New Castle. 1 City (1990 pop. 4,837), New Castle co., N Del., on the Delaware River. Mineral, metal, food, paper, and gypsum products are among its varied manufactures. It is also a major book distribution center. Peter Stuyvesant built a Dutch fort there, and the settlement was called Niew Amstel until renamed in 1664. The state of Delaware was formed there at a convention on Sept. 21, 1776, and for a year the city was the state capital. The city's historic district, with many 18th- and 19th-century buildings, is a national historic landmark. The Old New Castle Court House (1732), Old Sheriff's House, and New Castle Green are part of the First State National Monument. Other colonial buildings are the Dutch House (late 1600s), Immanuel Church (1708), and Amstel House (1730s). The main campus of Wilmington Univ. is there.
2 City (1990 pop. 17,753), seat of Henry co., E Ind.; inc. 1839. It is the trade center of an agricultural and farm region, and there is food processing. Manufactures include automotive parts, feed, steel and rubber products, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. The city has a number of prehistoric Native American mounds. Wilbur Wright's birthplace is nearby.
3 City (1990 pop. 28,334), seat of Lawrence co., W Pa., at the junction of the Shenango and Neshannock rivers, in a fertile farm area; inc. 1825. Apples, soybeans, and grain are grown, and there are livestock and dairy cattle. Coal, limestone, and clay deposits found in the region contribute to the city's economy. Manufactures include metal and plastic products, machinery, transportation equipment, and fireworks. The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts is there.
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