Delaware City

“The city that thought it would be a metropolis” was a quote credited to former Delaware City resident William O. Wingate.  Mr. Wingate saw Delaware’s City’s riverside and port potential and quickly thought the city would grow with commerce.  Instead Delaware City became a quiet little town of about 1,500 residents.  Today, the one port facility is small but active.

Delaware City is close to the Delaware City Oil Refinery belonging to Valero Energy Corporation, acquired in 2005 as part of the company's takeover of Premcor.  The town center is dominated by the quant Clinton Street featuring Victorian architectures and small shops offering a variety of goods.

Delaware City is the disembarkation point for visitors to Pea Patch Island and the historic Civil War fortress Fort Delaware.  Built to protect the Delaware River and the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington from Confederate attack, the fort was used primarily as a prison camp for Southern soldiers during the Civil War.  At one point, immediately following and influx of prisoners taken at the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg in the summer of 1863, Fort Delaware became one of Delaware largest cities.

Delaware City was also the terminus for the original Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.   Later, when the canal was made sea level, the locks at Delaware City were abandoned but are still visible today.

Coming soon to Delaware City on the grounds of Fort DuPont State Park will be the Delaware Military Heritage Museum. The museum will display and honor the role of Delawareans in service to the United States.

To view all businesses in Delaware City please choose one of the below zip codes:

19706