As former farmland first developed in the 1980s, Hockessin differs from most of northern Delaware, which is primarily made up of Wilmington and its suburbs. Located near Delaware’s northwestern border with Pennsylvania, the area may seem little more than a bedroom community at first glance, but that is far from accurate. The town has a long history, first becoming a village in 1688. Community life still comes together in the town center, basically a few streets of centuries-old architecture along Lancaster Pike. According to Veta McCarther, a Realtor with VRA Realty, Hockessin is just 5 miles from Kennett, Pennsylvania. Kennett calls itself the mushroom capital of the world because of the dozens of mushroom farms in the area. Several of those farms are located in Hockessin. “Hockessin is really a patchwork of communities, and all are a little different. People find it appealing because it is so close to Wilmington…and because the taxes in Delaware are so much lower than Pennsylvania taxes. It is just an ideal location,” McCarther says.
Settled in 1688, Hockessin is a small town with plenty of history!
Take a horseback ride through Carousel Park, just a short drive from North Star.
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Generous homes with room to grow
Hockessin’s unofficial town center is home to a library, restaurants and several businesses, but most of Hockessin is a maze of winding roads and heavily wooded, cul-de-sac-filled subdivisions connected by a few main thoroughfares. There are a mixture of home styles here, including colonials, brick Cape Cods, split-levels and stone ranch-style homes. Homes here tend to be large; it is rare to find one under 2,500 square-feet. Homebuyers can expect to pay between $450,000 and $1 million for a single-family home. For those seeking townhouses and condominiums, expect to pay between $280,000 and $750,000.
Large single-family homes in Hockessin often have colorful landscaping.
A white Cape Cod style home resting on a hill in Hockessin.
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A high school with a radio
Students may begin their education at North Star Elementary, which serves kindergarten through fifth grade. The school has a 15.1 student-teacher ratio and holds an A rating from Niche. Henry B. duPont Middle School serves grades sixth through eighth and also has a B rating. Thomas McKean High School has a C-plus rating from Niche and a 14-1 student-teacher ratio. The high school is home to WMHS radio, operated by the students.
Thomas McKean High School serves roughly 1,000 students from the surrounding neighborhoods.
H.B. DuPont Middle School has scored an overall A from Niche.
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Places to play and exercise
Hockessin has much to offer in the way of sports and recreation. The Piedmont Youth League plays on the baseball fields at the 30-acre Swift Park in the spring and the Hockessin Soccer Club uses the turf from spring to fall. Kids run free on the playground, where tots can be found riding the cheerful bouncing insects. Locals can hike through protected lands with stunning views of forested hills and rolling green pastures at Ashland Nature Center. The Hockessin Athletic Center is a 100,000-square-foot membership-based health facility offers dozens of exercise classes for all ages, an indoor five-pool complex, a café, childcare and an indoor waterpark among other things.
Those seeking adventure in Hockessin can head to White Clay Creek State Park for many activities
A gentleman scanning the horizon for hawks at Ashland Nature Center.
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Small businesses and trendy eateries
Lancaster Pike runs through the town center and is lined with thrift stores, small businesses and beauty salons. Pick up supplies at Wagner Hardware and prescriptions at Walgreens. Browse for new and used books or attend a book signing at Hockessin BookShelf. Pick up produce at Harvest Market, a natural foods store. For your chain grocery needs, head south to ACME Markets in nearby Lantana Square.
Dining options abound in and around Hockessin. At Redfire Grill and Steakhouse, locals can enjoy lunch on the covered patio or enjoy a candlelit steak dinner in the dining room. Fresh seafood is a staple at George and Sons’ Seafood. Those who enjoy ending the day with a Marguerita often head to the bar at Mexican Table, a little farther east on Lancaster Pike.
Drip Cafe is one of Hockessin's best brunch spots with great drinks and food.
Hockessin locals love to get their needs from the Harvest Market.
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Baseball and mushrooms
Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy horseback riding, hiking and fishing can head to Carousel Park, just 5 miles south of the town center. Golfers can play 18 holes at the nearby 400-acre Delcastle Recreational Park, which also offers trails, a playground and ball fields. Baseball fans might catch a Wilmington Blue Rocks Game at Frawley stadium, 9 miles east. For the dining, concerts and museums of the big city, Philadelphia is just 40 miles away. In September, fungi-loving locals head to Kennett for the annual Mushroom Festival. For nearly 40 years, the event has celebrated all things mushroom, including a variety of food offerings and lessons on its reputed mystical properties.
Hockessin locals love to get outside and take the pups for a walk.
Say hello to the cows after grabbing a treat at Woodside Farms Creamery in Hockessin.
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Getting there and back
Hockessin is 10 miles west of Wilmington, Delaware, straight down Lancaster Pike. The community is 40 miles southwest of Philadelphia via Interstate 95. Wilmington International Airport is 19 miles southeast. This is a car-dependent community.
Hockessin's Lancaster Pike offers plenty of restaurants and shops for residents to enjoy.
A couple waking through the gardens at the Mt. Cuba Center just outside of Hockessin.
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