Pensacola, Fla. was the first settlement in what is now the United States, however it was blown away in a hurricane on Sept. 19, 1559.
By the time a real settlement was established and survived, St. Augustine was all ready established as the first city. Apparently Robert James, hurricanes do not hit that area as often as Pensacola.
For what it’s worth, the original name for the place was Santa María de Ochuse.
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 10-11-17
Pensacola