The Largest Landowner in Delaware Owns a Ridiculous 75,000 Acres

Delaware is the second smallest state in the U.S. in terms of size. The “First State” spans only 2,489 square miles and shares a border with Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Despite its small size, there’s plenty to do in this historic state, from its museums to its beachside boardwalks. The largest landowner in Delaware owns a large chunk of the state and is a major player in Delaware’s economy.

Who Is the Largest Land Owner in Delaware?

The DuPont Company is the largest landowner in Delaware. The American multinational chemical company owns a whopping 75,000 acres of land in this small state. The DuPont Company began along the Brandywine River in 1802, according to the Library of Congress Blogs.

Founded by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours, the company’s original line of business was to produce explosives such as gunpowder. DuPont soon rose through the ranks and became the leading American manufacturer of black powder.

The DuPont Company evolved as time went on. Black powder creates a fog when ignited, so the company invented a a cellulose-based smokeless gunpowder. They became a major distributor of this product for the Allies during World War I.

In the 20th, DuPont chemists developed a number of revolutionary substances, including Freon, Nylon, Teflon, and Kevlar. The company maintained a healthy and competitive stream of revenue that dipped only during the Great Depression.

In 2015, DuPont merged with Dow Chemical, though the long-time competitors split and merged again over the next two years. Today the DuPont Company is a multi-billion dollar business, so it’s really no surprise that they are the largest land owner in Delaware.

Land Acquisition

The DuPont Company’s land acquisition in Delaware began with its first property purchase from Jacob Broom on the Brandywine River near Wilmington. By 1813 the company bought another 62 acres of land adjacent to Eleutherian Mills to build a new powder yard, according to the Hagley Museum and Library.

The DuPont Company underwent extensive expansion throughout the 19th century, purchasing controlling interest in gunpowder factories throughout the United States. DuPont also opened its first Experimental Station near the original powder yard in 1903.

Today the DuPont Company is one of the world’s largest producers of chemicals and science-based products. Its headquarters remain in Wilmington, DE and the company provides jobs and contributes to growth in many different sectors for the state of Delaware.

Controversy

Although it is a massive success story, a fair amount of controversy surrounds the DuPont Company. Despite a number of safety precautions, 288 explosions, and 228 deaths have been associated with the DuPont Company over the course of its history.

In more recent years DuPont has faced concerns and even lawsuits regarding its manufacturing processes. For example, multiple lawsuits were filed in U.S. courts in relation to the PFOA used to produce Teflon, writes the Business & Human Rights Resource Center. Additionally, claims of illnesses caused by PFOA pollution from DuPont’s Parkersburg plant in West Virginia have been filed.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com