Luis was established by Hispano farmers and named after a Catholic saint. It has a predominately Hispanic population of fewer than 700 people, featuring a powerful Spanish influence. It used to be part of four Spanish land grants decreed by the King of Spain, and the classic adobe architecture and Spanish town layout remain.

CONNECTICUT- WINDSOR
Established: 1633

Settlers from the Plymouth Colony built the first trading house in Windsor in 1633 on a patch of land they bought from Native Americans who were occupying the space. Today, the city uses its “oldest town” status to create a historical atmosphere, perfect for tourism.

DELAWARE- LEWES
Established in: 1631

This oldest town calls itself “The first town in the first state,” since Delaware was the first to ratify the Constitution. Lewes enjoys a particular sort of fascinating history. The charming town is full of historical traces and is a great place for a weekend getaway. There is plenty of nature to be found, as it’s located right where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet.

FLORIDA- ST. AUGUSTINE
Established: 1565

Historians say St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied city in the US, established by the Spanish. It was established in September 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, a Spanish soldier who chose the name because of the date he first saw it…it was the feast day of St. Augustine.

GEORGIA- SAVANNAH
Established in: 1733

Enchanting Savannah is the “oldest town” in the state and was the 13th and final American colony. General James Oglethorpe, with his 120 passengers voyaging on a ship named “Anne,” docked along the Savannah River, and so, Savannah was born. It was once the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia.

HAWAII- HILO
Established: 1822

This oldest town’s history dates back to 1100 AD when Polynesians inhabited the area. But Christian missionaries arrived in 1822, and it became a center of whaling and trade. Today, Hilo is a significant business port best known for its orchid industry.

IDAHO- FRANKLIN
Established: 1860

Franklin got its name in 1860 from a small group of Mormon migrants and was named after Apostle Franklin D. Richards. Interestingly, when they began building cabins and farming, they thought they were still in Utah. It was only in 1872 that an official boundary survey placed a border between the two states.

Pro Tip: Hilo is the perfect Hawaiian adventure. You get to combine fun in the sun with a historical experience, all in one stop!

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.

KANSAS- LEAVENWORTH
Established: 1827

Colonel Henry Leavenworth founded Leavenworth in 1827, and it eventually became known as the “jumping point” of the opening of the West. Fort Leavenworth is still in use today, making it the third-oldest continuously active military base in the US. This “oldest town” was the largest city on the Missouri River during the Civil War.

KENTUCKY- HARRODSBURG
Established: 1774

Harrodsburg, originally called Harrodstown, was established by James Harrod. This is the oldest permanent colony west of the Alleghenies. And you can still see a replica of the original fort where Daniel Boone once lived and the Lincoln Marriage Temple, where Abraham Lincoln’s parents got married.

LOUISIANA- NATCHITOCHES
Established: 1714

Founded in 1714 by French explorers, Natchitoches resembles the French quarter and is sometimes referred to as “little New Orleans.” This “oldest town” is the oldest permanent colony of the Louisiana Purchase territory. Founded by the French-Canadian explorer Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis, it was once known as Fort St. Jean Baptiste and later renamed for the Natchitoches Indians.

MAINE- KITTERY
Established: 1647

Settlers first arrived in Kittery in 1623, but it wasn’t incorporated until 1647. Before the Europeans arrived, it was known as the Piscataqua Plantations. Native Americans knew it as Amiciskeag, which is roughly translated to “fishing point,” something that the town is still well known for to this day.

MARYLAND- ST. MARY’S CITY
Established: 1634

This “oldest town” was built on a Secowocomoco Indian village founded in 1634 by Catholics trying to escape religious persecution. Many knew it as the birthplace of religious freedom in the United States and was once the colonial capital. A statehouse was even built here in 1676.

MASSACHUSETTS- PLYMOUTH
Established: 1620

Plymouth is called “America’s hometown” for its famed Plymouth Rock, where the Mayflower landed in 1620. This “oldest town” was the first permanent settlement by Europeans in New England and was once known as the colony of New Plymouth.

MICHIGAN- SAULT STE. MARIE
Established: 1668

Sault Ste. Marie is a port of entry linked to its Canadian twin city, Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario. It recently celebrated its 350th anniversary, and it was first visited by French Canadian explorer Étienne Brûlé who named it after the Virgin Mary. In 1668, Jacques Marquette founded a mission here.

MINNESOTA- WABASHA
Established: 1830

Wabasha was established in 1830, though continuously occupied since 1826. It’s named after the Indian Chief of the Sioux Nation, Chief Wa-pa-shaw, who lived in the area. Interestingly, his nephew, Augustin Rocque, was the first white settler in the valley.

MISSISSIPPI- NATCHEZ
Established: 1716

French colonist Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville established Natchez in 1716, and it was the state’s most active slave-trading city.

MISSOURI- ST. GENEVIEVE
Established: 1735

The actual year that St. Genevieve was founded is unknown, but historians believe that French-Canadian settlers could have lived here as early as 1735. It was the first civilized settlement in Missouri, included originally in Illinois Country.

MONTANA- STEVENSVILLE
Established: 1841

This “oldest town” was founded by Catholic missionaries in 1841 and was named initially St. Mary’s Mission, then Fort Owen. It was finally called Stevensville after Issac Stevens, the first Governor of the Montana territory.

NEBRASKA- BELLEVUE
Established: 1822

A settlement was constructed by Joshua Pilcher, who was then the president of the Missouri Fur Company. This “oldest town” is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Nebraska, being first established as a trading post and moved to its current location in 1835.

NEVADA- GENOA
Established: 1851

This oldest town only has two hundred fifty inhabitants. It was claimed in 1851 as a trading post by Mormon traders from Salt Lake City. Originally servings as a provisioning station meant to serve passing wagon trains. In 1855 Mormon leader Orson Hyde renamed it Genoa, in honor of Christopher Columbus’s place of birth.

NEW HAMPSHIRE- DOVER
Established: 1623

Dover was initially settled in 1623 by fishermen and traders. It’s the seventh oldest settlement in the US and was once known as Northam. Fun Fact: In 1692, it became part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the Cocheco River was the first place water power was utilized.

NEW JERSEY- NEWARK
Established: 1666

This is the biggest city in New Jersey and was settled in 1666 by 200 settlers. It was purchased from the Indians in Delaware and initially named Pesayak Towne and later New Milford. Its name could also have biblical significance from New Ark.

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NEW MEXICO- SANTA FE
Established: 1610

This “oldest town” is also the second oldest city in the country. The name means “holy faith” in Spanish, and it was founded between 1607 and 1610 by Don Pedro de Peralta and was initially named Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asis. In the 18th century, Santa Fe was used as the headquarters of a Spanish colonial frontier province.

NEW YORK- ALBANY
Established: 1624

The capital of New York also happens to be its oldest city. Henry Hudson came to Albany in 1609. Unfortunately, it was already home to a Dutch trading post and the Haudenosaunee tribe. The town didn’t become the capital of the state until 1797. Fun Fact: Albany is where the first long-distance airplane flight took place and also for the first passenger railroad.

NORTH CAROLINA- BATH
Established: 1705

Bath was also the state’s first port and was nearly named its capital. Unfortunately, the population slowly diminished after the town was passed up and has just 244 residents now. It was first inhabited by a Native American village called Pamlicoe but was later settled by the English in 1695. In 1705, it was pronounced the first incorporated town in the state.

NORTH DAKOTA- PEMBINA
Established: 1797

This oldest town’s official motto is: “Oldest Settlement in the Dakota Territories.” This town’s first official date in history was in 1797 when the first trading post was established. It was the first European settlement and was home to the first organized church, school, post office, border/customs house, and homestead. The town is named after the high bush cranberry that grows there.

OHIO- MARIETTA
Established: 1788

Marietta was the first city in the Northwest Territories and was officially founded in 1788 after the Adventure Galley sailed along the Ohio River and arrived there. It was once inhabited by the Hopewell and Adena Indians around 100BC-500AD, leaving behind a history of artwork. You can still see some of these designs today.

OKLAHOMA- FORT GIBSON
Established: 1824

The sign welcoming visitors into Fort Gibson declares it’s “The Oldest Town in Oklahoma.” It was founded in 1824 due to rising tensions between the Cherokee and Osage Nations. The US had to move their outpost further west. It was an essential spot in the westward expansion of the US due to its proximity to the river, making it the perfect starting point for many military voyages but was abandoned in 1857, and was opened back up during the Civil War.

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.

SOUTH DAKOTA- FORT PIERRE
Established: 1743

This oldest town stores a plate buried by French explorers named Verendrye, among the first white men to explore the state. It is the oldest continuously occupied white settlement in the state. You can still see the Verendrye Monument National Historic Landmark there.

TENNESSEE- JONESBOROUGH
Established: 1779

Jonesborough is known as “Tennessee’s Oldest Town.” It was established in 1779 as a frontier town, 17 years before Tennessee was even a state. What was once designated as the capital is now a quaint town that is a popular tourist destination in the state.

TEXAS- NACOGDOCHES
Established: 1779

In 1700, Spaniards began founding missions in and around the area, and the region was eventually surrendered to Spain. But in 1779, Gil Y’Barbo came to Nacogdoches and founded a local government. Nine flags have flown over this oldest town. Including Spanish, French, Mexican, Lone Star, Confederate, and the US.

UTAH- OGDEN
Established: 1851

Ogden was originally named Fort Buenaventura. Mormon settlers bought it in 1847, and it was officially incorporated in 1851. According to the town’s official website, it was once a “lawless frontier town,” dating back to 400 AD, when the area was inhabited by the Great Salt Lake Fremont Indians and then the Northern Shoshone and Goshute tribes.

VERMONT- WESTMINSTER
Established: 1734

According to the Westminster Historical Society, Westminster’s small “oldest town” was founded in 1734, but it wasn’t a permanent settlement until 1751. The main street of Westminster Village was laid out during the reign of George the Second, so it was called the King’s Highway.

VIRGINIA- JAMESTOWN
Established: 1607

This “oldest town” was the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607. Most early settlers died from disease, starvation, and war with the Powhatan Indian tribe. Nowadays, it’s a historic site, but no longer a town, and is located near “Colonial Williamsburg.”

WASHINGTON- STEILACOOM
Established: 1854

Steilacoom officially became a town in 1854, founded by a boat captain from Maine, who was reminded of his home upon seeing the area on the Puget Sound. Originally he called it “Port Steilacoom,” but months later, John B. Chapman took a claim to the west, naming his town “Steilacoom City,” and they ended up combining the two rival towns. Union Avenue joined them soon after.

Pro Tip: If you plan on visiting Virginia, don’t miss Colonial Williamsburg! You’ll get the full experience of knowing what colonial living was all about!

WEST VIRGINIA- SHEPHERDSTOWN AND ROMNEY
Established: 1762

These two cities were adopted on the same day in December 1762. However, there’s a debate about which is really older. Inhabitants are said to date back as far as 1710.

WISCONSIN- GREEN BAY
Established: 1655

Green Bay is more than just football. While different Native American tribes lived in the area, French explorer Jean Nicolet visited in 1634 and called it “La Baye Verte,” or The Green Bay. Before European settlers took over, Ho-Chunk Nation, Menominee, Fox, and Ojibwa Indians inhabited the region. It was first founded as a fur-trading post in 1655, becoming an important trade route.

WYOMING- CHEYENNE
Established: 1867

Wyoming’s capital city is also its “oldest town.” It was founded in 1867 after years of being a railroad town. Cheyenne overgrew and was nicknamed “Magic City of the Plains.” The first inhabitants of Cheyenne were men who came west to work on the Union Pacific Railroad, and by 1869, it was booming.

Let us know in the comments below if you’ve been to any of these places, or if they’re on you’re bucket list!…and if you found this article interesting, you may want to check out: 48 Charming Small Towns You Haven’t Heard of (But Should Visit ASAP)