The area now known as the Township of Tinicum in Delaware County Pennsylvania was originally inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape Indians. The name ”Lenni-Lenape” loosely interpreted in their Algonquian language meant “the real people” or “the original people.”
The Township is located in the Southeast portion of the state and is approximately five square miles bordered by the Delaware River, Darby Creek, and what was Bow creek and the back channel around Hog Island.
In 1643 the Swedes under the leadership of Johan Printz (His likeness is in the Township seal) made Tinicum the Capital of the New Sweden Colony. Governor Printz ruled for ten years and then returned to Sweden. Leadership was then taken over by Governor Rising who was in control until the Dutch conquered the Swedes in 1655. The English conquered the Dutch in the 1680.
In 1780 Tinicum became a Township in the State of Pennsylvania. The petition contained twenty-three signers.
Tinicum went on to be an industrial area with the Westinghouse Electric Company and Lester Piano Works being the primary sources of employment for many years. Although both of these businesses have since closed, the properties which they occupied now have numerous smaller businesses that still employ many local residents.
Want a more in-depth history? Read our publication The History of Tinicum Township. A PDF of the book opens up in your browser.