Discover 5 of the Oldest Cities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 American colonies, but it was unique among all of them in the Quaker influences that helped shape the state’s culture and made it a refuge for people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds. It’s no accident that the name of its largest city, Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” If you visit some of the oldest cities in Pennsylvania, hopefully, you’ll feel some of that love and make this historic state a frequent vacation destination. Because definitions of “city” vary widely, we’ve chosen somewhat arbitrarily to include just places with a population of at least 1,500 people as of the 2020 census. So don’t look for any ghost towns on this list, as cool as they are.

1. Chester, 1644 (population 32,605)

Chester is the oldest city in Pennsylvania. It started in 1644 as a Swedish tobacco-growing colony called “Finlandia.” When William Penn acquired the colony in 1681, he renamed it and made it a safe haven for Quakers, an English Christian community that had endured persecution in the Old Country. Chester developed into a buzzing manufacturing center, eventually specializing in textiles, machinery, metalworking, and the manufacture of locomotives and ships. In fact, the first steel ships commissioned by the U.S. Navy were built there. World War II provided a great boon to manufacturing and population growth, which gradually declined toward the end of the century. In the 21st century, the city revitalized the waterfront area as a recreation and office district.

Here are a few places to visit when in Chester:

• Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack is a harness racing track and casino located on the Chester waterfront.
• Crozer Arboretum (Crozer Garden) is a 12-acre garden park. Some of the larger trees date to the mid-1800s. It’s a great place to walk and see native flora, natural springs, and over 1,400 rhododendrons.
• Delaware Museum of Nature and Science has fascinating and educational exhibits for all ages.
• Kennett Square is a shopping and dining district at the center of town.

2. Bristol, 1681 (population 9,861)

Bristol was named for the well-known city of Bristol, England. The Pennsylvania version prospered in part because of its location on an excellent transportation network, including a ferry to Philadelphia, train service to New York City and New England, and a complex network of canals connected to neighboring states. The main industries of the city were textiles, foundries, milling, and manufacturing. The city today has many sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A must-see in Bristol is the Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Museum, a Victorian home that will give you a taste of the beautiful furnishings and the family life of that era. Bristol Wharf, overlooking the Delaware River is a good place to walk and take in the sights. Sometimes the wharf hosts concerts and other events; check online for a schedule of events before you visit. The King George II Inn is a nice place to dine. Silver Lake Nature Center has hands-on exhibits, a children’s play area, and 5 miles of hiking trails. Finally, you’ll really enjoy the Delaware Canal State Park. This whopping 839-acre park is a 60-mile towpath that runs beside the canal, crossing 18 municipalities. Mules once trudged this path pulling canal boats loaded with cargo. Nowadays, it’s a long pathway perfect for walking, biking, horseback riding, or jogging. 

3. Philadelphia, 1682 (1,603,797)

Philadelphia has the largest population of any city in Pennsylvania, and it is the second-largest city in the Northeast after NYC. It is also the place where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed and ratified, and the first capital of the U.S. Philadelphia was founded by William Penn, an English Quaker. Although his charter from King Charles II granted him the right to seize the land from the indigenous people, Penn insisted on purchasing the land from them and making a peace treaty.

He named the city Philadelphia (“brotherly love”) to underscore his vision for the colony. Philadelphia was home to Benjamin Franklin, a brilliant Founding Father who was instrumental in the country’s independence. In modern times, the city was influential in American music, especially R&B, soul, and rock. “American Bandstand,” hosted by Dick Clark, was filmed there starting in 1952. It inspired the musical tastes and dance styles of generations.

Here are a few Philly ideas to get you started:

• Independence National Historical Park is where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. See the iconic Liberty Bell, the original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, and a copy of the original Bill of Rights.
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art holds priceless artwork of all different styles and historical periods. Don’t be surprised if you see visitors running up and down the stairs like Rocky from the 1976 film – these are the actual stairs where that iconic scene was filmed.
• The Philadelphia Zoo is the first and oldest zoo in the country.
• Betsy Ross House in the Old City is the site where Betsy sewed the first flag of the United States.
• If you need to get out into the outdoors, check out Wissahickon – a hiking trail and nature space along Wissahickon Creek.

4. Bethlehem, 1741 (population 75,781)

Bethlehem got its name from Nicolaus Zinzendorf, a Moravian bishop, who came to the area as a missionary to educate and convert local Native American tribes to Christianity. He named the settlement in honor of the village in Israel where Jesus was born. You can see a legacy of the Christian conversion effort in God’s Acre cemetery, where converted Native Americans of the Lenape tribe are buried alongside Moravians. The Moravians practiced gender-segregated communal living. They built separate dormitories for men and women in their community as well as grist and sawmills. In 1777 many members of the Continental Congress fled to Bethlehem from Philadelphia as the British were advancing on the city. During the war, George Washington stored his personal things on a farm in Bethlehem.

Here are a few things you might particularly enjoy experiencing in Bethlehem:

• James Burnside Plantation – the farm where George Washington’s personal items were stored.
• Because of the city’s name, it makes much of the Christmas holidays. It’s known by the nickname “Christmas City USA.” You’ll see plenty of decorations, lights, and events during the holiday.
• The Crayola crayon company is nearby. At the Crayola Experience children can enjoy interactice activities and even create their own crayons!
• The historic Hotel Bethlehem is located downtown. It has hosted 4 presidents, Winston Churchill, the Dali Lama, Shirley Temple, and other noteworthy people. Even if you don’t stay there, you can visit the public areas to learn more about the hotel’s history in displays and shops.

5. Allentown, 1762 (population 125,845)

Fans of 1980’s music will immediately recognize the name Allentown from Billy Joel’s song of the same name – a poignant ballad about a community coping with the economic and cultural stresses of the decline of the refining industry. Allentown has been an important manufacturing center for Pennsylvania throughout its history. One of its noteworthy companies is Mack Trucks. It is today the third largest city in the state, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Here are a few memorable attractions you might like to show your family on your visit to Allentown:

• Dorney Park & Wildlife Kingdom is one of the nation’s largest amusement and water parks. Its “Steel Force” rollercoaster is the world’s 8^th longest steel rollercoaster.
• Drum Corps International’s Eastern Classic – annual performances from the world’s top junior drum and bugle corps in a 2-day event.
• Many museums – Da Vinci Science Center; Liberty Bell Museum, Museum of Indian Culture, Mack Trucks Historical Museum.
• The Allentown Symphony Orchestra, the Marine Band of Allentown (a civilian concert band), and the Nineteenth Street Theater.

Finally, Allentown is a surprisingly great location for foodies. You can visit restaurants serving dishes from the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, but also from ethnicities around the world, including Chinese, Colombian, Italian, Japanese, Lebanese, Portuguese, Thai, West Indian, and much more. Some of the local favorite dishes are things like scrapple, chow-chow, Lebanon bologna, shoofly pie, and funnel cakes; cheesesteaks are very popular. And don’t forget Yocco’s Hot Dogs, which is regionally well-known.

Pennsylvania is Where it All Starts

For history fans, Pennsylvania is one of the best states to visit to learn about our country’s colonial and Revolutionary beginnings. The idea of “brotherly love” is one that we need at all times in history, but perhaps especially in our world today. Pennsylvania’s diversity shows that it continues to welcome any who choose to visit or make it their home. In fact, maybe the next Pennsylvanian will be you.

Summary of 5 of the Oldest Cities in Pennsylvania

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Beyond My Ken / Creative Commons – License / Original