St. George's Hundred, Delaware facts for kids

St. Georges Hundred is a special area in New Castle County, Delaware. Imagine it like a neighborhood or a district. Long ago, these "hundreds" were used to help decide who would represent people in the Delaware General Assembly, which is like their state government. Even though you might still see their names on papers when people buy or sell land, hundreds don't have a big official job anymore. Now, they are mostly used just to describe a place on a map.

Where is St. Georges Hundred?

St. Georges Hundred is located in the southern part of New Castle County.

Its Borders and How It Started

This area is south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and what's left of St. Georges Creek. It's north of Appoquinimink Creek, which stretches west towards the Maryland state line. There's a small part south of the canal, west of Summit Bridge, and north of Back Creek that's also included.

St. Georges Hundred was one of the very first hundreds created in Delaware back in 1682. It got its name from St. Georges Creek, which used to flow along its northern edge. Today, much of that creek's path is now used by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Setting the Western Boundary

When Delaware and Maryland were first being settled, their border was a bit unclear. It was generally thought to be the high ground between the Delaware River and Chesapeake Bay areas. So, St. Georges Hundred originally only went up to that vague line.

However, in 1767, a famous survey called the Mason–Dixon line was drawn. This line clearly set the western boundary of Delaware exactly where it is today. This new, clear line then became part of St. Georges Hundred's western border.

Towns Inside the Hundred

If you visit St. Georges Hundred, you'll find the towns of Middletown and Odessa. The community of Port Penn is also located within this area.

How the Area Has Grown

St. Georges Hundred still has some rural and farming areas. But, starting in the 1980s and 1990s, a lot of new homes and businesses have been built there. This growth is still happening today, making it one of the fastest-growing parts of Delaware.

Natural Features

Besides the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, St. Georges Creek, and Appoquinimink Creek, other important natural features include the Delaware River, which forms its eastern border. You'll also find St. Augustine Creek, Scotts Run, Drawyers Creek, Back Creek, and Reedy Island in the Delaware River. The entire area is part of the flat coastal plain region on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Roads and Travel

Many important roads run through St. Georges Hundred. These include parts of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway (Delaware Route 1) and the DuPont Highway (U.S. Route 13). Other key roads are Levels Road, U.S. Route 301, Summit Bridge Road, and Boyd's Corner Road (Delaware Route 896). You'll also find Augustine Beach Road and Taylor's Bridge Road (Delaware Route 9).

A train track, which was once part of the old Delaware Railroad, runs north and south through Middletown. This track is now used by the Delmarva Central Railroad.