New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware is located in northern Delaware along the Delaware River and is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Cecil County, Maryland to the south, and Kent County to the east. See Countryaah – Counties in Delaware. The county covers an area of 497 square miles and is home to more than 543,000 people.
New Castle County was founded in 1682 by William Penn and named after his ancestral home in England. It is divided into three townships: Wilmington, Newark, and Middletown. The county seat is Wilmington, which serves as the state’s largest city.
The county is home to a number of cities and towns including Bear, Claymont, Hockessin, New Castle, Newport, Odessa, Townsend and Wilmington Manor. The county also contains several unincorporated communities such as Ardencroft Village and Yorklyn.
New Castle County borders four other counties in Delaware: Kent County to the east; Sussex County to the south; Cecil County in Maryland to the southeast; and Chester County in Pennsylvania to the north.
The county also borders two major cities: Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and Baltimore in Maryland.
New Castle County has much to offer its residents with plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking trails at White Clay Creek State Park or fishing on Brandywine Creek State Park or exploring historic sites such as Fort Christina or Old Swedes Church. There are also plenty of shopping centers like Christiana Mall or entertainment venues like Riverfront Wilmington or Nemours Mansion & Gardens for visitors to enjoy while they explore all that New Castle has to offer.
Demographics of New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware is a diverse and vibrant community. The total population of the county was 543,764 in 2019, with a population density of 1,096 people per square mile. The median age of the population is 37.9 years old.
The racial makeup of New Castle County is 74.3% White, 20.1% Black or African American, 2.2% Asian, 0.5% Native American or Alaska Native, 2.1% from two or more races and 0.8% from other races. The largest Hispanic or Latino group was Puerto Ricans, who made up 4%, followed by Mexicans (2%), Salvadorans (0%), Cubans (0%) and other Hispanic or Latino groups (0%).
The median household income for New Castle County is $71,026 and the poverty rate is 8%. In terms of educational attainment, 92% of adults 25 years and older have a high school degree or higher while 37% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The labor force participation rate for New Castle County is 66%, with the unemployment rate standing at 4%. The major industries in which residents are employed include health care and social assistance (14%); retail trade (12%); professional, scientific and technical services (10%); finance and insurance (7%); manufacturing (5%); educational services (4%) and public administration (4%).
New Castle County also has several communities that are home to many different cultures as well as numerous parks such as White Clay Creek State Park or Brandywine Creek State Park which offer plenty of outdoor activities for its residents to enjoy.
Places of Interest in New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware is home to a variety of places of interest for visitors and locals alike. For those looking for outdoor activities, White Clay Creek State Park and Brandywine Creek State Park offer plenty of opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, and more. Historic sites such as Fort Christina or Old Swedes Church also provide an interesting look into the area’s past.
For those seeking a more urban experience, Riverfront Wilmington offers entertainment venues such as restaurants, shops and galleries. The Nemours Mansion & Gardens is also a popular destination in the area that features elegant gardens and beautiful architecture.
Shopping centers like Christiana Mall are great places to find unique gifts or souvenirs to take home with you. There are also many restaurants in the area that serve up delicious cuisine from around the world.
For those looking for something educational to do on their trip, New Castle County is home to several museums including the Delaware Museum of Natural History which features interactive exhibits about wildlife and nature; the Hagley Museum which documents the history of business in America; and the Delaware Art Museum which houses collections of 19th-century American art.
New Castle County is also home to many parks with playgrounds, trails, sports fields and courts where visitors can take part in recreational activities such as biking or running. In addition there are several golf courses located throughout the county that offer excellent golfing opportunities for both amateur and professional players alike.
Notable People of New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County, Delaware is home to several notable people who have made their mark in various industries. One of the most famous residents of the county is Joe Biden, the current President of the United States. Before being elected to office in 2020, Biden served for many years as a U.S. Senator from Delaware and was Vice President under Barack Obama.
The county also has a long history of prominent businesspeople and entrepreneurs such as Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems; Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks; and Robert Herjavec, founder of The Herjavec Group.
In terms of entertainment celebrities, New Castle County is home to several actors including Will Ferrell, Ryan Phillippe, and Aubrey Plaza. It also boasts several singers such as John Legend and Christina Aguilera.
In science and technology there are numerous notable people from New Castle County including physicist Stephen Hawking; computer scientist Alan Kay; entrepreneur Elon Musk; Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Robert Curl; astronaut Ellen Ochoa; engineer Harold Rosen; and many more.
The county also has a proud history of athletes such as NBA Hall-of-Famer Allen Iverson who attended high school in New Castle County before going on to have an illustrious career in basketball; former NFL quarterback Joe Flacco who attended Audubon High School in New Castle County before being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens; and MMA fighter Rashad Evans who trained at Delaware Combat Sports in Wilmington before going on to become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
