Cleland Heights, Delaware Explained

Official Name:Cleland Heights, Delaware
Pushpin Map:Delaware#USA
Pushpin Label:Cleland Heights
Pushpin Label Position:left
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Delaware
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:New Castle
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:112
Coordinates:39.7347°N -75.5747°W
Area Code:302
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:216939

Cleland Heights is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It was established in 1952 and consists of about 450 houses.

Location

Cleland Heights is located to the north of Delaware Route 4 just southwest of the Wilmington city limit. It borders Canby Park Estates and Latimer Estates.

History

Though the current community was founded in the 1950s, Cleland Heights can trace its history to the 1870s. The land was originally named Cleland Estate, after Dawson W. Cleland, who owned the area in the 1860s and 1870s.[1] [2] It was made into a reservoir in 1874.[3] The first community with the name "Cleland Heights" was established in 1920,[4] after the Liberty Housing Company acquired the area, 47.25 acres, and renamed it "Cleland Heights" in 1918.[5]

The current community was first built in 1952 with 47 brick houses priced at $11,000 each.[6] [7] Other homes built in the next few years ranged in price from $7,500 to $18,500. The community eventually consisted of over 450 homes.[8]

In 1991, residents organized a "crime watch association", replacing the civic association, after several burglaries and other incidents occurred.[9] [10] Residents from the bordering Latimer Estates joined the group and The News Journal reported that the crime rate had dropped 90% within two years.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: Letters Granted. Every Evening. Newspapers.com. December 29, 1871.
  2. News: James N. Cleland has taken out letters of administration on the estate of Dawson W. Cleland, late of this city.. Wilmington Daily Commercial. Newspapers.com. January 11, 1872.
  3. News: Mr. Febiger presented the report of the adjourned commission on the Cleland estate, to condemn land to be taken and used in the construction of the new reservoir. The report awards the sum of $9,100 as land damages and estimates the entire cost of the new reservoir at $350,000.. Every Evening. Newspapers.com. March 20, 1874.
  4. News: Cleland Heights. The Evening Journal. Newspapers.com. June 4, 1920.
  5. News: Big Building Project. The Morning News. Newspapers.com. July 8, 1918.
  6. News: Sample House, First of 47, Is Opened in Cleland Heights. Journal–Every Evening. Newspapers.com. June 21, 1952.
  7. News: New Cleland Heights Homes Rapidly Nearing Completion. The Morning News. Newspapers.com. July 5, 1952.
  8. News: Home To Generations. The News Journal. Newspapers.com. December 16, 1993. Williams, Jeff.
  9. News: Cleland Heights putting community off limits to crime. The News Journal. Newspapers.com. September 7, 1993. Gutierrez-Mier, John.
  10. News: Neighborhood: Residents organize. The News Journal. Newspapers.com. September 7, 1993. Gutierrez-Mier, John.