Despite being the second smallest state in land mass, Delaware boasts one highest population densities per square mile in the nation.
Here are the population numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau for Delaware's five biggest cities.
1. Wilmington, Pop: 70, 851
Delaware’s largest city considers itself as being “in the middle of it all” — which is particularly true in the Northeast corridor. Just off Interstate 95, Wilmington is within commuting distance to both Philadelphia and Baltimore.
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Desite encompassing Delaware's northernmost urban, industrial county, the Brandywine Valley merges classic town with Old World country. One of the oldest cities in America, the Wilmington area boasts vineyards and countryside estates and gardens preserved for more than a century.
Wilmington boasts sites of historic significance, performance venues, art galleries, a mix of restaurants sure to whet anyone’s appetite.
2. Dover, Pop: 36,047
Where Wilmington likes to slow down with Old World manors, Dover likes to go faster and break the rules.
Dover, the state's centrally located capital city, is largely surrounded by rural landscapes, but there are plenty of things flying around and in and out of the city.
NASCAR’s
Dover International Speedway, also known as
The Monster Mile, has witnessed eight national and world records for the fastest races and fastest qualifying laps.
Dover Air Force Base "operates the largest and busiest air freight terminal in the Department of Defense. ... The Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs is the DOD's largest joint-service mortuary facility and the only one located in the continental United States."
Delaware State University, a historically black college and university founded after the Civil War, maintains its main campus in Dover. DSU's athletic teams fly under the moniker of the Hornets.
3. Newark, Pop: 31,454
Something old, something new: Delaware’s third largest city retains its old English heritage without sacrificing its New World appeal. The city, originally named New Ark, proudly retains the hard "R" sound in its name to accentuate its original two-word nomenclature and distinguishe itself from New-
erk, New Jersey.
Newark is home to one of the most recent historical trails in the U.S. In 2012, an Eagle Scout created the nine-mile
Newark Historic Trail, which the Boy Scouts of America recognizes with its own personal merit badge.
During the trail, hikers visit one of the nation’s oldest schools — the
University of Delaware. Tracing its roots back more than 300 years, the university was acclaimed by Benjamin Franklin and supplied prestigious graduates, including three Founding Fathers.
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4. Middletown, Pop: 18,871
Supplying drinks, lodging, and friendly faces for more than 300 years, this crossroads town served as an inviting face to the New World.
Originally a tavern town, Middletown served travelers on their way to Dover and Wilmington. The lodges and drinking holes were one of the most popular in the pre-Independence mid-Atlantic.
Today, the town boasts Delaware’s fastest-growing area. Fast-paced industries and new economic development played the catalyst to Middletown's growth. The city is expected to double its population within the next 25 years.
5. Smyrna, Pop: 10,023
Land ahoy! Delaware’s fifth largest city rose from a small town to becoming one of the mid-Atlantic’s prominent ship building locations in early America.
Founded prior to the American Revolution in 1716,
this Duck Creek city was originally named Salisbury, and was home to local peach farmers, lumberjacks, and grain millers. After settlers started populating the New World, Salisbury started building a name for by building and repairing sea-weary boats.
And what’s a coastal city without singing sailors?
Smyrna’s Opera House supplies the musical festivities for travelers looking to rest their sea legs.
Founded in the late 1800s, the Opera House started as an incentive to liven up the war-weary city and provide entertainment for troops returning form the American Revolution.
Today it is one of the oldest music venues in America and features local cultural music as well as renowned artists.
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