Question: Which city is home to the oldest radio station in the U.S.?
Answer: KCBS, which began as KQW in 1909 in San Francisco, California, is recognized as the oldest radio station in the United States. Originally launched by engineer Charles Herrold, the station stood apart by broadcasting news snippets and records—rather than the Morse code transmissions common at the time—making it a true pioneer in audio broadcasting. From his engineering college, Herrold regularly aired programming, while his wife, Sybil, helped grow the audience by borrowing popular records and running listener competitions. In 1921, KQW received a limited commercial license, and the station was later acquired by CBS in the 1940s, when it was renamed KCBS. In 1968, KCBS adopted an all-news format, a tradition it continues today as a major news broadcaster in the Bay Area.
