Oldest U.S. City

Updated July 24, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The Question:

What is the oldest city in the United States?

The Answer:

St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest continuously settled city (by Europeans) in the United States. It is located 38 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth, landed there in 1513 and took possession of the territory for Spain.

Some, however, would argue that this country's oldest city is San Juan in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. de Leon founded a settlement at Caparra (which was later moved to San Juan's current location) five years before he reached St. Augustine. Nevertheless, while Puerto Rico is the oldest city under U.S. jurisdiction, most people consider St. Augustine the country's oldest city.

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-The Editors

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