St. George's Hundred (Delaware)
Encyclopedia
St. George’s 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 purpose except as a geographical point of reference.
that lies south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
and the small remaining portion of St. George’s Creek, and north of Appoquinimink Creek, extended generally westward from its headwaters to the Maryland
state line, excepting a small area south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
, west of Summit Bridge and north of Back Creek. It was one of the original hundreds in Delaware
created in 1682 and was named for St. Georges’s Creek that once flowed along its northern boundary. Today most of the bed of St. George’s Creek has been used by the route of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
, which has effectively replaced it.
Originally, the default boundary of Delaware
and Maryland
was the vague height of land between the Delaware River
and Chesapeake Bay
drainage basins and St. George's Hundred extended only to that point. With the running the Mason-Dixon Line
in 1767, the western boundary of Delaware
was established in its present location and became a portion of St. George's Hundred’s western boundary. The towns of Middletown
and Odessa
and the community of Port Penn is in St. George's Hundred.
, St. Georges’s Creek and Appoquinimink Creek, include the Delaware River
, which forms its eastern boundary, St. Augustine Creek, Scotts Run, Drawyers Creek, Back Creek, and Reedy Island in the Delaware River
. It is entirely in the coastal plain region on the Delmarva Peninsula
.
), Levels Road, (U.S. Route 301
), Summit Bridge Road and Boyd’s Corner Road (Delaware Route 896), 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 Middletown
.
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...
. Hundreds
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...
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
St. George's Hundred is that portion of New Castle CountyNew 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...
that lies south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a 14-mile long, 450-foot wide and 40-foot deep ship canal that cuts across the states of Maryland and Delaware, in the United States. It connects the waters of the Delaware River with those of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore...
and the small remaining portion of St. George’s Creek, and north of Appoquinimink Creek, extended generally westward from its headwaters to the 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...
state line, excepting a small area south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a 14-mile long, 450-foot wide and 40-foot deep ship canal that cuts across the states of Maryland and Delaware, in the United States. It connects the waters of the Delaware River with those of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore...
, west of Summit Bridge and north of Back Creek. It was one of the original hundreds in 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...
created in 1682 and was named for St. Georges’s Creek that once flowed along its northern boundary. Today most of the bed of St. George’s Creek has been used by the route of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a 14-mile long, 450-foot wide and 40-foot deep ship canal that cuts across the states of Maryland and Delaware, in the United States. It connects the waters of the Delaware River with those of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore...
, which has effectively replaced it.
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 St. George's Hundred extended only to that point. With the running 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 a portion of St. George's Hundred’s western boundary. The towns 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 ....
and Odessa
Odessa, Delaware
Odessa is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 364 at the 2010 census. Originally founded as Cantwell's Bridge in the 18th century, the name was changed in the 19th century, after the Ukrainian port city of the same name...
and the community of Port Penn is in St. George's Hundred.
Development
St. George's Hundred is rural and agricultural in places, but there has been considerable residential and commercial development in the 1980s and 1990s which continues to this day. This area is among the fastest growing parts of Delaware.Geography
Important geographical features, in addition to the Chesapeake and Delaware CanalChesapeake and Delaware Canal
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a 14-mile long, 450-foot wide and 40-foot deep ship canal that cuts across the states of Maryland and Delaware, in the United States. It connects the waters of the Delaware River with those of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore...
, St. Georges’s Creek and Appoquinimink Creek, include 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...
, which forms its eastern boundary, St. Augustine Creek, Scotts Run, Drawyers Creek, Back Creek, and Reedy Island in 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...
. 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 Beach Highway (Delaware Route 1), the DuPont Highway (U.S. Route 13U.S. Route 13 in Delaware
U.S. Route 13 is the main north–south highway in the U.S. state of Delaware. It traverses the entire length of the state from the Maryland border in Delmar, Sussex County to the Pennsylvania border in Claymont, New Castle County. U.S. Route 13 connects many important cities and towns in...
), Levels Road, (U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 in Delaware
In the U.S. state of Delaware, U.S. Route 301 runs from U.S. Route 40 in Glasgow to the Maryland state line where it continues as the Blue Star Memorial Highway...
), Summit Bridge Road and Boyd’s Corner Road (Delaware Route 896), 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 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 ....
.