there is some dispute at the local level as to the claim of being the first to establish a local board or health department. for example, the city of petersburg, virginia claims it established the first permanent board of health in 1780; the city of baltimore, maryland claims it is established the first us health department in 1793, philadelphia, pennsylvania followed 1794, claiming its board of health as “one of the first”; and boston, massachusetts claims in 1799 it established the first board of health and the first health department, with paul revere named as the first health officer.