William Francis

Along the Christina River William Francis

For centuries, the Christina River, an approximately 35-mile-long tributary of the Delaware River that cuts across northern Delaware, has played a role in the development of Newark, Christiana, Newport, and Wilmington. Near its mouth, it welcomed European settlers from Sweden and Finland. The Port of Wilmington, opened in 1923, handles international cargo and trade. The river was home to shipbuilding operations that once made Wilmington the busiest shipbuilding city in the United States. The river encouraged people to open businesses in the area, and industries like the Krebs Pigment Plant, Jackson & Sharp railroad manufacturers, and Pusey & Jones shipbuilders flourished. Farther downstream, in Newark, the river's history includes the only Revolutionary War battle fought on Delaware soil. Through vintage photographs, Along the Christina River shares the river's rich heritage and traces the history of this great waterway.