Lifestyle

Cobblestones & Skyscrapers
Cities offer centuries-old charm, an impressive skyline or a college-town atmosphere

A statue of William Penn overlooks New Castle, which dates from 1651.

Visitors to New Castle County’s three principal cities can be forgiven if they think they’ve traveled to different states, not just ZIP codes.

Whether it’s the seriously historical New Castle, the waterfront and commercial areas of Wilmington, or the collegiate vibe of Newark, the county boasts municipalities that are distinctive in tone and texture.

“We’re an old city with great history,” says New Castle Mayor John Klingmeyer. “We’re very small (2006 estimated population: 4,836), but we’ve got nice restaurants, nice battery parks and many, many historical buildings.”

Indeed, history’s the thing in New Castle. The city dates from 1651, and among the annual celebrations on its cobblestone streets is Separation Day on June 15 – the date in 1776 when Delaware asserted its independence from Great Britain, two and a half weeks before the Declaration of Independence was signed up the road in Philadelphia.

“We have buildings that go back to Colonial times, and people do like to come and see them,” Klingmeyer says. “But we also have our own water and electric supply, and our courthouse is being renovated and modernized, so we’ve tweaked it a little bit over time.”

Downtown and Waterfront Revival

Much larger Wilmington (2006 estimated population: 72,876) is in the midst of a major revitalization that has enhanced its already impressive skyline. Multiple new projects are under way or planned, including the reclamation of the riverfront.

A combination of low taxes and proximity to Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., means Wilmington has much to offer, says Mayor James M. Baker, who ticks off a laundry list of pluses.

“The cost of living is less than most places, yet we have a great quality of life here,” Baker says. “We have a great corporate community within the city, with major banking and other corporations here. We have arts organizations that any other city would love to have. We have a diverse population. If you just look at all of that, this is a great place to live and raise a family.”

A College Town and More

In Newark, 17,000 University of Delaware students make up more than half of the population (2006 estimate: 30,060), so it’s not surprising that the city has a collegiate feel.

“Newark is a fun place to be,” says Mayor Vance A. Funk III, who has worked to blend the city’s various elements and revitalize its core.

“Our downtown was drifting, so we wanted to liven it up – make it more interesting for people older than college age,” Funk says. “We’re a college town, but we’re more than that as well. We want to have things going on to reflect that.”

A case in point is the Taste of Newark food and wine festival held in October in conjunction with the university’s hotel and restaurant school. The 2007 event featured 40 food vendors and 26 wineries.

“When I went to the university with this type of event, I was shocked at how enthusiastic they were,” Funk says. “We were assigned a public relations person and two senior event planners. It was a lot of fun to work with those very talented people, and they did it all for free.”

Pulling people together is a hallmark of all three cities, and it’s something that occurs regularly, according to the three mayors.

“We have great relationships with the county and state government, and with the other cities,” Wilmington’s Baker says. “Everyone’s very accessible and easy to get to. We all work together.”

Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Stephen Cherry

Additional Lifestyle Articles