100 American Towns Founded Before the American Revolution

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French settlers led by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis founded the city, near the Natchitoches Native American village on the Red River.

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72. Natchez, Mississippi
> Founded: 1716
> Population: 15,345

First settled by the French, Natchez is the oldest city established along the Mississippi River.

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73. New Orleans, Louisiana
> Founded: 1718
> Population: 382,922

New Orleans, the “Crescent City” because it was built on a sharp bend of the Mississippi River, was founded by French settlers.

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74. San Antonio, Texas
> Founded: 1718
> Population: 1,439,358

San Antonio got its name from Spanish settlers in 1691, but the city was not founded until 1718, when its first mission and first presidio were established.

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The Marriage Capital of Every State

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75. Trenton, New Jersey
> Founded: 1719
> Population: 84,559

The city is named after one its leading landowners, William Trent, and was called “Trent-towne.”

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76. Walpole, Massachusetts
> Founded: 1724
> Population: 6,209

Walpole was settled by colonists and was named after pro-colonist British prime minister Sir Robert Walpole.

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77. Kaskaskia, Illinois
> Founded: 1725
> Population: 20

The French incorporated the town that was given special rights by King Louis XV. Kaskaskia is located on Kaskaskia Island.

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78. Provincetown, Massachusetts
> Founded: 1727
> Population: 2,680

Pilgrims landed in Provincetown Harbor and stayed in the area for five weeks before traveling on to Plymouth. The first permanent settlement in Provincetown was established nearly 100 years later.

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79. Vincennes, Indiana
> Founded: 1732
> Population: 18,098

French fur traders founded Vincennes, the oldest city in Indiana.

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80. Savannah, Georgia
> Founded: 1733
> Population: 144,717

English settlers led by General James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, which became Georgia’s first city.