dec 1, 1493 - First Permanent European Settlements

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The first permanent European settlement in the Americas, La Isabela, was founded by Christopher Columbus upon his return to Hispaniola in December 1493.

The first attempt at a permanent settlement, established to the west of La Isabela a year earlier, had been destroyed by the native Taíno people before Columbus returned.
La Isabela, too, was abandoned by 1500. The town had been struck by the first known epidemic to spread from Europe to the New World in 1493 and two hurricanes in 1494 and 1495. Hunger and disease led to mutiny among the residents.
In light of these circumstances, Columbus decided to abandon La Isabela in favor of a new settlement. Nueva Isabela was founded on Hispaniola's southern coast in 1498. Later renamed Santo Domingo, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas.

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