Arden, Delaware | |
|---|---|
 Arden Craft Shop/Museum/Archive | |
| Motto: "You are welcome hither" | |
 Location of Arden in New Castle County, Delaware. | |
  Arden Location within the state of Delaware Show map of Delaware Arden Arden (the United States) Show map of the United States Arden Arden (North America) Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:39°48′33″N75°29′12″W / 39.80917°N 75.48667°W /39.80917; -75.48667 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Delaware |
| County | New Castle |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| • Land | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 430 |
| • Density | 1,726.4/sq mi (666.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 19810 |
| Area code | 302 |
| FIPS code | 10-01400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 213569[2] |
| Website | arden |
Arden is a village inNew Castle County,Delaware, United States, founded in 1900 as a radicalGeorgist single-tax community by sculptorFrank Stephens and architectWilliam Lightfoot Price.[3] The village occupies approximately 160 acres, with half kept as open land. According to the 2010 census, the population of the village is 439.[4] In 1973, the entire village was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
Two neighboring villages of similar size were founded on Georgist principles,Ardentown, in 1922, andArdencroft, in 1950. In 2003, they were also listed on the NRHP as theArdens Historic District. Many Ardenites, as the villagers of Arden are called, consider themselves to be "close-knit, nature-loving, liberal, tolerant, free-spirited, artistic, intellectual, even ex-hippie".[5]
Arden was founded in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect William Lightfoot Price, based on ideas such asHenry George'ssingle-tax,William Morris'sArts and Crafts principles,[5][6] andPeter Kropotkin's theories of community. PhilanthropistJoseph Fels funded the project.
The single-tax movement, popular in the U.S. and other countries from the 1890s until the 1930s, is based on the belief that the best way to raise government money was to tax only the value of unimproved land and the public-created value, like roads, added to the land. The tax, based on a systematized assessment, would recover both the value of natural resources and public investment for the public, while not impeding labor and capital from profiting from their efforts. Followers of Henry George's philosophy of economics created Arden as an experiment in the single-tax idea after a failed attempt to implement Georgism in the entire state of Delaware in the late 19th century.
Englishman William Morris rebelled against modern cities and industry. He advocated a return to craft production, good design, and village life. Kropotkin was primarily ananarcho-communist whose ideas regarding social and community living were used by the founders of Arden to advance Morris' ideas for the return to village life.
Land in Arden cannot be sold; instead it has a renewable99-year lease. The leasehold interest in the land has a market value and can be sold. People are free to improve it as they choose, but the land-lease fee will not increase because of improvements. Arden is not exempt from New Castle County land taxes, but the buildings within the village are taxed separately for county and school district revenue, while the land is technically one large parcel, and taxed by New Castle County accordingly. The land is held in a trust, administered by three elected trustees, who have lifelong tenure. Arden's tax structure is currently based upon the individual leaseholds. Most leaseholds are residential, and the land rent is based upon the square footage rather than the improvements upon the land. A seven-member board of assessors, elected usingsingle transferable vote to ensure representation of minority viewpoints, divides the County's full assessment of the residential areas of Arden among the individual lots.[7] Lots that are nearer to open space or woodlands are assessed a bit higher, while lots nearer main road are assessed a bit lower.
At first, Arden was a summer community. People lived the simple life in tents or rustic dwellings. By 1909, much of the land had been leased, mostly for summer use. By 1922 there were 148 leaseholders, 100 buildings, 350 summer residents, and 100 winter residents.[8]
The founding of the Arden Club, a volunteer-run community center, in 1908 provided an organizational core for community activity. Interest groups and task groups were called gilds [sic] rather than committees. From the beginning, Shakespeare's plays were produced in the outdoor Field Theater. Fairs, pageants, and Arden holidays filled the calendar. Many of these events continue today through various community organizations including the Arden Community Recreation Association (ACRA) and the Arden Club, as well as through some of the village committees for each of the three Ardens. The Georgist Gild no longer exists (ended in 2014), but the Georgists continues to offer courses in Georgist economics to the Ardens and any other interested communities.
Shakespeare's plays were produced early in Arden's history to promote better oratory skills among the Georgists and have continued if only as a tradition and form of entertainment.
It took longer to implement the Arts-and-Crafts ideal because the community was so small at first. Many people worked inWilmington orPhiladelphia. In 1913, the Craft Shop was built, which provided facilities for various artisans. Arden crafts, especially from the Arden Forge and Arden Weavers, became popular in the area.
The conceptual lifestyle of Arden proved so popular that it expanded twice, withArdentown in 1922 andArdencroft in 1950. Today,the Ardens remain as single-tax communities at the village municipal level. The spirit of Arden encourages all sorts of artistic and intellectual expression and a strong community life. Most of the village activities and Club activities are run by volunteers.
Arden, Delaware and its sister villages, Ardentown and Ardencroft, are in theNational Historic Register because of their cultural landscape, rather than its land or buildings.[9] Still, there are several buildings associated with Stephens and Price, including old farm houses and converted barns, the Craftshop, the Weaveshop, and a number of fine Craftsman Houses, that have historical and architectural interest.[10]
Village of Arden | |
| Area | 163 acres (66 ha) |
|---|---|
| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | William Lightfoot Price, Frank Stephens |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Elizabethan |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000550[10] |
| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1973 |
Ardens Historic District | |
| |
| Area | 380 acres (150 ha) |
|---|---|
| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | William L. Price, Frank Stephens |
| Architectural style | late 19th and early 20th century American Movements, barn |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001245[10] |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 2003 |
There are six named houses in Arden designed by William Lightfoot Price: Friendly Gables (built 1909), 2205 Little Lane; The Lodge (1910), 2209 The Sweep; Rest Cottage (1910), 2328 Cherry Lane; Green Gate (1909), 2210 The Sweep; The Second Homestead (1909), 2311 Woodland; and The Fels House (1909), 2110 Orleans Road.[11] Price also designed the Arden Craft Shop in 1913. His designs are generallyElizabethan Revival and show the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement. The first houses built in Arden were small summer cottages that have been destroyed, or in a few cases greatly enlarged. Small worker's cottages were also built after the completion of the Craft Shop. Price may have participated in the designs of both these forms as well. Residents often designed, built and named their own cottages.Upton Sinclair's cottage was built with funds from Joseph Fels and named by other residents "Jungalow."[12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), all land. It is bounded by Sherwood Forest, Marsh Road, Hanby Park, and the expansion villages of Ardentown and Ardencroft.
_at_Harvey_Road_and_Grubb_Road_in_Arden%2c_New_Castle_County%2c_Delaware.jpg)
Delaware Route 3 runs southwest-northeast along the western border of Arden as Marsh Road, heading south towardWilmington and north towardDelaware Route 92 west ofClaymont. Harvey Road runs northwest-southeast through Arden and leads southeast to a partial interchange withInterstate 95, which has access to southbound I-95 toward Wilmington and access from northbound I-95 coming from Wilmington, and toU.S. Route 13 Business southwest of Claymont.[13]DART First State provides bus service to Arden along Route 11, which heads south via DE 3 and Washington Street to theWilmington station servingAmtrak andSEPTA Regional Rail'sWilmington/Newark Line.[14]
Delmarva Power, a subsidiary ofExelon, provides electricity and natural gas to Arden.[15][16]Suez Delaware, a subsidiary ofSuez North America, provides water to Arden.[17] Sewer service in Arden is provided by New Castle County. Trash and recycling collection in Arden is provided byTrash Tech.[18]
It is in theBrandywine School District.[19] Zoned schools are as follows:[20] Forwood Elementary School,[21] Talley Middle School,[22] andMount Pleasant High School.[23]
There was formerly an Arden Elementary School. It began having a racially desegregated student body in 1952.[24]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 555 | — | |
| 1980 | 516 | −7.0% | |
| 1990 | 477 | −7.6% | |
| 2000 | 474 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 439 | −7.4% | |
| 2020 | 430 | −2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[41] | |||
As of thecensus[42] of 2000, there were 474 people, 229 households, and 122 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,780.5 inhabitants per square mile (687.5/km2). There were 243 housing units at an average density of 912.8 per square mile (352.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.15%White, 0.84%African American, 0.42%Native American, 1.69%Asian, and 1.90% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.32% of the population.
There were 229 households, out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% weremarried couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 18.1% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 35.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $56,731, and the median income for a family was $70,893. Males had a median income of $48,125 versus $38,333 for females. Theper capita income for the village was $30,422. None of the families and 2.1% of the population were living below thepoverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.0% of those over 64.
Signed: R.W. Peterson
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