New Castle, a small, picturesque town in Delaware, was originally founded as Fort Casimir in 1651 by the Dutch East India Company. After being released from William Penn's rule in 1691, the town was briefly named the state capital. Until Wilmington was designated county seat in 1881, New Castle boomed as a commercial center. Bustling ferry traffic was eliminated in 1951 with the completion of the Memorial Bridge five miles up the Delaware River. Long-departed industries of the town include fishing, rail and water transportation, steel and aircraft manufacturing, and gas and power production. New Castle, a National Landmark Historic Area, is home to many carefully preserved homes built in the 1700s and 1800s by judges, lawyers, and government officials. This community displays the care of generations whose pride of place make it a truly unmatched gem of American history and architectural beauty.