Discover The 6 Oldest Cities In Delaware

Delaware is the second-smallest state after Rhode Island. It shares the Delmarva Peninsula with Maryland and Virginia. Even though Delaware was not the first colony in the United States, it is known as “The First State.” Why? Because out of the original 13 British colonies, it was the first to ratify the United States Constitution. Many of Delaware’s towns and cities date back earlier than the founding of the country itself. This state has seen a lot of history. And because the state packs so much into such a small area, you can visit all of them easily! In this article, we’ll look at a few of the oldest cities in Delaware.

Oh, and by the way, definitions of “city” vary widely. We’ve chosen to only include places with a population of at least 1,500 people as of the 2020 census. You won’t find any ghost towns on this list, just friendly places ready to welcome you on your next vacation.

1. Wilmington – 1638

Wilmington had a population of 70,898 as of 2020, making it by far the largest city in the state. It was founded on the Delaware River in 1638 by Swedish settlers as part of their colony of New Sweden. Fort Christina was the center of the original settlement, named for the Swedish Queen. The site is about a mile from present-day downtown Wilmington. A monument gifted to the city by the government of Sweden in 1938 marks the spot where the fort stood. In modern times, Wilmington became nationally famous as the home of the wealthy Dupont industrialist family. Today, one of Wilmington’s most famous residents is President Joe Biden.

Today, Wilmington offers visitors lots of opportunities for outdoor activities, including tennis, cycling, golf, and riverfront walks. The city has four parks, a children’s museum, and a zoo. You can charter a riverboat cruise or take rowing classes. Farmers’ markets are popular in good weather.

2. New Castle – 1651

New Castle is a city of 5,285 in the northern part of the state, on the Delaware River. It’s the center of a semi-circle that defines the border with Pennsylvania. New Castle got started as a Dutch colony in 1651 but was taken over along with other New World settlements by the British during one of their wars with this rival empire. It was the center of a lot of important American colonial history. You can still see the New Castle Court House where the American Declaration of Independence was read to the population from the second-floor balcony, and where the Delaware State Constitution was later approved as the first state constitution of the new United States.

If you try to choose your favorite things to do in New Castle, it will be hard as there’s so much to choose from! You’ll love just walking around and admiring all of the old buildings, the architecture and beautiful gardens and checking out the quaint little shops. It definitely takes you back in time! Make sure to check out Battery Park and the pier, the Amstel House Museum, and the New Castle Farmers’ Market & Flea Market. The Visitor Center at the Arsenal has helpful, knowledgeable staff, lots of information about the area and an informative video you can watch to immerse yourself in the area’s history and lore. Finally, you should pay your respects at the Immanuel Episcopal Church cemetery. Every headstone has a story to tell. You’ll get a real sense of what it was like to live over a century ago.

3. Seaford – 1672

Delaware’s third oldest city, Seaford, had a 2020 Population of 7,957. It’s located on the Nanticoke River. The city was founded in 1672 and named for a city of the same name in East Sussex, England. When it first started it was located in Maryland due to a surveying error that had to work its way through the courts in London and finally resulted in the location of Seaford being settled as Delaware.

Visiting Seaford today, you can check out the Nanticoke River Arts Council and Gallery 107 or visit the Seaford Museum in a repurposed post office. A notable attraction is the Ross Mansion and Plantation, a 20-acre property with granary and farm equipment exhibits, a carriage house, a Victorian cottage, and old slave quarters built with log construction. Seaford has some annual events that draw visitors to the city, such as the three-day Nanticoke Riverfest in July (you can inner tube on the river!), the AFRAM Festival in August celebrating African American culture, and the Seaford Christmas Parade in December.

4.  Milford – 1680

The fourth oldest city on our list is Milford, Delaware, a city with a 2020 population of 11,190. The area was first settled in 1680 and was the site of a gristmill and sawmill powered by a dam over the Mispillion River. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it benefited from a thriving shipbuilding industry on the river. With six shipyards operating in the downtown area, it became quite a prosperous town. By the 1920s, overharvesting had destroyed the last of the giant white oaks in the area and the shipyards went out of business. Milford continued to be the commercial center for the agricultural areas of the southern part of the state, though.

What can you do in Milford now? The city has museums, art galleries and puts on local theater productions. You can admire the historic architecture, including churches and cathedrals. Shoppers will find antique shops and novelty boutiques. If you like the outdoors, you’ll enjoy the city’s parks, golfing opportunities, canoeing, and other river activities. And if all that wears you out, you can treat yourself to a relaxing spa visit.

5. Claymont – 1681

Claymont, with a 2020 population of 9,895, was an ancient settlement site of indigenous peoples since ancient times, due to its favorable location at the confluence of Naamans Creek and the Delaware River. Dutch settlers were the first permanent European residents in the area. In the early days of the country, it developed into an important travel corridor between Philadelphia (20 miles north) and Washington D.C. (100 miles south). From the 17th-20th centuries, the economy of Claymont developed around agriculture and gristmills, and later lumber mills and steel and chemical factories. It turned into a resort area popular with wealthy people from Philadelphia.

There’s a lot of history to experience in Claymont. The Claymont Stone School of 1805 is claimed as the country’s first racially integrated public school. Archmere Academy, the Darley House, the Grubb/Worth Mansion, and the Robinson House are other historic buildings in the area that will interest history and architecture buffs alike. Brandywine Creek State Park and the Russell W. Peterson Wildlife Refuge are also close by. And if all of that is too tame, check out the Darley Wine, Beer, and Music Festival in early October, with home-grown drinks and tunes!

6. Dover – 1683

Dover, the state capital, is the last of the oldest cities in Delaware on our list. Founded in 1683, it has a population today of 39,403, a little over half the population of Wilmington, the state’s biggest city. The city was named after Dover, Kent in England and was founded by William Penn. Dover was on the route of the Underground Railroad, where escaping slaves would hide and rest on their flight from slave states such as Delaware and neighboring Maryland to the nearby free states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

All this history makes Dover an interesting place to visit today, with many sites on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Bradford-Loockerman House, the John Bullen House, the Carey Farm Site, Christ Church, John Dickinson House, Dover Green Historic District, Macomb Farm, Old Statehouse, Palmer Home, and Victorian Dover Historic District. Some other things to do in the area are to attend local theater productions, museums, shops run by the Amish community, parks, river activities, golf, and college sports. The city hosts the Big and Little Leagues Eastern Regionals games from the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Dover Motor Speedway has NASCAR races and in the same complex, there’s a harness horse racing track, hotel, and casino. Dover Air Force Base is nearby – one of the largest and most important of the country’s air bases. Admission is free and you can go on a tour of the base. If you can make it there during the annual air show, that will be a thrilling spectacle you will remember for a lifetime.

Dover, like the state of Delaware itself, has things to do for every age and interest level. So what will you do first on your next trip to the First State?

Summary Of The 6 Oldest Cities In Delaware

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Дмитрий Ларичев