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This answer will give both the modern sense of a city and the classic definition as well. In modern times cities are founded by documents that incorporate them, while in older times cities were founded by a group of people calling a group of homes by a name to define it.

Classical sense (may still be occupied and in use):

700 B.C. Ticul* - Still occupied today, founded by Mayans - Central Mexico

650 A.D. Cahokia - unoccupied, founded by the Mound Builders - United States

1000 A.D. Oraibi - Occupied, founded by the Hopi - (Arizona) United States

1000 A.D. Taos Pueblo - Continuously occupied, built by the Puebloan people - (New Mexico) United States

1003 A.D. L'Anse aux Meadows - unoccupied founded by the Norse (European) - Canada

Modern sense (requires foundational charter or incorporation paperwork)

1498 A.D. Santo Domingo* - founded by Spanish Charter - Dominican Republic

1510 A.D. Nombre de Dios - Spanish Charter - Panama

1521 A.D. San Juan - Spanish Charter - Puerto Rico, United States

1565 A.D. St. Augustine - Spanish Charter - Florida, United States

1583 A.D. St. John's Newfoundland - British Charter - Canada

* NOTE: These cities were originally cities by indigenous populations that were either re-occupied or taken over by settlers.

Some of these cities are noted for their historical significance. Oraibi for instance is still occupied today by indigenous populations. L'Anse aux Meadows was the first European city in the Americas, founded by Lief Ericson, and although the colony failed it was the first.

The other cities are listed to include definitions originally debated in this answer (the islands part of North America vs. the main continent).

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12y ago

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