From 1917 until 1928, Elsmere served as the site for the Delaware State Fair, primarily due to the race courses that were built for horses, cars, and motorcycles.
Elsmere, Delaware is located in New Castle County, which lies on the northern end of the state
From 1917 until 1928, Elsmere served as the site for the Delaware State Fair, primarily due to the race courses that were built for horses, cars, and motorcycles.
Elsmere, Delaware is located in New Castle County, which lies on the northern end of the state. Though many residents of Wilmington consider Elsmere to be a part of their city, it is an independent town and was incorporated on March 9, 1909. Since that time, Elsmere has grown over its century-long lifespan into a beautiful little town with plenty of local spirit. Spanning a land area of only one square mile, Elsmere enjoys a tight-knit community with the most recent population estimate of 6,131 residents.
Those looking for that small town allure can definitely find what they are searching for in Elsmere. If you are planning to make the move though, it is important that you check real estate vacancies before making the decision. There are a variety of places to rent in Elsmere, but due to the relatively large population density, there are not always many options. Granted, the idea of living in one place versus another may not seem like much, but each area of the town has its own appeal, which could make a difference to prospective movers. After all, you don't want to end up living on a busy road when you really want to live by a nice park.
Apartment or House?
The common question that arises for anyone looking to move is whether it is better to look for an apartment or a home. This always raises the question of whether it is more cost-effective to rent or to buy, and this can ultimately make a difference. When looking to make the move to Elsmere, availability could be a much more important concern. With the small land area of the town, there are only so many places that are still to be developed, which means that new housing is very limited. For those looking to rent, this means that it is usually easier to find an apartment than it is to locate a home for rent. Most of the available housing opportunities are in the form of two bedroom apartment rentals, but there are certainly some homes for sale if that is what you are looking for.
How are The Prices?
Overall, both the rental and purchasing prices for homes and apartments in Elsmere are lower than the national average. This remains true when compared to other cities or towns in Delaware. In fact, if you are looking for a rental at the right time, you could even stumble upon a house for rent that is comparable in price to the average apartment in town. Keep in mind that with the small town environment potential movers are not going to find many studio apartments for rent, so don't expect to save money by getting a smaller space.
What You Need
Like any move around the country, you are going to need to make sure you are prepared before pulling the trigger. As indicated above, the first step is to make sure that there is actually availability in the type of apartment or home you are looking to move into. Next, make sure to have all of the basic documents and materials you would normally need to move into a new place. Have your ID ready, some bank statements, pay stubs, a letter of employment, etc. Unless you plan on living in your car for a while after moving, it is important to know that there are not only vacancies in the town but also that you have all of the materials necessary. On that same topic, make sure to check with any apartment you are moving into if you have pets. Though most of the complexes in Elsmere are pet friendly, you never want to end up finding out that your place is not.
With its small land area, the town of Elsmere is not really separated into traditional neighborhoods, but it does have a few different housing areas. With the rapid expansion of the town in the 1950s, many of the housing districts were built around this time by different developers. This helped to ensure that the increasing population had enough housing to keep up with the growth.
Beyond the housing areas, the town also has over half a dozen different parks, and with the small land area citizens can walk from park to park without difficulty. There are only two schools within the town border, one of them run by the town and serving grades K-5 while the other is operated by the Diocese of Wilmington and provides education for grades K-8. Another location of note is the Veteran's Administration hospital in Elsmere, which was the ninth one built after the end of World War II. To get a better idea of the different areas of town, here are some snippets to paint a clear picture.
Vilone Village: Named after its builder Alfred J. Vilone, this area is home to the earliest apartment complex in Elsmere, the Parklyn Apartments. The first apartment complex in Elsmere, it was built between 1946 and 1950 and still remains in the town today with 140 units. This area of town is significant because it holds the Fairgrounds Park.
Elsmere Park: Built by Joe and Frank Tigani in 1950, this area is comprised of four major roads and has been used for mostly residential purposes. Beyond the houses, there are also a few mom and pop stores as well as Bryan Martin Park.
Elsmere Gardens: Another residential area, this part of town includes many brick homes built between 1955 and 1963.This area also includes Maple Avenue Park, a beautiful spot to sit and enjoy an afternoon in the park.
Rosemont: The other major housing section of mention, this area of homes is next to the Haddock Construction Industrial Site and was developed from 1954 to 1955. This area is home to a Delaware Rifle and Pistol club, as well as one of the local auto body shops.
Those fortunate enough to call Elsmere their home enjoy a great small town atmosphere with all of the conveniences that they need. This is made possible because of the border it shares with Wilmington, which is the largest city in all of Delaware. Due to this close proximity, people who move to Elsmere are often those seeking out a small town home life without the hassle of having to drive for an hour to try out some of the more modern conveniences.
Though walking is a common way to get through town, most of the residents still own a car so that they can travel to neighboring cities, such as the aforementioned Wilmington. To keep up the small town spirit, the town government regularly holds events, such as the popular "movies in the park," which occur once almost every month. Additionally, the citizens of Elsmere enjoy special holiday events put on by the town, such as fireworks on the 4th of July, a Halloween event, and a holiday parade in December. When there aren't any special events being put on, the parks are always a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the tranquility of the quiet town. If reading a book is more up your alley, there is also a library near the northwestern edge of town that can offer an abundance of books to read.
If you are looking for that small town spirit without feeling isolated from the rest of the world, Elsmere certainly has a high level of appeal. Once you're there, you will see why the population continues with steady growth, and why so many people are proud to call it home. Take time to really take in the entire town, and you'll be glad you did.
