Iron Hill (Delaware) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iron Hill |
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 Iron Hill
Location in Delaware
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Newark, Delaware |
Iron Hill is a special hill near Newark, Delaware, in the United States. It stands out as the most noticeable hill in Delaware. This is because its top is about 200 feet (61 meters) higher than the land around it.
Even though it's very noticeable, Iron Hill is not the highest point in Delaware. That spot is called Ebright Azimuth, which is about 448 feet (137 meters) high. Iron Hill gets its name from the iron found inside it. People dug for this iron for over 200 years, from the 1700s to the 1800s. Today, Iron Hill is part of a park called Iron Hill Park in New Castle County.
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Where is Iron Hill Located?
Iron Hill is just south of Newark. You can find its top south of Interstate 95 and west of Delaware Route 896. It is the tallest and most eastern of three similar hills. The other two are Chestnut Hill and Gray's Hill, which is in Maryland.
What is Iron Hill Made Of?
Iron Hill and its nearby hills are unique rocky areas. They stick out from the mostly flat land around them. Iron Hill is made of a dark, strong rock called "Iron Hill Gabbro". This rock has a lot of iron oxide inside it. This is why the hill is named Iron Hill, and why people used to mine for iron here.
Another type of rock called Jasper is also found at Iron Hill. Long ago, Native Americans used this jasper to make tools like arrowheads.
Does Iron Hill Affect Compasses?
Because of the iron in the rocks, Iron Hill has a small magnetic effect. This means that if you use a compass near the hill, it might not point exactly north.
History of Iron Hill
People have been using the Iron Hill area for a very long time.
Ancient Times and Early Maps
Thousands of years ago, Native American groups lived here. They dug up jasper from Iron Hill. They used this strong rock to create tools such as arrowheads and other stone items.
The hill was first written about on a map in 1670. This map, made by Augustine Herman, called it "Yron Hill." In 1701, a large area including Iron Hill was given to Welsh settlers. These settlers came from Wales to escape religious problems. They knew a lot about working with iron and mining. Soon, they started digging for iron at Iron Hill.
Iron Hill During the Revolutionary War
During the Revolutionary War, Iron Hill was important. In September 1777, a battle called the Battle of Cooch's Bridge (also known as the Battle of Iron Hill) happened nearby.
Before the battle, George Washington climbed Iron Hill. He wanted to see where the enemy soldiers were moving. At that time, many trees had been cut down, so he had a clear view. Today, new trees have grown, and you can't see as far from the top.
Mining and the Iron Hill School
Mining for iron at Iron Hill continued until the late 1800s. However, the iron found here was not the best quality. Many mining businesses did not make much money and eventually failed. The last person to mine here was J.P. Whitaker. He sent the iron ore to a place in Maryland to be melted down.
African-American mine workers and their families lived in the area. In 1923, a man named Pierre S. du Pont helped build Iron Hill School No. 112C for these children. The school stayed open until 1965, when all public schools in Delaware became desegregated. Now, the old school building is home to the Iron Hill Museum.
Today, much of Iron Hill is a wooded area for people to enjoy. It is known as Iron Hill Park.
