Wilmington, Delaware
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| City of Wilmington | |||
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| City | |||
 Downtown Wilmington and the Christina River in 2006
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| Nickname: Chemical Capital of the World | |||
| Motto: A Place to Be Somebody | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Delaware | ||
| County | New Castle | ||
| Area | 17.0 mi² (44 km²) | ||
| - land | 10.9 mi² (28 km²) | ||
| - water | 6.2 mi² (16 km²) | ||
| Center | |||
| - coordinates | |||
| - elevation | 92 ft (28 m) | ||
| Population | 72,664 (2000) | ||
| Density | 6,698.1 /mi² (2,586.2 /km²) | ||
| Government type | Council-Mayor | ||
| Founded | 1638 | ||
| - Incorporated | 1731 | ||
| - Borough Charter | 1739 | ||
| - City Charter | March 7, 1832 | ||
| Mayor | James M. Baker (D) | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Area code | 302 | ||
 Location of Wilmington in Delaware
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 Location of Delaware in the United States
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| Website : http://www.ci.wilmington.de.us | |||
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. Wilmington was named by Proprietor Thomas Penn for his friend Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, who was prime minister in the reign of George II of Great Britain.
According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 72,876.[1]
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[edit] History
The area now known as Wilmington was first colonized by settlers from Sweden about 1638, establishing the colony on New Sweden. In 1655 the Dutch arrived and took over the colonies from the Swedes and Finns. Then in 1664 British colonization began, the area stabilized under British rule, with strong influences from the Quaker communities, and was granted a borough charter in 1739 by King George II which changed the name from Willington, after Thomas Willing the first 'developer" of the land who organized the area in a grid pattern similar to that of its northern neighbor Philadelphia, to Wilmington, presumably after Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington.
The greatest growth in the city occurred during the Civil War. Delaware, though officially a Union State, was divided in its support of both the Confederate and the Union soldiers; the northern part of the state was largely Union, while the southern part of the state leaned toward the Confederacy. The war created enormous demand for goods and materials. Older establishments expanded, and many new industries were attracted to the city. The city turned out products including ships, railroad cars, gunpowder, shoes, tents, uniforms, blankets and other war-related goods. By 1868, Wilmington was producing more iron ships than the rest of the country combined and it rated first in the production of gunpowder and second in carriages and leather. The prosperity the war brought to city merchants and manufacturers pushed the city's residential boundaries out to the west in the form of large homes along tree lined streets. This movement was spurred on by the first horsecar line, which was initiated in 1864 along Delaware Avenue.
The late nineteenth century saw the development of the city's first comprehensive park system. William Bancroft, a successful Wilmington businessman, led the effort to establish open parkland in Wilmington and was heavily influenced by the work of Frederick Law Olmsted. Rockford Park and Brandywine Park owe their creation to his generous donation of land and efforts.
In 1860, there were 21,250 people living in the city; by 1920, that number had risen to 110,168.
Both World Wars stimulated the city's industries. Industries vital to the war effort - shipyards, steel foundries, machinery and chemical producers - operated on a 24-hour basis. Other industries produced such goods as automobiles, leather products and clothing.
The post war prosperity again pushed the residential development further out of the city. The 1950s saw a large increase in people living in the suburbs of North Wilmington and commuting into the city to work. This lifestyle was made possible by extensive upgrades to area roads and highways and through the construction of I-95, which cut a swath through several of Wilmington's most stable neighborhoods and contributed to significant population losses in Wilmington. Urban renewal projects in the 50s and 60s cleared entire blocks of housing in the Center City and East Side areas. The riots and civil unrest in the city following the 1968 assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. also contributed to urban emigration. On April 9, 1968, Governor Charles Terry, Jr. deployed the National Guard to the city at the request of Mayor John Babiarz. One week later, Mayor Babiarz requested the National Guard troops be withdrawn, but Governor Terry refused, and kept them in the city until his term ended in January 1969. Urban emigration largely abated, and the city has been able to maintain a population of 70,000 for the last few decades.
The city in the 1980s experienced tremendous job growth[citation needed] and office construction when many national banks and financial institutions relocated to the area after the Financial Center Development Act of 1981 substantially liberalized the laws governing banks operating within the state. In 1986, the state adopted legislation targeted at attracting international finance and insurance companies. Today many national and international banks, such as Bank of America, Chase, Barclays among others have operations in the city; typically their credit card operations.
Beginning in the late 1990s, the city's campaign to revitalize the former shipyard area known as the Wilmington Riverfront was met with success. The efforts were bolstered early by Kahunaville, a popular nightclub (now defunct), and the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball stadium. The Wilmington Riverfront continues to transform itself into a place of cultural, economical, and residential importance. Recent high-rise luxury apartment buildings along the Christina River have been cited as evidence of the Riverfront's continued revival. On June 7, 2006, the groundbreaking of Justison Landing signaled the beginning of Wilmington's largest residential project since Bancroft Park was built after World War II.
[edit] Geography and Climate
Wilmington is located at 39°44'55" North, 75°33'6" West (39.748563, -75.551581).GR2 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 44.1 km² (17.0 mi²). 28.1 km² (10.9 mi²) of it is land and 16.0 km² (6.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 36.25% water.
The city is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of America's largest cities. Wilmington Train Station is one of the last stops on Philadelphia's SEPTA rail transportation system and is the immediately adjacent stop to Philadelphia 30th St Station on Amtrak. It is the terminus of an I-295 bypass route around Philadelphia, the other end being Trenton, New Jersey, as well as one of several major cities on I-95. These transportation links and geographic proximity give Wilmington some of the characteristics of a satellite city, but Wilmington's long history as the most important city in Delaware, its significant urban core, and its independent value as a business destination makes it more properly considered a small but independent city in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, or as locals prefer to call it, the Delaware Valley.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 75 | 78 | 86 | 94 | 96 | 100 | 102 | 101 | 100 | 91 | 85 | 75 |
| Norm High °F | 39.3 | 42.5 | 51.9 | 62.6 | 72.5 | 81.1 | 86 | 84.1 | 77.2 | 65.9 | 55 | 44.4 |
| Norm Low °F | 23.7 | 25.8 | 33.4 | 42.1 | 52.4 | 61.8 | 67.3 | 65.8 | 58.1 | 45.6 | 36.9 | 28.4 |
| Rec Low °F | -14 | -6 | 2 | 18 | 30 | 41 | 48 | 43 | 36 | 24 | 14 | -7 |
| Precip (in) | 3.43 | 2.81 | 3.97 | 3.39 | 4.15 | 3.59 | 4.28 | 3.51 | 4.01 | 3.08 | 3.19 | 3.4 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com [1] | ||||||||||||
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 72,664 people, 28,617 households, and 15,882 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,585.8/km² (6,698.1/mi²). There were 32,138 housing units at an average density of 1,143.6/km² (2,962.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.52% White, 56.43% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.16% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. 9.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 28,617 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.6% were married couples living together, 23.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,116, and the median income for a family was $40,241. Males had a median income of $34,360 versus $29,895 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,236. 21.3% of the population and 16.8% of families were below the poverty line. 30.4% of those under the age of 18 and 20.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Wilmington also has a very active and diverse ethnic population. Many pockets of the city are populated by different groups of people with various European heritages. This ethnic diversity contributes to several very popular ethnic festivals held every spring and summer in Wilmington. The most popular festival is the Italian festival. This event, which is run by St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, closes down six blocks in the west side of the city for traditional Italian music, food, and activities, along with typical carnival rides and games. Another festival that draws large crowds is the Greek Festival, which is organized by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. This festival is on a smaller scale than the Italian festival but features traditional Greek (Hellenic) food, drink, and music. Other offerings include a delightful crafts area. Another notable annual church festival in Wilmington, the Polish festival, is organized by St. Hedwig's Catholic Church featuring Polish cuisine along with the typical variety of carnival rides and entertainment.
[edit] Neighborhoods
The city of Wilmington is subdivided into the following neighborhoods (Map):
[edit] North of the Brandywine Creek |
[edit] East of I-95 |
[edit] West of I-95 |
[edit] Crime
Given Wilmington's central location between New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., the city saw a massive rise in drug sales in the early 1990s. Dealers found that Wilmington's poorly patrolled streets and underfunded police force (at one time only eight police cars monitored the city at night) made the city a relatively easy location in which to operate.
Drugs and gangs gained a greater profile in the city throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Coupled with this increased presence were increases in violent crimes (murder, assault, armed robbery), which put Wilmington among the most dangerous cities for its size nationally. Many long-time local residents living in Wilmington's West Side and Hilltop neighborhoods petitioned the city government to address these matters, but often gave up and moved out. Vacant homes became a haven for dealers, users, squatters and vagrants.
The socio-economic segregation of Wilmington's blocks made it easy for residents to turn a blind eye. As in most northeast cities, the dense neighborhoods juxtapose the poor against the relatively affluent areas only blocks apart. Three of the city's best private schools, Salesianum, Padua Academy and Ursuline Academy, and the home of Delaware's Senator Thomas R. Carper are located a few blocks from some of Wilmington's most violent streets, separated only by elevation changes or parks. The city also is home to a vast majority of New Castle County's Section 8 vouchered properties. Combined with rampant deferred maintenance on rental housing from absentee landlords and lax code enforcement, this has devastated many neighborhoods like the East Side, West Center City, the Northeast, Riverside, and Hilltop.
To counter this crime wave, Wilmington became the first city in the U.S. to have its entire downtown area under surveillance: some $800,000 worth of video cameras (some bought with public money, some by downtown businesses) have the exteriors of all buildings in view, and the technicians who monitor them dispatch the city's police to the scene of any crime or suspicious activity they see, while it is still happening. Recently, the City has expanded the surveillance program into some of the more crime-ridden neighborhoods.
Among the residential streets, the Wilmington Police Department started a program known as jump-outs, in which unmarked police vans would cruise crime-prone neighborhoods late at night, "jump-out" at corners where residents were loitering and detain them temporarily. Using loitering as probable cause, the police would then photograph, search, and fingerprint everyone present. This would improve the police's records in case fingerprints or eye-witnesses were available at future crimes, along with catching anyone with drugs or weapons on them. Controversy spread from the observation that such a practice was a violation of civil rights, and possibly racial profiling.[17]
Crime Rate per 100,000 people:
| Wilmington | National | |
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| Murder | 16.2 | 6.9 |
| Forcible Rape | 36.52 | 32.2 |
| Robbery | 585.6 | 195.4 |
| Aggravated Assault | 780.4 | 340.1 |
| Burglary | 1105 | 814.5 |
| Larceny Theft | 2845.6 | 2734.7 |
| Vehicle Theft | 693.8 | 526.5 |
[edit] Public Health Issues
The city has one of the highest per capita rates of HIV infection in the United States, with disproportionate rates of infection among African-American males.[19][20]. Efforts by local advocates to implement needle exchange programs to combat the spread of infection were obstructed for several years by downstate and suburban state legislators but a program was finally approved in June 2006.[21]
[edit] Public Safety
The Wilmington Fire Department (WFD) is led by Chief Willie Patrick Jr. and maintains six engine companies, two ladder companies, a marine fire fighting force, three ambulances, and one rescue squad. In recent years, the department has promoted a ride along program which gives city residences an opportunity to evaluate possible career decisions. In addition, department officials have enacted a program that requires firefighters to be involved with community associations on a regular basis. Wilmington is the only municipality in Delaware with a career fire department.
The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) is led by Chief of Police Michael J. Szczerba and is authorized to deploy up to 289 officers in motor vehicles, on foot, and on bicycle in order to protect and serve the citizens of the city. It recently joined the ranks of 350 other departments nationwide in achieving operations accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
[edit] Economy
Much of Wilmington's economy is based on its status as the most populous and readily accessible city in Delaware, a state that made itself attractive to businesses with pro-business finance laws and a longstanding reputation for a fair and effective judicial system.
Wilmington has become a national financial center for the credit card industry, largely due to regulations enacted by former governor Pierre S. du Pont, IV in 1981. The Financial Center Development Act of 1981, among other things, eliminated the usury laws enacted by most states, thereby removing the cap on interest rates that banks may legally charge customers. Many major credit card issuers, including Bank of America (formerly MBNA Corporation), Chase Card Services (part of JPMorgan Chase & Co., formerly Bank One/First USA), and Barclays (formerly Juniper Bank), are headquartered in Wilmington. The Dutch banking giant ING Groep N.V. headquartered its U.S. internet banking unit, ING Direct, in Wilmington. In 1988, the Delaware legislature enacted a law which required a would-be acquirer to capture 85 percent of a Delaware chartered corporation’s stock in a single transaction or wait three years before proceeding. This law strengthened Delaware's position as a safe haven for corporate charters during an especially turbulent time filled with hostile takeovers.
Wilmington's other notable industries include insurance (American Life Insurance Company [ALICO], Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware), retail banking (including the Delaware headquarters of: Wilmington Trust, PNC Bank, Wachovia Bank, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Citizens Bank), Wilmington Savings Fund Society, Artisans' Bank, and legal services. Delaware's only two remaining homegrown 2006 Fortune 1000 companies, E.I. du Pont & Nemours Co and Hercules, both have their global headquarters in downtown Wilmington. This is two less than previous years due to the acquisition of MBNA by Bank of America, and Conectiv through Pepco Holding's subsidiary, Delmarva Power. In addition, the city is the corporate domicile of more than 50% of the publicly traded companies in the United States, and over 60% of the Fortune 500.
Delaware chartered corporations rely on the state's Court of Chancery to decide legal disputes, which places legal decisions with a judge instead of a jury. The Court of Chancery, known both nationally and internationally for its speed, competence, and knowledgeable judiciary,[22] is based on a centuries-old English legal system. Wilmington is a venue for the Court of Chancery, along with Dover and Georgetown in Kent and Sussex counties, respectively (the venue is chosen by the judge hearing the case). Delaware has among the strictest rules in America regarding out-of-state legal practice, allowing no reciprocity to lawyers in other states.[23] As a result, Wilmington has a rather large per capita population of attorneys.
[edit] Media
[edit] Radio, television and film
- Wilmington is home to five FM radio stations as well as three AM radio stations.
- There are four broadcast television stations located in Wilmington. They are WTSD-CA, W40AZ, WPPX, WHYY-TV.
[edit] Publications
- The local newspaper is “The News Journal”, founded as the Delaware Gazette in 1785, with a current daily circulation of more than 100,000.[2]
[edit] Portrayal in the Media
- During the 2003-2005 TV Season, the city of Wilmington's skyline and other aerial shots of the city were featured as the stand in for the fictional town of Arcadia in CBS's Joan of Arcadia.
- Wilmington is portrayed as the fictional location of the film version of the novel Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, as evidenced in the narrator's business card including the Wilmington zip code 19808 and the Delaware area code 302, and his apartment building having as its motto "A Place To Be Somebody." However, city officials rejected the filmmakers' request to film in Delaware.
[edit] Transportation
Wilmington is served by the Wilmington Rail Station, with frequent service between Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC, via Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, with additional local service to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania via SEPTA Regional (commuter) Rail. Two freight railroads also serve Wilmington, CSX and Norfolk Southern. Both railroads operate major freight yards in the city; CSX operates the Wilsmere Yard and Norfolk Southern operates the Edgemoor Yard, both located in the northeast part of the city.
DART First State (Delaware Authority for Regional Transit) operates public bus service with approximately 40 bus lines serving the city and the surrounding suburbs. Greyhound operates interstate bus service out of the downtown bus terminal. Interstate 95, splits Wilmington roughly in half, and provides access to major markets in the Northeast and nationwide, as does I-495 just east of the city.
Wilmington is also served by the Port of Wilmington, a modern full-service deepwater port and marine terminal handling over 400 vessels per year with an annual import/export cargo tonnage of 5 million tons. The Port of Wilmington handles mostly international imports of fruits and vegetables, automobiles, steel, and bulk products.
The closest major airport is Philadelphia International Airport. A few miles south of Wilmington is New Castle County Airport which only has commercial flights to Atlanta, Georgia. The airport is primarily used for corporate charter flights, recreational flights, and by both the Delaware Army National Guard and Delaware Air National Guard.
[edit] Education Institutions
Wilmington is served by the Colonial, Red Clay, Brandywine, and Christina School Districts for elementary, junior high, and high school public education.
There are also private schools such as Salesianum, St. Mark's, Archmere Academy, Ursuline Academy, Wilmington Friends School, Tower Hill School, The Tatnall School, St. Elizabeth High School and Padua Academy. Wilmington also hosts several charter schools, including the Charter School of Wilmington and East Side Charter School.
Universities and Colleges
- Delaware College of Art and Design[24]
- Delaware Technical & Community College
- Drexel University - Wilmington Campus
- Springfield College
- University of Delaware - Wilmington Campus & Downtown Building
- Widener University - Wilmington Campus - School of Law & University College
- Wilmington College[25]
- Delaware State University - Wilmington Campus
[edit] Points of Interest
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- Brandywine Park[26]
- Brandywine Zoo[27]
- Delaware Art Museum[28]
- Delaware Center for Contemporary Art[29]
- DuPont Playhouse
- Grand Opera House[30]
- Hagley Museum and Library[31]
- The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation & Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel[32]
- Nemours Mansion and Gardens
- Old Swedes Church[33]
- Riverfront Market
- Rockford Tower
- Ursuline Academy (Example of Collegiate Gothic architecture)
- Wilmington Blue Rocks, Carolina League baseball
- The Shipyard Shops[34] 900 South Madison Street
[edit] Near the city
- Mt. Cuba Center
- Cooch's Bridge
- Winterthur Museum and Country Estate[35]
- Brandywine Battlefield [36]
- Olde New Castle [37]
[edit] See Also
[edit] Sister Cities
Wilmington has six[38] sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
Fulda, Germany
Kalmar, Sweden
Ningbo, China
Watford, England, UK
Olevano sul Tusciano, Italy
Osogbo, Nigeria
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Wilmington, Delaware
- Downtown Wilmington
- Wilmington Riverfront
- Wilmington Visitors Bureau
- Historic Wilmington Archive
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New Castle County, Delaware County Seat: Wilmington |
|---|---|
| Cities |
Delaware City | New Castle | Newark | Wilmington |
| Towns |
Bellefonte | Clayton | Elsmere | Middletown | Newport | Odessa | Smyrna | Townsend |
| Villages |
Arden | Ardencroft | Ardentown |
| Communities and CDPs |
Bear | Brookside | Claymont | Collins Park | Christiana | Edgemoor | Glasgow | Greenville | Gwinhurst | Hockessin | Holly Oak | Marshallton | Minquadale | Montchanin | North Star | Ogletown | Pike Creek | Rockland | Stanton | Wilmington Manor | Winterthur | Winterset Farms |
| Hundreds |
Appoquinimink | Blackbird | Brandywine | Christiana | Mill Creek | New Castle | Pencader | Red Lion | St. George's | White Clay | Wilmington |
 |
State of Delaware Dover (capital) |
|---|---|
| Topics |
Counties | Hundreds | Cities/Towns/Villages | Rivers | Transportation | Landmarks |
| Regions |
Delaware Coast | Delaware Valley | Cape Region |
| Cities |
Delaware City | Dover | Harrington | Lewes | Milford | Newark | New Castle | Rehoboth Beach | Seaford | Wilmington |
| Counties |
Kent | New Castle | Sussex |
