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Dover, Delaware Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Dover, Delaware is a city located in Kent County and is the capital of Delaware. It is situated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and sits at the confluence of three rivers – the St. Jones River, Silver Lake, and Murderkill River. The city has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. It experiences an average of 43 inches of rain a year and an average snowfall of just over 18 inches.

The history of Dover dates back to 1683 when it was founded by William Penn as “the towne on St Jones River”. Since then, it has been home to several notable historical figures such as Caesar Rodney who declared independence from Britain in 1776 and George Read who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1787. It was incorporated as a city in 1717 and has since been an important political center for the state of Delaware.

In terms of economy, Dover is home to several large businesses such as Kraft Heinz, DowDuPont, and Perdue Farms which employ thousands of residents throughout Kent County. The city also serves as a major transportation hub with roadways connecting it to other major cities along the East Coast such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. Additionally, Dover Air Force Base serves as an important military installation for both cargo transport and medical evacuation services for wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Education is highly valued in Dover with numerous public schools throughout Kent County that offer students a variety of educational opportunities including Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment programs, career technical education classes, special education services, adult education programs, etc. There are also several private schools within Dover that provide students with religious instruction or specialized learning opportunities such as Montessori or Waldorf-Steiner education styles.

Dover is home to several landmarks that attract visitors from all over the world such as Legislative Hall – Delaware’s state capitol building; the Johnson Victrola Museum – dedicated to preserving antique phonographs; Biggs Museum – dedicated to showcasing 18th century artwork; First State Heritage Park – offering guided tours through historic sites; Fort Miles Historical Area – offering exhibits on World War II history; Air Mobility Command Museum – showcasing aircrafts used by US military personnel; John Dickinson Plantation – a National Historic Landmark built by one of Delaware’s Founding Fathers; Woodburn Mansion & Garden – one of America’s oldest homes open for tours; The Green – Dover’s main town square where community events are held throughout the year; Waterfront Park – located along Silver Lake offering great views & recreational activities; Silver Lake Park – featuring trails & picnic areas for visitors to enjoy nature & wildlife; Killens Pond State Park – offering camping facilities & various water activities such as kayaking or canoeing; Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge – providing refuge for thousands of migratory birds each year ;and finally there’s also Dover International Speedway – host track for two NASCAR Cup Series races every season since 1969!

Population: 32,135. Estimated population in July 2024: 34,288 (+6.7% change)
Males: 15,122 (47.1%), Females: 17,013 (52.9%)

Zip codes: 19901, 19904.

Demographics

Median resident age: 32.9 years
Median household income: $38,669
Median house value: $111,300

Population by Race

Races in Dover:

  • White Non-Hispanic (53.3%)
  • Black (37.2%)
  • Hispanic (4.1%)
  • Two or more races (2.6%)
  • Other race (1.6%)
  • American Indian (1.2%)
  • Asian Indian (0.8%)
  • Korean (0.7%)
  • Filipino (0.6%)

Ancestries: German (13.2%), Irish (10.6%), English (9.3%), Italian (5.7%), United States (3.9%), Subsaharan African (2.5%).

Elevation: 36 feet

Land area: 22.4 square miles

Map of Dover, DE

Population by Education

Dover, Delaware is the capital city of the U.S. state of Delaware and the county seat of Kent County. According to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population of Dover is 37,567 people, making it the second most populous city in Delaware after Wilmington. The population of Dover is diverse; approximately 53.5% of Dover’s population identify as White, 28.2% African American, 8% Hispanic or Latino, 4% Asian and 6% from two or more races. 53% of Dover’s population are female while 47% are male and 25% are under 18 years old while 75% are over 18 years old. The median age in Dover is 34 years old with a median household income of $54,856 and a poverty rate at 21%.

Dover has an educated workforce with 40 percent having a bachelor’s degree or higher and 12 percent having an advanced degree such as a master’s degree or higher. The majority of residents work in professional or management positions (27%), followed by sales (14%) and office clerks (13%). The city also has a strong military presence with 8 percent of its residents being active-duty military personnel or veterans. Additionally, Dover is home to many local businesses providing jobs for its citizens including banks, retailers, restaurants and more that contribute to the economic stability in the city.

For population 25 years and over in Dover

  • High school or higher: 83.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.8%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 11.3%
  • Unemployed: 7.5%
  • Mean travel time to work: 19.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Dover city

  • Never married: 35.4%
  • Now married: 42.4%
  • Separated: 2.4%
  • Widowed: 7.3%
  • Divorced: 12.4%

6.2% Foreign born (2.2% Asia, 1.4% Latin America, 1.3% Europe, 0.9% Africa).

Population change in the 1990s: +3,205 (+11.1%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Dover:

  • BAYHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER (640 S STATE STREET)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Dover:

  • MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF SALEM COUNTY (about 28 miles; SALEM, NJ)
  • SOUTH JERSEY HOSPITAL SYSTEM (about 28 miles; BRIDGETON, NJ)
  • ROCKFORD CENTER (about 29 miles; NEWARK, DE)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Dover:

  • DOVER AFB (about 7 miles; DOVER, DE; Abbreviation: DOV)
  • NEW CASTLE COUNTY (about 36 miles; WILMINGTON, DE; Abbreviation: ILG)
  • PHILADELPHIA INTL (about 53 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Abbreviation: PHL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Dover:

  • DELDOT HELISTOP (about 3 miles; DOVER, DE; Abbreviation: 0N5)
  • CHANDELLE ESTATES (about 4 miles; DOVER, DE; Abbreviation: 0N4)
  • JENKINS (about 5 miles; WYOMING, DE; Abbreviation: 15N)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Dover:

  • DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 2,641; Location: 1200 N. Dupont Highway; Public; Website: www.dsc.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
  • WESLEY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 1,468; Location: 120 N STATE ST; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.wesley.edu; Offers Master’s degree)
  • DELAWARE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE-TERRY (Full-time enrollment: 1,069; Location: 100 CAMPUS DRIVE; Public)
  • DOVER BEAUTY ACADEMY (Location: 1487 S GOVERNORS AVE; Private, for-profit)
  • DELAWARE TECHNICAL & COMMUNITY COLLEGE-CENTRAL OFF (Location: BOX 897; Public; Website: www.dtcc.edu)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Dover:

  • UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (about 29 miles; NEWARK, DE; Full-time enrollment: 17,786)
  • DELAWARE TECHNICAL & COMM COLL-STANTON-WILMINGTON (about 35 miles; NEWARK, DE; Full-time enrollment: 3,817)
  • DELAWARE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE-OWENS (about 35 miles; GEORGETOWN, DE; Full-time enrollment: 2,053)
  • WILMINGTON COLLEGE (about 36 miles; NEW CASTLE, DE; Full-time enrollment: 3,087)
  • ROWAN UNIVERSITY (about 47 miles; GLASSBORO, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 7,587)
  • WIDENER UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 49 miles; CHESTER, PA; Full-time enrollment: 3,646)
  • GLOUCESTER COUNTY COLLEGE (about 50 miles; SEWELL, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 3,135)

Schools

Public high schools in Dover:

  • DOVER HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,583; Location: ONE PAT LYNN DRIVE; Grades: 08 – 12)
  • KENT COUNTY SECONDARY INTENSIVE LEARNING CENTER (Students: 49; Location: 1075 SOUTH GOVERNORS AVENUE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Dover:

  • KENT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 157; Location: 3282 N DUPONT HWY; Grades: PK – 12)
  • CAPITOL BAPTIST (Students: 105; Location: 401 KESSELRING AVENUE; Grades: PK – 12)
  • CENTRAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 85; Location: 220 WEST DENNEYS ROAD; Grades: KG – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Dover:

  • CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,012; Location: 211 DELAWARE AVENUE; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • WILLIAM HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 919; Location: CARVER ROAD; Grades: 05 – 06)
  • CAMPUS COMMUNITY SCHOOL (Students: 569; Location: 21 NORTH BRADFORD STREET; Grades: 01 – 11)
  • NELLIE HUGHES STOKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 498; Location: 3874 UPPER KING ROAD; Grades: KG – 05)
  • MAJOR GEORGE S. WELCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 464; Location: 3100 HAWTHORNE DRIVE; Grades: KG – 05)
  • STAR HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 450; Location: 594 VOSHELLS MILL/STAR HILL RO; Grades: KG – 05)
  • ACADEMY OF DOVER CHARTER SCHOOL (Students: 408; Location: 104 SAULSBURY ROAD; Grades: KG – 05)
  • W. REILY BROWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 405; Location: 360 WEBBS LANE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • NORTH DOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 389; Location: 855 COLLEGE ROAD; Grades: KG – 04)
  • SOUTH DOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 364; Location: 955 SOUTH STATE STREET; Grades: KG – 04)

Biggest private primary/middle schools in Dover:

  • HOLY CROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 625; Location: 631 SOUTH STATE STREET; Grades: PK – 8)
  • CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 158; Location: 1141 E LEBANON ROAD; Grades: PK – 8)
  • CENTRAL DE CHRISTIAN ACAD (Students: 101; Location: 4698 S DUPONT; Grades: PK – 9)
  • ST JOHNS LUTHERAN EARLY LEARNI (Students: 99; Location: 113 LOTUS ST; Grades: PK – KG)
  • WESLEY PRESCHOOL (Students: 80; Location: 209 S STATE ST; Grades: PK – KG)
  • PLAYHOUSE NURSERY (Students: 55; Location: 868 SOUTH STATE ST; Grades: PK – KG)
  • ROSE VALLEY SCHOOL (Students: 50; Location: 160 ROSE VALLEY SCHOOL RD; Grades: 1 – 8)
  • GREEN HILL AMISH SCHOOL (Students: 47; Location: 1936 SEENYTOWN RD.; Grades: 1 – 8)
  • FAITH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SC (Students: 40; Location: 90 SAULSBURY ROAD; Grades: KG – 7)
  • THE LITTLE SCHOOL INC (Students: 36; Location: 308 N QUEEN ST; Grades: KG – KG)

Libraries

Libraries in Dover:

  • DOVER PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,043,829; Location: 45 SOUTH STATE STREET; 101,766 books; 3,456 audio materials; 3,254 video materials; 371 serial subscriptions)
  • KENT COUNTY LIBRARY/DIVISION OF LIBRARIES (Operating income: $394,911; Location: 2319 SOUTH DUPONT HIGHWAY; 7,657 books; 392 audio materials; 263 video materials; 14 serial subscriptions)
  • KENT COUNTY BOOKMOBILE/DIVISION OF LIBRARIES (Operating income: $149,690; Location: 2319 SOUTH DUPONT HIGHWAY; 2,695 books; 24 audio materials; 171 video materials; 226 serial subscriptions)

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