Dunleith, Delaware

39°42′31″N 75°33′20″W / 39.70861°N 75.55556°W / 39.70861; -75.55556CountryUnited StatesStateDelawareCountyNew CastleElevation56 ft (17 m)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)Area code302GNIS feature ID213916^[1]

Dunleith is a suburb of Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It was built in the early 1950s, and was the first housing development marketed for African-Americans in Delaware. In 1990, the population was 2,600.^[2]

Geography

Dunleith is located at 39°42′31″N 75°33′20″W / 39.70861°N 75.55556°W / 39.70861; -75.55556 (39.708724, -75.555479).^[1] It is two miles (3.2 km) south of Wilmington and the Delaware Memorial Bridge is two miles (3.2 km) SE.^[2]

History

The community was named after the Rogers and Du Pont family's estate, "Dunleith Mansion". In 1949 (Housing Act of 1949), Delaware Community Homes bought the approximately 85 acres (340,000 m²), and the homes were constructed by housing developer Leon Weiner.^[3] Many World War II veterans, blue-collar workers, and teachers became homeowners for the first time.^[4] The streets were named after prominent African-Americans such as Jackie Robinson, Ralph Bunche and George Washington Carver. Subsequently, two churches were built; Coleman Memorial Methodist Church on Anderson Drive and Community Presbyterian Church on Rogers Road. The Dunleith Community School was founded in 1956.

Gallery

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  Tee shirts created for Homecoming Festival created by H&M Teez

References

Sources

• WDEL 1150AM - Historical marker to be unveiled in Dunleith
• Maurice Howard/ Freelance Photographer - Around Delaware
• "Preservationists work to recognize subdivisions built for blacks", International Herald Tribune, Associated Press (February 13, 2008).