Tybouts Corner, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tybouts Corner, Delaware
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 Tybouts Corner, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Tybouts Corner, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Delaware |
| County | New Castle |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 302 |
| GNIS feature ID | 217024 |
Tybouts Corner is a small community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It is not an official town, but rather an "unincorporated place." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are not part of a city or town government.
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Exploring Tybouts Corner
Tybouts Corner is located where several important roads meet. These include U.S. Route 13 and Hamburg Road/Bear Tybouts Road. It is also close to Delaware Route 1 and Delaware Route 71. The area sits at an elevation of about 52 feet (16 m) above sea level.
The History of Tybouts Corner
This community gets its name from a person named George Z. Tybout. He was a local landowner and a leader in farming during the 1800s. His daughter, Ella Tybout, later became a well-known writer for magazines.
The Landfill Story
In 1968, a landfill opened in Tybouts Corner. A landfill is a place where trash and waste are buried. At first, it was only for household garbage. But soon, industrial waste was also put there, which was against the rules. Fires happened about once a month at the site.
The landfill closed in 1971 because it was completely full. Later, in 1980, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took legal action against New Castle County. This was because of problems with how the waste was handled. In 1982, the EPA said this former landfill was the second most dangerous in the country. It was then listed as a Superfund site in 1985. Superfund sites are places with hazardous waste that need special cleanup.
Water Concerns
In the 1970s, a company called Stauffer Chemical accidentally polluted the drinking water wells in Tybouts Corner. This happened because of chemical waste from their plant. One resident, Jacob Wagner, found his well water was yellow. He later took legal action against the county. Luckily, the heavy soil in the area helped stop the pollution from spreading too far.
Another company, Formosa Plastics Corporation, bought the plant in 1981. In 1985, people living nearby became worried. An environmental group claimed that Formosa was releasing harmful gases. Scientists thought these gases could have poisoned the water. Because of these worries, the local wells were closed. Residents then had their drinking water brought in through pipes from other places.
Gas Tanker Incident
In February 1986, a gas tanker truck overturned on U.S. Route 13 in Tybouts Corner. The truck was carrying 8,400 gallons of gasoline. It might have hit ice and lost control. Even though there was no fire, police asked people in 30 nearby houses to leave their homes for safety.
Cleaning Up the Landfill
To make the area safer, a temporary system was put in place in 1996. This system helped release gases from the underground landfill. A permanent system was built in 2000. These systems stop harmful gases from spreading beyond the landfill's property.
By May 2007, the water underground was much cleaner. The EPA and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control decided to stop pumping water from the wells. The next year, they stopped checking the water every three months. Now, the water is checked twice a year to make sure it stays clean.
