The Agricultural History of Brandywine Park

• Itzel Duran Herrera, Environmental Science, University of Delaware

• Lu Ann DeCunzo, Anthropology, University of Delaware

This summer I researched the Brandywine State Park focusing on the agricultural history of the land and mapping out a map using GIS to demonstrate the agriculture development over the years. What I learned was the history of the settlers who first arrived in Delaware, the Lenape group, protected the land as they would with their families but as time went on and more settlers discovered the Brandywine Park, the land would eventually evolve. As new settlers discovered the resources, they began to create new trails, railroads, waterways, and developments while creating effects on agriculture suitability. Some effects include soil concentration, lack of vegetation, and eventually establishments naturally becoming destroyed. Although there are few establishments still standing today most have been overtaken by the natural landscape unsuitable for visitors to enter. In this research, I will be discussing how agricultural history affected the park that many visitors still visit today.