The Oldest Historic Town in Each State

Compared to many nations in the world, the United States is a relatively young country. Founded in 1776 when Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence, the United States is set to celebrate its 248th birthday this summer, although many of the oldest continuously occupied settlements far predate the nation’s founding.

Many of these towns have continued to grow since they were founded, and have grown to become big cities, while others remain relatively small in comparison. Some have established themselves as important state capitals like Albany, New York, and yet others still have kept their original small-city charm, quaint towns like Kittery, Maine, which offers visitors an incredible history from then and now.  

The majority of the oldest historic towns listed here are in the Northeast, which only makes sense as settlers first arrived on the shores of the Eastern part of America, and were founded by English and Dutch settlers. But the oldest city is Saint Augustine, Florida, established in 1565 by the Spanish, which far predates the second oldest cities, Santa Fe, New Mexico, also founded by the Spanish, and Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English colony in what would become the United States, that both date from 1607. (Check out which countries are home to the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.)

To assemble a list of the oldest historic town in each state, 24/7 Tempo drew on numerous sources, including Smithsonian Magazine, World Atlas, Travel Channel, and others, and verified founding dates and other historical data through official city and state websites. Included are only towns, cities, and census-designated places, and those that have existed continuously as residential and business communities since they were first established. We did not include Native American settlements, most of which, of course, are much older than those founded by Europeans. (As for the states themselves, this is how your state was founded.)

Here is the oldest historic town in each state 

Mobile, AL

• Founded: 1702
• Current Population: 180,000 (estimated)

Sitka, AK

• Founded: 1799
• Current Population: 8,339 (estimated)

Tucson, AZ

• Founded: 1775
• Current Population: 546,574 (estimated)

Batesville, AR

• Founded: 1812
• Current Population: 11,170 (estimated)

San Diego, CA

• Founded: 1769
• Current Population: 1,375,452 (estimated)

San Luis, CO

• Founded: 1851
• Current Population: 635 (estimated)

Windsor, CT

• Founded: 1633
• Current Population: 29,492 (estimated)

Lewes, DE

• Founded: 1631
• Current Population: 3,533 (estimated)

Saint Augustine, FL

• Founded: 1565
• Current Population: 15,180 (estimated)

Savannah, GA

• Founded: 1733
• Current Population: 148,004 (estimated)

Hilo, HI

• Founded: 1902
• Current Population: 47,627 (estimated)

Franklin, ID

• Founded: 1860
• Current Population: 1,166 (estimated)

Peoria, IL

• Founded: 1691
• Current Population: 111,021 (estimated)

Vincennes, IN

• Founded: 1732
• Current Population: 16,484 (estimated)

Dubuque, IA

• Founded: 1833
• Current Population: 58,873 (estimated)

Leavenworth, KS

• Founded: 1854
• Current Population: 37,081 (estimated)

Harrodsburg, KY

• Founded: 1774
• Current Population: 9,149 (estimated)

Natchitoches, LA

• Founded: 1714
• Current Population: 17,440 (estimated)

Kittery, ME

• Founded: 1647
• Current Population: 9,846 (estimated)

St. Mary’s City, MD

• Founded: 1634
• Current Population: 933 (estimated)

Plymouth, MA

• Founded: 1620
• Current Population: 60,803 (estimated)

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

• Founded: 1668
• Current Population: 13,333 (estimated)

Wabasha, MN

• Founded: 1830
• Current Population: 2,592 (estimated)

Biloxi, MS

• Founded: 1699
• Current Population: 49,118 (estimated)

St. Genevieve, MO

• Founded: 1735
• Current Population: 5,033 (estimated)

Fort Benton, MT

• Founded: 1846
• Current Population: 1,443 (estimated)

Omaha, NE

• Founded: 1854
• Current Population: 485,153 (estimated)

Genoa, NV

• Founded: 1851
• Current Population: 1,013 (estimated)

Dover, NH

• Founded: 1623
• Current Population: 33,416 (estimated)

Jersey City, NJ

• Founded: 1618
• Current Population: 286,670 (estimated)

Santa Fe, NM

• Founded: 1607
• Current Population: 89,008 (estimated)

Albany, NY

• Founded: 1614
• Current Population: 100,826 (estimated)

Bath, NC

• Founded: 1705
• Current Population: 239 (estimated)

Pembina, ND

• Founded: 1843
• Current Population: 504 (estimated)

Martins Ferry, OH

• Founded: 1779
• Current Population: 6,140 (estimated)

Fort Gibson, OK

• Founded: 1824
• Current Population: 3,810 (estimated)

Astoria, OR

• Founded: 1811
• Current Population: 10,182 (estimated)

Chester, PA

• Founded: 1644
• Current Population: 33,449 (estimated)

Providence, RI

• Founded: 1636
• Current Population: 189,563 (estimated)

Charleston, SC

• Founded: 1670
• Current Population: 153,672 (estimated)

Fort Pierre, SD

• Founded: 1832
• Current Population: 2,142 (estimated)

Jonesborough, TN

• Founded: 1779
• Current Population: 6,172 (estimated)

Ysleta (part of El Paso), TX

• Founded: 1681
• Current Population: 27,197 (estimated)

Ogden, UT

• Founded: 1845
• Current Population: 86,825 (estimated)

Westminster, VT

• Founded: 1735
• Current Population: 2,998 (estimated)

Jamestown, VA

• Founded: 1607
• Current Population: 14,665 (estimated)

Steilacoom, WA

• Founded: 1851
• Current Population: 6,655 (estimated)

Shepherdstown and Romney, WV

• Founded: 1762
• Current Population: 1,531 and 1,722 (estimated)

Green Bay, WI

• Founded: 1765
• Current Population: 106,095 (estimated)

Cheyenne, WY

• Founded: 1867
• Current Population: 64,610 (estimated)