In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived at Tenochtitlan and after a long siege, captured the city. Tenochtitlan was a major center for trade, military operations, culture, and political power. Over the next few centuries, Tenochtitlan grew into a large city-state and served as the center of the Aztec empire. Mexico City traces its history all the way back to 1325 when it was founded by the Mexica civilization (the Nahua Aztecs) as Tenochtitlan. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Alejandro Islas Photograph AC The city reverted back to its original name after Trujillo’s assassination.Ĭurrent Population: 9,209,944 (as of 2020) Did You Know?įrom 1936 to 1961, Santo Domingo was called Ciudad Trujillo after the Dominican Repbulic’s dictator at the the time, Rafael Trujillo. Despite its past, Santo Domingo has recovered quite a bit and has been enjoying a tourism boom in recent years. Throughout its history, Santo Domingo has been plagued by piracy, war, revolutions, and civil war. While Santo Domingo has been around for a long time, it has had a very tumultuous history. Not long after moving, La Nueva Isabela was renamed Santo Domingo in honor of Saint Dominic, and the city has served as the capital of the Dominican Republic ever since. Bartholomew Columbus, younger brother of Christopher Columbus, had moved his settlement to present-day Santo Domingo in 1496 and initially named it La Nueva Isabela after Christopher Columbus’ second settlement called Isabella. Total Area: 1,041.20 sq mi (2,696.69 km²) (including metro area)Īlthough the native Taíno people were already living on what is now the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Santo Domingo was not formally founded until 1498. Year Founded or First Inhabited: 1496 (officially in 1498)Ĭurrent Population: 2,908,607 (as of 2010 Census) (including metro area) Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in St. John’s remains as the main financial and commercial center for Newfoundland and Labrador. The city’s earliest recorded battle dates back to 1555. John’s was often targeted by various European countries. Due to its importance in the fishery trade of the region, St. John’s quickly became a large commercial trading post for the Basques, French, Spanish, Portuguese and English engaged in the fishery along the western side of the North Atlantic. John’s is the oldest European settlements in Canada and one of the oldest overall in North America. The city traces its history to 1497 when Italian explorer John Cabot first landed on the shores of what is now Newfoundland and Labrador. John’s is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Total Area: 547 sq mi (1,416.69 km²) (including provincial capital city, urban, and metro areas) Old San Juan Historic District still has many buildings and houses from the early Spanish colonial days, which makes them some of the oldest post-contact buildings and structures in the United States.Ĭountry: Newfoundland and Labrador, CanadaĬurrent Population: 493,242 (as of 2016 Census) (including provincial capital city, urban, and metro areas)
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Eventually San Juan declined in importance to the Spanish empire and after the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States. Within a few decades after its founding, San Juan had grown to include a university, a hospital, and a library. Since 1519, San Juan has served as the capital of Puerto Rico. San Juan soon rose in importance because of its riches and its location. Not long after, the settlement was moved to the east at the present site of Old San Juan and the island’s name was changed to Puerto Rico because of the gold in the river. In 1508, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León founded the first European settlement on the island, Caparra. Puerto Rico dates back to 1493 when Christopher Columbus claimed the island for Spain and called it San Juan Bautista. Photo source: Flickr via Ricardo’s Photography Year Founded or First Inhabited: 1508 (moved to present site in 1519)