Elsmere, Delaware
Encyclopedia
Elsmere is a town in New Castle County
, Delaware
, United States
. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 6,131.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,800 people, 2,299 households, and 1,487 families residing in the town. The population density
was 5,891.0 people per square mile (2,285.1/km²). There were 2,395 housing units at an average density of 2,432.6 per square mile (943.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.41% White, 9.45% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 5.10% from other races
, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.09% of the population.
There were 2,299 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,415, and the median income for a family was $46,357. Males had a median income of $35,427 versus $28,089 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,643. About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
to transport black powder to the Christiana River for shipment. By 1881 two rail lines and a road which intersected the area were added. The "New Road" (still known by this name) ran east to west from Wilmington
to the Greenbank Mill on the Red Clay Creek
. The Western Railroad and the Wilmington and Northern Railroad made connections from the north into lines which passed through Wilmington.
Between 1881 and 1893, significant land development occurred in part through the efforts of a real estate promoter, Joshua T Herald, who promoted cleaner and cheaper living outside of the city of Wilmington in the area now known as Elsmere. The close proximity of the railway lines offered cheap transportation to city workers. Introduction of electric trolley car service
furthered the town's growth. In 1897, an agreement was reached between the local line and the Wilmington line which allowed uninterrupted service to run from downtown Wilmington out to Brandywine Springs Park
, west of Elsmere. Not only did the trolley line provide transportation to the amusement park for urban dwellers, but also made commuting to downtown jobs feasible for suburban dwellers.
In 1909, with the agreement of the approximately 70 families residing in the area at the time the Town of Elsmere was incorporated. The population increased between 1910 to 1920 from 374 to 620 residents.
During the 1910s, the Delaware State Fair Association purchased land and built a new fairgrounds within Elsmere's town limit. The grounds, including a racecourse for horses, cars and motorcycles, were located south of New Road and Wilmington Avenue and west of the previously established streets. This land became the site of the Delaware State Fair from 1917 to 1928, and provided a large parking area and ready access from the nearby trolley line. Agricultural exhibits provided the backbone of the fair, but in addition to the races, the summer attraction also included horse and dog shows, vaudeville acts, music, and fireworks. After 1928, the State Fair had moved to Harrington
, but the grandstand and the races remained until 1943, when the property was converted to land for residential housing.
In 1950, a 336-bed Veteran's Administration
hospital opened on the western edge of town. This was the ninth VA hospital built after the conclusion of World War II
.
. The school district maintains one school in the town: Austin D. Baltz Elementary School (Grades K through 5).
The Diocese of Wilmington
operates the Corpus Christi School (Grades K through 8).
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 6,131.
Geography
Elsmere is located at 39°44′21"N 75°35′39"W (39.739112, -75.594267).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,800 people, 2,299 households, and 1,487 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,891.0 people per square mile (2,285.1/km²). There were 2,395 housing units at an average density of 2,432.6 per square mile (943.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.41% White, 9.45% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 5.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.09% of the population.
There were 2,299 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,415, and the median income for a family was $46,357. Males had a median income of $35,427 versus $28,089 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $18,643. About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Prior to the late 1800s the area around present-day Elsmere was a small rural community, largely open farmland with some scattered residential dwellings. The major road through the area was DuPont Road, used by the DuPont CompanyDuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
to transport black powder to the Christiana River for shipment. By 1881 two rail lines and a road which intersected the area were added. The "New Road" (still known by this name) ran east to west from Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, 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...
to the Greenbank Mill on the Red Clay Creek
Red Clay Creek
Red Clay Creek is a tributary of White Clay Creek in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States.The East and West branches both rise in West Marlborough Township, Pennsylvania, near the hamlet of Upland, and flow south through Kennett Square before uniting just north of...
. The Western Railroad and the Wilmington and Northern Railroad made connections from the north into lines which passed through Wilmington.
Between 1881 and 1893, significant land development occurred in part through the efforts of a real estate promoter, Joshua T Herald, who promoted cleaner and cheaper living outside of the city of Wilmington in the area now known as Elsmere. The close proximity of the railway lines offered cheap transportation to city workers. Introduction of electric trolley car service
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
furthered the town's growth. In 1897, an agreement was reached between the local line and the Wilmington line which allowed uninterrupted service to run from downtown Wilmington out to Brandywine Springs Park
Brandywine Springs
Brandywine Springs is a historic area near Newport, Delaware, along the Red Clay Creek.It is noted from early American history as a Revolutionary War encampment of General George Washington's army....
, west of Elsmere. Not only did the trolley line provide transportation to the amusement park for urban dwellers, but also made commuting to downtown jobs feasible for suburban dwellers.
In 1909, with the agreement of the approximately 70 families residing in the area at the time the Town of Elsmere was incorporated. The population increased between 1910 to 1920 from 374 to 620 residents.
During the 1910s, the Delaware State Fair Association purchased land and built a new fairgrounds within Elsmere's town limit. The grounds, including a racecourse for horses, cars and motorcycles, were located south of New Road and Wilmington Avenue and west of the previously established streets. This land became the site of the Delaware State Fair from 1917 to 1928, and provided a large parking area and ready access from the nearby trolley line. Agricultural exhibits provided the backbone of the fair, but in addition to the races, the summer attraction also included horse and dog shows, vaudeville acts, music, and fireworks. After 1928, the State Fair had moved to Harrington
Harrington, Delaware
Harrington is a city in Kent County, Delaware, United States. It is part of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Harrington hosts the annual Delaware State Fair each July...
, but the grandstand and the races remained until 1943, when the property was converted to land for residential housing.
In 1950, a 336-bed Veteran's Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
hospital opened on the western edge of town. This was the ninth VA hospital built after the conclusion of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Education
The town of Elsmere is served by the Red Clay Consolidated School DistrictRed Clay Consolidated School District
Red Clay Consolidated School District is a public school district in northern New Castle County, Delaware. Founded in 1981, Red Clay serves a portion of the city of Wilmington, its northern suburbs, and the Brandywine Creek and Pike Creek Valley areas.-High schools:*Alexis I...
. The school district maintains one school in the town: Austin D. Baltz Elementary School (Grades K through 5).
The Diocese of Wilmington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
-External links:**...
operates the Corpus Christi School (Grades K through 8).