Dunleith, Delaware

Dunleith is a suburb of Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. 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^[1].

Geography

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

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.

Notes

Surratte Park on Bethune Drive is named for John Surratte Sr., who was coach of the Dunleith Community School baseball team in the late 1960s.

An annual Dunleith Day is celebrated in Surratte Park every August.

A Homecoming Festival is also celebrated annually the day after Thanksgiving, since 1983.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Dunleith, Delaware (DE), United States". AllRefer.com.
2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dunleith, Delaware.
3. ^ "Dunleith (DE) (Images of America)". Target.com.
4. ^ http://www.target.com/Dunleith-Images-America-James-Victoria/dp/0738542059

• "Preservationists work to recognize subdivisions built for blacks", International Herald Tribune, Associated Press (February 13, 2008).