Middletown, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middletown
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Four corners at the main intersection of Middletown
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| Nickname(s):
Diamond Town of the Diamond State
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Location of Middletown in New Castle County, Delaware.
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 Middletown, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Middletown, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Delaware | ||
| County | New Castle | ||
| Incorporated | 1861 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 12.65 sq mi (32.75 km2) | ||
| • Land | 12.51 sq mi (32.41 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,192 | ||
| • Density | 1,853.28/sq mi (715.56/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
19709
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| Area code(s) | 302 | ||
| FIPS code | 10-47030 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 214304 | ||
Middletown is a lively town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It's a growing community with a rich history. In 2021, about 24,164 people lived here.
Contents
Geography and Weather
Middletown is located at 39°26′58″N 75°42′59″W / 39.44944°N 75.71639°W. It sits about 66 feet (20.1 m) above sea level. The town covers an area of about 11.61 square miles (30.1 km2), with most of it being land.
The weather in Middletown changes with the seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cold. You can see the average temperatures and rainfall below.
| Climate data for Middletown, Delaware | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
75 (24) |
81 (27) |
93 (34) |
93 (34) |
104 (40) |
104 (40) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
91 (33) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41 (5) |
45 (7) |
55 (13) |
65 (18) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
87 (31) |
86 (30) |
80 (27) |
68 (20) |
57 (14) |
46 (8) |
66 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24 (−4) |
26 (−3) |
33 (1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
65 (18) |
64 (18) |
57 (14) |
45 (7) |
37 (3) |
29 (−2) |
45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −15 (−26) |
−15 (−26) |
1 (−17) |
8 (−13) |
31 (−1) |
39 (4) |
46 (8) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
21 (−6) |
15 (−9) |
−6 (−21) |
−15 (−26) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.17 (81) |
2.60 (66) |
3.71 (94) |
3.48 (88) |
4.04 (103) |
3.59 (91) |
3.96 (101) |
3.21 (82) |
3.50 (89) |
3.80 (97) |
3.31 (84) |
3.31 (84) |
41.68 (1,060) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.8 (12) |
5.8 (15) |
1.2 (3.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
2.4 (6.1) |
14.5 (36.86) |
Town Services
Getting Around
Middletown is easy to reach by car. Major roads like Delaware Route 1 and U.S. Route 301 are nearby. These roads connect Middletown to other towns and cities.
Inside town, Delaware Route 71 and Delaware Route 299 are main streets. They help people travel through Middletown and to nearby areas.
_from_the_overpass_for_Delaware_State_Route_299_(Middletown-Odessa_Road)_in_Middletown,_New_Castle_County,_Delaware.jpg)
For public transport, DART First State offers bus services. Route 46 connects Middletown to Newark. Other routes can take you to Wilmington or Dover. There's even a seasonal "Beach Connection" bus to Lewes.
A train line, the Delmarva Subdivision, also runs through the town. For air travel, Summit Airport is close by. Larger airports like Philadelphia International Airport are a bit further away.
Utilities and Public Safety
The Town of Middletown Electric Department provides electricity to homes and businesses. They work with the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation. The town also handles water and sewer services. Trash collection and recycling are provided by Trash Tech. Chesapeake Utilities supplies natural gas.
Because Middletown has grown so much, it started its own police force. The Middletown Police Department began on October 3, 2007. This helps keep the community safe.
Education
Middletown has many schools for students of all ages. Public schools are part of the Appoquinimink School District. This district has built new schools to welcome more students.
- New elementary schools like Old State Elementary have opened.
- Cantwells Bridge is a new middle school.
- Odessa High School opened in 2020.
- Middletown High School and Appoquinimink High School also serve the area.
Other schools include:
- St. Georges Technical High School, which teaches technical skills.
- MOT Charter School, with buildings for K-8 grades and high school.
- Private schools like St. Anne's Episcopal School (K-8) and St. Andrew's School, a boarding school.
Wilmington University used to have a campus in town, offering higher education options.
Population Growth
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 368 | — | |
| 1860 | 523 | 42.1% | |
| 1870 | 915 | 75.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,280 | 39.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,454 | 13.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,567 | 7.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,399 | −10.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,260 | −9.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,247 | −1.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,529 | 22.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,755 | 14.8% | |
| 1960 | 2,191 | 24.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,644 | 20.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,946 | 11.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,834 | 30.1% | |
| 2000 | 6,161 | 60.7% | |
| 2010 | 18,871 | 206.3% | |
| 2020 | 23,192 | 22.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Middletown is one of the fastest-growing areas in Delaware. Between 2000 and 2010, the town's population grew by over 200%! Many new homes have been built, especially north of the town center. This growth attracts people who work in nearby cities like Wilmington or even Philadelphia.
As more people move in, more businesses have opened. You can find many national stores and restaurants, especially along the U.S. 301 road. An Amazon fulfillment center is also located in Middletown, providing many jobs.
Fun Events
Middletown hosts several exciting events throughout the year.
- Olde Tyme Peach Festival: This is an annual tradition every August. Main Street closes for a parade, live music, crafts, games, and delicious peach treats. There's also a 5k run/walk to support local sports.
- M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon: Held on Labor Day, this event raises money for local charities. People play baseball for 24 hours straight using an oversized softball. In 2013, it raised a record $65,000!
- Hummers Parade: This parade is a funny take on the famous Philadelphia Mummers parade. People dress up and make fun of the year's popular news, celebrities, and local events.
Local Media
If you want to know what's happening in Middletown, you can read The Middletown Transcript. This community newspaper has been printed every Thursday since January 4, 1868. It covers news for Middletown, Odessa, and Townsend.
Middletown on Screen
Middletown has been featured in movies and TV shows!
- The 1989 film Dead Poets Society, starring Robin Williams, was mostly filmed at St. Andrew’s School. A scene was also filmed at The Everett Theatre on Main Street.
- An episode of The West Wing called "Two Cathedrals" was partly filmed at St. Andrew's School.
Famous People from Middletown
Many notable people have connections to Middletown:
- Dennis C. Blair (born 1947), a former Director of National Intelligence.
- Erin Burnett (born 1976), a well-known journalist.
- Marquis Dendy (born 1992), an Olympic long jumper.
- Chris Godwin (born 1996), a wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Morgan Hurd (born 2001), a world champion artistic gymnast.
- Reggie Leach (born 1950), a former professional hockey player.
- Maggie Rogers (born 1994), a popular singer.
- Loudon Wainwright III (born 1946), a folk singer.
See also
In Spanish: Middletown (Delaware) para niños
