History

Mingo and Shawnee tribes lived in the area and two settlements were established by the Delaware Indians where the future town would develop. In 1804, Moses Byxbe arrived from Berkshire County, Massachusetts. He had acquired a large number of land grants which were part of the United States Military Lands, given in payment to Revolutionary War soldiers.  On May 9, 1808, Byxbe filed the “plan of the town of Delaware,” marking the real beginning of the present City of Delaware. The nearby Olentangy River and railroads played roles in the city's local economy and development.

Population

Based on the 2020 US Census, the number of residents was 41,320 (over 18% growth since 2010), but based on City building activity, the population is even greater, nearing 44,000. Between 2000 and 2010, the City of Delaware's population expanded by nearly 10,000, or almost 38 percent. The City’s median age is 34.5 years — younger than the county at 38.4 years and the state at 39.3 years.

Diversifying

A total of 87.2 percent of Delaware residents identify as white alone, compared to 86.2 percent in the county. The population identifying as African American is 4.5 percent, compared to 3.9 percent in Delaware County. The Asian population has more than tripled since 2018 (from .7 percent to 3.4 percent).

Sustainability

The City's commitment to sustainability in recent years has been demonstrated through numerous projects. Delaware is served by an on-staff Sustainability and Watershed Coordinator and in 2022, the city attained bronze level status as a “SolSmart Community.” Projects include a small-scale solar array at the City's public works facility and the conversion of streetlights to LED. The city also introduced permeable pavement with upgrades at Blue Limestone Park. In conjunction with a developer, a wetland park was constructed near a shopping center that includes over 10,000 plantings.

Parks and Recreation Amenities

The city has 24 parks, including three larger community parks and a public swimming pool, 20 miles of trails, an executive golf course, a free splash pad and an urban forest consisting of more than 18,000 trees. In addition, the Delaware Community Center YMCA serves as an important community amenity.

Diverse Economy

Delaware benefits from a diverse economic base. No one sector dominates the local economy. Key Industries include manufacturing, health care, education, retail trade, tourism (accommodation & food service), transportation, and administrative services.

Top Employers and Approximate Number of Employees

Kroger Company Grocery and Distribution 2,496
Ohio Wesleyan University 1,571
Delaware County Government 1,114
OhioHealth Health Care 1,022
Delaware City Schools 996
Advance Stores Co. Automotive Parts Distribution 663
Willow Brook Assisted Living Facility 466
City of Delaware Local Government 404
PPG Industries 396
Jeg’s High Performance Automotive Parts Distribution 354
OhioHealth Medical Office 275
Domtar Disposable Diaper Manufacturing 254
Vertiv High Voltage UPS Systems 254
Midwest Acoust-A-Fiber Manufacturing 209
International Paper Manufacturer 189
Liberty Castings 189

Families Looking to Stay

Delaware tends to attract from a diverse set of demographic and geographic cohorts. Among these first-time buyers are many people born and raised in Delaware. Many of Delaware’s high school graduates tend to stay in the area and rent for a time and then look to buy once they have families. Delaware attracts those seeking affordability, lower income taxes, good schools and "small town living."

Income

The median household income, as reported by the 2020 Census, is $74,130.

Downtown On the Rise

The City’s Downtown is 94% occupied, a healthy number relative to similar, older downtowns.  The fact that only about 6 percent of Downtown retail space is vacant is a sign of great success considering that vacancy was once in the range of 40-50 percent.  In total, there is approximately 310,000 total square feet of ground floor commercial space in Downtown.  Of this, about 60 percent (190,000 square feet) is retail, restaurant, and entertainment use, including a vibrant mix of longtime and newer tenants.

Ohio Wesleyan University

Ohio Wesleyan University anchors the downtown area along South Sandusky Street. Chartered in 1842, the University has approximately 1,300 students and sits on more than 200 acres adjoining the City’s downtown. This advantageous location offers cultural and educational opportunities for students, businesses and the community.

Education

The city is fortunate to have two outstanding public-school districts:  The Delaware City School District and the Olentangy Local School District.  Both are high quality school systems that focus on individual learning and excellence but operate at two very different scales with Delaware being the historic city school district serving about 6,000 students and Olentangy encompassing a large geographic area covering several jurisdictions and serving over 22,000 students.