Delaware

New Castle, DE

New Castle was first settled by the Dutch in 1651, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the Delaware Valley. Control of the settlement passed successively from the Dutch to the Swedish and then to the English, reflecting the intense competition among European powers for control of the region. Renamed New Castle by the English in 1674, the town became an important colonial port on the Delaware River and served as Delaware's first capital. In 1682, William Penn landed here to take possession of the "Lower Counties on the Delaware," establishing an important chapter in the history of both Delaware and Pennsylvania. Originally developed as a fortified trading settlement, New Castle grew into a thriving center of commerce, government, and maritime activity during the colonial period. Its strategic location along the Delaware River made it an important gateway for trade and transportation, while its courthouse and public square became the center of Delaware's political life. Although commercial shipping eventually shifted to larger ports, New Castle preserved much of its eighteenth-century character. Today, its cobblestone streets, colonial homes, historic churches, courthouse, and waterfront create one of the nation's finest collections of early American architecture, allowing visitors to experience a community that played a significant role in the founding and development of the United States.