The 10 Oldest Cities in Florida (And Which Are Best to Visit Today)

While humans have inhabited Florida for more than ten thousand years, the arrival of Europeans marked the beginning of modern recorded history. Currently, there are over 280 official cities in the state. What are the 10 oldest cities in Florida? Which are best to visit today?

Now read on as we provide lots of fascinating information below.

10. Gainesville Established in 1854: The Second Best Old City to Visit Today

While it isn’t certain if indigenous people had settlements in the Gainesville area, there is evidence of a Native American presence in the region dating back over 12,000 years. Europeans officially settled it in about 1854, which is a few decades after Florida was annexed into the United States.

The oldest and biggest university in Florida is in Gainesville, called the University of Florida. The city is large for northern Florida, with a population hovering at a little under 150,000 people. The greater Gainesville metro area is home to over 300,000 Floridians.

9. Ocala Established in 1849

It’s believed that Ocala was established near a Timucua village of a similar name. The first European settlements may have existed in the sixteenth century but didn’t take root permanently. In 1849, Ocala officially became a city.

The United States Army built Fort King, which served as a focal point for the construction of Ocala around it. Equestrian activity is important in the city and generates over two billion dollars in revenue annually.

8. Marianna Established in 1828: The Most Underrated Old City in Florida

Established in 1828, Marianna was primarily a hub for plantation owners in the region. Today, Marianna a small city with less than 10,000 residents. Its eastern border is the Chipola River. While the town isn’t a resort destination, the caverns and bridge offer entertainment beyond what is expected in the region.

Hurricane Micheal devastated the city in 2018. The hurricane damaged 80 percent of the businesses and homes in town. It also caused a power outage that lasted 3 weeks.

7. Tallahassee Established in 1824

Tallahassee has been the capital of the state of Florida since 1824. The city has a population of around 200,000 people, while the wider metropolitan area is home to almost 400,000. It is the largest city in the Florida Panhandle.

There have been people inhabiting Tallahassee for thousands of years. The Spanish were occupying an Apalachee settlement in the area called Anhaica in 1538. This old town was about half a mile from the current capitol building.

6. Tampa Established in 1824

The U.S. Army officially settled the Tampa area when they created Fort Brooke in 1824. Further development didn’t occur until 1845. In 1849, what was then called Tampa Town was officially incorporated. Tampa Bay hosts the seventh-largest commercial harbor in the United States.

After the Civil War and Yellow Fever chased off most residents, the locals voted to abolish the city’s government in 1869. It was successful, but the government was reestablished as growth occurred. The railroad and phosphate mining revived the area by 1900, and today it’s a large metropolis with satellite cities.

It’s considered one of the most vulnerable cities in the world because it will incur major damage if directly hit by a hurricane. A direct hit hasn’t occurred for 100 years, and the coastline has been extensively developed since the last disaster.

5. Jacksonville Established in 1822

The Jacksonville area has played host to humans for over ten thousand years. In 1562, a French explorer charted the area. Within a few years, A settlement was established. Jacksonville’s location was largely influenced by its proximity to the mouth of the St. Johns River as it flows into the Atlantic.

The Spanish soon conquered the French and established a mission that was in use until the United States took control of Florida. It became a real town around 1822 as agriculture boomed in the region.

In 1901, a huge fire occurred that destroyed a chunk of the city. The smoke from the blaze was detectable 3 states away. This paved the way for modernization, and its current skyline began to develop.

4. Key West Established in 1822: The Third Best Old City to Visit in Florida

In 1822, a man claimed Key West for the United States. No one objected to this; the island has been a part of the United States since then. In the 1880s, Key West was the biggest and richest city in the state of Florida.

This key was also known as Cayo Hueso by the Colonial Spanish. That’s because the island was believed to be used as a graveyard by Calusa natives before European colonization. While the Keys were used throughout history, they weren’t permanently settled until the 1800s.

No other city is farther south than Key West in the United States. It connects to mainland Florida by a long highway called the Overseas Highway. This highway is also called US Route 1.  

3. Lake City Established in 1821

Founded in 1821, this city is located between Tallahassee and Jacksonville. When it was founded, it was called Alligator, and its location was chosen based on its proximity to an established Seminole settlement. Today, it’s a small city with a population hovering below 13,000 citizens.

2. Pensacola Established in 1698: The Best Old City to Visit in Florida Today

Pensacola is the most western panhandle city in the state of Florida. It boasts miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, making it a popular destination for Georgians and Alabamans seeking leisure. The Blue Angels, which are a demonstration squadron for the US Navy, are based out of the Pensacola area.

Pensacola is not only one of the oldest cities in Florida, but it’s also the best vacation destination on this list. That’s because it boasts beautiful beaches with local amenities at affordable prices.

There is legitimate evidence proving that Spanish Colonists established a settlement at Pensacola before the first permanent settlement in the United States was created. However, this initial settlement only lasted two years before falling into ruins. The Pensacola that remains today officially began in 1698 after being surveyed off and on for years.

1. St. Augustine Established in 1565: The Oldest City in Florida

St. Augustine is on the Atlantic coast south of Jacksonville but still in its metropolitan area. It is the first place that Colonial Spain settled permanently and has remained inhabited since its inception in 1565. Some consider this city to be the oldest in the United States, while others support that San Juan in Puerto Rico is older.

St. Augustine was founded by a conquistador named Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. In 1964, it was the only place where Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested during his life. He was one of the main players in the violent protests centered in this city during the Civil Rights Movement.

Summary Of The 10 Oldest Cities In Florida

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