Kent County

county

Kent County, Delaware

Overview

Geography

Region: Central Delaware
Total Area: 798 sq mi
Land Area: 586 sq mi
Water Area: 212 sq mi
Latitude: 39.15806
Longitude: -75.52444
Climate: Humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Average temperature in July is about 77.9°F (25.5°C). In January, the average temperature is about 36.0°F (2.2°C).
Notable Features: St. Jones River · Delaware Bay coastal plain · Flat coastal plains
Neighboring Areas: Sussex County, Delaware · Caroline County, Maryland · Queen Anne's County, Maryland · Kent County, Maryland · New Castle County, Delaware · Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties, New Jersey

Demographics

Population (2020): 181,851
Est. Population (2026): 197,824
Median Age: 38.5
Median Income: $72,872
Poverty Rate: 8.6%
Racial & Ethnic Composition: White (57.6%), Black or African American (26.4%), Hispanic (7.9%)

Governance

Government Type: Levy Court
Governing Body: Kent County Levy Court
Body Size: 7 members
Municipal Services: Wastewater management · Trash and recycling · Streetlight services

U.S. Congress

Economy

Economic Profile: Agriculture · Advanced manufacturing · Tourism
Employment Sectors: Tourism · Agriculture · Manufacturing · Dover Air Force Base

Education

School Districts: Caesar Rodney School District · Lake Forest School District · Capital School District · Smyrna School District
Colleges & Universities: Delaware State University

Infrastructure

Transportation: Delmarva Central Railroad · DART First State bus service · Delaware Route 1 · US Route 13 · US Route 301 · US Route 113 · Dover Air Force Base (air freight)
Utilities: Municipal water · Wastewater treatment
Major Facilities: Kent County Courthouse · Kent County Superior Courthouse · Bayhealth Hospital · Dover Air Force Base

Recreation

Outdoor Access: Yes
Major Recreation Areas: Kent County Parks · Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge · DE Turf Sports Complex
Parks & Trails: Walking trails · Fishing ponds · Playgrounds · Picnic areas · Dog parks

History

Founded: 1680
Named After: Kent, an English county
Historical Significance: Early settlement, key role in the formation of the United States, agricultural history, manufacturing of spacesuits for Apollo missions.
Key Events: English settlement around St. Jones River (1670) · Establishment as St. Jones County (1680) · Renamed Kent County (1681) · Dover laid out (1717) · Dover becomes the capital of Delaware (1777) · Delaware first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution (1787)