Get to Know the Oldest Businesses in Every State (Slideshow) Some of these companies date back to the 17th century.

By Rose Leadem Feb 7, 2017

Share

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The unsung business successes are sometimes the companies that create a true legacy -- the ones that outlive their founders.

These companies don't always make the headlines. But they sustain their communities and their employees for generations -- even centuries.

Related: The 15 Most Profitable Small-Business Industries

These companies are the definition of resilience. They've needed to adapt to changes in leadership and market needs. For instance, California's longest surviving business is aluminum manufacturing company Ducommun. This company started as a hardware store during the Gold Rush in 1849. Today, it supplies aluminum to the aerospace industry.

Over decades, these long-running businesses have built their reputations. C.D. Peacock Jewelry in Chicago opened in 1837 -- the same year Chicago officially became a city. This company built trust from its earliest days -- safegaurding valuables from the city's great fire in its vault. Since then its customers have included Chicago's top society leaders including Mary Todd Lincoln and Marshall Field.

These companies serve as an inspiration, with some U.S. businesses dating back to the 1600s. Find out the oldest business in your state with this special slideshow.

Research and graphics courtesy of Busy Beaver and Digital Third Coast. Slideshow information presented first in this coordinating infographic.

Rose Leadem

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

3 Things Your Business Idea Must Have to Succeed — as Proven By Famous Harvard Business School Startups
This Couple Cashed in Their 401ks to Launch a Virtual Business — Here's How It Led to a 9-Figure Exit and Co-Owning 2 Professional Soccer Teams
The No. 1 State to Retire in Might Not Even Be on Your Radar, According to a New Report
12 Books That Self-Made Millionaires Swear By
These Are the Highest-Paying Side Hustles for a Single Day of Work
Use These 3 Steps to Find the Perfect Franchise Opportunity for You

Most Popular

Science & Technology

Make Music from Prompts with This AI Subscription, Just $50

This AI music generator promises to take you from prompt to song in just a few seconds.

By Entrepreneur Store

Business News

Scarlett Johansson 'Shocked' That OpenAI Used a Voice 'So Eerily Similar' to Hers After Already Telling the Company 'No'

Johansson asked OpenAI how they created the AI voice that her "closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference."

By Sherin Shibu

Starting a Business

How to Start an Event Planning Business: Your Comprehensive Guide

Not sure how to become an event planner? Use this step-by-step guide to launch your event planning business from scratch.

By Laura Tiffany

Business News

Now that OpenAI's Superalignment Team Has Been Disbanded, Who's Preventing AI from Going Rogue?

We spoke to an AI expert who says safety and innovation are not separate things that must be balanced; they go hand in hand.

By Sherin Shibu

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Beyond the Great Resignation — How to Attract Freelancers and Independent Talent Back to Traditional Work

Discussing the recent workplace exit of employees in search of more meaningful work and ways companies can attract that talent back.

Franchise

What Franchising Can Teach The NFL About The Impact of Private Equity

The NFL is smart to take a thoughtful approach before approving institutional capital's investment in teams.

By Alicia Miller