NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE
County Offices
87 Read’s Way
New Castle, DE
302-395-5555
www.nccde.org
Chamber of Commerce
12 Penns Way
Newark, DE
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Major Highways
Interstates 95, 495; US Highways 13, 40, 202; Route 1
Services
Providing the economic engine for the state of Delaware and anchored by the leading metropolitan center of Wilmington, New Castle County bustles with activity. Major industries include hospitality, banking, chemicals, agriculture, and import/export activity. While the DuPont name has long been associated with Delaware and Wilmington, a business-friendly environment has attracted major banks and credit-card companies like MBNA along with diversified manufacturing and growing sector of high-tech and biotechnology research companies. The Port of Wilmington continues to serve as a major Mid-Atlantic gateway for general trade and maritime cargo, a facility preferred over Florida for many leading international importers of refrigerated, frozen, and perishable goods.
A superb network of modern highways, international and regional airports, commercial transportation facilities, and public transit systems ensure the rapid movement of products and people. The major north/south highway along the eastern seaboard is Interstate 95 through the heart of Wilmington, a thoroughfare that offers access to 25 percent of the U.S. population in a single day. The Wilmington bypass of Interstate 495 forms an efficient link to the Port of Wilmington and many of northern Delaware’s major industrial parks. Philadelphia International Airport is just a half-hour from Wilmington, while New Castle County Airport provides worldwide cargo service that leads the four-state area in fast, efficient ground delivery.
Underlining the region’s outstanding quality of life is a superb educational system that encompasses public and private schools for every academic level. The main campus for the Delaware Technical & Community College is located in Wilmington, offering Associate’s degrees, certifications, continuing education, and college-track programs to students of all ages and backgrounds. Private colleges and universities in New Castle County include the Wilmington institutions of Drexel University and Goldey-Beacom College as well as Wilmington College in New Castle. The University of Delaware extends its resources, assets, and influence beyond the Newark city limits, shining as a regional jewel of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities.
Among the state-of-the-art medical centers, hospitals and clinics that are strategically located throughout the county are the metropolitan facilities of St. Francis Hospital and Wilmington Hospital, the Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Rockland, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Elsmere. Christiana Hospital in Newark provides a wide range of specialized services, including one of the nation’s busiest labor and delivery units.
Lifestyle
The same amenities and advantages that continually draw visitors to Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley serve as magnets for newcomers to New Castle County. Visitors and residents alike are able to enjoy a world of art and antiques, fine dining, world-class attractions, wonderful museums, spectacular gardens, and historical sites. Under the bright lights of Wilmington, evenings glisten with performing arts events and musical entertainment in lively or intimate nightspots. Nestled within the region’s charming small towns and countryside are quaint bed-and-breakfast inns that cater to every taste, or historic districts that tempt window shoppers with hand-crafted items and unique gifts.
The entire family will want to experience the Delaware Children’s Theatre or visit the Brandywine Zoo exhibits of the world’s largest rodents, river otters, and other North and South American animals. Serving as the county’s cultural hub, Wilmington is home to the Playhouse or “Little Broadway,” the Grand Opera House, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the Delaware Theatre Company, and the Delaware Art Museum. The latter not only boasts the largest Pre-Raphaelite collection in the nation but also showcases the archives of early 20th century American realist John Sloan.
The cityscape also provides a backdrop for some of the state’s most colorful and popular annual events like Hagley’s Irish Festival, the Victorian Ice Cream Festival, and the Delaware Nature Society Harvest Moon Festival. North of Wilmington is a semi-circle of small but rapidly expanding communities like Arden, Centreville, Hockessin, and Greenville where home choices blend traditional architectural styles with modern construction. Greenville shines as the fashion center of Delaware, home to fine country boutiques and exclusive shops. Historic Arden has earned a reputation as an artist’s haven, while Centreville enjoys a prime location in “Chateau country” and ultimately bridges Delaware to the renowned Longwood Gardens in Chadds Ford in Pennsylvania.
Enhanced by a backdrop of lush rolling hills, these small towns seem to offer the best of all worlds as bedroom communities for those who commute to employment centers in nearby Wilmington. In addition to beautiful new homes on spacious lots, residents discover friendly neighbors, convenient neighborhood shopping and services, a tranquil lifestyle, and active civic groups that foster a genuine sense of belonging and involvement. South of Wilmington and west of Newark is the Bear-Glasgow region, one of the fastest-growing areas in Delaware. In New Castle County’s long-established communities, elegant Victorians mix with colonials and Georgian architecture along tree-shaded streets for those who prefer the character and warm spirit of long-established neighborhoods.
Recreational opportunities are as abundant in New Castle County as the options for home sites. Brandywine Creek Park includes a nature center with interpretive programs and popular seasonal events like the Halloween Campfire and Winter Sledfest. Another nature center is available in Hockessin, offering trips and programs for all age groups including children as young as 18 months. Other options include the racetrack and casino at the New Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware River cruises, golf and country clubs, full sporting clay ranges, ice and roller-skating rinks, swimming pools, tennis courts, racquet clubs, sports facilities, community centers, athletic fields and sports leagues.
The adventurous can indulge in everything from wilderness canoe trips to hot-air balloon rides, while outdoor enthusiasts enjoy some of the nation’s best hunting and fishing spots. Delaware’s famous beach resorts are a short distance from home in New Castle County, whether you prefer the carnival atmosphere of Dewey Beach or the “quiet resorts” of Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island. For collegiate competition, minor league play, or professional sports, Delaware teams combine with those in nearby Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore to keep fans cheering throughout the four seasons.
From Wilmington’s impressive skyline to the lush foliage of the Brandywine Valley, the recreational amenities, urban attractions, transportation efficiencies, and scenic beauty of New Castle County create a fine balance of livability. Now consider the essential ingredients of an outstanding educational system, major colleges and universities, advanced healthcare centers, and a strong and diverse economy. Complete this winning formula with the close proximity of ocean beaches and bay shoreline retreats, and Delaware’s reputation as the “small wonder” becomes as crystal clear as a Brandywine Valley waterfall.
Bear
County Offices
302-395-5555
www.nccde.org
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Distinguished as one of the fastest growing areas in the state, Bear-Glasgow claims a booming population that is rapidly approaching the 2,000 mark and shows no signs of slowing. This unincorporated region lies south of Wilmington and reaches toward the communities of Newark, Middletown, and Delaware City. Newcomers will find an abundance of lovely new homes in a variety of architectural styles and price ranges, as well as handsome townhouse communities.
While the retail mecca of Christiana Mall is just minutes from home, local amenities are following the residential boom in the form of retail centers, a post office, library, and schools. Numerous activities for children add to the allure for growing families. Delaware 1 offers a convenient trip to the beautiful beach resorts of Rehoboth, Dewey, and Bethany. Other nearby attractions include Ashland Nature Center, Bellevue State Park, Brandywine Creek State Park, Brandywine Zoo.
Brandywine Hundred
County Offices
302-395-5555
www.nccde.org
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Just 10 to 20 minutes from downtown Wilmington in Delaware’s northeastern quadrant is the area known as Brandywine Hundred, a collection of neighborhoods and small communities like North Wilmington, Claymont, Arden, Bellefonte, Fairfax, Sharpley, and Talleyville. Throughout this suburban region, single-family homes mix with condominiums and townhouses to offer a wide range of lifestyles and residential choices. Mature landscaping, abundant parkland, colonial architecture, and sidewalks that beckon an evening stroll are characteristic of the older neighborhoods that sprang up in the 1970s.
Each community also claims a unique flavor. Galleries and studios dominate the art-oriented Arden, while the campus of the Wilmington Friends School is the focal point of Alapocas. Beautiful older homes graced by sweeping lawns and large old trees blend with new construction, punctuated by open space, parks, and commercial districts. Bounded by the Delaware River to the east and the Brandywine River to the west, the area also enjoys the transportation efficiencies of Interstate 95. The close proximity of state parks, major shopping centers, and Wilmington’s wealth of cultural and commercial amenities add to the convenience.
Christiana Hundred
County Offices
302-395-5555
www.nccde.org
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Bounded by Brandywine River to the east and following the state’s northwestern border, this area draws in a number of small suburban communities like Greenville, Centreville, and Hockessin. Just minutes from Interstate 95 and equally accessible to the attractions just across the state line in Pennsylvania, the region offers attractive single-family homes in all architectural styles and price ranges. Townhouses and cluster developments contrast with developments that offer lots up to two acres.
Wilmington’s urban amenities and advantages are no more than 15 to 30 minutes away, yet the region claims many charming small-town commercial districts filled with wonderful stores, restaurants, antique dealers, and services. Greenville is particularly renowned for its collection of “label conscious” shops and boutiques. Brandywine State Park and Bellevue State Park provided expanded recreational opportunities, while the attractions of Chadds Ford and Kennett Square wait just across the Pennsylvania state line.
Middletown, Odessa, Townsend
Middletown Offices
302-378-2711
www.middletownde.org
Odessa Town Offices
302-378-2510
www.odessa.delaware.gov
Townsend Offices
302-378-8082
www.townsend.delaware.gov
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Once considered a Delaware secret, “MOT” has joined the residential boom with new neighborhoods like Dickerson Farms, Back Creek, the Estates of Commodore II, and Brick Mill Farms. Colonial architecture predominates on homesites that take advantage of rolling hills, fairway views, or open spaces. This southern quadrant of New Castle County harmonizes protected farmland and wildlife regions with a proliferation of new homes in a variety of communities that enjoy a short commute to metropolitan amenities on major highways. Newcomers will appreciate the centralized location in relationship to major shopping centers and cultural attractions located both north and south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
The tree-lined neighborhoods and homes within the heart of town are filled with historic charm. The quaint and quiet Main Street of Odessa offers a superb example of rural America’s adaptation of Georgian architecture, and the town’s entire historic district is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Just a short drive from Blackbird State Forest, this region is also convenient to the recreational opportunities of Lums Pond State Park and the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal with its associated wildlife management area.
New Castle
Municipal Offices
302-322-9801
www.newcastlecity.delaware.gov
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
With just 5,175 residents, an inviting small-town atmosphere, and an excellent school system, historic New Castle is beginning to lose its status as “One of Delaware’s best-kept secrets.”As more people awaken to the advantages of this area south of Wilmington, both long-established neighborhoods and new developments are attracting waves of newcomers. Accessible by many north/south routes including the scenic Delaware 9, the New Castle area is just 35 miles from the state capital of Dover and a short distance from Wilmington’s shopping and cultural amenities.
The wide variety of attractive housing is part of the allure, ranging from rambling country estates to affordable single-family homes. Starter homes are as abundant as larger family colonials, ranches, contemporaries, townhomes, or luxurious custom designs. Few locales in Delaware can rival New Castle for creating a postcard-perfect setting. Adding to the atmosphere are attractions like the scenic Battery Park Trail, the New Castle Courthouse, a collection of charming colonial and Victorian homes, and wonderful museums.
Newark
Municipal Offices
302-366-7000
www.cityofnewarkde.us
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Situated in northern Delaware just 14 miles from Wilmington, Newark’s population of 26,235 increases by 18,000 when the University of Delaware opens its doors for another academic year. The university is a cultural, educational, and economic asset that infuses vitality into the community through renowned educators, brilliant students, retail revenue, and first-rate performing arts venues. Newark has managed to balance its residential, educational, commercial, and industrial sectors, adding major distribution centers and corporate headquarters to its tax base. Even the colorful Main Street corridor is undergoing a flurry of new construction and revitalization.
Newark’s location along Interstate 95 allows quick and easy access to the world-class cultural and recreational advantages of New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. The southern quadrant of Newark has grown rapidly in recent years, spawning new areas like Churchman’s Crossing with its mix of shopping, healthcare, dining, entertainment, and business centers. Older neighborhoods are popular for their charm and ambiance, blending bungalows and ranches with colonials and Tudors. Among the new developments are homesites along gently rolling hills, communities that feature superb recreational amenities, or those with spacious lots that border White Clay State Park.
Pike Creek Valley
County Offices
302-395-5555
www.nccde.org
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
Founded as Bremen (after Bremen, Germany) by German farmers, Tinley Park (Cook County) offers residential choices that were primarily built after 1960. Although ranches are available in some areas, the majority of the homes are tri-levels. Elementary students attend schools in Districts 140 and 146. High school students attend either Tinley Park or Victor Andrew high schools, and two parochial schools offer private school alternatives. The local park district oversees over 155 acres of recreational land, with sports fields, fitness courts, tennis courts, an ice rink, and picnic areas.
Commuters use I-80 to link up with I-57, the Stevenson Expressway (I-55), or the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). Two rail depots and express commuter trains provide mass transit to the Loop. A major attraction in this area is the World Complex (off I-80), which houses the World Music Theatre, a 27,500-seat outdoor pavilion facility that showcases many of today’s top names in entertainment.
The Metra’s Rock Island District line services the area.
Wilmington
Municipal Offices
302-576-2100
www.ci.wilmington.de.us
Chamber of Commerce
302-737-4343
www.ncccc.com
A thriving metropolis of 73,145 within its city limits, the City of Wilmington boasts a history dating back to 1633. Delaware’s largest city consists of many tranquil and inviting neighborhoods like Ninth Ward, Wawaset Park, and Forty Acres. Tree-shaded streets offer everything from traditional architecture in single-family homes to luxurious new townhouses and apartment complexes of all sizes —all linked by a comprehensive transit system. Some of the East Coast’s most successful shopping centers combine with cultural attractions, fine restaurants, and outstanding services to create a convenient, comfortable lifestyle.
Just 28 miles south of Philadelphia, Wilmington is becoming a magnet for young families and professionals who commute to neighboring states for employment. An abundance of comparatively affordable housing, a more relaxed pace of living, a superb school system, and the close proximity of state parks and beaches make the area difficult to resist. Among city-center highlights are fascinating museums, outdoor cafes, an immaculately renovated turn-of-the-century opera house, and a complex of historic homes.
Framing the downtown district are the Christina and Brandywine Gateways, along with the historic New Sweden district on the Seventh Street Peninsula. Throughout Wilmington, a colorful variety of long-established ethnic neighborhoods intermingle with bustling commercial districts, elegantly restored residential communities, or luxurious new construction. While exciting riverfront developments are revitalizing the urban core, lovely new residential developments radiate beyond the city limits and continue to widen the sphere of Greater Wilmington.
