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THE NATIONAL GAZETTEER OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DELAWARE 1983
Frontispiece "Old" Town Hall in New Castle, built 1823. The history of New Castle reflects the history of Delaware. New Castle had its
beginnings when a settlement grew up around Fort Casimir, built by the Dutch in 1651 and probably named in honor of Ernst Casimir,
Count of Nassau. The fort was renamed Trefalldighet or "Trinity" by the Swedes in 1654. In 1656, the fort and settlement became the
property of the burgomasters of Amsterdam, who renamed the place New Amstel. When the English took control of the town in 1664,
they changed its name to New Castle, in honor of the Marquess and Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, William Cavendish.
THE NATIONAL GAZETTEER OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-
DELAWARE 1983
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1200-DE
Prepared in cooperation with the
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:1984
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
William P. Clark. Secretary
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
DALLAS L. PECK, Director
UNITED STATES
BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
JOHN A. WOLTER, Chairman
MEMBERS AS OF APRIL 1983
Department of State ——————————————————— Sandra Shaw, member
Robert Smith, deputy
Postal Service ——————————————————————— Eugene A. Columbo, member
Paul S. Bakshi, deputy
Department of the Interior ———————————————— Rupert B. Southard, member
Solomon M. Long, deputy
Dwight F. Rettie, deputy
David E. Meier, deputy
Department of Agriculture ————————————————— Vacant
Lewis G. Clover, deputy
Donald D. Loff, deputy
Department of Commerce ————————————————— Charles E. Harrrington, member
Richard L. Forstall, deputy
Roy G. Saltman, deputy
Government Printing Office ———————————————— Robert C. McArtor, member
Roy W. Morton, deputy
Library of Congress—-—————————————————— John A. Walter, member
Myrl D. Powell, deputy
Department of Defense————————————————— Carl Nelius, member
Staff assistance for domestic geographic geographic names
provided by the U.S. Geological Survey
Communications about domestic names should be addressed to:
Donald J. Orth
Executive Secretary
Domestic Geographic Names
USGS National Center, Stop 523
Reston, VA 22092
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
The National gazetteer of the United States of America.
Delaware 1983.
(Geological Survey professional paper ; 1200-DE)
Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.16M200DE
1. Delaware—Gazeteers. I. United States. Board on
Geographic Names. II. Geological Survey (U.S.)
III. Series.
F162.N37 1984 917.51'03'21 83-600395
For sale by the Distribution Branch, U.S. Geological Survey,
604 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304
FOREWORD
The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names have a
long history of cooperation in establishing uniform usage for geographic names on
Federal maps, charts, and other publications. This cooperative effort has been a
natural blending of technical talent and responsibility that has been mutually
beneficial to the missions and programs of both organizations. The Board on
Geographic Names is responsible for establishing official names for use throughout
the Federal Government. The Geological Survey is responsible for the preparation
and maintenance of the base map series of the Nation's lands and waters and
publishes reports based on investigations of our mineral, energy, land, and water
resources. In addition to being a principal user of the official names determined by
the Board, the Geological Survey with its widely scattered field operations has been
a major source of information necessary for making the decisions establishing those
names.
The basis for the cooperation between the Geological Survey and the Board is the
recognition that the standard use of geographic names is necessary for geographical
communication. The use of geographic names in language forms a primary
reference system that affects all people almost every day of their lives. Geographic
names have strong psychological significance because they have close association
with the processes of thought that give people the ability to perceive and understand
the world around them. They identify areas of cultural and administrative respon­
sibility, define political boundaries, and carry legal weight in determining property,
mineral, and water rights.
"The National Gazetteer of the United States of America" is the result of a long-
term effort to provide a standard reference to the Nation's named places, features,
and areas. As early as 1892, with the support of the newly organized Board on
Geographic Names and as a part of its mapping program, the Geological Survey
began cataloging geographic names and producing a series of State gazetteers
""designed as an aid in finding any geographic feature upon the atlas sheets pub­
lished by the Geological Survey." Compilation was initially done by Henry Gannett,
Chief Geographer, under the direction of John Wesley Powell, second Director of
the Survey. Gannett was chairman of the Board on Geographic Names from 1894
until his death in 1914. Gazetteers for 12 States, Puerto Rico, Territory of Alaska, and
Indian Territory (Oklahoma) were published between 1894 and 1906. However,
large-scale topographic mapping, from which the name information for the gazet­
teers was derived, is a slow process, and inadequate map coverage led to the
suspension of the program.
In 1976 the Geological Survey again began the systematic collection of
geographic name information at a time when published large-scale topographic
maps were available for more than 70 percent of the country. This information com­
prises a major part of a computerized national geographic names data base. This
volume is part of the USGS Professional Paper series, ""The National Gazetteer of the
United States of America,"' and is derived from the data base.
Dallas L Peck John A. Walter
Director Chairman, U.S. Board on Geographic
U.S. Geological Survey Names
Department of the Interior

CONTENTS
Page
Foreword ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— vii
Acknowledgments —————————————————————————————————————————— viii
Introduction by Donald J. Orth —————————————————————————————————————— ix
U.S. Board on Geographic Names ————————————————————————————————— ix
U.S. Geological Survey ————————————————————————————————————— x
National geographic names data base ———————————————————————————— x
Guide to the use of the gazetteer ———————————————————————————————— xii
Alphabetical list of Geological Survey maps of Delaware —————————————————— xii
Delaware and its capitals, by Harold L. Burstyn ———————————————————————————— xii
Glossary, by Sam Stulberg and Roger L. Payne ————————————————————————————— xvi
Gazetteer -------------------------—-—-—-———————-————————----———————— DEI
ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
FRONTISPIECE—Old Town Hall, New Castle
Figure 1. General Map of Delaware ———————————————————————————————— xi
2. Map of Delaware Hundreds —————————————————————————————————— xiii
3. Delaware portion of Fry and Jefferson's 1755 map of Virginia and
4. Fisher's 1778 map of Delaware Bay ————————————————————————————— xv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Publication of the National Gazetteer required a considerable amount of extra time and effort by
several members of the geographic names staff in the Geological Survey. Special recognition is given to
Sam Stulberg and Roger L. Payne, who researched and developed the Geographic Names Information
System (GNIS); Ernest F. Berringer, John Findley, and Paul J. Sorvo, who provided necessary leadership
for the final production of this volum of the gazetteer; and recognition is also given to Kevin W. Laurent,
Judy J. Stella, and Louis A. Yost IV, who developed specific programs and software necessary to format
the final copy. Special research, compilation, and data entry contributions were made by Harold L.
Burstyn, Linda S. Davis, Mary Jane LeHew, Tammy S. Milbourne, and Henry Sauber.
THE NATIONAL GAZETTEER OF THE
UNITED STATES—DELAWARE 1983
INTRODUCTION With respect to names used by Americans for places,
features, and areas in the United States and its territories, it
By Donald J. Orth
is the policy of the Board to recognize current local usage
or preferences where possible. To implement this policy,
This gazetteer lists about 3,100 geographic names in
there is close cooperation with State geographic boards,
alphabetical order for places, features, and areas within or
State and local governments, and with the general public.
partly within the State of Delaware. It is part of a series of
Where there is confusing duplication of local names or
State, territory, and other special listings of geographic
where a local name is derogatory to a particular person,
names published as U.S. Geological Survey Professional
race, or religion, the Board may disapprove such names
Paper 1200, "The National Gazetteer of the United States of
and seek alternate local names for the features. In cases
America." This series is prepared in cooperation with the
where local usage is conflicting or when a name is not
U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Its purpose is to provide
used by many people, well-established documented
a national standard for reference and research on
names and names with historical significance are given
geographic names and a base for other data systems.
added consideration. The Board also has a policy of not
Separate volumes of the National Gazetteer are identified
approving new domestic geographic names that com­
by principle geographic area or topic and year. Each
memorate or may be construed to commemorate living
volume will be revised periodically with the year of
persons.
publication as part of the title. The information in the Na­
Any person or organization, public or private, may make
tional Gazetteer may be kept up-to-date between revisions
inquiries or request the Board on Geographic Names to
by noting appropriate changes and new entries published
render formal decisions on proposed new names, propos­
in the reports of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
ed name changes, or names that are in conflict. Com­
These reports may be found in libraries or can be ordered
munications concerning domestic geographic names
directly from the Executive Secretary, Domestic Geographic
should be addressed to Executive Secretary, Domestic
Names, Board on Geographic Names, Mail Stop 523, USGS
Geographic Names, Board on Geographic Names, Mail
National Center, Reston, VA 22092.
Stop 523, USGS National Center, Reston, VA 22092.
Users are urged to report errors, omissions, and any other information that may im­
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
prove the usefulness of this publication.
The U.S. Geological Survey, established in 1879 as a
bureau of the Department of the Interior, is one of the
UNITED STATES BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES Federal Government's major earth-science and fact-
finding agencies. The Survey's broad and diversified
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a research programs aid in the management of the mineral,
Federal body created in 1890 and established in its present energy, land, and water resources of the United States.
form by Public Law in 1947. The purpose of the Board is to These programs play a vital role in furthering the Nation's
resolve name problems and to eliminate duplication of ef­ welfare by providing information on the character,
fort by Federal agencies responsible for the production of magnitude, location, and distribution of minerals and ores,
maps and other publications that use geographic names. the sources and supplies of water, and the natural Earth
Composed of representatives of Federal agencies, the processes that must be understood to maintain envi­
Board is authorized to establish and maintain uniform ronmental quality.
geographic name usage throughout the Federal Govern­ In support of the Survey's mission, its National Mapping
ment. Sharing its responsibilities with the Secretary of the Division provides geographic and cartographic informa­
Interior, the Board has developed principles, policies, and tion, maps, technical assistance, and conducts related
procedures governing the use of both domestic and research responsive to national needs. The Division pro­
foreign geographic names as well as names for underseas vides staff support for the domestic geographic names ac­
and extraterrestrial features. Although established to serve tivities of the Board on Geographic Names, manages the
the Federal Government as a central authority to which all National Geographic Names Data Base, provides a
name problems, name inquiries, and new name proposals geographic names information service, and conducts
can be directed, the Board plays a similar role for the research in support of national mapping and name stan­
general public. dardization programs.
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