Dover, Delaware

Dover, Delaware, is a small city that saw population growth in the early twenty-first century. Dover maintains its strong colonial heritage with many preserved colonial era buildings centered around the Green in the city's historic district. The city has grown into a center for agriculture and state government. The population of Dover increases by the hundreds of thousands during the annual NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway.

Landscape

Dover, with a total land area of about twenty-three square miles, is located in central Delaware on the St. Jones River. This part of the state is characterized by flat, level land and a low elevation. In fact, Delaware has the second lowest average elevation in the country behind Florida. A mixture of hardwoods and pine trees can be found there.

Dover and its surrounding towns in Kent County are more rural than the more densely populated cities to the north, such as Wilmington, where most of the state's industry and main ports are located. The area surrounding Dover is comprised mainly of farms and woodland, though suburban housing has increased during the twentieth century.

Dover's climate is temperate and humid. In January, the average temperature is about thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit, while in July it is around seventy-seven degrees. August is the rainiest month, with an average of approximately 4.88 inches of precipitation. The state has been periodically hit by hurricanes, and Dover has occasionally suffered damage from these storms. For example, in 1954, Hurricane Hazel, one of the worst storms to hit Delaware, destroyed the National Guard Armory in Dover.

People

In 2022, Dover had an estimated population of 38,594 inhabitants. According to the US Census Bureau's, the population is largely White (38.8 percent) and Black or African American (42.2 percent). There is a sizable population of people of Hispanic/Latino descent of any race (9.2 percent). Those of Asian heritage (3.2 percent) make up another significant minority, and 9.7 percent of the population identifies as two or more races. Those who identify as an American Indian or Alaska Native comprise 0.5 percent of the population, while Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders comprise 0.1 percent.

Although Dover does not have the largest population in Delaware (Wilmington holds that title), it saw steady population growth in the first decades of the twenty-first century. Between 2000 and 2006, the population increased more than 8 percent, and between 2009 and 2016, the population increased by an additional 5.6 percent. However, between 2020 and 2022, it deceased by 2.1 percent. The completion of the Route 1 toll highway in 2003 helped to better connect Dover with Wilmington and points north. The city's proximity to major cities, such as Philadelphia and Washington, DC, (both are about ninety miles away) has also helped its population grow. In addition, more people moved to the city in this period due to the construction of industrial plants (such as food-processing factories) and resort communities.

Of the several famous historical figures to have come from Dover, Caesar Rodney played an important role in US history. Born in Dover in 1728, he served as a sheriff of Kent County and later as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He became a national hero when he made a dramatic ride on horseback from his home to Philadelphia in July 1776, when he received word that the Congress's upcoming vote on declaring independence was tied. His vote for independence famously broke the tie.

Residents celebrate African heritage during the African American Festival, also called "Positively Dover." Held each year in June, it features percussion workshops, a march around the festival area, and traditional foods.

From the time of its founding, Dover has attracted a large population of people from Methodist and Quaker faiths. In 1780, Barratt's Chapel was built, which today is the oldest Methodist Church in the United States that is still in use. Amish people began settling in the area just west of Dover in 1915. The community still thrives today, and an Amish Auction, where quilts and furniture can be purchased, is a popular annual event.

Economy

The major employers in Dover include the Dover Air Force Base, Bayhealth healthcare system, Dover Downs, Delaware State University, and the state government. Most of the state's government offices are located there, though some offices are also located in Wilmington.

Agriculture has historically been another large part of the Dover region's economy. It is one of the largest industries in Kent County. Crops include soybeans, corn, and apples.

During World War II, the US government established Dover Air Force Base on 3,900 acres just southeast of Dover. The base is the main air cargo terminal for the Air Mobility Command. The Dover Air Force Base employs thousands of military and civilian personnel and brings hundreds of millions of dollars into the region.

Dover also has some small-scale industries. In 1937, the International Latex Corporation (ILC) moved to Dover, becoming the first major nonagricultural industry in the city. The company produced space-related products, including the spacesuits used on the Apollo flights of the 1960s and 1970s.

Though Delaware does not have any major-league professional sports teams, the Dover International Speedway attracts huge crowds each year. It is located on the site of Dover Downs, which is also home to horse racing and slot machines. The facility provides thousands of jobs, and the two annual NASCAR race weekends alone bring about $1 million into the region.

Dover is home to several well-respected colleges. In 1873, Wesley College, the oldest private college in Delaware, was established in Dover. It was founded by leaders of the United Methodist Church and named for the church's founder, John Wesley. In 1891, Delaware State University was founded as an institution whose goal was to teach agricultural and mechanical sciences to African American students.

Landmarks

Several of Dover's landmarks date back to colonial times. The John Dickinson Plantation is a popular historic site located near Dover. John Dickinson, who is known as the "Penman of the Revolution," was one of the signers of the US Constitution.

Dover has more than twenty museums. They include the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, which showcases the region's strong agricultural traditions. The Meeting House Gallery I, established in 1790, is part of the Delaware State Museum. The Air Mobility Command Museum, located on the site of the Dover Air Force Base, houses many rare and vintage military airplanes. Additionally, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the Ballet Theater of Dover, the Dover Symphony Orchestra, and other attractions provide opportunities for residents to enjoy the arts.

The Dover International Speedway, first opened in 1969, brings approximately 250,000 people to the region during its annual NASCAR race weekend. The speedway uswed to host two races annually from 1971 to 2020. The facility, known as the "Monster Mile," includes 135,000 seats and a dramatic structure called the Monster Bridge, with seats that extend over the racetrack.

History

In the 1600s, Delaware was controlled by the Dutch and the English and remained a part of New York for many years. In 1682, William Penn, a wealthy English Quaker, gained control of Delaware from the Duke of York. Penn wanted control of the land so that his colony of Pennsylvania could have access to the ocean. He founded Dover in 1683 and named it after the English city of the same name.

Early settlers in Dover and elsewhere in southern Delaware were primarily English people, many of whom moved from neighboring Maryland. In 1717, the Delaware General Assembly officially planned out the city over an area of 125 acres. It was established around an existing county jail and courthouse, with several more buildings erected around the town green during the colonial era. In 1781, Dover was made the state's capital because of its central location within the state. In 1792, the Old State House was built and served as the city's capitol until 1933.

Dover played a key role in the American Revolution and the foundation of the American government. Delaware became the first of the thirteen colonies to ratify the US Constitution in a meeting in Dover on December 7, 1787. This landmark decision earned Delaware its nickname as "the First State."

Although Delaware was considered a slave state during the Civil War, few slaves lived in Kent County, partly because of the prevalence of Quaker and Methodist leaders who set an example for others by freeing their own slaves. Dover was a stop for many on the Underground Railroad, the route runaway slaves followed as they sought freedom in the North. Stations in Dover included the John Dickinson Plantation.

In 1829, Dover officially became a town; one hundred years later it was incorporated as a city. During this time, the city's infrastructure was developed. Several major fires in the 1800s prompted the development of a water system in Dover. In 1881, the city's water plant had been built and was aided by Dover's location on top of a prolific source of underground water. In 1900, a steam-powered electric plant was built in Dover, bringing electricity first to street lighting and later to businesses and homes in the city.

Dover experienced the greatest growth in the years following World War I and World War II. The 1924 completion of the Dupont Highway, which connects northern and southern Delaware, helped make this expansion possible. In the decade following this achievement, the city grew in size and its buildings and roads were improved.

Bibliography

"Dover." Dover Public Archives, 15 Apr. 2019, archives.delaware.gov/town-and-city-histories/dover/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024.

"Dover City, Delaware." United States Census Bureau, data.census.gov/profile/Dover‗city,‗Delaware?g=160XX00US1021200. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024.

Morgan, Michael. Civil War Delaware: The First State Divided. Charleston: History, 2012. Print.

Munroe, John A. History of Delaware. 5th ed. Cranbury: Assoc. UPs, 2006. Print.

"QuickFacts: Dover City, Delaware." United States Census Bureau, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dovercitydelaware/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2024.