Kent County, Delaware#Metropolitan Statistical Area

File:Seal of Kent County Delaware 1683.jpg

In about 1670 the English began to settle in the valley of the St. Jones River, earlier known as Wolf Creek. On June 21, 1680, the Duke of York chartered St. Jones County, which was carved out of New Amstel/New Castle and Hoarkill/Sussex counties. St. Jones County was transferred to William Penn on August 24, 1682, and became part of Penn's newly chartered Delaware Colony.NEW YORK: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries by John H. Long and Kathryn Ford Thorne

Penn ordered a court town to be laid out, and the courthouse was built in 1697. The town of Dover, named after the town of Dover in England's Kent, was finally laid out in 1717, in what was then known as the Lower Counties. It was designated as the capital of Delaware in 1777. In 1787 Delaware was first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and became "the First State." Through much of the late 18th century, the economy of Kent County was based on small grain farms. As a result, farmers did not need as many slaves as did owners of tobacco plantations. Delaware had a high proportion of free blacks among its African-American population by the early 19th century.

File:NEW KENT COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DOVER, DELAWARE.jpg

In the 1960s, Dover was a center of manufacturing of spacesuits worn by NASA astronauts in the Apollo moon flights by ILC Dover, now based in the small town of Frederica. The suits, dubbed the "A7L," was first flown on the Apollo 7 mission in October 1967, and was the suit worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Apollo 11 mission. The company still manufactures spacesuits to this day—the present-day Space Shuttle "soft" suit components (the arms and legs of the suit).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|798|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|586|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|212|sqmi}} (26.6%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

Kent County, like all of Delaware's counties, is subdivided into Hundreds. There are several explanations given for how the Hundreds were arrived at, either being an area containing 100 families, an area containing 100 people, or an area that could raise 100 militiamen.[http://www.hsd.org/DHE/DHE_where_hundreds.htm Delaware History Online - Geography - Hundreds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716180617/http://www.hsd.org/DHE/DHE_where_hundreds.htm |date=July 16, 2012 }}. Hsd.org. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.[http://delgensoc.org/delhund.htm Delaware Hundreds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716210247/http://delgensoc.org/delhund.htm |date=July 16, 2012 }}. Delgensoc.org (July 16, 2010). Retrieved on August 17, 2013. Kent County was originally apportioned into six Hundreds: Duck Creek, Little Creek, Dover, Murderkill, Milford and Mispillion. In 1867, the Delaware legislature split Murderkill Hundred into North Murderkill Hundred and South Murderkill Hundred. In 1869, the legislature formed Kenton Hundred from parts of Little Creek and Duck Creek Hundred. Today the county contains eight Hundreds.

File:Bombay Hook NWR wetlands.jpg

• New Castle County - north
• Salem County, New Jersey - northeast
• Cumberland County, New Jersey - east
• Cape May County, New Jersey - east
• Sussex County - south
• Caroline County, Maryland - southwest
• Queen Anne's County, Maryland - west
• Kent County, Maryland - northwest

• Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Kent County has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification. The Trewartha climate classification considers the climate oceanic (Do) because only seven months average above 50 °F (above 10 °C.) All months average above freezing and Dover has three months averaging above {{convert|22|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The hardiness zone is 7b. [https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/]

{{Weather box|width=

| location = Dover, Delaware (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)

| single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 77

| Feb record high F = 80

| Mar record high F = 88

| Apr record high F = 97

| May record high F = 98

| Jun record high F = 101

| Jul record high F = 104

| Aug record high F = 102

| Sep record high F = 99

| Oct record high F = 95

| Nov record high F = 85

| Dec record high F = 75

| year record high F = 104

| Jan avg record high F = 65.7

| Feb avg record high F = 65.4

| Mar avg record high F = 73.5

| Apr avg record high F = 83.0

| May avg record high F = 88.1

| Jun avg record high F = 93.1

| Jul avg record high F = 95.4

| Aug avg record high F = 93.1

| Sep avg record high F = 89.0

| Oct avg record high F = 82.8

| Nov avg record high F = 73.9

| Dec avg record high F = 66.1

| year avg record high F = 96.1

| Jan high F = 44.4

| Feb high F = 47.4

| Mar high F = 54.5

| Apr high F = 66.0

| May high F = 74.4

| Jun high F = 82.7

| Jul high F = 86.9

| Aug high F = 85.1

| Sep high F = 79.2

| Oct high F = 68.9

| Nov high F = 58.0

| Dec high F = 48.6

| year high F = 66.3

| Jan mean F = 36.0

| Feb mean F = 38.2

| Mar mean F = 45.0

| Apr mean F = 55.5

| May mean F = 64.4

| Jun mean F = 73.2

| Jul mean F = 77.9

| Aug mean F = 76.2

| Sep mean F = 70.1

| Oct mean F = 59.2

| Nov mean F = 48.7

| Dec mean F = 40.3

| year mean F = 57.1

| Jan low F = 27.6

| Feb low F = 29.0

| Mar low F = 35.4

| Apr low F = 44.9

| May low F = 54.4

| Jun low F = 63.8

| Jul low F = 69.0

| Aug low F = 67.3

| Sep low F = 61.0

| Oct low F = 49.5

| Nov low F = 39.3

| Dec low F = 32.1

| year low F = 47.8

| Jan avg record low F = 10.8

| Feb avg record low F = 13.3

| Mar avg record low F = 20.5

| Apr avg record low F = 31.1

| May avg record low F = 40.7

| Jun avg record low F = 51.0

| Jul avg record low F = 59.5

| Aug avg record low F = 58.4

| Sep avg record low F = 47.7

| Oct avg record low F = 34.4

| Nov avg record low F = 24.0

| Dec avg record low F = 17.8

| year avg record low F = 8.8

| Jan record low F = −7

| Feb record low F = −11

| Mar record low F = 7

| Apr record low F = 14

| May record low F = 28

| Jun record low F = 41

| Jul record low F = 45

| Aug record low F = 35

| Sep record low F = 30

| Oct record low F = 25

| Nov record low F = 11

| Dec record low F = −3

| year record low F = -11

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.43

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.08

| Mar precipitation inch = 4.21

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.72

| May precipitation inch = 3.89

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.56

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.14

| Aug precipitation inch = 4.92

| Sep precipitation inch = 4.25

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.06

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.36

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.99

| year precipitation inch = 47.61

| Jan snow inch = 4.1

| Feb snow inch = 5.9

| Mar snow inch = 0.6

| Apr snow inch = 0.0

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.0

| Dec snow inch = 2.6

| year snow inch = 13.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 9.7

| Feb precipitation days = 9.2

| Mar precipitation days = 9.8

| Apr precipitation days = 10.3

| May precipitation days = 10.5

| Jun precipitation days = 9.2

| Jul precipitation days = 9.0

| Aug precipitation days = 8.2

| Sep precipitation days = 8.2

| Oct precipitation days = 8.0

| Nov precipitation days = 7.4

| Dec precipitation days = 10.2

| year precipitation days = 109.7

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 1.8

| Feb snow days = 1.9

| Mar snow days = 0.4

| Apr snow days = 0.0

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.0

| Dec snow days = 0.8

| year snow days = 4.9

| Jan uv = 2

| Feb uv = 3

| Mar uv = 5

| Apr uv = 6

| May uv = 8

| Jun uv = 9

| Jul uv = 9

| Aug uv = 8

| Sep uv = 7

| Oct uv = 4

| Nov uv = 2

| Dec uv = 2

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=phi

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 18, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00072730&format=pdf

| title = Station: Dover, DE

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 18, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230806064941/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00072730&format=pdf

| archive-date = August 6, 2023}}

|source 2 = Weather Atlas (UV)

{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather-us.com/en/delaware-usa/dover-climate

| title = Dover, Delaware, USA – Monthly weather forecast and Climate data

| publisher = Weather Atlas

| access-date = July 4, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190629142419/https://www.weather-us.com/en/delaware-usa/dover-climate

| archive-date = June 29, 2019 |url-status=live }}

}}

File:2022-07-18 11 42 42 View north along Delaware State Route 1 (Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway) from the overpass for Smyrna-Leipsic Road in Smyrna, Kent County, Delaware.jpg

The following state highways are located in Kent County:{{Delaware road map|year=2008}}

• {{jct|state=DE|US|13}}
• {{jct|state=DE|US|113}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|1}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|6}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|8}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|9}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|10}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|11}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|12}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|14}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|15}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|16}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|42}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|44}}
• {{jct|state=DE|DE|300}}

The Delmarva Central Railroad operates two freight lines through Kent County. The Delmarva Subdivision runs north–south along the US 13 corridor through Farmington, Harrington, Felton, Wyoming, Dover, Cheswold, and Clayton and the Indian River Subdivision branches from the Delmarva Subdivision at Harrington and runs east to Houston and Milford along the DE 14 corridor. There is no passenger rail service in the county.{{cite web|title=Delmarva Central Railroad|publisher=Carload Express|url=http://carloadexpress.com/railroads/delmarva-central-railroad/|access-date=March 27, 2017}}

DART First State operates bus service within Kent County. There are several local bus routes that serve the Dover area. In addition, DART First State operates inter-county service to Wilmington, Newark, Georgetown, and Lewes, along with seasonal service to Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.{{cite web|url=http://www.dartfirststate.com/information/routes/index.shtml|title=Routes and Schedules|publisher=DART First State|access-date=August 16, 2013}}

Kent County contains the following public-use and military airports:

• Chandelle Estates Airport in Dover
• Chorman Airport in Farmington
• Dover Air Force Base in Dover
• Delaware Airpark in Cheswold
• Henderson Aviation Airport in Felton
• Jenkins Airport in Wyoming
• Smyrna Airport in Smyrna

{{PresHead|place=Kent County, Delaware|source1={{cite web|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of United States Presidential Elections | access-date = June 11, 2011 | url = http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=191|title=Our Campaigns|access-date=June 22, 2025}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|42,458|44,222|1,609|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|41,009|44,552|1,464|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|36,991|33,351|4,387|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|32,135|35,527|1,018|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|29,827|36,392|706|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|31,578|23,875|538|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|24,081|22,790|1,383|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|15,932|18,327|4,993|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|15,562|15,364|9,312|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|19,923|12,996|194|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|21,531|11,789|83|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|14,882|12,884|2,096|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|12,604|16,523|301|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|17,712|10,463|381|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|11,082|9,055|4,751|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,006|12,981|67|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|10,697|10,754|165|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,303|9,319|123|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|10,144|9,874|90|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|8,501|8,174|115|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,069|7,900|57|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|8,079|9,226|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|7,389|9,588|28|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|6,597|8,829|64|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,335|5,727|27|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|6,894|6,936|192|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|6,511|7,211|167|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,813|4,210|66|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,192|4,071|673|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,158|4,093|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,549|3,779|117|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,930|3,857|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,567|3,149|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|3,550|3,720|104|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,797|3,969|101|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|2,126|3,975|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|3,042|3,665|3|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|1,935|3,278|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|2,436|2,863|70|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|1,523|2,879|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1864|Democratic|1,652|2,405|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1860|Southern Democratic|1,075|143|2,081|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|3|2,083|1,530|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1852|Whig|1,591|1,422|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1848|Whig|1,497|1,337|2|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1844|Whig|1,583|1,415|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1840|Whig|1,593|1,095|3|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1836|Whig|1,205|1,039|0|Delaware}}

{{PresRow|1832|Whig|1,167|1,012|0|Delaware}}

|}

Kent County is governed by the Kent County Levy Court, which consists of seven members, six of whom are elected by district and the seventh who is elected at-large. The current members of the Kent County Levy Court are:{{cite web|title=Levy Court|publisher=Kent County|url=https://co.kent.de.us/levy-court.aspx|access-date=January 6, 2020}}

• Joanne Masten (D) - 1st district
• Jeffrey W. Hall (D) - 2nd district
• Allan F. Angel (D) - 3rd district (Vice President)
• Robert J. Scott - 4th district
• George Jody Sweeney (D) - 5th district
• Paul Hertz - 6th district
• Terry L. Pepper (D) - At-Large (President)

The county row offices are held by:

• Eugenia Thornton - Recorder of Deeds
• Harold K. Brode (D) - Register of Wills
• Brenda A. Wootten (D) - Clerk of the Peace
• Norman Barlow - Sheriff

Politically, Kent County is a swing county in local, state, and federal elections. The county is often used in state politics to determine a party or candidate's strength in statewide elections and is often considered a bellwether county, having voting for the winner of the national presidential election in 17 out of the last 19 presidential elections.

In the 2016 general elections, Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump won Kent County with 49.81% of the vote compared to Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton's 44.91% out of 74,260 votes cast.{{Cite web|url=https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/stwoff_kns.shtml|title=State of Delaware - Department of Elections · Office of the State Election Commissioner|website=elections.delaware.gov|access-date=March 30, 2020}} In the 2016 Delaware Gubernatorial Election, Democratic nominee John Carney won 49.68% of the vote compared to Republican Colin Bonini's 48.05%.

In the 2020 presidential election, Delaware native Joe Biden took 51.19% of the vote compared to Trump's 47.12%, out of 87,025 votes cast. Trump lost the county in 2024, making him the first Republican in 100 years to win the presidency without the county.

In the Delaware General Assembly, 8 of the 41 seats in the Delaware State House of Representatives. As of March 2020, Democrats held 4 seats and Republicans held 4 seats. In the Delaware State Senate, 5 senate districts represent parts of Kent County. As of March 2020 there were 3 Republican seats and 2 Democratic seats.

{{US Census population

|1790= 18920

|1800= 19554

|1810= 20495

|1820= 20793

|1830= 19913

|1840= 19872

|1850= 22816

|1860= 27804

|1870= 29804

|1880= 32874

|1890= 32664

|1900= 32762

|1910= 32721

|1920= 31023

|1930= 31841

|1940= 34441

|1950= 37870

|1960= 65651

|1970= 81892

|1980= 98219

|1990= 110993

|2000= 126697

|2010= 162310

|estyear=2024

|estimate= 192690

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 27, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 12, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 12, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/de190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 12, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 12, 2014}} 2010-2020{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/10/10001.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 12, 2014|archive-date=December 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228163140/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/10/10001.html|url-status=dead}}

|2020=181851}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 126,697 people, 47,224 households, and 33,623 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|215|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 50,481 housing units at an average density of {{convert|86|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.49% White, 20.66% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.69% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. 3.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.3% were of German, 11.3% United States or American, 10.9% Irish, 10.0% English and 5.4% Italian ancestry. 92.5% spoke English and 3.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 47,224 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.90% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,950, and the median income for a family was $46,504. Males had a median income of $32,660 versus $24,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,662. About 8.10% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 census, there were 162,310 people, 60,278 households, and 42,290 families living in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US10001

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022658/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US10001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|276.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 65,338 housing units at an average density of {{convert|111.5|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US10001

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183927/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US10001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 67.8% white, 24.0% black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.6% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.0% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.5% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 11.5% were English, 7.2% were Italian, and 5.9% were American.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US10001

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031008/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US10001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 60,278 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.8% were non-families, and 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 36.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,183 and the median income for a family was $60,949. Males had a median income of $43,418 versus $35,603 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,194. About 9.3% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US10001

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015328/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US10001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

As of the 2020 census, there were 181,851 people living in the county; according to the 2021 American Community Survey, its racial makeup was 58.8% non-Hispanic white, 28.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.1% multiracial, and 7.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2021, there were 66,720 households and an average of 2.63 people per household. Among its population, 88.2% were living in the same residency one year ago. The median household income for the county was $63,715; the county had a per capita income of $30,804. An estimated 12.2% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.

Kent County is home to an Amish community residing to the west of Dover, consisting of 9 church districts and about 1,650 people. The Amish first settled in Kent County in 1915 after migrations from Wisconsin, Montana, Alabama, and Ohio. The area is home to several Amish businesses selling items such as Amish food, furniture, quilts, and handmade crafts. Every September, the Amish Country Bike Tour, one of the largest cycling events in Delaware, takes place in the area. In recent years, increasing development has led to the decline in the number of Amish living in the community.{{cite web |url= https://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/statistics/amish-population-profile-2018/ |title= Amish Population, 2018 |work= Elizabethtown College, the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies |access-date= January 29, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190205121144/http://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/statistics/amish-population-profile-2018/ |archive-date= February 5, 2019 |url-status= dead }}{{cite web|url=http://visitdover.com/index.php/mobile/visit_entry/amish-countryside|title=Amish Countryside|publisher=Kent County & Greater Dover, Delaware Convention and Visitors Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123053054/http://visitdover.com/index.php/mobile/visit_entry/amish-countryside|archive-date=November 23, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Delaware Amish|publisher=Amish America|url=http://amishamerica.com/delaware-amish/|access-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007120123/http://amishamerica.com/delaware-amish/|archive-date=October 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}

File:Dover Delaware.jpg

File:Walnut Street NB at Park Avenue Milford DE.jpeg{{Main|List of municipalities in Delaware|List of places in Delaware}}

• Dover
• Harrington
• Milford (partly in Sussex County)

File:Main Street NB approaching Commerce Street Smyrna DE.jpeg

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• Bowers
• Camden
• Cheswold
• Clayton (partly in New Castle County)
• Farmington
• Felton
• Frederica
• Hartly
• Houston
• Kenton
• Leipsic
• Little Creek
• Magnolia
• Smyrna (partly in New Castle County)
• Viola
• Woodside
• Wyoming

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• Dover Air Force Base
• Highland Acres
• Kent Acres
• Rising Sun-Lebanon
• Riverview
• Rodney Village
• Woodside East

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• Andrewville
• Berrytown
• Little Heaven
• Marydel

• Woodland Beach

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, DE|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 20, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10001_kent/DC20SD_C10001_SD2MS.txt Text list] - It only includes geographical districts and does not have county-wide overlay districts.

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• Caesar Rodney School District
• Capital School District
• Lake Forest School District
• Milford School District
• Smyrna School District
• Woodbridge School District

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In 2010, 14.8% of the county students enrolled in K-12 schools were in private institutions.{{cite web|url=https://www.delawarepublic.org/2010-12-16/private-schools-increasing-financial-aid-to-retain-students|title=Private schools increasing financial aid to retain students |publisher=Delaware Public Media|date=2010-12-16|access-date=2025-03-30|quote=In Delaware, with the nation’s highest percentage of private school enrollment,[...]}} St. Thomas More Academy was formerly in the county.

In the period of de jure educational segregation in the United States, K-12 students of black African descent attended segregated schools. William W. M. Henry Comprehensive High School District 133 housed high school students of black African descent during the period 1952 to 1966. Desegregation occurred after 1966.{{cite web|last=Mowery|first=Roger|url=https://archivesfiles.delaware.gov/ebooks/Delaware_School_Districts_1974.pdf|title=Delaware School District Organization and Boundaries|publisher=Delaware State Department of Instruction|place=Dover, Delaware|year=1974|page=6 (PDF p. 12/97)|access-date=2025-03-30}}

Tertiary institutions:

• Delaware State University (DSU)

Wesley College merged into DSU in 2021.{{cite web|title=Delaware State University will acquire Wesley College, a first for HBCUs|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/07/10/delaware-state-university-will-acquire-wesley-college-first-hbcus|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=insidehighered.com|language=en|quote=The acquisition will be finalized by the end of June next year.}}

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• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Delaware

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• [https://www.kentcountyde.gov Kent County webpage] - [https://web.archive.org/web/20160820145648/http://www.co.kent.de.us/ Archived]
• [http://www.visitdover.com/ Kent County & Greater Dover Convention and Visitors Bureau]

{{Geographic Location

| Centre = Kent County, Delaware

| North = New Castle County

| Northeast = Salem County, New Jersey

| East = Cumberland County, New Jersey and Cape May County, New Jersey

| Southeast =

| South = Sussex County

| Southwest = Caroline County, Maryland

| West = Kent County, Maryland and Queen Anne's County, Maryland

| Northwest =

}}

{{Kent County, Delaware}}

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{{Delaware Valley}}

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{{coord|39.10|-75.50|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-DE_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Delaware counties

Category:1683 establishments in Delaware

Category:Populated places established in 1683