Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington is the biggest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, close to where the Christina River meets the Delaware River. In 2020, the city had a population of 70,898 people.

Swedish settlers first arrived in the area in 1638. The city of Wilmington grew around the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. The city was officially named Willingtown in 1731 and later renamed Wilmington in 1739, after Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington.

For many years, Wilmington was an important place for making ships, milling grain, and producing chemicals. This growth was helped by DuPont. Today, the city's work is mostly in banking and finance.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Wilmington, Delaware.

Wilmington began as a settlement called Kristinehamn, planned to be the capital of the colony of New Sweden. It included Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. The area was originally home to the Lenape people.

In 1638, Swedish settlers bought the land and built Fort Christina. The Swedes ruled the area until Dutch forces took over in 1655. Later, British rule began in 1664. The city was named Wilmington in 1739, after a British leader.

During the Civil War, Wilmington grew by making supplies for the war. The city produced ships, railroad cars, gunpowder, and other important goods. This growth led to new homes and parks, such as Rockford Park and Brandywine Park.

Both World Wars brought more industry to Wilmington, with factories working night and day. After the wars, many people moved to the suburbs.

In the 1980s, many big banks moved to Wilmington, bringing new jobs and office buildings.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wilmington covers a total area of 17.0 square miles (44 km²). Of this, 10.9 square miles (28 km²) is land and 6.2 square miles (16 km²) is water. Water makes up 36.25% of the city's total area.

The city is located where the Christina and Delaware rivers meet, about 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Philadelphia. It has a train station that connects to Philadelphia and is also served by important highways like I-95 and I-495. The Delaware Memorial Bridge nearby links Delaware to New Jersey.

Wilmington’s location and history make it an important city close to Philadelphia, but it also stands out as its own busy place. The city sits where two different land areas meet, creating varied landscapes that shaped how it grew.

Neighborhoods

The city of Wilmington has many different neighborhoods. Here are some of them:

North of the Brandywine River

• Baynard Village
• Brandywine Hills – This neighborhood has many homes and started in the 1930s. The streets are named after famous authors.
• Brandywine Village
• Eastlawn
• Eastlake
• Gander Hill – home to a center for people who need help.
• Harlan
• Ninth Ward – An area with many homes owned by families. It changed in the 1960s.
• Prices Run – west of Northern Boulevard
• Riverside–11th Street Bridge – located between the Northeast Corridor and Northern Boulevard
• Triangle – Homes built in the 1920s that form a triangle shape.

East of I-95

• Center City (Downtown)
• East Side
• Justison Landing
• LOMA
• Midtown Brandywine – Located along the Brandywine River, this area has homes from the late 1800s. It includes parks, a historic church, and many places to eat.
• Quaker Hill – A neighborhood with a long history, founded by Quakers. It includes a historic meeting house and cemetery.
• Riverfront – Once a place for making things and building ships, now home to a baseball stadium and shops.
• Southbridge
• Trinity Vicinity – Next to Trinity Church and Interstate 95, with many older homes.
• Upper East Side (East Brandywine)
• West Center City
• 11th St. Bridge

West of I-95

• Bayard Square

• Browntown – Originally home to Polish immigrants, now a mix of people.

• Canby Park – Renamed in honor of two men in 1930. Includes a park and homes.

• Cool Spring & Tilton Park – Home to two Catholic schools and a club.

• Delaware Avenue

• The Flats – A neighborhood developed in 1901 for working-class families. Now planning improvements.

• Forty Acres – A neighborhood with a history dating back to farmland, centered around a church.

• Greenhill

• Happy Valley – A small area with older row houses and some newer homes.

• Hedgeville

• The Highlands – Homes built in the 19th century for middle-class families.

• Hilltop – A diverse area that has seen growth in its Hispanic community.

• Little Italy – A neighborhood with Italian roots, featuring a church and an annual festival.

• St. Elizabeth Area – Centered around a historic church from 1908.

• Trolley Square – Developed after a trolley line was built in the 1860s. Now a shopping area.

• Wawaset

• Wawaset Heights

• Wawaset Park – Built in 1918 for employees of the Dupont Company, designed by an architect.

• West Hill

• Westmoreland – Homes built in the 1950s after World War II.

• Union Park Gardens

Historic districts and Conservation District

The city of Wilmington has nine historic districts and one conservation district. These include Baynard Boulevard, Kentmere Parkway, Rockford Park, Cool Spring/Tilton Park, parts of the Eastside, St. Marys and Old Swedes Church, Quaker Hill, Delaware Avenue, Trinity Vicinity, and Upper/Lower Market Street. The conservation district is Forty Acres.

Gallery

The Brandywine Academy building

Friends Meeting House in Quaker Hill

Cathedral of Saint Peter in Quaker Hill

[Old Customshouse](/wiki/Old_Customshouse_\(Wilmington,_Delaware\))

[Woodward Houses](/wiki/Woodward_Houses)

[New Century Club](/wiki/Delaware_Children's_Theatre)

[Old Swedes Church](/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Church_\(Old_Swedes\)) depicted on the 1937 [Delaware Tercentenary half dollar](/wiki/Delaware_Tercentenary_half_dollar) coin

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Wilmington has a warm temperate climate. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cool to cold. Rain falls evenly all year. In July, average temperatures are about 77 °F, and in January, about 32 °F. Snowfall changes each year, with an average of about 20 inches. The area can sometimes have very hot days above 90 °F or very cold days below 10 °F, but this does not happen often.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

In 2020, 70,898 people lived in Wilmington. The average age was 36 years. About 23% were younger than 18, and 14% were older than 65.

Most people lived in urban areas. There were 30,164 homes, and about 28% had children under 18. Many homes were led by single parents, especially mothers. About 40% of homes had only one person living in them.

The most common family backgrounds were African American, Irish, German, English, and Puerto Rican.

2010 census

In 2010, Wilmington had 70,851 people. There were many homes, and most were occupied. The city had a mix of different groups of people, with African American being the largest group, followed by White people.

The city has many important jobs, with big companies and organizations providing work for thousands of people.

Wilmington is an important city in Delaware. It has many jobs in finance, especially in credit cards, because of laws that allow banks to charge higher interest rates. Many big banks and companies have offices there.

The city is also known for its legal system, where many big companies are officially registered. This brings many legal jobs to Wilmington. Other industries include insurance, banking, and science.

Arts and culture

Wilmington has many museums, galleries, and gardens. It also has lots of cultural festivals and events each year. One famous museum is the Delaware Art Museum. It shows American art and illustrations from the 1800s to today, and also art from the English Pre-Raphaelite movement.

The city has many festivals in spring and summer to celebrate its cultural mix. The Italian Festival, held by St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church each June, has Italian music, food, and games. Other festivals include the Greek Festival, the Polish Festival, Haneef's African Festival, the Big August Quarterly for African American traditions, IndiaFest, and Hispanic Week during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Music fans enjoy the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Rodney Square each summer. The Peoples' Festival honors Bob Marley with reggae and world beat music, and the Riverfront Blues Festival features blues artists each August.

The Wilmington Riverfront area was renewed in the 1990s. Today it has shops, restaurants, a market, and places like the Delaware Children’s Museum and Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, home to the Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball team. The area also has the Chase Center on the Riverfront, now the city’s convention center.

Wilmington has many places to visit, such as the Brandywine Zoo, Delaware Art Museum, The Delaware Contemporary, and Rodney Square, among others.

Sports and recreation

Sports

The Wilmington Blue Rocks, a Minor League Baseball team, plays at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. The stadium is also home to the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.

The city is also home to the Delaware Black Foxes, a rugby team based at Eden Park Stadium, and Bearfight FC, a soccer team that represents Delaware in national competitions.

There are several golf courses nearby, including the Wilmington Country Club, Ed "Porky" Oliver Golf Club, and Rock Manor. The Delcastle Tennis Center offers tennis facilities.

Outdoor recreation

The Wilmington State Parks include four parks: Brandywine Park (with the Brandywine Zoo), Alapocas Woods Natural Area, H. Fletcher Brown Park, and Rockford Park. These parks are free to visit, though the zoo has an entrance fee. They are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The zoo is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm from May through November. The city also maintains 55 parks and recreation areas.

Running

The Delaware Distance Classic is a 15K race held each October, starting as a fundraiser in 1983. The Caesar Rodney Half Marathon has been run every March since 1964. It starts at Rodney Square and finishes there, supporting the American Lung Association of Delaware. The Run for the Buds event in mid-October supports people with intellectual disabilities through the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware.

Cycling

The Wilmington Grand Prix is a top bike race held each year, featuring many different types of races over a weekend. The East Coast Greenway also runs through Wilmington, offering scenic routes for cyclists.

Government

Wilmington's city government has a council with thirteen members. Eight members come from different parts of the city, four are elected by everyone, and the Council President is also elected by all city voters. The Mayor of Wilmington is chosen by the whole city too.

The city has worked to become safer over the years. In 2018, crime rates were at their lowest in a long time. Before that, the city sometimes appeared on lists of places with high crime. Efforts to improve safety include new programs and technology, like video monitoring in busy areas.

The city has a police department that helps keep people safe. They use many ways to prevent crime and have trained firefighters for emergencies.

Education

Wilmington is divided into four school districts: Brandywine, Christina, Red Clay, and Colonial. The Colonial district does not have any schools inside the city. Some students go to high schools in nearby areas. Wilmington has special schools called charter schools. These include the Charter School of Wilmington and the Cab Calloway School of the Arts, which focuses on performing arts.

The city has several colleges, such as Delaware State University, Delaware Technical & Community College, Goldey-Beacom College, University of Delaware, Wilmington University, and Widener University Delaware Law School. There are also public libraries, like the Wilmington Branch and the North Wilmington Branch.

Media

See also: List of newspapers in Delaware, List of radio stations in Delaware, and List of television stations in Delaware

Radio and television

Wilmington has many radio stations, both FM and AM. Stations from nearby Philadelphia can also be heard there. The city is part of the Philadelphia TV area and has a few TV stations.

Newspaper

Wilmington's main newspaper is The News Journal, which has been publishing since 1785. There are also smaller papers that share local news.

Portrayal in popular culture

Wilmington has been shown in some TV shows and movies. For example, it stood in for a made-up town in Joan of Arcadia. The film Fight Club is set in Wilmington but was not filmed there. Some Saturday Night Live sketches about Joe Biden have featured Wilmington. A TV show named Murder Town was planned but never made.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways

Interstate 95 divides Wilmington into eastern and western parts and connects to big cities in the Northeast and across the country. Interstate 495 goes around the east side of the city, and Interstate 295 heads south, crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey via the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Major roads like U.S. Route 13 and U.S. Route 202 also run through the city, linking it to nearby areas.

Wilmington’s streets follow a grid pattern. Some streets have numbers, while others have names. There are traffic lights with cameras to help keep things safe, and many places to park, including meters, lots, and garages.

Railroads

Joseph R. Biden Jr. Wilmington Rail Station offers frequent train trips between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.. Local trains also go to Philadelphia. Amtrak, a big train company, has important facilities in Wilmington for keeping its trains running.

Two big freight rail companies, CSX and Norfolk Southern, also operate in Wilmington, moving goods on different tracks around the city.

Buses

DART First State runs many bus lines in Wilmington and nearby areas, stopping at main spots like the Wilmington Transit Center and Rodney Square. Greyhound Lines offers longer trips from the Wilmington Bus Station at the rail station.

Airports

Wilmington Airport is a short drive from downtown and has flights on Avelo Airlines. It also serves the state’s National Guard. The nearest big airport is Philadelphia International Airport.

Seaport

Wilmington has the Port of Wilmington, a busy port that handles many ships each year. It imports things like fruits, vegetables, cars, steel, and other goods.

Utilities

Delmarva Power supplies electricity and gas. The city’s Department of Public Works gives water and sewer services, with water coming from a reservoir and a dam. They also collect trash and recycling.

Health care

Christiana Care Health System runs Wilmington Hospital and Christiana Hospital, along with other health centers. St. Francis Hospital is another care center in Wilmington. Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware is also nearby, offering special care for children.

Sister cities

Wilmington has six sister cities around the world. These cities are Fulda in Germany, Kalmar in Sweden, Olevano sul Tusciano near Salerno in Campania, Italy, Osogbo in Nigeria, and Watford in Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom. Wilmington is also a partner city with Nemours in France.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware, has been home to many famous people. These people have done important work in areas like politics, sports, and the arts. The city is still a place where inspiring stories start.