Broad Dyke, originally called Horse Dyke is an original dyke built on the Northern bank of the

Delaware River The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing (undammed) river in the Eastern United States. From the meeting of its branches in Hancock, New York, the river flows for a ...

by the Dutch in 1655 in

New Castle, Delaware New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The city is located six miles (10 km) south of Wilmington, Delaware, Wilmington and is situated on the Delaware River. As of 2020, the city's population was 5,551. New Cast ...

. This 60 acre property is the center of a twelve-mile circle that form the arc of the border between

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...

and

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. In 1701 in an effort to clarify the border between Delaware and Pennsylvania

William Penn William Penn ( – ) was an English writer, religious thinker, and influential Quakers, Quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British colonization of the Americas, British colonial era. An advocate of democracy and religi ...

sent Cornelius Empson, Richard Hallowell and John Richardson as justices of the county of New Castle and Caleb Pusey, Phillip Roman and Robert Pyle as justices of the

county of Chester Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shropshire to the south; to the west ...

to survey the border. These six men agreed that Broad Dyke would serve as the center of the twelve mile circle whose arc forms the border between Pennsylvania and Delaware. The property containing the Dyke was acquired by a local church in 1719 and is still under the ownership of said church.

Modern Day

Currently the Dyke and surrounding wetlands are the focal point of conservation efforts by the Trust for Public Land. The Dyke is also used as a fishing spot by locals. The region is also used to link the towns Riverwalk Bike trail and multiple historic sites.

References

External links

"Modern Day Conservation Efforts - Broad Dyke""1701 Land Survey - Broad Dyke""New Castle County Historical Markers - Broad Dyke"
Buildings and structures in New Castle County, Delaware Dikes in the United States Dutch-American culture in Delaware Buildings and structures completed in 1655 1655 establishments in the Dutch Empire {{US-hist-stub