You are here.
Delaware County History
The first sponsor of Cooperative Extension in Delaware County (beginning in July 1916) was the Delaware County Farm Bureau. At that time, the county population was 140,000 and the first Agriculture Agent, D.W. Atkinson reported, "Only half of the County lying west and southwest of Media is distinctly agricultural. The remainder of the area is occupied by a maze of suburban boroughs and manufacturing towns. Some dairying, garbage hog feeding, market gardening, etc. is done in this section. Many private estates, summer homes and charitable institutions are also found in the County. Land is priced at $200.00 - $600.00 per acre."
In 1917 Cooperative Extension announced the organization of boys and girls into clubs for corn, potato, pig feeding and poultry. The rules were outlined in the newspaper, including the accepted values of equipment, rent of land, and manure for corn and potato fields. In addition to keeping financial records, each member was required to write an account of their crop or livestock project.
In 2000, the population of Delaware County was 550,000 people, down from 600,000 in the sixties. In 2002, Delaware County had 6,136 4-H members, the highest enrollment in Pennsylvania: 400 members are involved in community or project clubs; 1,151 members in clubs that meet at their school; and 4,585 complete 4-H projects to enrich their classroom curriculum (such as embryology and indoor gardening).
Photo Album
(Click on an image to view a larger version and to read the caption)
