Map of Townsend town, Delaware

Townsend is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 2,049 at the 2010 census, an increase of 492.2% from 2000. The center of population of Delaware is located in Townsend.

Townsend town overview:
Name:	Townsend town
LSAD Code:	43
LSAD Description:	town (suffix)
State:	Delaware
County:	New Castle County
Incorporated:	1885
Elevation:	69 ft (21 m)
Total Area:	1.04 sq mi (2.69 km²)
Land Area:	1.04 sq mi (2.68 km²)
Water Area:	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Total Population:	2,717
Population Density:	2,622.59/sq mi (1,012.36/km²)
ZIP code:	19734
Area code:	302
FIPS code:	1072510
GNISfeature ID:	214755
Website:	http://townsend.delaware.gov

Online Interactive Map

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Townsend online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Townsend location map. Where is Townsend town?

Townsend location on the U.S. Map. Where is Townsend town. — Townsend location on the U.S. Map.

Townsend location on the Delaware map. Where is Townsend town. — Location of Townsend in Delaware.

History

Townsend was incorporated as a town on April 3, 1885. Its primary business was selling agricultural produce via the Delaware Railroad. The railroad has since lost prominence over freight hauling, but the town still remains primarily agricultural with plenty of rural area and local produce.

The name, Townsend, comes from a prominent 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. Following a healthy debate among the residents, 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 here 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.