White Clay Hundred
Encyclopedia
White Clay Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County
, Delaware
. Hundred
s were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly
, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or purpose except as a geographical point of reference.
that lies north of the Christiana River and south and west of White Clay Creek
, excepting that it also includes the small area west of the Christiana River immediately west of Newark
, and excludes a larger area north and east of the Christiana River generally from the old Pennsylvania Railroad
tracks to Cooch’s Bridge. It was formed from Christiana Hundred
and New Castle Hundred
in 1710 and was named for White Clay Creek
that flows along its northern boundary.
Originally, the default boundary of Delaware
and Maryland
was the vague height of land between the Delaware River
and Chesapeake Bay
drainage basins and White Clay Hundred extended to that point. With the running of the Mason-Dixon Line
in 1767, the western boundary of Delaware
was established in its present location and became White Clay Hundred’s western boundary. It was the gap between this line and the existing western boundary, the 12 mile arc
drawn around the town of New Castle
, which created the long disputed area known as the Wedge
.
, this area is now completely urban and suburban with continuous industrial, commercial and residential developments, much of it in the small city of Newark
, the location of the University of Delaware
. The greater part of the city of Newark
, and the community of Christiana are in White Clay Hundred, as is the area around Christiana Mall
.
. It is mostly in the coastal plain
region with a small portion north and west of Newark
in the piedmont
above the fall line
.
, the Beach Highway (Delaware Route 1), New London Road (Delaware Route 896), Elkton Road and the Kirkwood Highway (Delaware Route 2), Ogletown-Stanton Road (Delaware Route 4
), Christiana Road (Delaware Route 273), and the old main highway between Wilmington and Baltimore, now Christiana-Stanton Road (Delaware Route 7) and Old Baltimore Pike
. A portion of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
, subsequently the main north-south line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
, now Amtrak
, crosses through Newark
, as does a portion of the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
, now CSX Transportation
. The old Pomeroy and Newark Railroad
used to cross from north to south along White Clay Creek
and immediately east of Newark
.
New Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. Hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
s were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly
Delaware General Assembly
The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 Senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 Representatives...
, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or purpose except as a geographical point of reference.
Boundaries and formation
White Clay Hundred is that portion of New Castle CountyNew Castle County, Delaware
New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
that lies north of the Christiana River and south and west of White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
, excepting that it also includes the small area west of the Christiana River immediately west of Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, and excludes a larger area north and east of the Christiana River generally from the old Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
tracks to Cooch’s Bridge. It was formed from Christiana Hundred
Christiana Hundred
Christiana Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or...
and New Castle Hundred
New Castle Hundred
New Castle Hundred is the name of an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County, Delaware. Hundreds were once used as a basis for representation in the Delaware General Assembly, and while their names still appear on all real estate transactions, they presently have no meaningful use or...
in 1710 and was named for White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
that flows along its northern boundary.
Originally, the default boundary of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
was the vague height of land between the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
and Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
drainage basins and White Clay Hundred extended to that point. With the running of the Mason-Dixon Line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...
in 1767, the western boundary of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
was established in its present location and became White Clay Hundred’s western boundary. It was the gap between this line and the existing western boundary, the 12 mile arc
The Twelve-Mile Circle
The Twelve-Mile Circle is an approximately circular arc which forms most of the boundary between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Delaware in the United States...
drawn around the town of New Castle
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
, which created the long disputed area known as the Wedge
The Wedge (border)
The Wedge is a small tract of land along the borders of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Ownership of the land was disputed until 1921; it is now recognized as part of Delaware. The tract was created primarily due to the shortcomings of contemporary surveying techniques...
.
Development
Except for some preserved woods along White Clay CreekWhite Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
, this area is now completely urban and suburban with continuous industrial, commercial and residential developments, much of it in the small city of Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, the location of the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
. The greater part of the city of Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, and the community of Christiana are in White Clay Hundred, as is the area around Christiana Mall
Christiana Mall
Christiana Mall is a super-regional mid-range/upscale shopping mall near Newark, Delaware, United States. The mall is near an exit off Interstate 95 close to the center of the BosWash megalopolis. The mall's anchor stores are Macy's, JCPenney, Target and Nordstrom. The mall contains more than 130...
.
Geography
The important geographical features of the hundred are the Christiana River and White Clay CreekWhite Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
. It is mostly in the coastal plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
region with a small portion north and west of Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
in the piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
above the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
.
Transportation
Important roads include portions of Interstate 95Interstate 95 in Delaware
In Delaware, Interstate 95 runs diagonally from the border with Maryland northeast to the border with Pennsylvania. Between the Maryland state line and exit 5, I-95 is also designated as the Delaware Turnpike and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Along with its auxiliaries, I-95 is the only...
, the Beach Highway (Delaware Route 1), New London Road (Delaware Route 896), Elkton Road and the Kirkwood Highway (Delaware Route 2), Ogletown-Stanton Road (Delaware Route 4
Delaware Route 4
Delaware Route 4 is a state highway in New Castle County, Delaware. The route runs from Delaware Route 2 and Delaware Route 896 in Newark east to Delaware Route 48 in downtown Wilmington. What is now DE 4 was originally a county road that was paved in the 1930s...
), Christiana Road (Delaware Route 273), and the old main highway between Wilmington and Baltimore, now Christiana-Stanton Road (Delaware Route 7) and Old Baltimore Pike
Old Baltimore Pike
Old Baltimore Pike is an unsigned highway in the U.S. state of Delaware. The road, known as New Castle County Road 26, runs from the Maryland state line near Newark, Delaware east to Christiana, ending near Delaware Route 1 . The road is mainly paralleled by Interstate 95 to the north and U.S...
. A portion of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad was the Pennsylvania Railroad's main line from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania southwest to Baltimore, Maryland in the 19th and early 20th centuries...
, subsequently the main north-south line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, now Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, crosses through Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, as does a portion of the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
, now CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. The old Pomeroy and Newark Railroad
Pomeroy and Newark Railroad
The Pomeroy and Newark Railroad was a predecessor of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the U.S. states of Delaware and Pennsylvania. It connected Pomeroy, Pennsylvania to Newark, Delaware, and has mostly been abandoned.-History:...
used to cross from north to south along White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek
White Clay Creek is an tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected....
and immediately east of Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
.