At these significant rural crossroads and within towns, commercial centers developed where visitors were drawn to the opportunity to buy, sell, and trade merchandise. Other buildings were constructed specifically for industry such as the processing of lumber, grain and produce, and other manufacturing work. In maritime communities, lighthouses and navigational aides guided activities on the water. The waterman s way of life brought local design into ships and other vessels, processing facilities, seasonal housing, and tools. Native Americans, African American, Amish, and Mennonite communities reflect other cultural groups in the county.
People continue to add new buildings and alter the landscape with additional infrastructure.
Earlier development saw towns with grid pattern streets and farms with large acreage. Commercial development of today may include large areas of impervious surface to accommodate parking. The mix of urban and rural spaces still exists but expanding modern development, both residential and commercial, is threatening many resources. From prehistoric archaeological sites to agricultural complexes, simple dwellings to elegant mansions, stores to factories, lighthouses to bridges, a variety of resources help document the heritage of Kent County. They also serve as an irreplaceable architectural amenity.