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Claymont, Delaware
The Darley House
The Darley House
Location in New Castle County and the state of Delaware.
Location in New Castle County and the state of Delaware.
Claymont, Delaware is located in Delaware
Claymont, Delaware
Claymont, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Claymont, Delaware is located in the United States
Claymont, Delaware
Claymont, Delaware
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Delaware
County New Castle
First settled before 1200
Renamed 1856
Area
 • Total 2.15 sq mi (5.57 km2)
 • Land 2.15 sq mi (5.57 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
75 ft (23 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,895
 • Density 4,600.19/sq mi (1,776.54/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
19703
Area code(s) 302
FIPS code 10-15310
GNIS feature ID 213804
Website claymontrenaissance.org

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

History

Claymont has been a continuous settlement near the mouth of Naamans Creek on the Delaware River since at least A.D. 1200, with evidence of its original inhabitants along both banks pointing to the Middle Woodland period (1100-1600 B.C.). The first western inhabitants named the creek and settlement after the Lenape chief who occupied the region. The area developed from a primarily agricultural community in the mid-19th century into a suburban resort area for wealthy Philadelphia families, and in the early 20th century into an industrial working community.

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 (Governor Printz Boulevard) and US 13 Bus. (Philadelphia Pike), has long been a thoroughfare for travel between Philadelphia (20 miles to the north) and Washington, D.C. (100 miles to the south).

Claymont was so-named in 1856 upon the efforts of the wife of Reverend Clemson, pastor of the Episcopal church, after they had relocated from their family plantation, Claymont Court, in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Renaissance

Since 1993, 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, 66-acre (270,000 m2) community of Brookview was razed beginning in 2007 to make way for Renaissance Village. In addition to the Claymont Stone School, the Darley House and the Robinson House, the Archmere Academy, Hickman Row, and Ivyside Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Claymont is located at 39°48′02″N 75°27′35″W / 39.80056°N 75.45972°W / 39.80056; -75.45972 (39.8006685, -75.4596404), 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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all land. 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 to the south.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 9,895
U.S. Decennial Census

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 neighborhoods located within Claymont. The area had a population of 14,471 with a total of 5,984 households at the 2010 Census. The racial makeup of the area was 61.83% White, 31.41% African American, 7.72% Hispanic, 0.89% Native American, 4.75% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, and 3.48% from other races. As of 2010, the median household income for the 19703 ZIP code was $58,304 with an average of 2.42 persons per household.

Places of interest

Claymont is home to several historic places, including the Claymont Stone School (which may have been the state's first racially integrated public school), Archmere Academy (in the former home of industrialist John J. Raskob), the Darley House (former home of illustrator F. O. C. Darley), and the Robinson House (with a Block House believed to be the only structure remaining of the original Naaman's Creek settlement). It is also the headquarters of several prominent businesses, including Evraz Claymont Steel and CIGNA Global Health Benefits. Fortune 500 metals and mining giant, Minmetals, has a presence in Claymont as the owners of the Holiday Inn Select Hotel on Naamans Road.

Education

Claymont is in the Brandywine School District.

Transportation

Claymont Station
Claymont Station, which serves SEPTA Regional Rail's Wilmington/Newark Line

Major roads that serve Claymont include Interstate 95, Interstate 495, US 13 (Governor Printz Boulevard), US 13 Bus. (Philadelphia Pike), and DE 92 (Naamans Road). 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 Northtowne Plaza 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 Northtowne Plaza 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.

Notable people

Biden Claymont
President Biden moved to Claymont from Scranton, PA.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Claymont para niños

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