Old Florida Towns ...
Florida is a state with varied history. It makes sense that many of the best places in our state are the charming and historic towns, and on the way one finds unusual and interesting finds in the 'back roads'. It’s difficult to pin down the oldest places in the state, because so many of our towns predate Florida as a state, or even as a U.S. territory. For towns, we use either the official date of incorporation date or web searchable information supporting age (attempting to capture finds near 100 years old. See Destination Opportunity sites like: Only In Your State, Roadside America, Trips to Discovery, and Swag Grabber.
St. Augustine (1565)
St. Augustine was founded on September 8, 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez de Avilles, Florida's first governor. He named the settlement "San Agustín", as his ships bearing settlers, troops, and supplies from Spain had first sighted land in Florida eleven days earlier on August 28, the Feast Day for St Augustine. St. Augustine is one of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. Walk the back streets and you will find it retains a lot of its historic charm. It served as the capital of Spanish Florida, and of U.S. Territory of Florida before it was changed to Tallahassee. See more St Augustine photos here.
St. Augustine was founded on September 8, 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez de Avilles, Florida's first governor. He named the settlement "San Agustín", as his ships bearing settlers, troops, and supplies from Spain had first sighted land in Florida eleven days earlier on August 28, the Feast Day for St Augustine. St. Augustine is one of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. Walk the back streets and you will find it retains a lot of its historic charm. It served as the capital of Spanish Florida, and of U.S. Territory of Florida before it was changed to Tallahassee. See more St Augustine photos here.
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Pensacola
Pensacola is one of the oldest and most historic cities in America, with a settlement that predated even St. Augustine's (but only lasted a short time). Pensacola became part of the U.S. in 1821, and it was officially incorporated in 1825. Its history far predates this time, and it was ruled by five different flags in its history.
Pensacola is one of the oldest and most historic cities in America, with a settlement that predated even St. Augustine's (but only lasted a short time). Pensacola became part of the U.S. in 1821, and it was officially incorporated in 1825. Its history far predates this time, and it was ruled by five different flags in its history.
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Micanopy (1821)*
Part of our photo challenge is to photograph the ten oldest towns in Florida in day trips. Historic Micanopy, settled in 1821, is the oldest inland town in Florida. Cholokka Boulevard, once an Indian trading route, is Micanopy’s main street, and the town’s primary tourist destination known for its antique shops. The main street has a mix of rustic storefronts and dining for casual shoppers, collectors, and has been a location for Hollywood film makers.The Town of Micanopy encompasses 1.03 square miles in rural north-central Florida between Gainesville and Ocala just off Interstate 75, with 700 residents and 300 homes. More photos ...
Part of our photo challenge is to photograph the ten oldest towns in Florida in day trips. Historic Micanopy, settled in 1821, is the oldest inland town in Florida. Cholokka Boulevard, once an Indian trading route, is Micanopy’s main street, and the town’s primary tourist destination known for its antique shops. The main street has a mix of rustic storefronts and dining for casual shoppers, collectors, and has been a location for Hollywood film makers.The Town of Micanopy encompasses 1.03 square miles in rural north-central Florida between Gainesville and Ocala just off Interstate 75, with 700 residents and 300 homes. More photos ...
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Apalachicola (1827)
Known as the oyster capital, In 1827, the town was incorporated as "West Point" and received its current name in 1831. A small town we visited on the way to our Panhandle southern route to Biloxi. The main street had lovely eclectic shops to browse and several eating establishments. Off the main street was the Orman house, possibly the oldest building of Greek Revival style on the Florida coast. A slave home resides on the property. ... more photos.
Known as the oyster capital, In 1827, the town was incorporated as "West Point" and received its current name in 1831. A small town we visited on the way to our Panhandle southern route to Biloxi. The main street had lovely eclectic shops to browse and several eating establishments. Off the main street was the Orman house, possibly the oldest building of Greek Revival style on the Florida coast. A slave home resides on the property. ... more photos.
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Old Town Marianna
Marianna is one of the oldest towns in the state, founded in 1827. It was one of the important agricultural centers of north Florida's plantation economy before the Civil War. Downtown Marianna once had many nice shops and restaurants, but over the last two visits, much of the town is less than active and not at all prosperous. Our first visit was in September 2018. Our most recent visit in February 2019 was to capture additional photos of downtown, but we were sad to see that Marianna suffered badly from Hurricane Michael. Homes, schools, tree-lined areas were devastated and everywhere we looked were piles of debris - trees, limbs, household and personal belongings. (first three photos 2018, last photo 2019) More photos ...
Marianna is one of the oldest towns in the state, founded in 1827. It was one of the important agricultural centers of north Florida's plantation economy before the Civil War. Downtown Marianna once had many nice shops and restaurants, but over the last two visits, much of the town is less than active and not at all prosperous. Our first visit was in September 2018. Our most recent visit in February 2019 was to capture additional photos of downtown, but we were sad to see that Marianna suffered badly from Hurricane Michael. Homes, schools, tree-lined areas were devastated and everywhere we looked were piles of debris - trees, limbs, household and personal belongings. (first three photos 2018, last photo 2019) More photos ...
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Jacksonville
Florida's largest city is also one of its oldest. Soon after Spain gave up Florida to the United States, folks near the area the British had called Cowford started founding this town named after Andrew Jackson. It was officially incorporated in 1832.
Florida's largest city is also one of its oldest. Soon after Spain gave up Florida to the United States, folks near the area the British had called Cowford started founding this town named after Andrew Jackson. It was officially incorporated in 1832.
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Fernandina Beach
The "Isle of 8 Flags" may have been controlled by eight different nations, but it's been an incorporated town here since 1825. The history of this city in Northeast Florida goes much, much farther back. Many of the 19th-century buildings remain in the charming downtown district.
The "Isle of 8 Flags" may have been controlled by eight different nations, but it's been an incorporated town here since 1825. The history of this city in Northeast Florida goes much, much farther back. Many of the 19th-century buildings remain in the charming downtown district.
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Key West (1822)
Lt. Commander Matthew C. Perry planted an American flag on Key West in 1822, claiming the islands for the United States, and it was incorporated as a city in Florida in 1828. Head to the Key West Historic District, or Old Town, to see some of the oldest structures on the island. More photos ...
Lt. Commander Matthew C. Perry planted an American flag on Key West in 1822, claiming the islands for the United States, and it was incorporated as a city in Florida in 1828. Head to the Key West Historic District, or Old Town, to see some of the oldest structures on the island. More photos ...
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Quincy (1828)
This town in Gadsden County was established in 1828, named for our sixth president, John Quincy Adams. In its early years Quincy became very prosperous due to a booming tobacco industry.
This town in Gadsden County was established in 1828, named for our sixth president, John Quincy Adams. In its early years Quincy became very prosperous due to a booming tobacco industry.
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Tallahassee
Tallahassee was incorporated in 1825. It was chosen as the capital of Florida long before Florida became a state, due to its central location between Pensacola and St. Augustine.
Tallahassee was incorporated in 1825. It was chosen as the capital of Florida long before Florida became a state, due to its central location between Pensacola and St. Augustine.