The first settlers in what would become the United States were diverse groups over time, with the earliest broadly recognized European footholds established in the 16th and 17th centuries, while long before them Indigenous peoples had been living across the continent for thousands of years. Key points to orient the timeline and groups:
- Indigenous peoples: Long before European contact, tens of millions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives lived across North America, with established cultures and societies in regions ranging from the Arctic to the Gulf Coast. These populations include civilizations and cultures such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca in the south (Mexico and Central America) and numerous groups in what is now the United States—Ancestral Puebloans, Iroquoian, Muskogean, Siouan, Algonquian-speaking peoples, and many others. Their presence dates back at least 12,000 years or more, well before Europeans arrived.
- Norse (Vikings): The first known Europeans to reach parts of North America were Norse explorers who established a settlement at Vinland (L’Anse aux Meadows) in present-day Newfoundland, around the late 10th century, roughly five centuries before Columbus. This settlement is evidence of early European contact, though it did not lead to sustained colonization.
- Spanish and other European footholds begin in the 16th century: The first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States is generally dated to St. Augustine, Florida, founded by the Spanish in 1565. This marked the earliest long-lasting European presence in what is now the continental U.S.
- English colonies emerge in the early 17th century: The English established Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, which became the first permanent English settlement in North America. Other English settlements followed, including Plymouth (1620) and various colonies along the Atlantic seaboard. These settlements solidified English presence and grew into what would become the Thirteen Colonies.
- French, Dutch, and other Europeans also established footholds in different regions during the 17th century, contributing to a complex mosaic of settlements and interactions with Indigenous peoples.
If you’d like, I can tailor the overview to a specific region (e.g., Northeast, Southeast, Southwest) or focus on particular groups (Indigenous cultures, Norse, Spanish, English, French, Dutch) and provide a concise timeline with notable settlements and contexts.
