- Delaware, Ontario
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Delaware — Community — 
DelawareCoordinates: 42°54′30″N 81°25′0″W / 42.90833°N 81.416667°W Country 
CanadaProvince 
OntarioCounty Middlesex County Area - Total 97.24 km2 (37.5 sq mi) Population - Total 2,521 - Density 25.9/km2 (67.1/sq mi) Time zone EST (UTC-5) - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) Postal code N0L 1E0 Delaware is a community located about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of and outside of London, Ontario, within Middlesex County. Delaware stradles the Thames River. Delaware is accessed by the old highway (Highway 2) linking London and Chatham and the freeway (Highway 402) linking Sarnia along with Port Huron and Toronto.
Contents
History
The community of Delaware was first founded in 1796. Delaware was the objective of an American raid into Upper Canada in 1814 during the War of 1812, which resulted in the Battle of Longwoods, on March 4, 1814, just about 24 km outside of Delaware.
Education
Delaware has two elementary schools, Delaware Central Public School (The Mustangs) (Thames Valley District School Board), and Our Lady of Lourdes (London District Catholic School Board). They are located about one kilometre apart from one another. Delaware Central has about 175 students, while OLOL(Our Lady of Lourdes) has around 500.
Geography
Delaware is nestled in the Thames River Valley, although it has now expanded over the top of the valley ridge. Most of the area surrounding Delaware is made up of forests and floodplain areas. Corn, soybeans and tobacco are farmed extensively in the area around Delaware, as well as inside the town limits in some areas. Delaware has undergone modest growth in housing over the last 30 years, with the developed area nearly doubling in that time.
Many of the buildings in the heart of Delaware are reputed to be over one hundred years old. These include the building that is now Delaware Variety as well as the antique shop across the street. Belvoir Manor is a private home that was at one point a seminary and a private school for boys, and at one point was destroyed by fire. The surrounding Belvoir Farms in which it is located is a prominent croquet venue for Croquet Canada.
Tourism and Entertainment
Delaware boasts a number of tourist destinations despite its small size. Delaware Speedway is a half-mile paved race track that is one of the oldest in Canada. The track hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer, as well as several Saturday and Sunday race features. The track has also hosted major concert events in the past including I Mother Earth and Matthew Good.
The Longwoods Road Conservation Area features Skah-Nah-Doht, a recreated Iroquoian village complete with longhouses and tours, as well as a museum featuring exhibits of Iroquoian culture and archaeological artifacts. The park hosts a yearly native festival as well as a re-enactment of the Battle of Longwoods.
External links
Categories:- Communities in Middlesex County, Ontario
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