MASSACHUSETTS – A state deeply intertwined with the very beginnings of American history, established its administrative framework early in the colonial era. While Plymouth holds the title of the oldest town, the oldest counties still trace their origins back to 1643. On May 10 that year, the Massachusetts General Court divided the growing Massachusetts Bay Colony into its first counties, or “sheires.”
Massachusetts’ Foundational Pillars: The Oldest Counties Established in 1643
Three original divisions – Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk – remain today, holding the shared distinction of being the oldest counties in the Commonwealth.
…