Glenville, Delaware, New Castle County is a ghost town that once thrived in the heart of the First State. Known for its quiet streets and close-knit community, Glenville is now a reflection of the forces of nature and urban planning. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: New Castle County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: Not available
Elevation: Approximately 70 feet (21 meters) above sea level
Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone (EST/EDT)
Established: Glenville was developed in the mid-20th century as a residential neighborhood.
Disestablished: The town was effectively disestablished in the early 2000s following severe flooding.
Comments: Glenville was originally built as a suburban community, offering a peaceful lifestyle for families. However, its location near the Red Clay Creek made it vulnerable to flooding.
The most significant event leading to its abandonment was the floods caused by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The devastation led to buying out the properties and returning the land to a natural state to prevent future disasters.
Remains: The area where Glenville once stood has been largely cleared, with most of the structures demolished. The land is now part of a floodplain restoration project, with some areas converted into green space and parkland.
Current Status: The site is no longer inhabited and has been returned to a more natural state, serving as a flood management area.
Remarks: Glenville serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of natural disasters on communities and the importance of sustainable urban planning. While the town no longer exists, its story continues to influence the region’s flood management policies and practices.
Glenville is a post-war subdivision along Delaware Route 4 between Newport and Stanton. Glenville is located near the end of Red Clay Creek, where it empties into White Clay Creek. Since all of the rainwater collected by Red Clay Creek flows past Glenville, and there is no significant rise in elevation from the creek’s banks, Glenville has been prone to flooding throughout its history.
Although Glenville had been hit by floods earlier, three large storms caused enough damage to convince New Castle County to buy out most of the residents and level everything prone to flooding: Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and Tropical Storm Henri and Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
These three storms dropped as much as 10 inches of rain in 24 hours and caused Red Clay Creek to have a depth of up to 26 feet at one time, way up from the normal 3 feet.
