The second-oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the contiguous United States

Countries & Cities · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it was a modern port or a naval hub, this coastal town was a frontier of Spanish exploration. Its roots stretch back to the mid-16th century, making it one of the oldest enduring human outposts in the nation's history.

The origins of St. Marys are deeply tied to the 16th-century settlement of Spanish Florida. While nearby St. Augustine was established as a capital, explorers first reached this river area in the mid-1500s. Established during 1566, this Spanish colony ranks as the second oldest European-founded site still occupied today within the contiguous United States.

The town's identity shifted through waves of colonial influence from Great Britain before becoming part of the United States. Following Britain's victory over France in the Seven Years' War, the 1763 Treaty of Paris allowed Georgians to settle land swapped from Spain. In November 1787, twenty charter members gathered on Cumberland Island to sign a deed for "a town on the St. Marys," establishing an original area of 2,041 acres.

The name itself remains a point of historical debate. While some attribute it to the St. Marys River, others suggest it honors a 17th-century Spanish mission, Santa Maria, located on nearby Amelia Island. The town experienced major military and financial changes: British occupation occurred for one month during the War of 1812, followed by a smuggling hub period from 1812 to 1819 once the 1808 Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves started.

Today, St. Marys serves as a vital gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore via passenger ferry. Local commerce moved from 20th-century reliance on the Gilman Paper Company—shut down in 2002—toward heritage tourism and proximity to the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, where the U.S. houses its fleet. The Atlantic Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine fleet of the U.S. Navy.

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