Centreville, Delaware is an unincorporated town located in New Castle County, Delaware that is only seconds away from the Pennsylvania and Delaware line. Known primarily for being the location of the DuPont family estates it sits 5 miles Northwest of the City of Wilmington.
Centreville which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places is surrounded by sprawling country estates. This picturesque community can trace its roots all the way back to 1685 when European settlers began acquiring land from William Penn for residences, farming and milling. In 1750 Centreville began being known for their midway point linking Kennett Square, PA to the City of Wilmington markets and the Delaware and Christina river ports.
In 1780 the Walnut Green schoolhouse was built and was one of four Centreville schools that helped mark the beginning of public education in Delaware. In 1813 a hard surfaced road was completed linking the City of Wilmington to the Pennsylvania state line at a cost of $30,000. This road would be later bought by the P.S. DuPont family. The family widened the road to 24 feet, removed the toll charge and turned it over to the state with the provision that no trolley car lines or advertising signs be erected without the consent of every landowner along the road.
In 1816 Smith’s Bridge is built and spans 145 feet across the Brandywine Creek. It has been rebuilt many times including in 1961 when it was burned through arson. In 2002 it was part of a major $1.2 million reconstruction that was based on the original design qualities. Today it is only one of three remaining covered bridges in Delaware.
Centreville would see a decline in its growth as railroad connections between Wilmington and Pennsylvania would eventually replace wagon transport along the Kennett Pike in the 1880’s. By the early part of the 20th Century Centreville offered only a butcher shop and two country stores which primarily served local residents and surrounding farms.
After being cutoff from city expansion in the early 1900’s the Village of Centreville mimics the charm and feel of old world charm. Centreville got a new life in the 1950’s as structures that were formally homes or taverns now house specialty shops and offices. In 1985 the Centreville Historic District and 15 structures would earn designation on the National Register of Historic Places.
While stopping in Centreville be sure to shop the many specialty stores such as Buddy’s Baskets, Crystal’s Vintage and Costume Jewelry, Malchoine Sporting Antiques, Rags to Riches Upscale Resale, Barbara’s Antiques & Books and Windle’s Art and Antiques to name just a few. For dinner you will definitely want to stop by Buckley’s Tavern as it has become a local landmark for dining and socializing.
Other visits you must include while visiting Centreville are the Delaware Museum of Natural History and the Winterthur Museum and the Grounds of Winterthur. Winterthur is a 1000-acre American Country Estate that was the home of Henry Francis du Pont, an antiques collector and horticulturist. This picturesque estate was designed in the sprit of 18th and 19th century European country houses. Winterthur will immerse you in unparalleled collections of antiques and Americana. The green thumb in you will jump out as you tour the breathtaking beauty of the 60-acre naturalistic estate garden. Children will be lost in wonder while visiting the estates Enchanted Woods and Touch-It Room. Winterthur is the home to the annual Point to Point horse race.
The Delaware Museum of Natural History opened in 1972 with the mission to excite and inform people about the natural world through exploration and discovery. Here your children and the child in all of us will encounter life-sized dinosaurs, look beneath the seas, come face to face with a jaguar, and marvel at the discovery of birds and shells around the world. These and many more discoveries await you in the day and life of a visitor of Centreville, Delaware
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