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Counties

Kent County.  Originally part of the Hoornkill district court established by the Dutch Governor Colve in 1673.  Hoornkill was divided into Saint Jones County and Deal County in 1680.  In 1682, under William Penn, the name changed to Kent County for the county in England.  Today, Kent County, which encompasses the middle section of the state, includes Dover the state capital. 

Variants:  Hoornkill County, Hoerenkill County, Whorekill County, Saint Jones County.

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New Castle County.  Northernmost county.  It is named for the early settlement of New Castle and applied to the whole area in 1673, when during Dutch rule, Governor Colve, set up three district courts of Upland (Chester, Pennsylvania), New Castle, and Hoornkill (Kent and Sussex Counties).  The General Assembly in 1681, under William Penn, officially named the counties New Castle, Kent and Sussex.  Today the biggest cities in the county are Wilmington and Newark.

Variant:  Newcastle County.

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Sussex County.  Delaware's southernmost county. This was originally part of the Hoornkill district court, set up by the Dutch Governor Colve in 1673.  Hoornkill was divided into Saint Jones and Deal Counties in 1680, and in 1682, Deal County was changed to Sussex County for William Penn’s own county in England.  Today Sussex County is best known as the home of the Delaware beaches and for agriculture and poultry production.

Variants: Hoornkill County; Hoerenkill County; Whorekill County; Deal County, Deale County; Essex County.

 

Adapted from Delaware Place Names:  Geological Survey Bulletin 1245.

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