Editing Townsend, Delaware

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Townsend, Delaware
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 304 Main Townsend DE.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = House on Main Street
| image_flag         = TownsendDEflag.gif
| image_seal         = TownsendDEseal.png
| image_map          = File:New Castle County Delaware Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Townsend Highlighted 1072510.svg
| mapsize            = 300px
| map_caption        = Location of Townsend in New Castle County, Delaware.
| pushpin_map        = Delaware#USA
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_label      = Townsend
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Delaware

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[List of states and territories of the United States|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Delaware}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Delaware|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[New Castle County, Delaware|New Castle]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Scott Lobdell, P.E.
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1885

<!-- 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   = 1.04
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.04
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2717
| population_density_sq_mi = 2622.59
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 69
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|23|42|N|75|41|30|W|region:US-DE_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 19734
| area_code          = [[Area code 302|302]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 10-72510
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 214755<ref>{{cite gnis|214755|Townsend}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://townsend.delaware.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| area_total_km2     = 2.69
| area_land_km2      = 2.68
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| population_density_km2 = 1012.36
| name               = 
}}
'''Townsend''' is a town in [[New Castle County, Delaware]], United States. The population was 2,049 at the [[United States Census, 2010|2010 census]], an increase of 492.2% from 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stateplanning.delaware.gov/census_data_center/ |title=The Delaware Census State Data Center |publisher=Stateplanning.delaware.gov |access-date=May 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231141632/http://stateplanning.delaware.gov/census_data_center/ |archive-date=December 31, 2016 }}</ref> The [[center of population]] of Delaware is located in Townsend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=10:1072510 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140528125458/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=10:1072510 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2014 |title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search- DE, Townsend town |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
Townsend is located at {{Coord|39|23|42|N|75|41|30|W|type:city}} (39.3951115, –75.6915973).<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=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.6|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

==History==
Townsend was incorporated as a town on April 3, 1885.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

The name comes from a businessman and Delaware [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Samuel John Townsend. Prior to 1885, the town was known as Charley Town. Between 1845 and 1855 brothers Samuel and John Townsend purchased several large tracts of farmland in the vicinity. The Delaware Railroad arrived here in 1856, bisecting Samuel Townsend's property. This led to a period of sustained growth for the town, as the railroad station became the principal shipping point for the area's agricultural products. In September 1856 the Post Office was established, and the first hotel opened in 1857. The station was named Townsend after the area's major land owners. The peach industry was a vital contributor to the area's growth and prosperity until disease destroyed many Delmarva orchards in the late 19th century. A free African American community was located there by the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=141455 | title=Townsend Historical Marker }}</ref>

The town has since created a "Comprehensive Development Plan", as required by state law February 2003, for land preservation.<ref name="Town of Townsend Comprehensive Plan">{{cite web|url=http://www.ipa.udel.edu/localgovt/municipalities/townsend/townsend_plan-updateT.pdf|publisher=The University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA)|access-date=January 9, 2014|title=2010 Update to the 2003 Town of Townsend Comprehensive Plan}}</ref>

The [[Townsend Historic District]], which includes 216 buildings, was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1986.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

===Mayors of the town===
''Note: List of Mayors is incomplete. Please add cited sources to complete this list.''

0000? - 2007 Charles Murry (Town Records)
* 2007(?)-2009 - Dave Raughley<ref name="Town of Townsend Council">{{cite web|url=http://townsend.delaware.gov/town-council/|publisher=Town of Townsend|access-date=January 9, 2014|title=Town Council Minutes}}</ref>
* 2010–2011: John Hanlin
* 2011-2012: Steve High
* 2012-2014: Joel Esler
* 2014-2015: Jermaine Hatton
* 2016-2019: Rudy Sutton
* 2019–2021: Tom McDonald
* 2021-2022:  Patrick Miller
* Current: Scott Lobdell, P.E.<ref name="Town of Townsend Council Minutes">{{cite web | url=https://townsend.delaware.gov/events/town-council-meeting-39/ | title=Town Council Meeting }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:2022-07-18 15 12 30 View south along Delaware State Route 71 (Summit Bridge Road) at Main Street and Pine Tree Road in Townsend, New Castle County, Delaware.jpg|thumb|left|DE 71 southbound in Townsend]]
[[Delaware Route 71]] runs northwest–southeast through the eastern part of Townsend. Main Street is the main east–west road through Townsend.<ref>{{Delaware road map|year=2008}}</ref> Townsend is at the junction of the [[Delmarva Central Railroad]]'s Delmarva Subdivision and the [[Maryland and Delaware Railroad]]'s Northern Line.<ref name=dcr>{{cite web|title=Delmarva Central Railroad|date=November 8, 2016 |publisher=Carload Express|url=http://carloadexpress.com/railroads/delmarva-central-railroad/|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Utilities===
[[Delmarva Power]], a subsidiary of [[Exelon]], provides electricity to Townsend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.delmarva.com/connect-with-us/about-us/service-territory/|title=Service Territory|publisher=Delmarva Power|access-date=August 15, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525061222/http://www.delmarva.com/connect-with-us/about-us/service-territory/|archive-date=May 25, 2014}}</ref> [[Chesapeake Utilities]] provides natural gas to the town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Delmarva Service Territory|publisher=Chesapeake Utilities|url=http://www.chpk.com/delmarva-service-territory/|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> [[Artesian Water Company]], a subsidiary of [[Artesian Resources]], provides water to Townsend.<ref>{{cite map|title=Geographic Information|publisher=New Castle County, Delaware|url=https://gis.nccde.org/gis_viewer/|access-date=March 5, 2018}}</ref> Trash and recycling collection in Townsend is provided by [[Waste Industries]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Trash and Recycling Pick Up Information|publisher=Townsend, Delaware|url=https://townsend.delaware.gov/government/trash-and-recycling-pick-up-information/|access-date=June 30, 2018}}</ref>

==Education==
Townsend is within the [[Appoquinimink School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10003_new_castle/DC20SD_C10003.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: New Castle County, DE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 18, 2021}}</ref> [[Odessa High School (Delaware)|Odessa High School]] has a Townsend postal address.

[[MOT Charter School]] is an area charter school.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middletowntranscript.com/photogallery/DE/20160901/PHOTOGALLERY/901009999/PH/1|title=PHOTOS: Back to school in M.O.T. area|newspaper=[[Middletown Transcript]]|date=September 1, 2016|accessdate=July 5, 2021|quote=Most schools in the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area[...] while M.O.T. Charter School students [...]}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 199
|1890= 387
|1900= 399
|1910= 494
|1920= 453
|1930= 421
|1940= 544
|1950= 441
|1960= 434
|1970= 505
|1980= 386
|1990= 322
|2000= 346
|2010= 2049
|2020= 2717
|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>
}}
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 346 people, 132 households, and 95 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|582.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 151 housing units at an average density of {{convert|254.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 84.10% White, 11.56% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 2.60% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.60%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

Of the 132 households 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 20.5% of households were one person and 7.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution was 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median household income was $47,500 and the median family income  was $48,875. Males had a median income of $27,250 versus $28,409 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,671. About 2.1% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
*[[Samuel John Townsend]] (1812–1881), for whom the town was named<ref>{{cite web |title=Townsend family papers |url=https://library.udel.edu/special/findaids/view?docId=ead/mss0445.xml;tab=notes |website=library.udel.edu |publisher=University of Delaware}}</ref>
*[[Happy Townsend]] (1879–1963), baseball player
*[[David P. Buckson]] (1920–2017), [[Governor of Delaware]], was born in Townsend<ref>'Dover Downs founder, politician Buckson dies at 96,' ''Delaware State News'', Andrew West, January 18, 2017</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

* [https://townsend.delaware.gov/ Official website]
{{commons category}}
{{New Castle County, Delaware}}

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[[Category:Towns in New Castle County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Towns in Delaware]]