Editing Milford, Delaware

{{short description|City in Delaware, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Milford, Delaware
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Delaware|City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Walnut Street NB at Park Avenue Milford DE.jpeg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Walnut Street in Milford in 2020
| image_flag         = Milford, DE Flag.gif
| image_blank_emblem = Milford, DE Logo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_seal         = MilfordDEseal.png
| image_map          = File:Kent County and Sussex County Delaware Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Milford Highlighted 1047420.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Milford in Kent County and Sussex County, Delaware.
| pushpin_map        = Delaware#USA
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_label      = Milford
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Delaware

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Delaware}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Delaware|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kent County, Delaware|Kent]], [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = F. Todd Culotta
| leader_title1      = City Manager
| leader_name1       = Mark Whitfield
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1680
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = February 5, 1807

<!-- Area -->| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_10.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 9.94
| area_land_sq_mi    = 9.85
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.09

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 11190
| population_density_sq_mi = 1135.58
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 13
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|54|45|N|75|25|41|W|region:US-DE_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 19963
| area_code          = [[Area code 302|302]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 10-47420
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 214308<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|214308}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.cityofmilford.com/ www.cityofmilford.com]
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| area_total_km2     = 25.75
| area_land_km2      = 25.52
| area_water_km2     = 0.23
| population_density_km2 = 438.47
}}

'''Milford''' is a city in [[Kent County, Delaware|Kent]] and [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Delaware]]. According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 11,190 people and 4,356 households in the city.<ref name="census.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kentcountydelaware,sussexcountydelaware,milfordcitydelaware,US/PST045221 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kent County, Delaware; Sussex County, Delaware; Milford city, Delaware; United States |publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref>

The Kent County portion of Milford is part of the [[Dover metropolitan area]] and the [[Delaware Valley|Delaware Valley metropolitan area]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121004708/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[Office of Management and Budget]] |archive-date=2017-01-21 }}</ref> while the Sussex County portion is part of the [[Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The Kent County side of Milford was first settled in 1680 by Henry Bowan on what was known as the Saw Mill Range. A century later the Reverend Sydenham Thorne built a dam across the [[Mispillion River]] to generate power for his gristmill and sawmill. Around the same time, Joseph Oliver laid out the first city streets and plots nearby on a part of his plantation. Soon a number of homes and businesses appeared along Front Street. The city was incorporated February 5, 1807.<ref name="History">{{cite web|title=History of Milford, Delaware|url= http://www.cityofmilford.com/index.aspx?NID=166|website=cityofmilford.com |access-date= 2012-04-11}}</ref>

In the 1770s, a ship building industry was already flourishing on the Mispillion River. Shipbuilding continued to be the major industry of Milford through World War I, bringing considerable prosperity to the town. The high point came in 1917 when the four-masted, {{convert|174|ft|m|adj=on}} long ''Albert F. Paul'' was launched from the William G. Abbott shipyard.  At one point six shipyards were operating in the downtown area. When the last of the area's giant white oaks was cut in the 1920s, the shipyards quickly went out of business, although the Mispillion ships sailed on for many years. (The ''Paul'' was sunk by a German torpedo in 1942 while sailing from the Bahamas.) The Vineyard shipyard was called into service in both [[World War I]] and [[World War II|II]] to build submarine chasers.<ref name="History"/>

During much of the twentieth century Milford served primarily as the commercial center for much of southern Delaware's large agricultural community.<ref name="History"/>

Seven of Delaware's governors have come from Milford: [[Daniel Rogers (politician)|Daniel Rogers]] (who served 1797–99), [[Joseph Haslet]] (1811–14), [[William Tharp]] (1847–1851), [[Peter F. Causey]] (1855–59), [[William Burton (governor)|William Burton]] (1859–63), [[William T. Watson]] (1895–97), and [[Ruth Ann Minner]] (2001–09).<ref name="History"/>

[[Abbott's Mill]], [[Bank House (Milford, Delaware)|Bank House]], [[Carlisle House (Milford, Delaware)|Carlisle House]], [[Christ Church, Milford, Delaware|Christ Church]], [[Dr. Dawson House]], [[Draper House (Milford, Delaware)|Draper House]], [[Egglinton Hall]], [[Golden Mine]], [[Grier House]], [[Peter Lofland House]], [[James McColley House]], [[New Century Club (Milford, Delaware)|Milford New Century Club]], [[Milford Railroad Station]], [[Milford Shipyard Area Historic District]], [[Mill House (Milford, Delaware)|Mill House]], [[Mispillion Lighthouse and Beacon Tower]], [[North Milford Historic District]], [[Old Fire House]], [[Parson Thorne Mansion]], [[South Milford Historic District]] [[Walnut Farm]], [[Gov. William T. Watson Mansion]], and [[J. H. Wilkerson & Son Brickworks]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

On May 30, 2003, a fire started in a second floor apartment next to Wiley Hardware & Appliance on Walnut Street in the historic downtown section of Milford. More than 200 firefighters from Milford, [[Ellendale, Delaware|Ellendale]], [[Harrington, Delaware|Harrington]], [[Felton, Delaware|Felton]], [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]], [[Smyrna, Delaware|Smyrna]], [[Houston, Delaware|Houston]], [[Frederica, Delaware|Frederica]], [[Slaughter Beach, Delaware|Slaughter Beach]], [[Bowers Beach, Delaware|Bowers Beach]], [[Greenwood, Delaware|Greenwood]], [[South Bowers, Delaware|South Bowers]], [[Farmington, Delaware|Farmington]], [[Magnolia, Delaware|Magnolia]], [[Cheswold, Delaware|Cheswold]], [[Lewes, Delaware|Lewes]], [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]], and [[Bridgeville, Delaware|Bridgeville]] in [[Delaware]] and [[Greensboro, Maryland|Greensboro]] and [[Goldsboro, Maryland|Goldsboro]] in [[Maryland]] fought the blaze which destroyed seven businesses, a church, and three apartments, destroying an entire city block in the historic section of town. No one was killed in the blaze, but one civilian and six firefighters were injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firehouse.com/news/10541741/fire-hits-block-in-historic-milford-delaware|title=Fire Hits Block In Historic Milford, Delaware|work=Firehouse|access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
Milford is located at {{Coord|38|54|45|N|75|25|41|W|type:city}} (38.9126129, −75.4279748),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along the [[Mispillion River]], which runs through the city.<ref>[[DeLorme]] (2004). ''Maryland Delaware Atlas & Gazetteer''.  p. 52.  Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme.  {{ISBN|0-89933-279-X}}.</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.87|sqmi|km2}}.

{{Weather box
|location = Milford, Delaware
|width       = auto
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 43
|Feb high F = 45
|Mar high F = 54
|Apr high F = 64
|May high F = 73
|Jun high F = 82
|Jul high F = 87
|Aug high F = 85
|Sep high F = 78
|Oct high F = 68
|Nov high F = 58
|Dec high F = 48
|year high F= 
|Jan low F = 24
|Feb low F = 25
|Mar low F = 33
|Apr low F = 42
|May low F = 52
|Jun low F = 62
|Jul low F = 67
|Aug low F = 65
|Sep low F = 57
|Oct low F = 46
|Nov low F = 36
|Dec low F = 29
|year low F= 
|Jan record high F = 79
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 97
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 76
|year record high F= 106
|Jan record low F = −11
|Feb record low F = −11
|Mar record low F =  4
|Apr record low F =  16
|May record low F =  28
|Jun record low F =  36
|Jul record low F =  39
|Aug record low F =  43
|Sep record low F =  34
|Oct record low F =  19
|Nov record low F =  9
|Dec record low F = −2
|year record low F= −11
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.08
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.30
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.51
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.50
|May precipitation inch = 4.03
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.31
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.69
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.61
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.08
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.48
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.32
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.59
|year precipitation inch = 45.50
|Jan snow inch = 3.9
|Feb snow inch = 5.4
|Mar snow inch = 0.9
|Apr snow inch = 0.1
|May snow inch =  0
|Jun snow inch =  0
|Jul snow inch =  0
|Aug snow inch =  0
|Sep snow inch =  0
|Oct snow inch =  0
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 1.5
|year snow inch=
|source=<ref>{{cite web| url = https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/Milford+DE?canonicalCityId=a6edf520a405cd6ed344f29f698f6245ed8759fee9d13d58531196f659779d9e
 | title = Milford, DE Monthly Weather Averages | access-date = 2020-08-18 }}</ref>
|date=August 18, 2020
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 1178
| 1870 = 1150
| 1880 = 1240
| 1890 = 2555
| 1900 = 2500
| 1910 = 2603
| 1920 = 2703
| 1930 = 3719
| 1940 = 4214
| 1950 = 5179
| 1960 = 5795
| 1970 = 5314
| 1980 = 5366
| 1990 = 6040
| 2000 = 6732
| 2010 = 9559
| 2020 = 11190
| align = left
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

As of the 2020 census,<ref name="census.gov" /> there were 11,190 people and 4,356 households in the city.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 44.3% from 18 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the city was 62% White, 26% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, and 4.5% from 2 or more races.

The median household income according to the 2020 census is $47,824.  14.1% of families are below poverty level, which is slightly higher than the national average of 11.4%, and higher than the Kent County and Sussex County average of 13% and 11% respectively.

== Education ==
[[Milford School District]] operates public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, DE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2021-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10005_sussex/DC20SD_C10005.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sussex County, DE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2021-06-15}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:2022-07-14 15 38 10 View north along Delaware State Route 1 (Coastal Highway) from the overpass for northbound Delaware State Route 1 Business (Rehoboth Boulevard) in Milford, Sussex County, Delaware.jpg|thumb|right|DE 1 northbound on the south side of Milford]]
Milford is served by several state roads connecting it to other points in Delaware. [[Delaware Route 1]] bypasses Milford to the east along the Milford Bypass and heads north to [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]] and southeast to the [[Delaware Beaches]]. A business route of DE 1, [[Delaware Route 1 Business]], passes through the city along Rehoboth Boulevard and North Walnut Street. [[U.S. Route 113]] begins at DE 1 at the north end of the Milford and heads south through the city on Dupont Boulevard, continuing south to [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]]. [[Delaware Route 14]] runs east–west through the city on Northwest Front Street and Northeast Front Street, heading west to [[Harrington, Delaware|Harrington]] and east to its terminus at the DE 1 bypass. [[Delaware Route 36]] runs east–west through the city on Lakeview Avenue, Causey Avenue, and Southeast Front Street, heading southwest to [[Greenwood, Delaware|Greenwood]] and east to [[Slaughter Beach, Delaware|Slaughter Beach]]. [[Delaware Route 15]] begins at DE 14 west of Milford and heads northwest to [[Canterbury, Delaware|Canterbury]]. [[Delaware Route 30]] begins at DE 1 and DE 1 Business southeast of Milford and heads south toward [[Milton, Delaware|Milton]] and [[Millsboro, Delaware|Millsboro]].<ref>{{Delaware road map|year=2008}}</ref> [[DART First State]] provides bus service to Milford along Route 210, which runs through the city between the [[Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus]] and the [[Walmart]] in the northern part of Milford; Route 303, which runs north to Dover and south to Georgetown; and Route 307, which runs north to Dover and south to [[Lewes, Delaware|Lewes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dartfirststate.com/information/routes/index.shtml|title=Routes and Schedules|publisher=DART First State|access-date=August 16, 2013}}</ref> The Indian River Subdivision line of the [[Delmarva Central Railroad]] passes through Milford.<ref name=dcr>{{cite web|title=Delmarva Central Railroad|date=8 November 2016 |publisher=Carload Express|url=http://carloadexpress.com/railroads/delmarva-central-railroad/|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Utilities===
The City of Milford provides electricity to the city, operating a substation and over {{convert|100|mi|km}} of overhead lines and over {{convert|50|mi|km}} of underground lines.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electric Utility Service - About Our System|publisher=City of Milford|url=http://www.cityofmilford.com/174/About-Our-System|access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref> The city's electric department is a member of the [[Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation]] (DEMEC) and purchases its power from the [[PJM Interconnection|PJM Power Grid]]. The City of Milford serves about 6,500 customers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electric Utility Service|publisher=City of Milford|url=http://www.cityofmilford.com/23/Electric-Utility-Service|access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref> The Public Works department provides water, sewer, trash and recycling collection to Milford.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trash Collection|publisher=City of Milford|url=http://www.cityofmilford.com/182/Trash-Collection|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105437/http://www.cityofmilford.com/182/Trash-Collection|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Recycling Collection|publisher=City of Milford|url=http://www.cityofmilford.com/98/Recycling-Collection|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105623/http://www.cityofmilford.com/98/Recycling-Collection|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Natural gas service in Milford is provided by [[Chesapeake Utilities]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Delmarva Service Territory|publisher=Chesapeake Utilities|url=http://www.chpk.com/delmarva-service-territory/|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>

Milford is home to the Milford Solar Farm, a 15 MW, 80 acre [[solar power]] farm owned by the [[Public Service Enterprise Group]] and is the largest solar power farm in Delaware. DEMEC purchases the power generated from the solar farm.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Governor Markell helps dedicate PSEG Milford Solar Farm|publisher=Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control|date=April 17, 2013|url=http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/News/Pages/Governor-Markell-helps-dedicate-PSEG-Milford-Solar-Farm.aspx|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>

===Health care===
[[Bayhealth Medical Center]] operates the [[Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus]] in Milford.<ref>{{cite web|title=Locations & Contact|publisher=Bayhealth|url=https://www.bayhealth.org/locations-and-contact|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> The hospital offers various inpatient services include a birthing room and cardiovascular and cancer services. The Sussex Campus also offers numerous outpatient services, patient and family support services, community outreach, and imaging services. The hospital has a 24-hour [[emergency room]] with a [[Level III trauma center]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Bayhealth Medical Center Stats & Services|magazine=U.S. News & World Report|url=http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/de/bayhealth-medical-center-6310007/details|access-date=June 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Emergency Care|publisher=Bayhealth|url=https://www.bayhealth.org/emergency|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> On May 27, 2016, Bayhealth Medical Center broke ground on the Bayhealth Sussex Campus to replace the former Milford Memorial Hospital. The six-story hospital cost between $275 million and $300 million to build.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rini|first=Jen|title=Bayhealth breaks ground on Milford campus|work=The News Journal|location=Wilmington, DE|date=May 27, 2016|url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/health/2016/05/27/bayhealth-breaks-ground-new-milford-health-campus/84787456/|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref> Bayhealth Sussex Campus opened on February 5, 2019.<ref name=wboc>{{cite news|last=Bavaro|first=Angelo|title=Bayhealth Hospital Sussex Campus opens|publisher=WBOC-TV|location=Salisbury, MD|date=February 5, 2019|url=http://www.wboc.com/story/39909928/bayhealth-hospital-sussex-campus-opens|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> Milford Memorial Hospital will be converted by Nationwide Health Services into a multi-use healthcare-focused community that would include a nursing home.<ref>{{cite web|title=Re-imagining Clarke Avenue|publisher=Bayhealth|url=https://www.bayhealth.org/re-imagining-clarke-avenue|access-date=August 8, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[Image:Mispillion River Milford.jpg|thumb|A pedestrian boardwalk parallels the [[Mispillion River]] in Milford]]
[[Image:Milford Delaware.jpg|thumb|Walnut Street in Milford in 2006]]

== Notable people==
<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->
*[[Mike Bagley]], commentator for [[Motor Racing Network]] and co-host of ''The Morning Drive'' on [[Sirius XM NASCAR Radio]]
*[[Jeff Baldwin]], baseball player
*[[Robert Crumb]], a famous cartoonist, lived in Milford for a few years and attended high school there
*[[Albert Jackson (mail carrier)|Albert Jackson]], the first black letter carrier in Canada
*[[Simmie Knox]] began to teach himself to paint while living in Milford as a young man; he later became the first African-American to paint an official presidential portrait – that of President Bill Clinton
*[[John Lofland (poet)|John Lofland]] (1798–1849), widely known as the "Milford Bard", was a prolific and widely read writer of prose, verse and speeches; he grew up and spent much of his life in "The Towers" on North West Front Street
*[[Ruth Ann Minner]], [[Governor of Delaware]] 2001–2009
*[[Harold Peterman]], state legislator
*[[Luke Petitgout]], former [[American football]] [[offensive tackle]] played in the [[National Football League]] for the [[New York Giants]] and [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]
*[[Chris Short]], star baseball pitcher for [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 1960s, was born in Milford
*[[Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert]], Union General in the civil war and diplomat
*[[William T. Watson]], 49th [[Governor of Delaware]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{portal|Delaware}}
{{commons category-inline}}
*{{official website|http://www.cityofmilford.com }}
*[http://www.downtownmilford.org Downtown Milford, Inc.]
{{Kent County, Delaware}}
{{Sussex County, Delaware}}
{{Delaware}}
{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Milford, Delaware| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Kent County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Cities in Sussex County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1680]]
[[Category:1680 establishments in Delaware]]
[[Category:Cities in Delaware]]
[[Category:Salisbury metropolitan area]]