Kent County, Delaware is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is the second least populated county in the state, with an estimated population of 158,000 people as of 2020. The county seat is Dover, and it is part of the Dover Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Kent County was established in 1683 and was named after Kent County, England. It was originally part of St. Jones County and later became its own county in 1717 when St. Jones County was divided into two counties – Kent and Sussex. Kent County covers an area of 811 square miles and has a population density of 192 people per square mile.
The main industries in Kent County are agriculture and manufacturing, with poultry production being one of the major industries here since the 1950s. In addition to poultry production, corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, cattle and dairy products are also produced here. Manufacturing includes food processing plants (such as Frito Lay), printing companies (such as Dover Publications), and plastics manufacturers (such as Plastics Express).
The largest city in Kent County is Dover which serves as its county seat; it is also home to Delaware State University (DSU). DSU offers a wide range of undergraduate majors from accounting to zoology; it also has a graduate school offering master’s degrees in several disciplines including business administration and education leadership. Another major city in Kent County is Milford which serves as a regional hub for shopping and entertainment; it also hosts several festivals throughout the year including the Bug & Bud Festival which celebrates local arts & culture each June at Milford’s Riverwalk Park on Mispillion Riverfront Park
The climate here is humid subtropical with hot summers that can reach up to 90°F during July; winters are usually mild but can be quite cold at times with temperatures reaching below 0°F during January on average annually there are around 47 inches of rain falling across Kent County making it one of the wettest areas on Delmarva Peninsula
Kent County has many attractions for visitors such as Killens Pond State Park which offers camping sites for those who love outdoor activities like fishing or boating; there are also numerous historical sites located within this county such as The Green which served as a Revolutionary War encampment site for General George Washington’s troops during 1777-1778 or Johnson Victrola Museum which showcases historic phonographs from early 20th century America among other things
Overall, Kent County offers many opportunities for those looking to live or visit this area due to its diverse economy along with its rich history and culture; visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking or fishing while learning about Delaware’s past through numerous historical sites found here – making this an ideal place whether you want to stay short term or long term.
History of Kent County, Delaware
Kent County, Delaware is one of three counties in the state of Delaware. It was established in 1682 and was named after the county of Kent, England. The county was originally part of the colony of Maryland and was known as St. Jones County until it became part of Delaware in 1704. The county seat has been Dover since 1717.
The area that is now Kent County has a rich history prior to its establishment as a county in 1682. During the colonial period, this area was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Nanticoke and Lenape peoples. The first European settlers arrived in the early 1600s, mostly from England and Sweden, with some Dutch settlers arriving soon after.
In 1664, the English took control of New Netherland which included present-day Kent County and renamed it New York. In 1673, King Charles II granted land to William Penn which included present day Delaware and Pennsylvania. William Penn’s grant divided this land into three counties: Newcastle (now New Castle County), Sussex (now Sussex County) and St Jones (now Kent County).
During the Revolutionary War, Kent County was home to many battles between American forces led by George Washington and British forces led by General Cornwallis. After American victory at Trenton in December 1776, Washington led his troops through Dover on their way to Princeton where they won another decisive battle against British forces on January 3rd, 1777.
The area that is now Kent County saw significant growth throughout the 19th century as many new industries came to town such as tanning leather, shipbuilding and milling flour among others. This growth continued into the 20th century when Dover Air Force Base opened in 1941 during World War II and became a major employer for residents of Kent County who served their country during wartime operations there until its closure in 2013.
Today, Kent County remains an important part of Delaware’s economy with a population estimated at about 200 thousand people as of 2019 according to US Census data which makes it one of the most populous counties in Delaware behind only New Castle and Sussex Counties respectively . It is also home to several important institutions such as Dover Air Force Base Museum, University of Delaware’s College Park campus as well as several other colleges and universities located throughout its townships including Wesley College located just outside downtown Dover.