Did You Know There Are Six Delco’s?
If you grew up in Delco PA, you probably thought there was only one Delco. Hand up, I’m guilty of thinking that way myself.
And honestly, most of us still feel that way. Around here, Delco is not just short for Delaware County PA, it is part of who you are. It is something you say with pride, usually within the first five minutes of meeting someone. It is one of the first words you learn as a kid, right alongside mom, dad, and Wawa. You can be on the other side of the country and if you meet someone from Delco, you two are best friends at the party.
But here is the part that surprises people. There are actually six different Delaware County’s across the United States. Six places with the same name, spread out across the country. And while they all technically share the title, anyone who grew up here already knows that only one of them feels like Delco.
Before we get into why ours stands alone, let’s take a quick look at the other five and where they stack up.
The largest of all of them is Delaware County PA, sitting at roughly 585,000 people. That is not even close. The next biggest is Delaware County in Ohio, with about 238,000 people, known for being a fast growing suburban area outside of Columbus. After that you have Delaware County in Indiana at around 111,000, a college driven area centered around Ball State University. Delaware County in New York comes next with about 44,000 people and is known more for mountains and quiet living in the Catskills. Then there is Delaware County in Oklahoma with roughly 41,000 people, a place recognized for outdoor recreation and Grand Lake. And finally, Delaware County in Iowa, which comes in around 17,500 people and is mostly rural farmland.
So yes, there are six. But if you are from here, you are probably already smiling, because numbers do not tell the full story.
Growing up in Delaware County PA is a completely different experience than just living somewhere else with the same name. Around here, your childhood is shaped by the little things that somehow become everything. It is knowing your neighbors like they are family. It is playing street hockey after school until someone yells about a car getting hit or a window getting cracked (sorry to my neighbors growing up, I did this a few times). It is arguing for the rest of your life about which high school was better and why yours will always be the best, no matter what anyone says.
You can tell a lot about someone from Delco PA by asking a few simple questions. What neighborhood did you grow up in? What pool did you go to every summer? What beach town did you to go every summer? What grade school and high school did you attend? Where did you have your first job?Those answers are not just small talk. They are part of your identity.
And then there are the little traditions that tie everything together. Like grabbing the Delco Times for less than a dollar at a local convenience store. If you grew up in Briarcliffe like I did, you bought the Delco Times at Guy’s Coldcuts every single day while picking up your Bernie’s Pretzels. Flipping through it to check the scores, read about the local teams, and see names you recognize from your neighborhood. The Delco Times was never just a newspaper. It was part of daily life, something that connected everyone in Delaware County before everything moved online.
What makes Delco even more special is that it is not just about the past. It is still one of the best places to live today. Delaware County PA offers a balance that is hard to find. There are thousands of acres of outdoor space where you can walk trails, explore nature, or spend time along the water. You can kayak through local creeks, take a peaceful walk through scenic parks, or just enjoy being outside without having to travel far.
At the same time, it is a place built for families. There are parks, playgrounds, live entertainment, and interactive experiences for kids and adults alike. You can spend a day at the waterfront in Chester, visit local farms for seasonal picking, or grab dinner at a spot in downtown Media that feels like it has been part of the neighborhood forever. From classic Philly style food to restaurants that rival anything in the city, there is always something to do and somewhere to go. My wife and I recently had dinner & drinks at Dom & Mia’s and it was one of the best meals that we’ve had in a long time. I saw a few friends from high school that I haven’t seen in years and my wife (born and raised in Sarasota, Florida) got the true Delco experience.
The truth is, people take different paths after growing up here. Some stay in Delco PA their entire lives. Some move to New Jersey. Some head out to Chester County or beyond. And some even make the leap to Hollywood to chase big dreams, and achieve big dreams, what’s up Drew McAnany? But no matter where they end up, they all say the same thing. They are from Delco. That never changes.
I graduated from Cardinal O’Hara in Springfield, and I’ll never forget what our principal said on graduation day. “Once an O’Hara student, always an O’Hara student.” At the time, I was young and didn’t fully understand what he meant. Now, looking back, I realize he was absolutely right. It is the same feeling you carry being from Delco. You can leave, you can grow, you can build a life somewhere else, but a part of you is always tied to where you came from.
So yes, there are six Delaware County’s in the United States. They all have their own story, their own communities, and their own version of home. But there is only one Delco that people talk about with this much pride, this much personality, and this many lifelong memories.
And if you know, you know.
If you are thinking about buying or selling in Delco PA, working with someone who understands the area on a personal level matters. As a Delco Realtor and Delaware County Realtor, I help clients navigate this market every day, whether they are moving into the area or moving on to their next chapter. If you are considering making a move in Delaware County PA, you can learn more here and get in touch by clicking the link below:
Because when it comes to finding the right home or the right buyer in Delco PA, it is not just about real estate. It is about understanding what makes this place home. Thanks for reading!
