MIDDLETOWN, DELAWARE

'Middletown' is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 9,121. Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Deleware

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Growth

Education

Events

Film appearances

Notable natives and residents

References

External links

Geography

Middletown is located at (39.454352, -75.713816) with an elevation of ^[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.6 km² (6.4 mi²). 16.6 km² (6.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.16% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,161 people, 2,298 households, and 1,631 families residing in the town. The population density was 371.7/km² (962.4/mi²). There were 2,514 housing units at an average density of 151.7/km² (392.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.42% White, 1.30% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.29% of the population.
There were 2,298 households out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,663, and the median income for a family was $47,270. Males had a median income of $35,688 versus $30,044 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,517. About 8.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Growth

Recent annexations of land have stimulated Middletown's growth: it is known as possibly the fastest growing area in Delaware. Many affluent housing developments surround the town's center. Current town growth town is a result of these such developments, which primarily attract high-income families relocating from Wilmington, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City.
Middletown's commerce has grown accordingly. National retail and food chain stores have opened locations in the area, with significant growth along the U.S. Route 301 corridor. This growth is more characteristic of suburban sprawl, a stark difference from Middletown's historic growth patterns.
The recent population increase has caused overcrowding at Middletown High School, which was over-capacity by 400 students during the 2005-2006 school year.

Education

Education in Middletown is provided by the Appoquinimink School District. It is also the location of the prestigious St. Andrew's School, a boarding school for grades nine through twelve. Middletown is currently building a new high school, Appoquinimink High School, to accommodate the population growth of the area and overcrowding at Middletown High School. It is scheduled to open in Fall of 2008. Everett Meredith Middle School is also located in Middletown.

Events

Middletown is home to the Olde Tyme Peach Festival, an annual tradition that attracts thousands of visitors each August.
Middletown hosts the M.O.T. Big Ball Marathon, an annual Labor Day event that benefits local charities.
It also hosts an annual Hummers parade. The parade's name is a spoof of the nearby Philadelphia Mummers parade. As opposed to the Mummers, which townsfolk believe has gotten much too serious and full of itself, the Hummers parade encourages folks to dress up and act silly, occasionally getting out of hand as seen in the 2005 parade when members of the community acted outrageously. The parade has sobered a bit in recent years, sporting a more "family oriented" atmosphere, but the presence of local and state politicians has steadily increased.

Film appearances

The 1989 film Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams was filmed almost entirely on the school grounds at St. Andrew's School.
The episode of The West Wing entitled "Two Cathedrals" (#44) was partly filmed at St. Andrew's School.

Notable natives and residents

★ Ashlee Greenwell, Miss Delaware USA 2006

★ Reggie Leach, former Philadelphia Flyers forward

★ Dwayne Henry, former Major League Baseball pitcher

★ Francis Kosich, 1979 Philadelphia Phillies mascot, the Philly Phanatic

★ Silas Simmons, longest-lived professional baseball player in history

★ Tom Verlaine, guitarist and singer for 1970s art punk group Television, attended St. Andrew's School

★ Loudon Wainwright III, folk singer, attended St. Andrew's School

References

1.

External links

★ Town of Middletown