Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Map of the early settlements of Delaware County, Penna

Chester Courthouse 1724

Bartrams Bridge NRHP

NewlinMill

TinicumNWR

Map of Delaware County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels

Delaware County
U.S. county
County of Delaware
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Coordinates:
Country	United States
Seat	Media
Area
• Total	191 sq mi (490 km2)
• Land	184 sq mi (480 km2)
• Water	6.8 sq mi (18 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	576,830
• Density	3,135/sq mi (1,210/km2)
Website	www.delcopa.gov

[[Category:{{{state}}} counties]]

Delaware County, colloquially referred to as Delco, is a county located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 576,830, making it the fifth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. The county seat is Media. The county was created on September 26, 1789, from part of Chester County and named for the Delaware River.

Geography

Delaware County is located in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania and is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is bordered to the east by Philadelphia County, to the west by Chester County, to the north by Montgomery County, and to the south by the state of Delaware.

The county has a total area of 191 square miles, of which 184 square miles is land and 6.8 square miles (3.6%) is water. The Delaware River forms the county's eastern boundary.

History

Delaware County was created on September 26, 1789, from part of Chester County. The county was named for the Delaware River, which in turn was named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor.

Government and Politics

Delaware County is governed by a five-member County Council. The county is part of the Court of Common Pleas of the 32nd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The county is represented in the United States House of Representatives by members of the 5th and 7th congressional districts.

Education

Delaware County is home to several institutions of higher education, including Swarthmore College, Haverford College, and Widener University. The county is also served by multiple public school districts, private schools, and charter schools.

Economy

The economy of Delaware County is diverse, with major industries including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. The county is home to several major employers, including Crozer-Keystone Health System, SAP America, and Boeing.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population of Delaware County was 576,830. The county has a diverse population with a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas. The largest city in the county is Chester, while the county seat is Media.

Transportation

Delaware County is served by several major highways, including Interstate 95, Interstate 476, and U.S. Route 1. Public transportation is provided by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which operates bus, trolley, and regional rail services throughout the county.

Notable People

• Tina Fey, actress and comedian
• Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States, who was born in Scranton but spent part of his childhood in Claymont, just across the state line from Delaware County.

See Also

• List of counties in Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia metropolitan area
• Delaware River

External Links

• Official website of Delaware County