A handful of cities around the United States are older than the country itself. Two of those cities are internationally famous, right here in Michigan.

What are the oldest cities in Michigan?

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is home to a handful of really old cities. Including St. Ignace established and Mackinac Island, each established in 1671 and Marquette in 1675.

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

  • A couple more Michigan cities are internationally known + older than the United States itself... Sault Ste Marie. If you've ever visited, you know the welcome sign displays "Since 1668." Like several Michigan cities, French fur traders helped explore & settle the area.
Credit Google Street View
Credit Google Street View
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  • Of course, Sault Ste Marie is one of the United States' most important connections to Canada, too.

Detroit, Michigan

  • Heading 346.1 miles south of Sault Ste Marie is Detroit. We know it as the Motor City, of course. It started in 1701, 75 years before 1776 if you're doing the math. Fur trading was all the rage back in the day and that's how Detroit got its start, too.
Detroit Skyline
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  • Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac founded Detroit in 1701 by establishing Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit which is part of Downtown Detroit, today. It's said he had about 100 Frenchmen and 100 Algonquin Indians with him to help settle the land.
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  • Notice the last name includes a famous Detroit automotive name, too? Cadillac was named after the founder about 200 years later in 1902 by Henry Leland. Cadillac led the way in the mass production of cars when they introduced interchangeable parts.

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