10 Oldest US Towns and Their Complex Histories
TheCollector explores ten of the oldest towns in the United States, highlighting the problematic definition that excludes Native American settlements like Old Oraibi (Arizona, continuously occupied since AD 1100), Acoma Pueblo, and Taos Pueblo. The list includes San Juan, Puerto Rico (founded 1521, oldest European-founded city in US territory); St. Augustine, Florida (1565, oldest mainland city); Jamestown, Virginia (1607, first permanent English settlement); Santa Fe, New Mexico (1610, oldest capital city); Hampton, Virginia (1610, site of first enslaved Africans' arrival in 1619 and Fort Monroe's 'contraband' decision); Albany, New York (Dutch fur-trading post established early 1600s, chartered 1686); Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620, Pilgrim landing); Gloucester, Massachusetts (1623, oldest seaport); New York, New York (1624, Dutch New Amsterdam); and Salem, Massachusetts (1626, site of 1692 witch trials). The article notes that many Native settlements predate European ones, with Old Oraibi occupied since at least 1100 AD.
Key facts
- Old Oraibi in Arizona has been continuously occupied since at least AD 1100 by the Hopi.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico was founded by Spanish colonists in 1521.
- St. Augustine, Florida, founded in 1565, is the oldest mainland city in the US.
- Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement.
- Santa Fe, New Mexico, founded in 1610, is the oldest capital city in the nation.
- Hampton, Virginia, established in 1610, saw the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in 1619.
- Albany, New York was chartered as a city in 1686 but originated as a Dutch fur-trading post in the early 1600s.
- Plymouth, Massachusetts was founded by Pilgrims in 1620.
- Gloucester, Massachusetts, founded in 1623, is America's oldest seaport.
- Salem, Massachusetts, settled in 1626, was the epicenter of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
Entities
Institutions
- TheCollector
- Pilgrim Hall Museum
- Albany Institute of History and Art
- Ten Broeck Mansion
- New York State Museum
- Castillo de San Marcos
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum
- Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
- Fort Monroe
- Langley Air Force Base
- NASA
- Dutch West India Company
- Massachusetts General Court
- US National Guard
Locations
- United States
- Old Oraibi
- Arizona
- Acoma Pueblo
- New Mexico
- Taos Pueblo
- San Juan
- Puerto Rico
- Caparra
- St. Augustine
- Florida
- Jacksonville
- Jamestown
- Virginia
- Santa Fe
- Hampton
- Kecoughtan
- Albany
- New York
- Castle Island
- Port of Albany
- Plymouth
- Massachusetts
- Gloucester
- Boston
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Governor's Island
- Salem
- Danvers
- Cape Cod
- Hudson River
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland
- Portugal
- Sicily
- China
- India
- Russia
- Japan
- Cape of Good Hope