The city of Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware and is located where the Christina River and Brandywine Creek flow into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. Wilmington was named by Proprietor Thomas Penn for his friend Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, who was prime minister in the reign of George II of Great Britain. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 72,876.

Wilmington is located at 39°44'55" North, 75°33'6" West (39.748563, -75.551581)GR2. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 44.1 km˛ (17.0 mi˛). 28.1 km˛ (10.9 mi˛) of it is land and 16.0 km˛ (6.2 mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 36.25% water. The city is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of America's largest cities. Wilmington Train Station is one of the last stops on Philadelphia's SEPTA rail transportation system and is the immediately adjacent stop to Philadelphia 30th St Station on Amtrak.