What was the first Spanish settlement established in North America?

St. Augustine holds the distinction of being the first Spanish settlement established in North America, founded in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. Its strategic location along the coastline of what is now Florida made it a significant site for Spain’s colonial ambitions. As the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement within the continental United States, St. Augustine served as a key military outpost and a center for trade and cultural exchange between the indigenous peoples and Spanish colonizers.

In contrast, Santa Fe was established later, in 1610, and was part of the larger Spanish presence in the interior of North America. Plymouth, founded in 1620 by English settlers, is unrelated to Spanish colonization. Tampa, while an important area, did not become an official settlement until the 19th century and is not recognized as part of the early Spanish colonial efforts in North America. Understanding the significance and timing of these settlements is crucial in grasping the early European colonization of North America and the Spanish Empire's role within it.