In this article, we will look at the 25 Most Historic Cities and Small Towns in the United States. We will also look at the state of travel and tourism in the United States and the trend of sustainability in the tourism industry.

State of Travel and Tourism in the United States

International travel and tourism play a critical role in the US economy. According to the International Travel Administration report the travel and tourism industry in the US comprised approximately 2.15% of the GDP in 2021. Moreover, the industry created 7.4 million job opportunities, out of which 4.8 million were direct jobs and 2.6 million were indirect jobs affiliated with the industry. The tourism industry is also one of the major contributors to the international trade of the United States. In 2022, the travel and tourism receipts formed 18% of the US services exports and 5% of all the US exports.

The pandemic hindered the growth of the travel and tourism industry in the US. In 2019, before the pandemic, international visitors spent around $233.5 billion in the United States, thereby contributing approximately $640 million a day to the US economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the travel and tourism industry generated $1.9 trillion in economic output in 2019, creating 9.5 million jobs in America and contributing 3.02% to the GDP. However, fast forwarding to 2021 and 2022, although the real output of goods and services sold to international visitors in the US increased by 53.6% year over year in 2021 and an additional 21.0% in 2022, the industry contribution to the GDP remains below pre-pandemic levels at 2.76% in 2021 and 2.97% in 2022.

Sustainable Tourism Market in the United States

With the climate threat growing globally, more industries are transitioning towards sustainability. According to data from UN Tourism, the carbon dioxide emissions from tourism are forecasted to increase by 25% by 2030, from its 2016 level of 5%. Due to this the global travel and tourism industry has moved towards sustainable tourism, concerned with improving the overall economic, social, and environmental issues related to tourism.

According to a report by Precedence Research, the US sustainable tourism market was valued at $0.73 trillion in 2023 and is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.40% to reach $2.44 trillion by 2032. The increasing awareness of the environment challenges government initiatives, and the emphasis on the preservation of indigenous cultures and heritage are some of the factors contributing to growth in the market. In the United States, North America held the largest market share of 38% in 2022.

Can a Ramp Up in Travel Demand Drive EXPE?

Tourism activity is gaining momentum and companies like Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) are expected to capitalize on this trend.  The online travel technology company, known for its travel fare aggregators and travel metasearch engines such as Hotels.com, Vrbo, and Trivago, is a key player facilitating sustainable tourism. The company aims to reach net zero emissions by 2040 and has set interim targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 throughout its operations and value chain and generate 100% renewable electricity each year through 2030. Moreover, in terms of the social impact, the company provided $8.7 million funding to its partners during 2023 and 60 non-profit grants for the well-being and resilience of its partners. It also awarded more than $1.5 million in grants through the Made to Travel Fund in 2022 and 2023 to increase access to travel for underrepresented travelers.

However, Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) has faced some turbulence over the past few quarters including leadership changes, the front-end migration of its platforms, and a slower than expected recovery in its vacation rentals business after its technical migration. Moreover, although travel demand has normalized across the globe since the pandemic, the pace of recovery in North America has not kept up with other markets which has impacted Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) more than peers due to its increased exposure to the US.

Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) managed to grow its revenue by 8.4% year over year in Q1 and generated $2.9 billion, ahead of market consensus by $80 million. Vrbo’s slow recovery after being integrated into a single platform with Expedia and Hotels.com led to a pressure on the company’s gross bookings and caused it to lower its guidance for full-year 2024. Management expects to grow its 2024 revenue in the mid- to high single-digit range and EBITDA and EBIT margins in-line with last year. Vrbo’s slow recovery may have been influenced by lower marketing spend in the second half of 2023 to focus on the technical migration, however, management now remains focused on improving all its business lines with continued investments in its B2C business (Vrbo) and international growth markets.

Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) ended the quarter with $5.7 billion in unrestricted cash balance and bought back $780 million worth of its stock during Q1 2024. The group will continue to repurchase $4.1 billion worth of its stock under its share buyback program which was authorized in November 2023.

Management believes its stock is undervalued and has not priced in its long-term future performance. Is that the case? Currently, EXPE is trading at 11 times its forward earnings on an adjusted basis. Analysts anticipate the company to grow its EPS by 22% in 2024 and a further 26% in 2025. EXPE’s 5-year median PE is 22, and if it grows its earnings to $14.88 by 2025, its share price could go to $327, which is a 165% upside from current levels. Moreover, the 1-year Street-high target of $200 implies a 62% upside from current levels (share price: $127 as of June 10).

While we acknowledge the potential for Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) to make a comeback and grow Vrbo, our true conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock”.

With this context, let’s look at the 25 most historic cities and small towns in the United States.

Our Methodology

To compile the list of the 25 most historic cities and small towns in the United States, we surveyed Reddit. First, we aggregated a list of the most historic cities and small towns in the United States by sifting through 5 online rankings. Next, we went to Reddit and found 5 high-engagement threads that asked people about historic cities and small towns in the US. We only selected threads that had at least 100 comments. From these threads, we recorded the total number of Reddit upvotes for each city and small town and ranked our list accordingly. The list is arranged in ascending order of the total number of upvotes on Reddit.

Note: This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect our opinion. The ranking is solely based on the opinions of Reddit users. Also, note that we have included places located in the suburbs of Chicago.

25 Most Historic Cities and Small Towns in the United States

25. Deadwood, South Dakota

Upvotes: 150

The Deadwood city ranks as the 25th most historic city and small town in the United States. It is situated in the state of South Dakota and has scored 150 Reddit upvotes. The city is characterized by its gold rush history of 1876. While the city itself is recognized as a historic landmark, some of the historic places to visit in the city include the Adams Museum and the Broken Boot Gold Mine. The city is a tourist attraction for its historic places and the Black Hills National Forest.

24. Trenton, New Jersey

Upvotes: 152

Trenton is the capital city of the state of New Jersey and ranks as the 24th most historic city and small town in the United States. The city was a temporary capital of the United States of America in 1784 and again in 1799. The restored William Trent House is one of the oldest landmarks in the city.

23. Atlanta, Georgia

Upvotes: 155

Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia. The city played an important role in both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. It ranks as the 23rd most historic city and small town in the United States with 155 Reddit upvotes.

22. Montpelier, Vermont

Upvotes: 158

Montpelier is the capital city of Vermont. The city is a great tourist attraction due to its historic landmarks and museums. In addition to the  Vermont History Museum, the Vermont State House is another historic landmark in the city. It ranks as the 22nd most historic city and small town in the United States.

21. New Castle, Delaware

Upvotes: 160

The New Castle city is situated in the state of Delaware and ranks as the 21st most historic city and small town in the United States. The city has scored 160 Reddit upvotes. Some of the historic landmarks in the city include the Immanuel Church, dating back to 1703, the Amstel House Museum, and the Old Dutch House.

20. San Antonio, Texas

Upvotes: 163

San Antonio ranks 20th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States. It is a major city in Texas with a rich colonial heritage. The Alamo stands as one of the oldest landmarks in the city, the fortress represents a sign of independence for the state of Texas as it was the site for the Battle of the Alamo that played a crucial role in the Texas Revolution.

19. Williamsburg, Virginia

Upvotes: 165

Williamsburg ranks as the 19th most historic city and small town in the United States. It is situated in the state of Virginia and has a rich history due to its role in the American Revolution. The city forms a historic triangle with Jamestown and Yorktown. Most of the history of the town is preserved in the colonial Williamsburg, a district with museums. The city is renowned for its preservation and interpretation of the American Revolution.

18. St Augustine, Florida

Upvotes: 168

St Augustine is one of the oldest settled cities in the United States. It ranks 18th on our list of the most historic cities and small towns in the United States. The city is renowned for its Spanish colonial architects and history. Many historic buildings in the city have been restored including the the cathedral, the Ximenez-Fatio House, and the the Spanish Quarter.

17. Richmond, Virginia 

Upvotes: 170

Richmond is the capital city of the state of Virginia and ranks 17th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is one of the oldest museums in the city.

16. Portsmouth, Virginia

Upvotes: 175

Portsmouth is another city in Virginia that ranks 16th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States. The city is an important site for the US military with shipbuilding and repairing navy yards. Many historic sites have been preserved in the city. Some of the important historical landmarks in the city include the Trinity Church, Monumental United Church, and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum.

15. Newport, Rhode Islands

Upvotes: 183

Newport City is situated in Rhode Island. It ranks as the 15th most historic city and small town in the United States, with 183 Reddit upvotes. Some of the important historic landmarks of the city include the Marble House, Touro Synagogue, and the Trinity Church.

14. Cambridge, Massachusetts

Upvotes: 198

The city of Cambridge is situated in the state of Massachusetts. The old part of the city, around Harvard Square, is home to rich history and American culture. Harvard University is one of the oldest learning institutions in the United States, other historic landmarks in the city include Longfellow House, Christ Church Cambridge, and the Old Cambridge Historic District. It ranks as the 14th most historic city and small town in the United States.

13. San Francisco, California

Upvotes: 200

San Francisco ranks as the 13th most historic city and small town in the United States, with 200 Reddit upvotes. It is situated in California and is home to some important historic landmarks including the Mission San Francisco de Asis, Fort Point National Historic Site, as-Lilienthal House, and the Fairmont San Francisco.

12. Salem, Massachusetts

Upvotes: 219

Salem is situated in the state of Massachusetts. The city is renowned for its Witch trials of 1962 and has significant landmarks preserved since that time including the The Witch House built in 1642, and the House of the Seven Gables. It ranks as the 12th most historic city and small town in the United States, with 219 Reddit upvotes.

11. Washington DC

Upvotes: 221

Washington DC is the capital of the United States of America. The city is defined by its classical monuments and buildings including the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court. The Lincoln Memorial and The Jefferson Memorial are also important historic landmarks in the city. It ranks 11th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States.

10. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Upvotes: 276

Santa Fe is a city in the state of New Mexico. It is renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture. The city was founded as a Spanish colony and has preserved some of the historic buildings including the Palace of the Governors, Loretto Chapel, San Miguel Mission, and Tesuque Pueblo. It ranks 10th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States.

9. Baltimore, Maryland 

Upvotes: 323

Baltimore is a major city in the state of Maryland and ranks 9th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States. Some of the important historic landmarks of the city include Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Fell’s Point, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

8.  Savannah, Georgia 

Upvotes: 364

Savannah is a coastal city in the State of Georgia. The city is known for its parks and antebellum architecture. Moreover, the Savannah Historic holds lots of cultural and historic buildings with 18th and 19th-century architecture. It ranks as the 8th most historic city and small town in the United States with 363 Reddit upvotes.

7. Hartford, Connecticut

Upvotes: 397

The Hartford is the capital city of Connecticut. The city is an important historic site for American history. The Mark Twain House & Museum, which was the house of Mark Twain, a famous American author. Other important landmarks in the city include the Connecticut State Capitol, Old State House, and the Samuel Stone House. It ranks 7th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States.

6. Annapolis, Maryland

Upvotes: 436

Annapolis is the capital city of the state of Maryland and also ranks as the 6th most historic city and small town in the United States. The United States Naval Academy is situated in the city and the Naval Academy Museum holds artifacts of historic ship models. The colonial history of the city has been preserved in many buildings including the Maryland State House, the Old Treasury, and the the Old Treasury. The city has scores of 436 upvotes on Reddit.

5. Charleston, South Carolina

Upvotes: 599

Charleston is a city in South Carolina that ranks 5th on our list of most historic cities and small towns in the United States. The city is characterized by its old colonial houses, churches, streets, and parks. Some of the historic landmarks in the city include the Heyward-Washington House, the Joseph Manigault House, and the the Dock Street Theatre.