Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Wilmington, Delaware
State Delaware
City Wilmington*
County1 New Castle
City Population (2005)2 62,380 7.6% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 69** (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Very Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium High Density
State Capitol City Dover
State Population (2005)2 818,587
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) James Baker
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.ci.wilmington.de.us
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 302-576-2489
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election (Not Available)
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06 Yes
State Governor Name Ruth Ann Minner
State/Governor Website http://delaware.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 302-744-4101
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2009
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.35    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 18.7%    
     Disability Status 23.6% 69  
     Emphysema 1.22% 49  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.78% 51  
     Diabetes 5.23% 51  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.49% 20  
     Adult Asthma 10.43% 71  
     Adult Obesity 20.0%   23
     People Without Health Insurance 13.5%   22
     Age: Children under 5 years 6.8% 21  
     Age: 65 years and over 12.6% 59  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 35.0% 59  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 25.6% 11  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 42.0% 40  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 8.8% 46  
     Individuals Below Poverty 21.3% 55  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 30.4% 56  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 34.0% 10  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 12.6% 28  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.4    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 21.4 (of 51) 19  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 11,722,990 pounds   15
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 3,890,432 pounds 8
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,349,772 pounds 16
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 64,022,525 pounds 11
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 81,694,134 pounds 13
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 19.0 grams 21
Number of Superfund Sites in County 9 sites 66  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.941 tons per person 48
Recycling Rate (1997) 31.0% 17
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 988,433 tons 5
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.2 tons/person 15
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 103,150 tons 45
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 10.4% 40
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) -19.5% 6
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -66.5% 45
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    3.4***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 32,200 tons   12
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 8,900 tons   8
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 6,439,000 tons   7
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 290.0 pounds   10
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 14.5 days 54  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 9.8 PM2.5 57  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 16.2 PM2.5 48  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 9.5 days 47  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 5.8 PM2.5 53  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 15.3 PM2.5 49  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.005 ppm 33  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 11 days 25  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.7***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Brandywine-Christina ---  
# of Units in Watershed 57 units 31  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 57 units 18  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 56 units 50  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 98.2% 55  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 40.84 inches 24  
Water Area Total, square miles 442 square miles 59  
Water Area Inland, square miles 71 square miles 70  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 371 square miles 22  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Wilmington ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 51 years 41  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 117 days 22  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Wilmington ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 49 years 48  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 20.7 inches 28  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 1,500,000,000 gallons/day 64  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,050,000,000 gallons/day 49  
Ground water, gallons/day 110,000,000 gallons/day 67  
Surface water, gallons/day 1,390,000,000 gallons/day 61  
Irrigation, gallons/day 48,000,000 gallons/day 54  
Public Supply, gallons/day 101,000,000 gallons/day 66  
Industrial, gallons/day 64,000,000 gallons/day 62  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 1,270,000,000 gallons/day 46  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 71,000,000 gallons/day 66  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Wilmington Water Department ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 140,000 people 63  
Year(s) Included in Summary 2001-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 6 contaminants 5  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 2 contaminants 14  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 2 contaminants 7  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 4 contaminants 12  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 39  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 2 contaminants 8  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 6 contaminants 5  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 109 contaminants 40  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 90 contaminants 42  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 19 contaminants 26  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 3 violations 59  
Health Violations 1 violation 54  
Monitoring Violations 1 violation 51  
Reporting Violations 1 violation 63  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    3.0***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 6,698.1 people per square mile 18  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 2,962.4 housing units per square mile 15  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 22.9 minutes 33  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 22.9 minutes 43  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 14.5% 26  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 12.0% 15  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 7.8% 12  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.6% 42  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 97.8 19  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 83.9 MV registrations   25
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 73.0%   43
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 51.2 MV registrations   39
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.17 MV registrations   25
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 5,894 miles   3
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.685%   44
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 34.4%   13
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.01 miles   11
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 8.58 miles   10
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $929,000,000   17
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $157,618 per mile   49
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 110.7%   49
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $35,116 53  
Median Household Income (2000) $35,116 51  
Per capita income (2004) $20,236 48  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $20,236 41  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 16.8% 50  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 21.3% 54  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 21.3% 55  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 6.6% 54  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 30.4% 56  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 2,813 people 3  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.0% 44  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 8.8% 46  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 5.8% 58  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 9.0% 53  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 2.9% 16  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) -2.3% 17  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $6.15 per hour 23  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 13,840 kids (1.7 % of total pop.) 67  
Largest School District Enrollment 14,296 kids (1.7 % of total pop.) 66  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 34.0% 10  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 58.0% 30  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 74.4% 62  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 21.4% 61  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 35% 59  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Ahead of the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Incomplete   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 28,617 units 69  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 49.9% 28  
Cost of Living: Housing 85.3 34  
Cost of Living: Utilities 121.4 52  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 102.3 46  
Cost of Living: Overall 98.8 38  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 65.15%   18
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 42.90%   22
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 61.80%   33
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 26.7%   36
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 2,986.1 incidents per 100,000 people 4  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 564.4 incidents per 100,000 people 20  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 2,421.7 incidents per 100,000 people 3  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 6,911.7 incidents per 100,000 people 41  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    3.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 5.3% 45  
Total City Urbanized Area % 50.5% 22  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 2.9    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.49% 20
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 10.43% 71
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.18% 51
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.22% 49
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.78% 51
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.23% 51  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 20.0% 23
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 5.1% 2
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 15%-19% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 8.0% 4
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 8.7% 43
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 194.4 24
Cost of Living: Health 111.8 44  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 12.5% 19
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 13.5% 22
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 8.0% 46
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 1.0% 45
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 18 farms 13
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 28 markets 14
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 2 restaurants 19
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 5 grocery stores 8
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 4 other sources 16
Cost of Living: Food 108.4 52
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 76.5% 39
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 45.2% 53
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 25 kW   21
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 25 kW   28
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds Support Energy Effeciency & Renewable Energy   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 10%   12
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2019   14
States with Green Pricing Programs None   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Excercises Tax Credit/Exemption and/or Grant Supporting Ethanol Use   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) (Not Available)   (Not Available)
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 47 years 32
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 55% 37
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9 mph 28
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.8 mph 28
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.8 mph 34
Heating Degree Days 4,937 days 33
Cooling Degree Days 1,046 days 30
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 51 years 7
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 78% 20
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 55% 17
Elevation, feet 92 feet 23
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 62,380 69** (of 72 in EDN study) 7.6% of state population
City Population (2000) 72,664 68 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 818,587 45 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Mid-Atlantic ---  
EPA Region 3 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 11.0 square miles 71 0.9% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 1,955 square miles 49  
Watershed Name Brandywine-Christina ---  
Elevation, feet 92 ft. (28.0 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 31.5°F (-0.3°C) 45
Average Daily Temperature - July 76.6°F (24.8°C) 36  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 33.7 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 74.1% 36  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 12.6% 13  
Under 5 years of age 4,953 kids (6.8% of total pop.) 68  
One Race-White % (2005) 37.4% 61  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 62.6% 12  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 9.8% 39  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 12.6% 45  
Largest School District Name Christina, Red Clay CSD, Brandywine, and Colonial* ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network