List of oldest companies in the United States


This list of the oldest companies in the United States includes brands and companies, excluding associations, educational, government or religious organizations. To be listed a brand or company name must remain, either whole or in part since inception, and should have been established before 1820. If the original name has since changed due to acquisitions or renaming, this must be verifiable.
YearCompanyLocationFieldReferenceNotes
1613Shirley PlantationCharles City County, VirginiaFarm
1623Avedis Zildjian CompanyNorwell, MassachusettsMusic CompanyFounded in Istanbul, moved to the U.S. in 1929.
1632-33Tuttle's Red BarnDover, New HampshireFarm
1639Field View FarmOrange, ConnecticutFarm
1642Barker's FarmNorth Andover, MassachusettsFarm
1667Seaside InnKennebunkport, MaineHotel
1667General Stanton InnCharlestown, Rhode IslandInn
1669Kenyon's Grist MillWest Kingston, Rhode IslandMill
1673White Horse TavernNewport, Rhode IslandRestaurant
1680SaunderskillAccord, New YorkFarm-
1690Towle SilversmithsBoston, MassachusettsSilversmithAbsorbed by Lifetime Brands, Inc.
1692A.W. Van Winkle & CompanyRutherford, New JerseyReal Estate
1702J.E. Rhoads & SonsMarple, Pennsylvania TanneryClosed 2009; now a brand of Mid Atlantic Industrial Belting Inc.
1705The John Stevens ShopNewport, Rhode IslandStone carver
1711Orchards of ConcklinPomona, New YorkOrchard
1720sSmiling Hill FarmWestbrook, MaineFarm
1725Pottstown Roller MillPottstown, PennsylvaniaGrain, FeedNow owned by Purina Mills.
1736Lakeside MillsSpindale, North CarolinaCorn products
1741WD CowlsAmherst, MassachusettsLumber
1752Caswell-MasseyNewport, Rhode Island PerfumeSold 2003-2007; re-branded 2017.
1760Lorillard Tobacco CompanyNew York City TobaccoDefunct 2016; brand owned by Reynolds American.
1764-65Baker'sDorchester, Massachusetts Chocolate, confectioneryNow a brand of Kraft Heinz.
1764The Hartford CourantHartford, ConnecticutNewspaper
1767McCrady's Tavern and Long RoomCharleston, South CarolinaRestaurant-
1774AmesChicopee, MassachusettsManufacturingBy 1907, the Ames foundries had been purchased by Chicopee's A.G. Spalding Company.
1776The Griswold InnEssex, ConnecticutRestaurant and Hotel
1778Dowse OrchardsSherborn, MassachusettsFarm
1778The GreenbrierWhite Sulfur Springs, West VirginiaHotel
1778Willow Grove InnOrange, VirginiaHotel
1779Old Talbott TavernBardstown, KentuckyHotel
1780Laird & CompanyColts Neck Township, New JerseyDistillery
1782Levi GarrettNew York City Chewing tobaccoNow a brand of the American Snuff Company.
1783Rawle & Henderson LLPPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaLaw firm
1784D. Landreth Seed CompanyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania Seeds
1784Bank of New YorkNew York CityBankMerged 2007 into The Bank of New York Mellon.
1785Bixler'sAllentown, PennsylvaniaJewelry
1785Turpin FarmsCincinnati, Ohio Farm
1786Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh, PennsylvaniaNewspaper
1790King Arthur FlourBoston, Massachusetts Flour and bakingNow based in Norwich, Vermont.
1792Cadwalader, Wickersham & TaftNew York CityLaw firm
1792Insurance Company of North AmericaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania InsuranceNow Cigna
1792New York Stock ExchangeNew York CityStock Exchange-
1792Old Farmer's AlmanacDublin, New HampshireAlmanac
1792State StreetBoston, MassachusettsBanking
1794Baltimore EquitableBaltimore, MarylandInsurance
1794Rochester CablesCulpeper, VirginiaCablesNow a brand of TE Connectivity.
1794Warner CompanyWilmington, DelawareMiningDefunct.
1795Murray, Draper, Fairman & CoPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaManufacturingMerged 1858 into the American Banknote Corporation
1795DixonJersey City, New Jersey PencilsNow based in Lake Mary, Florida.
1795Jim BeamClermont, KentuckyDistillery
1796Shreve, Crump & LowBoston, MassachusettsJewelry
1797Birkett MillsPenn Yan, New YorkFood
1797Gruber's Hagerstown Town & CountryHagerstown, MarylandAlmanack
1797Wayside InnMiddletown, VirginiaHotel
1798Alan McIlvainPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania Sawmill
1798-1809Pratt-ReadIvoryton, ConnecticutTools
1798W. RoseBlockley Township, PennsylvaniaTools
1801Crane & Co.Dalton, MassachusettsPapermakingNow a subsidiary of Crane Co.
1801Revere Copper CompanyCanton, Massachusetts Copper ProcessingNow based in Rome, New York.
1802DuPontWilmington, DelawareChemicalsMerged 2017 into DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
1806ColgateNew York CityConsumer goods
1807WileyNew York City PublisherNow based in Hoboken, New Jersey.
1810Black, Starr & FrostNew York CityJeweler
1810The HartfordHartford, ConnecticutFinancial-
1811PfaltzgraffYork County, PennsylvaniaTablewareSold to Lifetime Brands, Inc. in 2005. Only Internet presence.
1811Davenport PetersBoston, MassachusettsLumberDefunct 1991.
1812City Bank of New yorkNew York CityBankNow Citigroup
1813ContiGroupArlon FoodExpanded to the U.S. in 1921.
1813Seth ThomasPlymouth Hollow, ConnecticutClockmakerDefunct. Now a brand of CST Enterprises.
1815Louisville StonewareLouisville, KentuckyPottery
1816Hodgdon YachtsEast Boothbay, MaineYachts
1816The York Water CompanyYork, PennsylvaniaWater utility
1816RemingtonIlion, New YorkFirearms; typewriters
1816Stark Brothers Nurseries and OrchardsLouisiana, MissouriFarm
1817Atkins & PearceCincinnati, Ohio Braided Textile ManufacturingNow based in Covington, Kentucky.
1817HarperNew York CityPublishingMerged 1989 into HarperCollins.
1818Breck'sBoston, Massachusetts FlowersAcquired by Gardens Alive!
1818Brooks BrothersNew York CityClothing
1818Brown Bros. & Co.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania BankMerged 1931 into Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
1818Marshall ElevatorPittsburgh, Pennsylvania ElevatorsAcquired by Otis.
1819Jacob BromwellCincinnati, Ohio HousewaresIncorporated on 1883.
1819Cravath, Swaine & MooreNew York CityLaw firm