Claymont, Delaware


Claymont is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The estimated 2017 population of the 19703 zip code, which Claymont encompasses, was 15,292.

History

The community now known as Claymont started on the banks of Naamans Creek where it empties into the Delaware River. This once rich ecosystem has been occupied steadily since before 1200 A.D. and has undergone numerous cultural and economic changes, most of which are still evident in the architecture and living patterns of the town today. The first residents were aboriginal Indians of the Middle Woodland period. Evidence of these early dwellers has been found along both sides of Naamans Creek. The Dutch named the creek and settlement after the Chief of the Lenape Indians who occupied the region. The settlement grew rapidly from the 17th century through the 20th century, first with gristmills, farms, and related ancillary industries, and later with lumber mills, a steel mill, and a chemical plant.
In 1681, John Grubb purchased a one-third interest in a 600-acre tract of the Brandywine Hundred which came to be known as Grubb's Landing.
Sitting strategically along the Delaware River, Claymont has been a two-way thoroughfare for travel to and from Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., since colonial days. During the colonial period, the town served as a stop along the King's Highway, and with its location at the confluence of Interstate 95, Interstate 495, US 13 and US 13 Bus. Philadelphia Pike has long been a thoroughfare for travel between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C..
In 1838, the newly constructed Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad built a station in Claymont. The area developed from a primarily agricultural community to a suburban resort area for wealthy Philadelphia families, and in the early 20th century into an industrial working community.
Naamans became Claymont in 1856 after Reverend Clemson, pastor of the Episcopal church, after they had relocated from their family plantation, Claymont Court, in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Claymont, with its diverse population, has continued to maintain a strong sense of community. The town's religious, civic, historic, and social organizations play a major role in supporting its unique character.

Renaissance

Since the mid 1990's, several major revitalization efforts have been completed, including renovations of historical sites such as the Claymont Stone School, the Darley House and the Robinson House. The Claymont Renaissance Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization working to stimulate economic growth and residential improvement in Claymont, received a Sustainable Communities Award from the National Association of Counties. In what has been called "the single largest redevelopment project in Brandywine Hundred in the last 40 years", the 633-unit, community of Brookview was razed beginning in 2007 to make way for the new urbanist, mixed use Darley Green development. In 2017, plans were announced for the redevelopment of the former 450 acre Claymont Steel site. In 2019 construction began on the $71M Claymont Regional Transportation Center which will replace the current small commuter rail stop one half mile to the south.

Geography

Claymont is located at , in northeastern Brandywine Hundred, on the ridge line between the coastal floodplain of the Delaware River and the upland piedmont area of northwestern New Castle County.
The area generally considered to be Claymont encompasses the entire 19703 ZIP code, which is bounded by the Pennsylvania border to the north, the Delaware River to the east, the CSX railroad line to the west, and Perkins Run creek to the south.

Law and government

County Representation

The New Castle County Government operates under an Executive-Council form of municipal government. The county is headed by a County Executive, who is elected to a maximum of two consecutive, four-year terms. The Chief Administrative Officer, who is the County's second-in-command, is appointed by the County Executive and serves at his or her pleasure. The current County Executive is Matt Meyer, and the current Chief Administrative Officer is Vanessa Phillips.
The county's legislative body is a thirteen-member County Council, consisting of twelve members elected by district and one Council President elected at large.

State Representation

Claymont is in the 7th District of the Delaware House of Representatives, and is in the 1st District of the Delaware Senate.
Both members of the Democratic Party, Ray Seigfried represents Delaware House District 7, and Harris McDowell III represents Senate District 1.

Federal Representation

Democratic Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester represents the State of Delaware in its entirety.
Claymont is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Tom Carper and Chris Coons.
The United States Postal Service has an office on Philadelphia Pike in Claymont.

Fire

The Claymont Fire Co. has two locations, one of which is located in Claymont on Philadelphia Pike.

Police

The New Castle County Division of Police has jurisdiction over all unincorporated areas in New Castle County, Delaware. The department has about 400 law enforcement officers. The current Chief of Police is Vaughn Bond. Claymont is also under the jurisdiction of the Delaware State Police.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,220 people, 3,792 households, and 2,400 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,371.4 people per square mile. There were 4,193 housing units at an average density of 1,988.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.04% White, 23.33% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.18% of the population.
There were 3,792 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,813, and the median income for a family was $46,780. Males had a median income of $36,493 versus $28,399 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,211. About 6.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
The ZIP Code Tabulation Area for 19703 includes communities such as Ashbourne Hills, the Greentree section, the Society Hill Section, and parts of Rolling Park, which are not included in Claymont CDP, and had a population of 15,312 at the 2000 census.

Transportation

Major roads that serve Claymont include Interstate 95, Interstate 495, US 13, US 13 Bus., and DE 92. Claymont Station is a SEPTA Regional Rail train station on the Wilmington/Newark Line, providing service north to Center City Philadelphia and south to Wilmington and Newark. Trains along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor pass through Claymont but do not stop; the nearest Amtrak station is Wilmington Station. DART First State provides bus service to Claymont along Route 13, which runs from the Tri-State Mall in Claymont south along Philadelphia Pike to Wilmington; Route 31, which runs from the Claymont Station south along Philadelphia Pike to Wilmington; and Route 61, which runs from the Claymont Station west along Naamans Road to the Brandywine Town Center and the Concord Mall. SEPTA Suburban Bus Route 113 runs from the Tri-State Mall in Claymont north into Delaware County, Pennsylvania, providing service to the Chester Transportation Center in Chester, the Darby Transportation Center in Darby, and the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby.

Places of interest

Claymont is home to several historic places, including the Claymont Stone School, est. 1805, Archmere Academy, est. 1916, the Darley House, est. 1859, the Grubb/Worth Mansion, erected in 1783, and the Robinson House.

Notable people