Delaware River Basin Project
 Delaware River Basin Project | Home | Study Area Geographic Information for WilmingtonGeographic LocationThe city of Wilmington is situated in New Castle County in northeastern Delaware, at the Delaware River and Christina and Brandywine tributary streams. Wilmington lies at the fall line that separates the flat Atlantic Coastal Plain from the hilly Piedmont Plateau to the west. The approximate geographic coordinates of the city are 39° and 45' latitude, and 75° and 33' longitude. Historical Information for WilmingtonSettlement HistoryHistorical Events Transportation History Economic History
Settlement HistoryEarly InhabitantsThe Lenni-Lenape (Delaware) Indians were the first inhabitants in the area and lived chiefly by fishing. They were friendly with early Swedish settlers, and William Penn had established a good relationship with them. First European Settlement In 1638 the Swedes established the first permanent settlement on Delaware soil near the Christina River. Fort Christina (now a State park near the present day site of Wilmington) marks the landing site where the Swedes started in North America. Also known as "The Rocks," this site is a natural wharf within the present-day park. First Colonial Settlement The Swedes founded the colony of New Sweden where Wilmington is now located and controlled it from 1638 to 1654. The settlement passed to the Dutch in 1655 and to the English in 1664; William Penn was granted the region in 1682. Quakers eventually named and laid out the present city in 1731. The colony expanded northward as far as the present site of Philadelphia. Incorporation of City The colony became a community (Willingtown) in the 1730's then a borough in 1739 when it was renamed for the earl of Wilmington. Wilmington was incorporated as a city in 1832. It became an important industrial city in Delaware and the only large city in the State. The rivers and port had a great influence on the history and economic development of the city. Historical EventsCity of WilmingtonMany U.S. and State "firsts" have occurred in the city of Wilmington:
Civil War The Civil War had a great influence on the economy of Wilmington. The city became a center for products required during the war. Many companies expanded and several new industries were developed in the city to meet the demands. Wilmington was a major contributor of gunpowder, ships, rail cars, clothing, and war supplies to support the troops. Urban Planning Wilmington was developed in a grid pattern like Philadelphia, but topography also influenced the urban development pattern. In the 1880's, with the heavy industry and manufacturing developments, Wilmington started establishing public parks along the Brandywine River. Because of this movement, the land was saved from industry, manufacturing, and urban development. Brandywine and Rockford Parks are good examples of this effort. After World War II, construction was rapid, with new homes and businesses being built to the west of the city. In the 1950's, with improved highways connecting to other cities and the increase in automobiles, the rural areas became sprawling suburban developments. The metropolitan area was growing faster than services could be supported. New industry was also moving to the suburbs rather than to the inner city. Wilmington immediately started an urban renewal program that destroyed several blocks of old buildings. By the 1960's, the entire area had been rebuilt with new housing and businesses. At the same time, the city was planning for another urban impact, the construction of Interstate 95, which cut a path through several of Wilmington's stable neighborhoods. Interstate 95 connected all large metropolitan areas along the east coast, putting Wilmington near the center of the "megalopolis." Transportation HistoryGeneralEconomic growth encouraged the need for better transportation in the late 1700's. Increased industry spurred the development of highways, canals and railroads. Transportation was a significant factor in the patterns of land use in Wilmington. Because of the city's location, Wilmington had excellent access to various transportation systems on the east coast. Highways The transportation era started with turnpikes of dirt and gravel in the 1700's. By the early 1800's, four turnpikes had been constructed in the Wilmington area: the Philadelphia, Concord, Kennett, and Lancaster. However, most highways were still either dirt or gravel until 1900. With the advent of the automobile, improved roads were necessary for better transportation. In the 1920's, the Du Pont Highway (US 40) was built south of Wilmington and became the backbone of a road network system for the State. By the 1950's, a four-lane highway had been constructed between Wilmington and Newark, which provided urban development opportunities. A new highway, Interstate 95, was under construction during the 1960's; it joined the major cities near Wilmington. Now three major interstate highways provide the city with greater access on the east coast. Railroads Railroads started competing against the water carriers in the 1830's and were a big influence on manufacturing and urban development. In 1838 a railroad was completed from Wilmington to Gray's Ferry to provide access to the north. After the completion of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad, the city's economy grew stronger while other Delaware cities were struggling for economic wealth. During the Civil War, the Wilmington and Northern Railroad was one of several railroad projects planned for the city's future economic growth. After the Civil War, more railroads were built that allowed the city to be more competitive. Railroads had also provided critical transportation routes to most markets, which made the city more accessible for trading. Waterways In the 1800's, highways improved overland transportation, but all water routes saw more use because of accessibility and cost. Shipping and shipbuilding continued to be important to the city's commerce because most of the steamboats on the Delaware were built at Wilmington. The Delaware, Christina, and Brandywine Rivers are the main waterways for Wilmington. The Christina River flows through the coastal plain and is navigable for several miles inland. The Brandywine River flows from the plateau, which provided a powerful resource for industry. The Port of Wilmington on the Delaware River has been an excellent harbor for many ocean vessels and their cargoes. Bridges One of the first bridges was constructed in the 1800's to replace the ferry that crossed the Christina River between Wilmington and New Castle. This bridge provided new trading opportunities and increased land values on both sides of the river. Airports A few minutes from downtown Wilmington, the New Castle County Airport is available for both private and charter flights. This airport is the home of several aircraft owned by corporations in the city. Within 30 minutes of the city, the Philadelphia International Airport is available for national and international flights. This airport has been of great service to passengers and businesses in Northern Delaware. Economic HistoryIn the beginning, Wilmington became a financial, industrial, and trade center because of its geographic location, prominent leaders, skilled labor force, and resources. The city has been an important shipbuilding center and leather producer for more than 200 years. Over the years, Wilmington established a good shipping trade with New York City. As early as 1732, the Quakers made buckskin and chamois leather at Wilmington. Several millers and manufacturers were also attracted to the city early in the 1700's by the abundance of water power and shipping potential. Most farmers in the region brought their wheat to the mills in Wilmington, and the city became the flour center of the colonies. At the close of the American Revolution, over 50,000 barrels of flour were ground every year in the city. The increase of population and commerce resulted in urban growth and further development of industry and manufacturing. However, the city's economic growth had tremendous impact on the land use in northern Delaware. Many mills for manufacturing paper were built along the Brandywine River. Since the establishment of the first powder mill on the Brandywine by E.I. Du Pont in 1802, the city has become a leading producer of explosives and munitions. Du Pont was a major player in the success of the city's manufacturing. Although Wilmington was unable to compete with Philadelphia economically, it was capable of holding its own as a manufacturing center.In the 1950's, the manufacturing of chemicals became the leading industry for the city. Today Wilmington is one of the world's greatest chemical centers. The city is also a center for the manufacturing of vulcanized fiber, leather, rubber hose, and cloth and for finishing plants, dyes, and paints. With large ship and railroad yards, Wilmington was the port of entry for handling considerable domestic and foreign shipping. Wilmington became a major industrial, financial, and shipping hub for the State. Like most U.S. cities, Wilmington has debated about how economic growth and environmental preservation can be balanced for a better community. top Wilmington Population DataPopulation DataPopulation History Wilmington Trends In 1864 the city's population exceeded 22,000, and by 1880 the population had grown to more than 42,000. The size, location, and composition of Wilmington's population had changed dramatically. According to the census, Wilmington accounted for 41 percent of the State's population in 1900, and 14 percent of the population were foreign-born. Although it had fewer foreigners than Philadelphia and other nearby cities, Wilmington was experiencing a large migration of immigrants. The Irish were the largest single immigrant group, and the Germans were the second largest group. Other foreign-born inhabitants were immigrants from Italy, Great Britain, Russia, and Poland. Between the Civil War and World War I, Wilmington experienced its greatest population increase. The city continued to grow in the 1900's, reaching a peak population of 112,000 in 1940. After World War II, the major workforce of the local industries continued to abandon the inner city for new homes in the suburbs. The increased number of automobiles, improved highways, and suburban residential development contributed to significant population losses for the city. The suburban populations exploded as quickly as urban populations in the past. A comparison of the census years 1920 and 1960 reveals that the population of Wilmington dropped 13 percent while the population of the surrounding metropolitan area increased by 400 percent. The 1950 census shows that 70 percent of Delaware's population lived in New Castle County. Tabular Data The population data for the Philadelphia-Wilmington metropolitan area are based on U.S. Census data taken every 10 years.   Population Distribution The population of the Philadelphia-Wilmington study area in 1990 was more than 5.5 million. Philadelphia has the largest population, with more than 1.5 million, and Salem County in New Jersey has the smallest, with 65,294. The population density of each county per square mile according to the U.S. Census: Bucks, 891; Chester, 498; Delaware, 2,973; Montgomery, 1,404; Philadelphia, 11,736; Burlington, 491; Camden, 2,262; Gloucester, 708; Mercer, 1,442; Salem, 193; and New Castle, 1,037. top |
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U.S. Geological Survey
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