Delaware City is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 1,885 as of 2020. It is a small port town on the eastern terminus of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and is the location of the Forts Ferry Crossing to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island.

History

The Delaware City Historic District, Chelsea, Eastern Lock of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, Fairview, and Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Delaware City is located at (39.5778901, –75.5888150).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (6.01%) is water.

Demographics

thumb|left|Delaware City Hotel

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Delaware City had a population of 1,885. The median age was 40.2 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 747 households in Delaware City, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.5% were married-couple households, 23.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. It operates William Penn High School.

Previously Delaware City was in the New Castle-Gunning Bedford School District. That district merged into the New Castle County School District in 1978. That district was divided into four districts, among them the Colonial district, in 1981.

Delaware City Public Library is the public library of the municipality.

Infrastructure

Transportation

thumb|left|DE 9 northbound in Delaware City

Delaware Route 9 serves as the main road through Delaware City, passing southeast–northwest through the city on 5th Street. South of Delaware City, DE 9 passes over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on the Reedy Point Bridge. North of Delaware City, DE 9 has an intersection with Delaware Route 72, which provides access to U.S. Route 13 and Delaware Route 1. DART First State provides bus service to Delaware City along Route 44, which heads north to Christiana Mall. Delaware City is at the east end of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, which provides boaters with access to the Delaware River to the east and the Chesapeake Bay to the west. The Forts Ferry Crossing is a passenger ferry that provides access from Delaware City to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River and to Fort Mott in New Jersey. The water system in Delaware City is owned by the city and operated under contract by Artesian Water Company, a subsidiary of Artesian Resources. Sewer service in Delaware City is provided by New Castle County. Trash collection is provided under contract by Waste Industries while recycling collection is provided by the city. Cable and internet in Delaware City is provided by Atlantic Broadband and Verizon. Telephone service is provided mostly by Verizon, with Cavalier Telephone also serving the city.

Notable people

  • Nana Akosah-Bempah, soccer player
  • Lt. Gen. Eugene Reybold, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, chief of engineers, during World War II
  • John E. Rickards, first Lieutenant Governor of Montana and the second Governor of Montana
  • Bill Press, liberal political commentator and former candidate for Senator of California.

References

  • Official city website
  • Tourism website