100 Towns Founded Before the American Revolution

The town was founded in 1754 and was originally called Thomlinson, after English business agent John Thomlinson. The name was later changed to Grafton.

Colonists from Connecticut were granted a charter to create Hanover, a town that would become the home of Dartmouth College.

Colonial settlers migrating into Shenandoah Valley founded Shepherdstown.

Founded by colonial settlers, Romney claims to be West Virginia’s oldest town.

William Allen, chief justice of colonial Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, founded Allentown, which he originally named Northamptontown.

Colonists from England named the town after King George III’s wife, Charlotte, who was born in what is now Germany.

San Diego was founded by Spanish missionaries. It was the first settlement by Europeans in what would become California.

Prairie du Chien was founded by French missionaries, explorers, and fur traders.

Brothers Joseph, Andrew, and John Ellicott, who were Quakers, founded Ellicott’s Mills after buying property west of Baltimore.

Harrodsburg, founded by James Harrod, claims to be the oldest permanent English settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains.