Smyrna, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smyrna, Delaware
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South Main Street in Smyrna
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| Etymology: Ancient Greek seaport of Smyrna | |
Location of Smyrna in Kent County and New Castle County, Delaware.
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 Smyrna, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Smyrna, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Delaware |
| County | Kent, New Castle |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.31 sq mi (16.34 km2) |
| • Land | 6.24 sq mi (16.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,883 |
| • Density | 2,063.26/sq mi (796.66/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
19977
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| Area code(s) | 302 |
| FIPS code | 10-67310 |
| GNIS feature ID | 214671 |
| Website | smyrna.delaware.gov |
Smyrna is a town located in the state of Delaware, USA. It is found in both Kent and New Castle counties. Smyrna is part of the larger Dover metropolitan statistical area. In 2020, the town had a population of 12,883 people.
Some famous people were born in Smyrna. These include John Bassett Moore, an international lawyer, and politicians like Louis McLane and James Williams.
Contents
History of Smyrna
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Smyrna was first known as Duck Creek Cross Roads. In 1806, it changed its name to Smyrna. This new name came from an ancient Greek seaport called Smyrna in what is now Turkey. The town was built along the important King's Highway, which ran north and south.
Smyrna was once a busy shipping hub along the Duck Creek. It was the most important port between Wilmington and Lewes. Ships from Smyrna carried goods like grain, lumber, and farm products to northern areas. When the shipping business slowed down in the 1850s, Smyrna continued to be a strong farming community.
There's another story about how Smyrna got its name. In 1806–1807, a Methodist preacher named Frances Asbury gave a sermon about the Church at Smyrna from the Bible. The people liked the sermon so much that they decided to rename their town Smyrna in its honor.
Many old and important buildings in Smyrna are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include places like Belmont Hall and the Smyrna Historic District. These sites help preserve the town's rich history.
Geography and Climate
Smyrna covers a total area of about 6.31 square miles (16.34 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Smyrna's Climate
The weather in Smyrna has hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. Smyrna has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets plenty of rain throughout the year, and the temperatures are generally warm.
| Climate data for Smyrna, Delaware | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
97 (36) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
104 (40) |
102 (39) |
98 (37) |
95 (35) |
85 (29) |
75 (24) |
104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43 (6) |
47 (8) |
55 (13) |
66 (19) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
87 (31) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
69 (21) |
59 (15) |
47 (8) |
66 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
36 (2) |
44 (7) |
54 (12) |
63 (17) |
69 (21) |
67 (19) |
60 (16) |
49 (9) |
40 (4) |
31 (−1) |
47 (8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −7 (−22) |
−11 (−24) |
7 (−14) |
14 (−10) |
28 (−2) |
41 (5) |
45 (7) |
35 (2) |
30 (−1) |
25 (−4) |
11 (−12) |
−3 (−19) |
−11 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.41 (87) |
3.18 (81) |
4.31 (109) |
3.88 (99) |
4.25 (108) |
4.00 (102) |
4.09 (104) |
4.36 (111) |
4.13 (105) |
3.42 (87) |
3.48 (88) |
3.65 (93) |
46.16 (1,174) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
People of Smyrna
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,873 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,110 | 12.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,428 | 15.1% | |
| 1890 | 2,455 | 1.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,168 | −11.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,843 | −15.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,953 | 6.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,958 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,870 | −4.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,346 | 25.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,241 | 38.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,243 | 30.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,750 | 11.9% | |
| 1990 | 5,231 | 10.1% | |
| 2000 | 5,679 | 8.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,023 | 76.5% | |
| 2020 | 12,883 | 28.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Smyrna has grown quite a bit over the years. In 2000, there were 5,679 people living in the town. By 2020, the population had grown to 12,883.
In 2000, most people in Smyrna were White (72.88%). About 22.42% were African American. Other groups like Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people also lived there. About 3.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Smyrna in 2000 was 35 years old. About 27.1% of the people were under 18 years old. This shows that many families with children live in Smyrna.
Town Services and Transportation
Getting Around Smyrna
_from_the_overpass_for_Smyrna-Leipsic_Road_in_Smyrna,_Kent_County,_Delaware.jpg)
Smyrna is served by several important roads. The Delaware Route 1 is a major toll road that runs along the eastern side of town. You can get on or off it at exits 114 and 119. U.S. Route 13 is another main road that goes through the town. Both DE 1 and US 13 connect Smyrna to Dover to the south and Wilmington to the north.
Delaware Route 6 goes east and west through Smyrna. It connects to nearby towns like Clayton and Woodland Beach. Delaware Route 300 also starts in Smyrna and heads southwest towards Kenton.
For public transportation, DART First State offers bus services in Smyrna. Route 120 connects Smyrna to Dover. Routes 301 and 302 offer express services to Dover, Wilmington, and Middletown from the Smyrna Rest Area. If you need to fly, the Smyrna Airport is nearby for smaller planes.
Town Utilities
The Town of Smyrna Electric Department provides electricity to homes and businesses in Smyrna. They serve about 6,200 customers. Trash collection is handled by a company called Waste Industries. The Public Works department makes sure that about 4,000 customers have clean water and sewer services. Natural gas in Smyrna is provided by Chesapeake Utilities.
Correctional Facility
The James T. Vaughn Correctional Center is a state prison located near Smyrna. It uses a Smyrna post office address, even though it is in an area not officially part of the town.
Education in Smyrna
Children in Smyrna attend schools within the Smyrna School District. The main high school for the area is Smyrna High School.
Notable People from Smyrna
Many interesting people have come from Smyrna:
- Edward G. Budd: He founded The Budd Company, which made cars, trains, and planes.
- George D. Cummins: He was the founder and first Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
- Sug Daniels: A talented singer-songwriter.
- John Bassett Moore: A famous international lawyer and a former Assistant United States Secretary of State.
- Robert J. Reynolds: He served as the 47th Governor of Delaware.
- Michael Scuse: He was the acting United States Secretary of Agriculture.
- Presley Spruance: He was a United States Senator for Delaware.
- Chuck Wicks: A country music singer who also appeared on Dancing with the Stars.
- John B. Mayberry: He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his brave actions at the Battle of Gettysburg.
- John H. Hoffecker: A United States Congressman for Delaware.
- Walter O. Hoffecker: Also a United States Congressman for Delaware.
- Levin I. Handy: Another United States Congressman for Delaware.
- John Cook: The sixth President of Delaware (from 1782–1783). In early American history, some state leaders were called "Presidents" instead of "Governors."
- Thomas Collins: The eighth President of Delaware (from 1786–1789).
- John Clark: The 20th Governor of Delaware.
- William Temple: The 35th Governor of Delaware (from 1846–1847). He was the youngest governor in Delaware's history at 32 years old. He also served as a United States Congressman.
- Frances Van Gasken: A physician and a supporter of women's right to vote.
- James Williams: A United States Congressman for Delaware.
- Roosevelt Wardell: A well-known jazz pianist.
See also
In Spanish: Smyrna (Delaware) para niños
