Delaware County, Pennsylvania

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Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Seal of Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Map
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Delaware County
Location in the state of Pennsylvania
Map of the U.S. highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded September 26, 1789
Seat Media
Largest city Chester
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
191 sq mi (495 km²)
184 sq mi (477 km²)
7 sq mi (18 km²), 3.42%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
550,864
2,991/sq mi (1,155/km²)
Website: www.co.delaware.pa.us
"Delco" redirects here. For the former electronics company, see Delco Electronics.

Delaware County (known colloquially as "Delco") is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population was 550,864, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties.

Delaware County was created on September 26, 1789 from part of Chester County and named for the Delaware River. Its county seat, since 1851, is Media[1]. Chester City, prior to 1851, was the county seat of both Delaware County and, before that, of Chester County.

Socioeconomically, Delaware County runs the gamut from economically depressed and working class communities such as the City of Chester and the Borough of Darby to the posh suburban neighborhoods of Radnor Township and Villanova located along the wealthy Main Line to the north.

2,600 acres (11 km²) of the county are occupied by the Ridley Creek State Park.

The county is part of the Delaware Valley area. Delaware County is the only county that consists entirely of the area code 610.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 191 square miles (494 km²), of which, 184 square miles (477 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (17 km²) of it (3.42%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Politics

Presidential elections results
Year GOP Dems
2004 42.3% 120,425 57.1% 162,601
2000 42.7% 105,836 54.4% 134,861
1996 39.5% 92,628 49.5% 115,946
1992 40.8% 108,587 41.8% 111,210
1988 59.9% 147,656 39.0% 96,144
1984 61.8% 161,754 37.4% 98,027
1980 55.8% 143,282 34.4% 88,314
1976 54.9% 148,679 43.3% 117,252
1972 63.9% 175,414 34.3% 94,144
1968 50.2% 133,777 40.0% 106,695
1964 42.9% 111,189 56.8% 147,189
1960 52.0% 135,672 47.8% 124,629

Politically, Delaware County has traditionally been very conservative and had voted Republican in nearly every election since 1854 through 1988. In recent elections however, Delaware County has been trending Democratic and in the 2004 election was won by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry by 14 points. In the 2004 US Senate election, Republican Arlen Specter defeated Joe Hoeffel but Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. defeated Rick Santorum in the 2006 Senate election. Likewise, 10-term Republican Congressmen Curt Weldon was defeated by former naval admiral and Democratic challenger Joe Sestak in the 2006 U.S. House of Representatives election.

As of November 2007, there are 371,865 registered voters in Delaware County [1].

[edit] Demographics

As of 2000, there were 550,864 people, 206,320 households, and 139,472 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,990 people per square mile (1,155/km²). There were 216,978 housing units at an average density of 1,178 per square mile (455/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.32% White, 14.52% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.6% were of Irish, 17.5% Italian, 10.1% German and 6.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 206,320 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.80% were married couples living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,092, and the median income for a family was $61,590. Males had a median income of $44,155 versus $31,831 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,040. About 5.80% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Media

The county itself is serviced by several newspapers, most notably the News of Delaware County, the Delaware County Daily Times, and The Suburban and Wayne Times. The Philadelphia Inquirer also has a significant presence, reflecting Delaware County's status as a suburb of Philadelphia.

[edit] People from Delaware County

[edit] Transportation

Delaware County is bisected north to south by Blue Route Interstate 476, which connects I-76 in the extreme northern corner of the county to I-95, which parallels the Delaware River along the southeastern edge of the county.

Delaware County is home to SEPTA's 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby, and is served by the Norristown High Speed Line(P&W), two Red Arrow trolley lines (Routes 101 and 102), four Regional Rail Lines (the R1, R2, R3 and R5), and a host of bus routes.

The western portion of Philadelphia International Airport is located in Delaware County, and the county hosts some airport-related commerce such as Philadelphia's UPS terminal and airport hotels.

[edit] Municipalities

Map of Delaware County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Map of Delaware County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

There are 49 municipalities in Delaware County. Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Delaware County:

[edit] Cities

[edit] Boroughs

[edit] Townships

[edit] Census-Designated Places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

[edit] Education

Map of Delaware County, Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Delaware County, Pennsylvania School Districts

[edit] Public school districts

[edit] Colleges and universities

[edit] Adult education

[edit] Public libraries

  • Aston Free Library
  • Collingdale Public Library
  • J. Lewis Crozer Library (Chester)
  • Darby Free Library
  • Folcroft Public Library
  • Helen Kate Furness Library (Wallingford)
  • Glenolden Library
  • Haverford Township Free Library
  • Rachel Kohl Community Library (Glen Mills)
  • Lansdowne Public Library
  • Marple Public Library
  • Mary M. Campbell Library (Marcus Hook)
  • Media-Upper Providence Free Library
  • Middletown Free Library
  • Newtown Square Public Library
  • Norwood Public Library
  • Prospect Park Public Library
  • Memorial Library of Radnor Township
  • Ridley Park Public Library
  • Ridley Township Public Library
  • Sharon Hill Public Library
  • Springfield Township Library
  • Swarthmore Public Library
  • Tinicum Memorial Public Library
  • Upper Darby & Sellers Memorial Library (main)
  • Upper Darby Library-Municipal Branch
  • Upper Darby Library-Primos Branch
  • Yeadon Public Library
  • Delaware County Francis J. Catania Law Library
  • Delaware County Library System (government agency)

[edit] Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Delaware County.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
County seat: Media
Cities
Boroughs
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities

Bortondale | Bowling Green | Cheyney | Elwyn | Garden City | Garnet Valley | Garrett Hill | Glen Mills | Glen Riddle | Gradyville | Haverford | Havertown | Lenni | Moylan | Pine Ridge | Radnor | Riddlewood | Rosemont | Rose Tree | Secane | South Media | St. Davids | Strafford | Villanova | Wallingford | Wawa | Wayne
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Coordinates: 39°55′N 75°24′W / 39.92, -75.40