No matter how much you try to hate your hometown, there’s always something that makes you smile and memories that flood back when you visit. Some people begrudgingly murmur the name of their hometown to outsiders, while others proudly shout it from the rooftops. Delaware County has a mixture of the two, but there are 15 surefire ways to identify someone from good ol’ DelCo.
1. If you’re from the West Delaware or Maquoketa Valley school districts, you kind of forget Colesburg and half of Edgewood are in Delaware County. Ed-Co’s high school building is technically right across county lines, though. Sorry, Vikings.
2. Half of your friends are only your friends because your parents (and grandparents) grew up together.
3. Someone in your household subscribes to the Delaware County Leader, Manchester Press, and Edgewood Reminder, adamantly refusing to let newspapers go out of style.
4. When someone who isn’t from Delaware County asks where you’re from, the easiest response is, “About halfway between Waterloo and Dubuque, along on highway 20.” And if you’re not from the county seat, “Do you know Manchester? I live, like, 10 minutes away.”
5. Even if you never go, you always know when the rodeo and fair are in town. Who are we kidding? Everyone goes to the fair.
6. You've seen the Maquoketa River flood downtown Manchester more than once.
7. You’re actively involved in the non-existent rivalry we all pretend is real between West Delaware and Maquoketa Valley.
8. Explaining your hometown to people outside of the county is always a bit awkward. “The biggest town in the area has 5,000 people and we all went crazy when they built a Kwik Star downtown. We don’t have Target or McDonald’s but we have Walmart and Dairy Queen!”
9. The only traffic jam you get stuck in is caused by a tractor or a rogue cow, usually on Old 20.
10. You know about 10 couples who were high school sweethearts who are either A) already married, or B) getting married in the next five years.
11. “Do you want to take Old 20 or New 20?”
12. The best part of summer vacation is getting to spend time on Lake Delhi – especially now that it’s back! And even if you don’t have a boat, you know someone who does.
13. You know at least half a dozen people who transferred between Maquoketa Valley and West Delaware and have asked each and every one of them, “Which school is better?”
14. If you transferred between Maquoketa Valley and West Delaware, at least half of your new classmates have asked, "Which school is better? It's us, isn't it?"
15. No matter how much you whine and groan about how awful and boring Delaware County is, you’re more than ready to come back for homecoming and cheer on your high school team, even if you know they don’t stand a chance.
Many people leave Delaware County to pursue a higher education or career elsewhere, but a part of us will always stay in DelCo.
