Townsend, Delaware
Townsend is a town of 2,832 people in New Castle County, Delaware, founded in 1885.
Why visit Townsend
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails and 1 place to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Arnold S. Naudain House and Townsend Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 25°F.
Weather in Townsend
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Townsend
Townsend is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. As of the 2020 census, Townsend had a population of 2,717. The center of population of Delaware is located in Townsend.
From the Wikipedia article Townsend, Delaware (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks14
Arnold S. Naudain House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic house in Delaware, United States
Townsend Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Delaware, United States
A. M. Vail House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in Delaware, United States
Brook Ramble
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Building in Delaware, United States
Cochran Grange
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Also known as John P. Cochran House, NRHP-listed in Middletown, Delaware
Hedgelawn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Building in Delaware, United States
Hill Island Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Building in Delaware, United States
Maple Grove Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Building in Delaware, United States
Mayfield
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Building in Delaware, United States
Middletown Historic District (Middletown, Delaware)
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Listed on the NRHP in New Castle County, Delaware
Noxontown
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic house in Delaware, United States
Pharo House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic house in Delaware, United States
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds2
Restaurants and cafes1
Elentrio’s Little Italy Pizzeria
Restaurant · Italian · 0.8 mi
325 Main Street, Townsend
Mo-Sa 11:00-20:35
Churches and places of worship5
Old Union Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Church building in Delaware, United States of America
St. Anne's Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Church building in Delaware, United States of America
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St. Joseph's Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Church building in Delaware, United States of America
History
The name comes from a businessman and Delaware Democrat, Samuel John Townsend. Prior to 1885, the town was known as Charley Town. Between 1845 and 1855 brothers Samuel and John Townsend purchased several large tracts of farmland in the vicinity. The Delaware Railroad arrived here in 1856, bisecting Samuel Townsend's property. This led to a period of sustained growth for the town, as the railroad station became the principal shipping point for the area's agricultural products. In September 1856 the Post Office was established, and the first hotel opened in 1857. The station was named Townsend after the area's major land owners. The peach industry was a vital contributor to the area's growth and prosperity until disease destroyed many Delmarva orchards in the late 19th century. A free African American community was located there by the mid-19th century.
The town has since created a "Comprehensive Development Plan", as required by state law February 2003, for land preservation.
The Townsend Historic District, which includes 216 buildings, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
From the History section of Townsend, Delaware on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries17
Appoquinimink Preschool Center
School · 2.8 mi
502 South Broad Street, Middletown
Brick Mill Early Childhood Center
School · 3.8 mi
378 Brick Mill Road, Middletown
Meredith (Everett) Middle School
School · 2.8 mi
504 South Broad Street, Middletown
Map of Townsend
39 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 25°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 25°F | 2.9 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 33°F | 4.3 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 42°F | 3.7 in |
| May | 76°F | 52°F | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 4.0 in |
| Jul | 89°F | 66°F | 4.8 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 65°F | 4.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 58°F | 4.9 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 46°F | 4.0 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 36°F | 3.4 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 4.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Newark Ag Farm Hcn (18 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
New Castle County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2021-10-24: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2020-10-02: Tropical Storm Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-11-16: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
New Castle County Airport (ILG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 20 miles away.
- Middletown 3 mi north, about 4 min by car
- Smyrna 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Clayton 10 mi south, about 16 min by car
- Delaware City 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
- Glasgow 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Cheswold 14 mi southeast, about 23 min by car
- Bear 15 mi north, about 24 min by car
- Elkton 15 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Brookside 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Dover 19 mi southeast, about 31 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 304 Main Townsend DE, Smallbones, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Townsend DE house, Smallbones, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Naudain HABS 031489pv, Historic American Buildings Survey Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard, Photographer, Public domain
- St. Joes Middletown Delaware, Smallbones, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MAYFIELD, MIDDLETOWN, NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hedgelawn, U.S. Route 301, Middletown vicinity (New Castle County, Delaware), Jack Boucher, Public domain
- Pharo House Middletown DE, Smallbones, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cochran Grange, Main House, U.S. Route 301, West of Route 71, Middletown, New Castle County, DE, David Ames, photographer, Public domain
- Old Union Methodist Sussex DE 2, Smallbones, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Noxontown 031483pv, Historic American Buildings Survey, Public domain
- Old St Anne's Church Middletown DE1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Middletown HD DE1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HILL ISLAND FARM, ODESSA SOUTHERN NEW CASTLE COUNTY DE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- BROOK RAMBLE, SOUTHERN NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Middletown Academy DE1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
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