Dover: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Dover, the second largest city in the state, is a center of government, commerce, and industry for Central Delaware. Long involved in agricultural trade, the city is home to Kraft Foods and Procter & Gamble facilities. Kraft produces gelatin, puddings desserts, rice, and other food items at its 121-acre site. Procter & Gamble's Dover plant produces disposable wet wipe paper products at a 546,000 square foot site it acquired in 1996. Mrs. K's Salsa distributes home-style salsa in the area as well as shipping it nationwide. Since the early 1980s, the number of farms in the area has decreased including a drop from 767 in 1997 to 721 in 2002, according to the most recent Census of Agriculture report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Further, the number of acres under cultivation, which had remained relatively stable despite the loss of farms, also suffered a decline of about 10,000 acres from 1997 to 2002 (about 185,000 acres). Field crops in Kent County have a market value of approximately $54 million (from $62.6 million in 1997), and the once-growing broiler chicken industry witnessed a reduction in farms down from 133 in 1997 to 121 in 2002.

Playtex Apparel, Inc. and Playtex Products, Inc. manufacture and distribute intimate apparel as well as personal care items. Foods and food items produced in Dover include soft drinks, dairy products, corn, wheat, fruits and vegetables, and dry and canned goods. Major manufacturers include PPG Industries, which produces paint products; Eagle Group, a leading maker of metal files and storage cabinets and related items; Hirsch Industries, a leading manufacturer of consumer durables such as file cabinets; Reichold Inc., a producer of coatings, polyesters, emulsions, and adhesives; and Sunroc Corporation, which produces water coolers and drinking fountains. Refrigerators, brick, aerospace equipment, synthetic polymers and adhesives, and chemicals are also made in Dover.

Dover Air Force Base has a substantial economic impact on the local economy totaling more than $331 million per year. The base operates the largest aerial port facility on the East Coast, and serves as a focal point for military cargo movement to Europe and the Middle East. Its mechanized-computerized cargo handling arrangement makes possible the processing of up to 1,200 tons of cargo during a 24-hour period. The air base's military and civilian payroll of nearly $170 million is mostly pumped back into the local economy.

Tourism is a growing industry in Dover and Kent County. Because dollars often go a lot further in Dover due to the absence of sales tax, visitors from nearby states such as New York and New Jersey have been coming more often and staying longer in recent years. The addition of slot machines at the horse racing tracks in Dover, Harrington, and Wilmington brings in even more visitors. Ticket sales at the local NASCAR races, as well as related industries such as the restaurants and hotel/motel businesses, have a $47 million impact on Dover's economy.

Items and goods produced: foodstuffs, paper products, latex paint, beverages, home appliances, textiles, foundry works, and feed

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Companies

The Central Delaware Economic Development Council assists companies with basic information, building and site selection, and dealing with local and state government agencies.

State programs

The state of Delaware has no general sales tax, no unitary tax, no fixtures tax, and no personal property or inventory tax. The Small Business Administration Section 504 Program offers long-term fixed assets financing at fixed rates for projects with an average net income of less than $2.5 million, which typically involve 50 percent funding from a private lender, 40 percent from the Delaware Development Corporation, and 10 percent from the business. The Delaware Economic Development Office offers assistance in loan packaging by utilizing existing state and federal programs, including Industrial Revenue Bond Financing, various bridge grants and loans, and Small Business Administration Assistance.

The state of Delaware has created incentives for financial institutions through the passage of the Financial Center Development Act in 1981, by which banks in certain circumstances receive a declining rate of taxation; the Consumer Credit Bank Act in the early 1980s, which gives financial benefits to smaller banks locating operations in the state; and the International Banking Act.

Local programs

In 1999 Kent County implemented a development incentive fund and also provides a 10-year property tax incentive program available for targeted industries. The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce offers existing businesses consulting assistance and counseling services by retired executives.

Job training programs

The Delaware Economic Development Office custom designs and operates training programs on a shared or no-cost basis to be determined individually. Delaware Technical & Community College provides startup and upgrading programs tailored to the needs of new and existing industries through its IT Learning Center.

Development Projects

According to local analysts, Dover's recent population growth is caused by local business expansion and the growth of Dover Air Force Base. The construction of Kent County's Aeropark, an 115-acre industrial park adjacent to the base, began in the mid-1990s to house Sunroc, a water cooler manufacturer. The Aeropark project was greatly enhanced by the Air Force's granting of two military runways to accommodate Aeropark businesses. However, the civilian air terminal has been indefinitely shut down due to security concerns following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Retail firms in the area are also expanding, as evidenced by the addition in the 1990s of new shopping centers and megastores such as Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Lowe's. The Dover Mall underwent a $500,000 renovation that was completed in 1997 and includes over 100 different retail shops including Sears, Old Navy, and JC Penney. The proliferation of newer chain eateries is represented by Applebee's, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Boston Market restaurants. There also has been a mushrooming of housing developments in West Dover, including such complexes as the Carlisle Villages, the Greens, and The Village of Westover. The introduction of slot machine gambling in 1995 prompted the Dover Downs facility to undergo expansions that concluded in March 2004 increasing the size to 91,000 square feet with 2,500 machines.

Economic Development Information: Central Delaware Economic Development Council, 435 N. Dupont Hwy, PO Box 576, Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302) 678-0892; fax (302)678-0189; email [email protected]. Delaware Economic Development Office, 99 Kings Hwy., Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302) 739-4271; fax (302) 739-5749.

Commercial Shipping

Dover has four motor freight carriers and is served by Conrail. The Port of Wilmington, 40 miles north, provides direct access to I-495, and both Conrail and CSX railroads serve the terminal with rail sidings viable at most warehouse facilities at the port. In the late 1990s, the port expanded its docking area to handle both larger ships and a greater number of ships.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

Kent County boasts an available and trainable labor force and a pool of skilled labor with an excellent work ethic. Between 1970 and 2000, the county's labor force more than doubled while the number of new companies increased by more than 10 percent in a decade. In November 2004 the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan and nonprofit research organization, ranked Dover as fourth on their "Best Performing Cities: Small Cities List" which marked an improvement from the 29th position it occupied in 2003. The institute attributed this to the opening of a Wal-Mart distribution center, in addition to which the Dover Air Force Base's future appears stable. Also, a study by the American City Business Journals in 2004 named the Dover metropolitan area as the "Hottest Market in the East for Job Creation" and second in the nation only behind Las Vegas. In 2004 Delaware's economy marked its return to the Corporation for Enterprise Development's (CFED) ratings list that grades the best states in the nation on a variety of economic factors. Compared to other states, Delaware is among the top five in the nation, earning As and Bs in the major grading categories by the nationally-recognized economic research organization. For seven consecutive years prior to 2000, personal and business taxes were cut in Delaware.

The 1999 purchase by the city of Dover of 385-plus acres, known as the Garrison Oak Technology Park, provides Kent County with the potential for significant future job growth in manufacturing, research and development, and high-technology industry. In addition, the proposed High-Technology Business Incubator, to be located at Delaware State University, will provide additional future job and company growth potential although construction was delayed until 2005 due to economic concerns after a 2002 groundbreaking.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Dover metropolitan area labor force, 2003 annual averages.

Size of nonagricultural labor force: 58,700

Number of workers employed in . . .

construction and mining: 3,000

manufacturing: 4,900

trade, transportation, and utilities: 10,800

information: 700

financial activities: 2,600

professional and business services: 3,700

educational and health services: 7,100

leisure and hospitality: 6,700

other services: 2,200

government: 17,200

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $16.90

Unemployment rate: 2.7% (November 2004)

Cost of Living

As of 2000, Dover had a cost of living slightly above the national average, but the local tax burden is competitive with most other states.

The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors for the Dover area.

1999 (4th Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: $141,874

2000 (4th Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 104.2 (U.S. average = 100.0)

State income tax rate: Ranges from 2.2% to 5.95%

State sales tax rate: None

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales tax rate: None

Property tax rate: $0.41 per $100.00 of assessed fair market value

Economic Information: Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, 435 N. Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302) 678-0892; fax (302)678-0189; email [email protected].

Dover: Recreation

Sightseeing

A good place to begin exploring Dover is the Delaware State Visitor Center on Federal Street in the downtown area, which offers maps, brochures, and information. The center also features changing exhibits about the area. Many historic structures are clustered downtown around the Green, with buildings ranging from those built in Colonial times to the Victorian period. Once the site of early fairs and markets, today the Green hosts political rallies, public events, and civic celebrations. Although the building itself was demolished in 1830, visitors can still visit the Golden Fleece Tavern site where Delaware representatives ratified the U.S. Constitution.

At one end of the Green stands the Old State House, where the General Assembly met from 1777 until 1934, which was restored in 1976. That body now meets in the Legislative Hall, which displays paintings of former governors and war heroes. Nearby are the Colonel John Haslett Armory and the refurbished Richardson & Robbins canning plant, which now houses the Department of Natural Resources and other state offices. At Christ's Church there is a monument to Caesar Rodney (1729–84), signer of the Declaration of Independence, an esteemed patriot and local leader. Perhaps the quaintest building on the Green is the tiny Old Post Office, believed to be the city's first.

Thousands of people each year travel to the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base, which houses a growing collection of vintage planes and artifacts that reflect the evolution, history, and varied missions of military airlift and tanker aircraft. Special emphasis is placed on the history of Dover AFB since its beginnings in 1941. Housed in a restored World War II hangar that was once the home of the Army Air Force Rocket Test Center, the museum is a registered National Historic Site. There is a large outside airpark, a commemorative garden, and an excellent spot to watch airfield operations.

The history of 200 years of farm life is exhibited at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, which opened in 1980 and features 10,000 objects, and a re-created nineteenth-century village.

Nipper, the famous RCA Victor canine symbol, is the star of the Johnson Victrola Museum, which traces the history of the Victor Talking Machine Company, now known as RCA. The museum is a replica of a 1920s Victrola dealer's store.

Arts and Culture

Dover has a number of interesting historical and art museums. The Hall of Records, which houses the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, contains the Royal Charter that Charles II gave to the Duke of York for the land that is now Delaware. The Meeting House Galleries I (also known as the Delaware Archaeology Museum) and II (Delaware Museum of Small Town Life) offer an archaeological exhibit, especially focusing on Native Americans, and a Main Street exhibit on typical small town life.

Originally founded in 1904, the 600-seat Schwartz Center for the Arts is the home of the Dover Symphony and presents comedy shows, music, dance, live theater, and film festivals. Originally named The Dover Opera House, the building was renamed The Capital Theater in 1923. After decades of success, it fell into disrepair and the building was closed in 1982. Spurred on by a statewide fundraising effort, the dilapidated facility was revived in October 2001 after an $8.3 million restoration. In 2004 a community partnership was formed with nearby Wilmington's Grand Opera House, local universities, and other arts organizations to maximize usage of the center.

Theater and dance troupes are among the entertainment at the Delaware State University Education and Humanities Theatre along with an art gallery on the campus grounds. On a smaller scale, the Wesley College Chapel plays host to a wide array of performances.

The Sewell Biggs Museum of Art, which opened in 1993 and was founded by Sewell C. Biggs, features 14 galleries of decorative arts. The Dover Art League's Art Center offers classes, a series of exhibits, and a children's summer arts camp.

Arts and Culture Information: Greater Dover Arts Council, PO Box 475, Dover, DE 19903-0475; telephone (302)736-7050

Festivals and Holidays

A festive parade and dancing around the maypole mark the opening of the Old Dover Days, a celebration with music, arts and crafts, and a showcase of local homes and gardens that takes place over the first weekend in May. June brings a variety of music at the June Jam and the Annual Spring and Summer Performing Arts Series on the Green along with the African American Heritage Festival at Mirror Lake. A fireworks display at the Capitol Square tops off the annual Fourth of July Celebration, and later in the month the Delaware State Fair spotlights top-name music stars, auto racing, a rodeo, and demolition derbies. Fairgoers flock to the animal and agricultural exhibits and the gigantic midway offering amusement rides and name entertainment.

Each October the Dover Arts Council sponsors Capitol City Arts Tour and Pumpkin Glow. The month is further enlivened by the Governor's Annual Fall Festival at Woodburn. The holiday season is welcomed by the Delaware Hospice Festival of Trees, the Caroling on the Green event, and the Governor's Annual Christmas Open House at Woodburn. Downtown Dover's First Night New Year's Eve Celebration rings in the new year. February's Winter Festival takes place at the Delaware State University and March brings the Governor's Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

Sports for the Spectator

Dover does not field any teams in major league sports but it does offer the excitement of racing. Dover Downs is said to be the only facility in the country that accommodates both horse racing and auto racing, on two separate tracks. Each sport attracts nearly a third of a million fans to the track annually. The first weekend in June is the time for the MBNA 200 NASCAR Busch Series and MBNA 400 Nextel Cup Series. September brings the Dover 200 NASCAR Busch Series and MBNA 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup races. Live harness racing is presented during the winter months.

Sports for the Participant

Dover's Silver Lake, one of four lakes in Kent County, offers picnicking, boating, and fishing on 182 acres. The city has 25 other parks that provide a variety of features including historic monuments, children's playground equipment, and fishing piers. Short drives to Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean provide opportunities for swimming, water skiing, and other water-related activities. Public golf courses are available and tennis courts can be found at school and college grounds.

Schutte Park, one of the city's more recently opened parks, is located on the west side of town and takes up 57 acres to house its softball/baseball and hockey/soccer fields along with ample space for picnic pavilion rentals. The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking to expand next to this land with a site proposed in 2004 named "Westside Recreation Center" on more than 19,000 square feet and at a projected cost exceeding $2.3 million.

About 10 miles north of Dover is the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Smyrna where visitors can view migratory shorebirds and waterfowl via hiking and driving tours of the 16,000 acres of marshes, ponds, fields, and forest.

Sports Information: Parks and Recreation Office, PO Box 475, Dover, DE 19903-0475; telephone (302)736-7050; email [email protected]

Shopping and Dining

Tax-free shopping attracts people from all over the region to Dover's stores. Main Street Dover boasts many specialty shops located in unique buildings. Curbside horses and buggies from nearby Amish towns are a common site at the legendary Spence's Bazaar on New Street, where bargain hunters peruse everything from housewares to antique furniture. The Dover Mall, with nearly 100 stores, is anchored by Boscov's, Sears, Strawbridge's, and JC Penney.

With approximately 220 eateries, Kent County has claimed to have the highest amount of restaurants per capita in the United States. Dover and the surrounding area boast a wide variety of dining establishments, featuring everything from traditional Southern fare to foods of many nations including Thai, Chinese, Indian, Mongolian, Mexican, and Italian. Seafood places and casual American eateries also abound. A variety of fine dining can be found as well.

Visitor Information: Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 435 N. DuPont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302)734-1736 or (800)233-KENT; fax (302)734-0167.

Dover: History

Dover Becomes State Capital

At the time of the arrival of the first white men, the Lenape Indians lived along the banks of the Delaware River. The land where Dover now stands was part of a much larger grant called Zwaanendael (Valley of the Swans), where a group of Dutch patrons attempting to colonize it were killed by the local tribe in 1631. William Penn chartered Kent County, and Penn ordered his surveyors to lay out a town in 1683. In 1697, a court house was built at the site, but it was not until 1717 that Dover was plotted around a central green. By that time, most of the Native Americans had been forced to relocate elsewhere. Craftsmen and artisans such as cabinet makers, shoemakers, carpenters, tailors, and hatters shared the green with government officials and residents, as well as several inns and taverns. An Act of Assembly in 1742 provided for the establishment of a market square, and the 1751 census estimated the population of Kent County to be 1,320 families. In 1777, Dover became the capital of Delaware, largely because it was deemed safer from attack than the old capital, New Castle. Ten years later, in a Dover tavern, a Delaware convention ratified the Federal Constitution. Because it was the first to ratify, Delaware became known as "the first state" and enjoys the highest level of seniority at ceremonial events.

From the 1720s to the 1770s the construction of many fine homes took place throughout Dover and the surrounding countryside, many of which still survive today. During the Revolutionary War, the famous Delaware militia marched to join Washington's main army. It earned the nickname "Blue Hens Chickens" because of the spirited fighting cocks that Delaware men carried with them to war. The city of Dover was incorporated in 1829, and it has remained one of the nation's smallest state capitals.

During the eighteenth century, Kent County was an important agricultural area, providing grain, fruit, and vegetables to the Continental army. However, worn out by generations of poor farming practices, Kent County's soil became far less productive during the Federal period. By the time of the Civil War, the soil had recovered and agriculture became stronger than ever. Farmers introduced fertilizer and employed scientific methods to graft peach trees. The extension of the Delaware Railroad line to Dover in 1856 enabled Kent County farmers to reach a national market. Just the year before, two men by the names of Richardson and Roberts had opened a canning company to process local products, and other canneries soon followed. Eventually, canning became Dover and Kent County's principal industry.

During the Civil War period in the mid-nineteenth century, every possible attitude toward the Confederate conflict had adherents in Dover, from those who passionately supported the federal government, to those who were willing to fight to maintain the Southern way of life. Federal troops entered the area during the 1862 and 1864 elections to guard the polls from violence.

A Century of Development

During the post Civil-War era, Dover continued to grow, and electricity was introduced to the city. A building boom added the Post Office, a Roman Catholic Church, and a new Kent County Court House. The year 1873 marked the opening of the Wilmington Conference Academy, now Wesley College. The next year Thomas Coke, D.D., founded a new American religion and Dover became known as the "Cradle of Methodism in America."

In 1933, Capitol Square was laid out and the Legislative Hall became the home of the State's General Assembly. The creation of the capitol complex, paid for out of lottery funds, along with the expansion of City Plaza, lent a handsome setting for Dover's Georgian and Victorian architecture.

The first non-agricultural major industry to locate in Dover was International Latex, now known as Playtex, which opened its first operation in 1937 and continues to be an important employer in the community. Among the products assembled at this location, the biggest operation of all of Playtex's North American sites, are tampons, latex gloves, and disposable baby bottles and liners. Today Dover is a pleasant community; it was chosen by Employment Review magazine in May 2000 as one of the best small cities to live and work for job seekers looking for a much quieter lifestyle than can be found in the larger cities that usually appear on such lists. The magazine referred to Dover as a city that has "displayed incredible employment potential, a top-notch quality of life, outstanding educational standards, [and] opportunities for companies interested in relocating."

Dover has created a unique balance between maintaining its small-town feel and economic prosperity. This is illustrated by the continuing population and job growth despite the country's economic recession with Dover Air Force Base providing great stability as the top employer along with prominent manufacturers such as Playtex. NASCAR racing and slots gambling at Dover Downs make the area a hotbed of tourist activity while a 19,000 square foot recreation center was proposed in 2004 that will serve as a huge draw for residents and visitors.

Historical Information: Delaware Public Archives, 121 Duke of York St., Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302)744-5000; email [email protected].

Dover: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

In 1995 the Capital School District received one of 17 national Challenge Grants from the U.S. Department of Education in the programs's inaugural year. The $5.5 million grant spanned five years and supported technology at school and in the home. The district offers a computer training laboratory in each school, gifted programs in elementary and secondary schools, language arts and mathematics programs, and a school with multiage grouping. Dover High School offers a Technical Preparation program. The schools also conduct a curriculum in which members of the community serve as writing coaches. Handicapped children are served by the Kent County Community School.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Capital School District as of the 2003–2004 school year.

Total enrollment: 5,909

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 7

middle schools: 2

senior high schools: 1

other: 1 (Kent County Community School)

Student/teacher ratio: 15.2:1

Teacher salaries

average: $49,989

Funding per pupil: $8,922 (2003)

Public Schools Information: Superintendent's Office, Capital School District, 945 Forest St., Dover, DE 19904-3498; telephone (302)672-1500; fax (302)672-1714

Colleges and Universities

Delaware State University, with about 3,178 students, is the state's historically African American institution of higher learning. The university has three undergraduate schools, a college, and a graduate school offering master's degrees in seven areas. Founded in 1873, Wesley College has 30 bachelor's degree programs and four associates degrees along with four master's programs. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Bachelor's and master's degree programs are available through Wilmington College, which has sites at Dover Air Force Base and just north of Dover Downs. More than 42,500 students each year enroll in diversified technical associate degree programs, diploma programs, and certificate and special interest programs offered at the Delaware Technical and Community College's four locations. Three thousand students attend the Dover campus each semester; the other campuses are in Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington. The University of Delaware maintains a campus that includes an associates degree art program.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Dover Public Library, which underwent renovations in 2002 and 2003, has more than 97,000 volumes, 350 magazine subscriptions, and 12 newspapers and services about 500 patrons daily in its 17,500 square foot facility. The library also contains films, records, audiocassettes, and videocassettes. Services include reference materials and aids, book talks, and seasonal and children's programs.

The Dover Air Force Base maintains a library containing nearly 30,000 volumes focusing on the United States Air Force and various military topics, with special collections on Transition Assistance. Besides being the site of the Delaware Division of Libraries State Library, Dover is home to the state's Department of Transportation Library, the Delaware State Archives, and libraries of the Delaware Department of Public Instruction, the Delaware State House Museum, the Legislative Council Library, and the State's Law Library. The State Library of Delaware provides special services to people who are blind, physically handicapped, or homebound. Both local colleges and the local hospital also have library facilities.

Founded in the 1950s, the National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund (NCALL Research) provides housing counseling services along with studies on safe and sanitary rural housing, particularly for farm workers.

The St. Jones Estuarine Research Reserve offers group tours and free general admission to its environmental research center that features a variety of programs and nature trails along with canoe and boat trips as it strives to promote the general public's knowledge of estuaries.

Public Library Information: Dover Public Library, 45 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901-3526; telephone (302)736-7030; fax (302)736-5087

Research Information: Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Rd., Dover, DE 19901; telephone (302)739-3436

Dover: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 98,219 (Kent County)

1990: 110,993 (MSA)

2000: 126,697 (MSA)

Percent change, 1990–2000: 14.15%

U.S. rank in 2000: 225th

City Residents

1980: 23,507

1990: 27,630

2000: 32,135 (of which, 17,013 were females and 15,122 were males)

2003 estimate: 32,808

Percent change, 1990–2000: 16.30%

U.S. rank in 1990: 1,160 (State rank: 2nd)

U.S. rank in 2000: Not reported (State rank: 2nd)

Density: 1,435.0 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 17,655

Black or African American: 11,961

American Indian and Alaska Native: 146

Asian: 1,016

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 12

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 1,327

Other: 503

Percent of residents born in state: 38.8% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 2,146

Population 5 to 9 years old: 2,118

Population 10 to 14 years old: 2,133

Population 15 to 19 years old: 2,958

Population 20 to 24 years old: 3,259

Population 25 to 34 years old: 4,396

Population 35 to 44 years old: 4,564

Population 45 to 54 years old: 3,707

Population 55 to 59 years old: 1,432

Population 60 to 64 years old: 1,138

Population 65 to 74 years old: 2,143

Population 75 to 84 years old: 1,518

Population 85 years and older: 623

Median age: 32.9 years

Births (2002, Kent County)

Total number: 1,902

Deaths (2002, Kent County)

Total number: 1,113 (of which, 27 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $19,445

Median household income: $38,669

Total number of households: 12,460

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 1,272

$10,000 to $14,999: 984

$15,000 to $24,999: 1,836

$25,000 to $34,999: 1,550

$35,000 to $49,999: 2,191

$50,000 to $74,999: 2,319

$75,000 to $99,999: 1,203

$100,000 to $149,999: 829

$150,000 to $199,999: 192

$200,000 or more: 84

Percent of families below poverty level: 11.5% (45.4% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years; 1999)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 1,923