11 Oldest US Companies Still in Business

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If you’re curious to find out which US companies are older than the country itself, this list of the 11 oldest US companies still in business includes some companies that predate the revolution that spawned the most powerful nation on Earth today.

Before the US was known as the land of opportunity, it had to get some businesses up and running first. And so, companies were established as early as the 1600s, beginning with Shirley Plantation in Virginia, the oldest family-owned business not only in the US but also in North America. During that century, farms, schools, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses were established, to cater mainly to the people of the British colonies at the time. And from those institutions, many have survived to this day, with some even taking prominent roles in shaping the nation into what it’s become today. This list of the oldest US companies still in existence includes institutions that are still operating or have otherwise continuously sold products since their respective inceptions.

Pixabay/Public Domain

Pixabay/Public Domain

We have to make some distinctions for this list, as the first seven businesses established in the US are either farms, hotels, or restaurants. For this list, we are not considering companies in those sectors, as many such farms, hotels, and restaurants deemed to be the oldest in the US tend to function more as historical landmarks than actual businesses. This list instead aims to shine the spotlight on those companies that have continually evolved and remained relevant over the centuries without being gimmicky.

Baker’s Chocolate, owned by Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC), Bixler’s Jewelers, Caswell-Massey, D. Landreth Seed Company, Hartford Courant, owned by tronc Inc (NASDAQ:TRNC), King Arthur Flour, Laird & Company, Lakeside Mills, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The John Stevens Shop, and Towle Silversmiths, owned by Lifetime Brands Inc (NASDAQ:LCUT) are the companies that made our list.

Six of these companies are even older than the US, while two of these companies even had the Founding Fathers as some of their notable clients and customers. Some of these companies remain family owned, while others have been part of publicly traded companies, but have managed to survive lo these many centuries.

Head to the next page to begin the countdown of the 11 oldest US companies still in business.

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