A BRIEF LOOK AT THE PAST

As described in Wilmington 2028, the City’s comprehensive plan, natural features have shaped the residential development pattern of Wilmington’s neighborhoods over time. The city lies at the fall line that separates the flat coastal plain from the hilly areas to the west. East of Market Street, and along both sides of the Christina River, the land is flat, low-lying, and marshy in places. The land where Wilmington sits today was home to the Lenape tribes before the first wave of European settlers in the 17th century brought Swedish, Dutch, and British colonization. Wilmington officially became a borough in 1739 and later was designated a city in 1832.

The city quickly developed into a prosperous business and residential community, accessible by water, road, and rail. Manufacturing and ship building boomed for years and then gave way to the growth of corporations, banking, and healthcare. Urban renewal projects in the 1960s and 1970s led to the clearing of many housing blocks and the construction of I-95 segregated areas of the city from one another. In recent years, downtown and riverfront areas have experienced a resurgence that includes downtown housing, entertainment, shopping, and restaurants - mirroring national trends in downtown investment and rebirth over the last two decades.

1921

1946

The Kingswood United Methodist Church opened its doors to local youth. Later, The Kingswood Community Center was erected at its current location.

1957

Northeast Wilmington, today home to nearly 10,000 residents, includes a mix of walkable residential neighborhoods, large city parks, and auto-oriented commercial and industrial businesses, situated among long-time community institutions and wellknown businesses within its geographic boundaries. The timeline below illustrates some of the major events, people, and changes over time in the northeast neighborhoods.

1964

Charles A. Allen and his partner Jack Hare started Northeast Body Shop with a small used car lot.

1997

EastSide Charter Elementary School opened its door.

2000

Thomas A. Edison Charter School was established.

2020

The Warehouse is born.

2021 REACH awarded $26M in COVID-19 relief funds to help accelerate redevelopment timeline.