Wilmington DE

Christina was the first Swedish settlement in North America.  The area now known as Wilmington was settled by the Lenape (or Delaware Indians) just before Henry Hudson sailed up the Delaware River in 1609.  Beginning in 1664, British colonization began; after a series of wars between the Dutch and English, the area stabilized under British rule, with strong influences from the Quaker communities.  Although only one small battle was fought in Delaware during the American Revolutionary War, British troops occupied Wilmington shortly after the nearby Battle of Brandywine in 1777. The British remained in the town until they vacated Philadelphia in 1778. The most remarkable growth in the city occurred during the Civil War. Although officially remaining a member of the Union, Delaware was a border state and divided in its support of both the Confederate and the Union causes. The war created enormous demand for goods and materials supplied by Wilmington, including ships, railroad cars, gunpowder, shoes, and other war-related goods.  We encourage you to learn more about this beautiful area by visiting the City of Wilmington DE website here.

The Lenape Native Americans were the historic tribe who occupied the area during European encounters. They were followed by European settlers, primarily English, in the early years of colonial settlement. Historians are uncertain of the source of Galloway Township's name. We encourage you to learn more about this beautiful area by visiting the Galloway Township website here.