WorldAtlas includes Alabama town in the South’s oldest small towns to visit

There is plenty of historic towns across Alabama but one specific spot is often considered the oldest continuously occupied city in the state.

And WorldAtlas has added that spot to its list of 10 Oldest Small Towns to Visit in the Southern United States.

Childersburg, which has history dating all the way back to the 16th century, made the cut. Keep reading to find out more about the city’s history + see why WorldAtlas says you should visit.

Childersburg, Alabama

According to the city, Childersburg is self-proclaimed as the Oldest Continually Occupied City in America—dating all the way back to at least 1540 when Hernando DeSoto visited with a Spanish army.

The city’s beginnings date back to Coosa, a village of the Coosa Indian Nation that was located in the area.

The area around Childersburg is rich in native American artifacts + culture with a large amount of written documentation to support a long history of explorers, traders and settlers occupying the area.

The city of Childersburg was officially incorporated in 1889. WorldAtlas points to a number of historic spots around town to visit including:

• Kymulga Grist covered bridge (1861)
• Kymulga Grist Mill (1864)
• Butler Harris Rainwater Museum (1894)
• DeSoto Caverns

10 Oldest Small Towns to Visit in Southern U.S.

WorldAtlas loves making lists from most charming towns to best downtown areas. And we love it when an Alabama town makes the list!

But we also like looking into some of the other areas on the list. If you’re ever looking to make an out-of-state trip, whether it’s for a day or a week, these lists can deliver some top destinations.

If you like history, there’s a good chance you’ll like visiting towns that share the list with Childersburg. WorldAtlas included:

• Batesville, Arkansas
• Greeneville, Tennessee
• Jonesborough, Tennessee
• Natchitoches, Louisiana
• New Bern, North Carolina
• Williamsburg, Virginia
• Jamestown, Virginia
• St. Marys, Georgia
• St. Augustine, Florida

Have you ever visited some of the historic spots in Childersburg? Let us know on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter for more like this in your inbox.