Appoquinimink Hundred
Encyclopedia
Appoquinimink Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County
, Delaware
. Hundred
s were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly
, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or purpose except as a geographical point of reference.
state line, and north of Blackbird Creek and Cypress Creek, a tributary of the Chester River
. It was one of the original hundreds in Delaware created in 1682 and was named for Appoquinimink Creek that flows along its northern boundary. When created it included the area now in Blackbird Hundred
, which was split off in 1875.
Originally, the default boundary of Delaware
and Maryland
was the vague height of land between the Delaware River
and Chesapeake Bay
drainage basins and Appoquinimink Hundred extended only to that point. With the running of the Mason-Dixon Line
in 1767, the western boundary of Delaware
was established in its present location and became Appoquinimink Hundred’s western boundary. The town of Townsend
and a portion of the town of Middletown
are in the hundred.
and Middletown
.
, which forms its eastern boundary, Noxontown Pond, and the headwaters of the Sassafras River
. It is entirely in the coastal plain region on the Delmarva Peninsula
.
), the Townsend Road (Delaware Route 71
), Augustine Beach Road and Taylor’s Bridge Road (Delaware Route 9
). A portion of the old Delaware Railroad, subsequently the Delmarva branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad
, now operated by Norfolk Southern, runs north-south through Townsend
, and Middletown
, and a portion of the Maryland & Delaware Railroad runs west from Townsend.
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. Hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
s were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly
Delaware General Assembly
The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 Senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 Representatives...
, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or purpose except as a geographical point of reference.
Boundaries and formation
Appoquinimink Hundred is that portion of New Castle County that lies south of Appoquinimink Creek, extended generally westward from its headwaters to the MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state line, and north of Blackbird Creek and Cypress Creek, a tributary of the Chester River
Chester River
The Chester River is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay on the Delmarva Peninsula. It is about long, and its watershed encompasses , which includes of land. Thus the total watershed area is 20% water. It forms the border between Kent County and Queen Anne's County, Maryland, with its...
. It was one of the original hundreds in Delaware created in 1682 and was named for Appoquinimink Creek that flows along its northern boundary. When created it included the area now in Blackbird Hundred
Blackbird Hundred
Blackbird Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or...
, which was split off in 1875.
Originally, the default boundary of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
was the vague height of land between the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
and Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
drainage basins and Appoquinimink Hundred extended only to that point. With the running of the Mason-Dixon Line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
in 1767, the western boundary of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
was established in its present location and became Appoquinimink Hundred’s western boundary. The town of Townsend
Townsend, Delaware
Townsend is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,049 at the 2010 census, an increase of 492.2% from 2000...
and a portion of the town of Middletown
Middletown, Delaware
Middletown is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 18,871.-Geography:Middletown is located at with an elevation of ....
are in the hundred.
Development
Appoquinimink Hundred remains largely rural and agricultural, but there is significant development beginning around TownsendTownsend, Delaware
Townsend is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,049 at the 2010 census, an increase of 492.2% from 2000...
and Middletown
Middletown, Delaware
Middletown is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 18,871.-Geography:Middletown is located at with an elevation of ....
.
Geography
The important geographical features of the hundred, in addition to Appoquinimink Creek and Blackbird Creek, include the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, which forms its eastern boundary, Noxontown Pond, and the headwaters of the Sassafras River
Sassafras River
The Sassafras River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay on the Delmarva Peninsula in the United States. It is about long and starts in western New Castle County, Delaware, and along the boundary between Cecil County, Maryland on the north and Kent County, Maryland on the south...
. It is entirely in the coastal plain region on the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
.
Transportation
Important roads include portions of the Korean War Memorial Highway (Delaware Route 1), the DuPont Highway (U.S. Route 13U.S. Route 13
U.S. Route 13 is a north–south U.S. highway established in 1926 that runs for from Interstate 95 just north of Fayetteville, North Carolina to the northeastern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Morrisville. In all, it traverses five states in the Atlantic coastal plain region,...
), the Townsend Road (Delaware Route 71
Delaware Route 71
Delaware Route 71 is a state highway in New Castle County, Delaware. The route loops off U.S. Route 13 from south of Townsend to Tybouts Corner, traveling to the west of US 13 by way of Townsend, Middletown, and the Summit Bridge...
), Augustine Beach Road and Taylor’s Bridge Road (Delaware Route 9
Delaware Route 9
Delaware Route 9 is a state highway that connects with Delaware Route 1 at the Dover Air Force Base to Interstate 95 in the City of Wilmington. Much like their U.S...
). A portion of the old Delaware Railroad, subsequently the Delmarva branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, now operated by Norfolk Southern, runs north-south through Townsend
Townsend, Delaware
Townsend is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,049 at the 2010 census, an increase of 492.2% from 2000...
, and Middletown
Middletown, Delaware
Middletown is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 18,871.-Geography:Middletown is located at with an elevation of ....
, and a portion of the Maryland & Delaware Railroad runs west from Townsend.