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Information on Participation in Cooperative Extension Program General Information Related Links

Facts about Delaware County

Information on Participation in Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension in Delaware County has adapted traditional extension programs to serve our urban/suburban residents:

• Horticultural industries (such as landscapers, tree trimmers, garden centers) are served by Extension Agents with horticulture expertise.
• 4-H Youth Development is present in all school districts, and provides agricultural education at the 4-H Farm and Center in Newtown Square.
• Family Living programs include education for child care providers, food safety, weight management, life skills and nutrition.
• Urban Gardening serves communities and individuals with education and information on intensive raised bed vegetable gardening and beautification. Special funding supports some materials for gardens in the area of the City of Chester.
• Master Gardeners, volunteers trained to educate home gardeners, offer educational opportunities as well as operate a "hot line" in the extension office.

Publications on many helpful topics are available to Delaware County residents through the extension office or to Pennsylvania residents at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu.

Cooperative Extension is a service of Land Grant Colleges and Universities. The Delaware County office of Penn State Cooperative Extension is charged with serving residents of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. If you reside in another county in Pennsylvania, please contact your county extension office. If you live in another state, click here to locate Cooperative Extension near you.

For more information or to be added to one of the program mailing lists, contact us by phone 610-690-2655 or by email DelawareExt@psu.edu.

General Information

Pennsylvania began in Delaware County in 1643 when the first permanent settlement was established by a colony of Swedes on Tinicum Island. William Penn arrived forty years later on a Delaware River site which is now part of the City of Chester, here in Delaware County.

Delaware County is one of the smallest counties in Pennsylvania in area (184.43 square miles), with population of 550,864 according to Census 2000. On average, there are 2,987 residents per square mile in the county. There are 49 municipalities and 15 school districts in the county.