From the days of the Powhatan Indians to the establishment of Middle Plantation nearly 400 years ago, from its rise to power for a hundred years as the capital of England's largest North American colo
Before the automobile age, when Americans lived close to their families and walked to work, the communities that eventually became metropolitan Boston were busy forging the nation’s industrial future
Taking its name from a fortification established more than 160 years ago during the Second Seminole War, Fort Lauderdale boasts a history stretching back 5,000 years before the first white settlers ar
A quiet colonial town forever changed by the shot heard 'round the world on April 19, 1775, Lexington evolved from its famous roots and adapted to the ever-changing culture of the nation it helped cre
Once the primary hunting ground of the Monocan Indians and later a harmonious common area shared with the Quakers, Lynchburg was a crossroads for various cultures even before its founding following th
Taking the name Pennsylvania Dutch from a corruption of their own word for themselves, "Deutsch," the first German settlers arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683. By the time of the American Revol
Once known as a great commercial port and pork-packing center, Cincinnati developed a diverse industrial economy in a bid to remain the West's Queen City. It is a community familiar with change as new
Born of a country's collective desire for riches, Sacramento was resolute in its survival while other Gold Rush towns faded into history. It battled catastrophic fires, floods, and epidemics to become
In 1790, when the seat of South Carolina's government was moved from the lowcountry port of Charleston to the "backwoods" of the state's midlands, the city of Columbia, on the banks of the C
On July 24, 1701, Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac stood in the heart of the wilderness on a bluff overlooking the Detroit River and claimed this frontier in the name of Louis XIV; thus began the story of
The citizens of Auburn, Indiana ensure that their city is truly special among the 22 Auburns in the United States. From the time of foraging hogs and cows roaming its streets to nude swimming at the Y
Comprised of ten distinct communities, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey nevertheless has a unified identity with historic roots reaching back more than 330 years. Originally populated by Native America
Through many decades, Lake Martin, a symbol of sustenance, has enticed generations of residents, vacationers, and modern retirees to its welcoming shores. This picturesque lake, shaped like a dragon p
The lives of the Native American, African, and European inhabitants of Bertie County over its 400 years of recorded history have not only shaped, but been shaped by its landscape. One of the oldest co
For nearly four centuries, the maritime history of Stratford, Connecticut set the standard for the growing relationship between the United States and the sea. For the long years when ocean and river w
Located at the very heart of the Crystal Coast in Carteret County, Beaufort represents the best of the old days and the old ways of historic North Carolina. Seeking a natural, deep-water harbor, settl
Once a Native American hunting ground, the industrial melting pot of Monessen, in western Pennsylvania, rises over a horseshoe bend in the Monongahela River. Established in 1898, this powerhouse town
The beautiful village of Sunland began as a quiet agricultural center, while Tujunga, at first a utopian colony, chiefly embraced commercial, social, and cultural endeavors. The two once exquisite spo
Recognized for its poise and fashion, Miami Beach embodies the best elements of the new American city: cultural diversity, imaginative architecture, and dazzling scenery. In many aspects, Miami Beach
Surrounded completely by the city of Detroit, Hamtramck is today home to 24,000 residents, but its small size-just 2.1 square miles-belies its expansive history and the influence this remarkable commu
Before Guilford County's formal establishment in 1771, legions of brave pioneers, such as English Quakers, German Lutherans, and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, journeyed the Great Wagon Road from points
Like many Southern states, South Carolina is a vivid mosaic of urban centers and pastoral landscapes, a unique blend of New South advances and agrarian traditions. It is within the Palmetto State's co
A world unto itself, Lake Winnipesaukee and its environs have attracted and sustained a variety of cultures over the past centuries, from early American Indian tribes, to New World settlers, to today'
Riley, a history professor whose hometown is Lockport, recounts the story of this town in western New York where five locks were built on the Erie Canal. She describes the building of the canal and pr
From Guale Indians and Spanish explorers to its glory days as the queen of south Atlantic beach resorts and beyond, Tybee Island's quiet charm hides a rich and occasionally violent history. Soldiers,
In the heart of central Kentucky Bluegrass country, Lexington boasts a long, proud history reaching far back before this "Horse Capital of the World" reared its first thoroughbred. Early Lexingtonians
An icon of Southern California and one of America's most imaginative and vibrant cities--the fitting destination at the end of Route 66--Santa Monica lies on the brink of the West and is known through
With its selection as Indiana's capital in 1821,Indianapolis was destined to become a majorMidwestern hub. Through the decades thatfollowed, the Circle City led Indiana into its goldenage, when the st
Frederick has stood as the gateway to western Maryland since the 1740s, when German and English settlers moved into the area seeking fertile farmland. Site of the first official rebellious act of the
Emerging from the shores of the Raritan Bay, Keyport's roots trace back to the Kearney family's plantation and its vital role during Revolutionary times. Although just 1.4 square miles in size, it enc
Kissimmee, Florida traces its name to the Jororo tribe, among the first to settle along the river valley. Riverboat captains, entrepreneurs, and speculators found Kissimmee and nearby Lake Tohopekalig
From Strawbery Banke to the Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth has always been the economic, cultural, and political hub north of Boston. Brightly-colored saltbox homes and towering lighthouses line the churn
Lenni Lenape tribes once foraged where Freehold Raceway and development and rejuvination efforts flourish today in Freehold, seat of Monmouth County. Following European colonization in the mid-sevent
Edgecombe County, in the coastal plains of North Carolina along the Tar River, was once home to the Tuscarora tribes and was founded by English immigrants from Virginia. The county swelled as an agric
Before Norwood, Massachusetts became a town in 1872, hardy settlers from Dedham left security and comfort behind and began building homes along the Neponset River and Hawes Brook. Living in an area st
Like many of New Jersey's older towns, Linden owes its existence to the enterprising and visionary Puritan colonists from Long Island who sought religious freedom and better farmland among the virgin
Morristown, New Jersey first earned its place in history during the Revolutionary War when General George Washington camped here with the Continental army, an event that led to the founding of the fir
Del Rio's roots grew in the sandy soil by San Felipe Creek along with the myths and dreams of the old Wild West, where the mighty Rio Grande dances through the dusty lands of the Lone Star State. Anci
Harrisburg was the capital of an increasingly urban and progressive Pennsylvania at the turn of the twentieth century, with the remnants of an older, more diverse city thriving in its midst. As the st
Marion's relationship with the ocean has been the defining element in the small town's development since its settlement as Sippican in America's colonial era. Since 1678, generation after generation o
