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Bridgeville, Delaware

Bridgeville is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2020 census, the population is 2,568. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The town of Bridgeville is the oldest community in western Sussex County. Records of land transactions which were made in the first quarter of the 18th century suggest that a significant agricultural community already existed in the area by that period. A small group of houses had been built along the present Main Street by the turn of the 19th century; this settlement was known as "Bridge Branch" for the nearby stream, which was crossed by a bridge as early as 1730. By 1804, the community had grown sufficiently to merit the establishment of a post office.

The village was formally recognized in 1810, when an Act of the Assembly was passed to establish its name as "Bridgeville". Early 19th century industries included a water-powered mill, tanyard, charcoal furnace, and fruit-drying business. The growth of the town accelerated greatly upon the arrival of the Delaware Railroad in Bridgeville in 1856. The town was subsequently laid out for development by William Cannon (1809-1865).

Bridgeville's population was 613 in 1900.

Bridgeville was named for a bridge that was built in 1730 that was located over a tributary of the Nanticoke River.

The Bridgeville Historic District, Bridgeville Public Library, Eratt House, Old Bridgeville Fire House, Ricards House-Linden Hall, Scott's Store, Sudler House, and Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Transportation
Roads are the main means of transport to and from Bridgeville. U.S. Route 13 (Sussex Highway) is the primary north-south highway serving the town, connecting northward to Dover and southward to Salisbury.

Delaware Route 404 is the main east-west highway serving Bridgeville, heading east towards Georgetown and west towards Maryland. The two roads are concurrent for part of their route through Bridgeville as they both bypass the center of town to the north and east. U.S. Route 13 Business and Delaware Route 404 Business follow their respective original alignments through the center of town.

DART First State operates the Route 212 bus that connects Bridgeville with Delmar and Georgetown. The Delmarva Central Railroad's Delmarva Subdivision line passes north-south through Bridgeville.

Geography
Bridgeville is located at 38.7425°N, -75.60444°W (38.7426137, –75.6043714).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, all of which is land.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 1,436 people, 570 households, and 381 families living in the town. The population density was 1,768.6 PD/sqmi. There were 636 housing units at an average density of 783.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 55.85% White, 31.55% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 8.91% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.64%.

Of the 570 households 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.4% of households were one person and 12.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median household income was $26,579 and the median family income was $30,083. Males had a median income of $25,536 versus $20,298 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,965. About 24.9% of families and 27.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.5% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Most of Bridgeville is situated in the Woodbridge School District, while a small portion is in the Seaford School District. The Woodbridge district's high school is Woodbridge High School and the Seaford district's high school is Seaford Senior High School.

Arts and culture
Bridgeville is home to the Apple Scrapple Festival and was formerly home to the World Championship Punkin Chunkin.

Notable people

 * Thurman Adams, Jr., Democratic member of the Delaware Senate; born in Bridgeville
 * William F. Allen, Democratic member of the Delaware General Assembly and the United States House of Representatives; born in Bridgeville
 * Philip L. Cannon, first Lieutenant Governor of Delaware (1901–1905) and son of William Cannon; born in Bridgeville
 * William Cannon, served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware during much of the Civil War; born in Bridgeville
 * Peter F. Causey, Governor of Delaware from 1855 to 1859
 * Edward Willis Redfield, impressionist painter

title: Bridgeville, Delaware


text:
Dagsboro, Delaware

Dagsboro is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 805 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Dagsboro, incorporated in the early 1900s, is a town that is energized in summer by Delaware Route 26 beach traffic. The town, in the Indian River School District, was founded in 1747 and has been known as Blackfoot Town, Dagsbury and Dagsborough. It was named for John Dagworthy (1721–1784), a brigadier general of the Sussex County Militia during the American Revolutionary War.

Geography
Dagsboro is located at 38.54917°N, -75.24583°W (38.5492801, –75.2457443).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 sqmi, all land.

Transportation
Roads are the main method of travel to and from Dagsboro, and three state highways serve the town. U.S. Route 113 is the most significant of these, passing along the west edge of town on a north-south alignment. It connects northward to Georgetown and southward to Maryland. Delaware Route 20 and Delaware Route 26 also traverse the town, intersecting along Main Street in the center of town. DE 20 follows a west-northwest to east-southeast alignment, while DE 26 follows a more directly east-west alignment. Both roads connect to the coast as they head east, with DE 20 heading towards Fenwick Island and DE 26 traveling to Bethany Beach. The Delmarva Central Railroad's Dagsboro Industrial Track line passes north-south through Dagsboro.

Demographics
At the 2010 census there were 805 people, 364 households, and 222 families living in the town. The population density was 409.5 PD/sqmi. There were 364 housing units at an average density of 195.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 85.6% White, 6.6% African American, 1% from American Indian, 4.2% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.7%.

Of the 364 households 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.8% of households were one person and 28.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 22.4% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 15% 65 or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median household income was $49,167 and the median family income was $52.250. Males had a median income of $40,662 versus $32,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,949. About 10.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Landmarks
Built in 1755 and named for Prince George (later King George III), Prince George's Chapel is one of the oldest churches in the United States as well as one of the oldest buildings in Dagsboro. It became part of the Church of England's Worcester Parish on June 30, 1757, when the area was still part of Maryland. General Dagworthy, who died in 1829, is buried in the chapel's cemetery. Major renovations came in 1967 with the property's purchase by the State of Delaware. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Clayton Theatre opened in Dagsboro on February 2, 1949, with One Touch of Venus, a film featuring Ava Gardner, on its single screen. The theater was named for John M. Clayton, a former United States senator and Secretary of State. In the 1950s, a soda fountain operated as Clayton Cut Rate Luncheonette in a storefront adjoining the theater. Although the Clayton now uses digital projection equipment, it continues doing business as Delaware's last single-screen theater.

Dagsboro is the site of a new botanic garden, the Delaware Botanic Gardens, featuring a meadow designed by internationally known garden designer Piet Oudolf, which opened to the public in 2020.

Education
Dagsboro is in the Indian River School District.

Notable people

 * John M. Clayton, Senator and U. S. Secretary of State
 * John Dagworthy, a military leader during the American Revolutionary War
 * Alfred Wells, former US Congressman
 * William H. Wells, former United States Senator and Secretary of State

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Dagsboro, Delaware


text:
Delmar, Delaware

Delmar is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States, on the Maryland border along the Transpeninsular Line. Its motto is "The Little Town Too Big for One State." The population was 1,597 at the 2010 census, an increase of 13.5% over the previous decade. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area and a suburb of Salisbury, MD. When added with Delmar, Maryland, the total population of the town was 4,600 at the 2010 Census.

History
The Town of Delmar was founded in October 1859 with the extension of the Delaware Railroad to the southern boundary of Delaware. The Transpeninsular Line was responsible for the founding of this unique bi-state town because the Charter of the Delaware Railroad Company permitted only the building of a railroad within the State of Delaware and the charter of the corresponding railroad company in Maryland permitted only the laying of railroad track within the State of Maryland. Thus, in 1859, the two respective railroads met and the town of Delmar was born. The name is a portmanteau of the states whose border this railroad center straddles - Delaware and Maryland.

The Town of Delmar grew slowly until 1884 when the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad (in 1921 acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad) completed a railroad from Pocomoke City, Maryland to Cape Charles, Virginia and also established a ferry service across the Chesapeake Bay between Cape Charles and Norfolk, Virginia. These new developments immediately made the Delmarva Peninsula an important link between the north and south. The Town of Delmar, being the midway town of the Delmarva Peninsula and already a railroad terminal, was the point for trains to change crews and locomotives and also a center for maintenance of the rolling equipment. As a result of these developments, a tremendous influx of experienced railroad men moved into the community and considerable extra employment was furnished for local townspeople. During this accelerated rapid growth period, Delmar became a "boom town". New dwelling units sprang up all over town and new businesses were established to meet the demands of its growing population. By 1889, the population of the Town of Delmar had increased to 680 and was still growing.

In 1888, the Town of Delmar, Maryland was granted a charter by the General Assembly of Maryland. An examination of this charter and the laws of Maryland fails to reveal any mention of the twin town of Delmar, Delaware. Therefore, it could be assumed that up until this time there was very little cooperation between halves of the Town of Delmar. The Town of Delmar was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1892 and again in 1901. The first fire destroyed everything in its path over a ten-acre (40,000 m2) area and the second major fire was almost as destructive. In each instance, the Town of Delmar was rebuilt and continued as a flourishing town. The first indication of any cooperation between Delmar, Maryland and Delmar, Delaware came in 1924 when surveys were conducted for a possible sewerage system for the entire town of Delmar. The construction of the sewerage system in 1927 was considered the first joint project between the two towns in that the law provided that both towns would maintain the outfall sewer with Maryland paying the expenses and billing the Delaware side one-half of all costs.

The biggest push towards abolishing the jurisdictional, legal effects of the state line came when the Lions Club voted to sponsor a project for the consolidation of the two school systems in the town. Since the town was founded, each side had its own individual school with the one in Delaware operating under the local school board and the Maryland school operating under the Wicomico County Board of Education. This very controversial issue was bitterly contested for over three years and finally in 1949, this dream became a reality when the junior and senior high schools were consolidated into one school using the Delaware facilities. Four years later the fourth, fifth and sixth grades were also consolidated with classes in the Maryland school. This controversial decision represented one of the greatest steps forward educationally for the town of Delmar and also towards eliminating the jurisdictional barrier between the two parts of town.

The Dickerson Potato House, Highball Signal, and West Potato House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 sqmi, all land.

Transportation
The main transportation method in and out of Delmar is by road. U.S. Route 13 (Sussex Highway) is the primary highway serving the town, connecting northwards towards Dover and southwards towards Salisbury. Route 54 also traverses the south edge of town, following an east-west alignment on State Street along the state border and town line with neighboring Delmar, Maryland. DART First State operates the Route 212 bus that connects Delmar to Georgetown via Laurel, Seaford, and Bridgeville. The Delmarva Central Railroad's Delmarva Subdivision line passes north-south through Delmar.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,597 people living in the town and 606 households. The racial makeup of the town was 75.64% White, 10.58% African American, 0% Native American, 1% Asian, 1.37% from other races, and 8.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.95% of the population.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.

The median income for employed civilians over 16 in the town was $25,214, and the median income for a family was $35,500. Males had a median income of $27,375 versus $24,226 for females. About 327 families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line.

Education
Delmar is within the Delmar School District. It operates Delmar Middle School and Delmar Senior High School. Students attend Delmar Elementary School in Delmar, Maryland as per an agreement with the Wicomico County Public Schools.

Notable people

 * William Alland, actor, Citizen Kane; also a producer and screenwriter
 * Alex Ellis, American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League
 * Lauren Witzke, far-right conspiracy theorist and Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2020

title: Delmar, Delaware


text:
Dewey Beach, Delaware

Dewey Beach is an incorporated coastal town in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 341, an increase of 13.3% over the previous decade. It is part of the rapidly growing Cape Region and lies within the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2011, the NRDC awarded Dewey Beach with a 5-Star rating in water quality. This award was given only to 12 other locations, one being neighboring Rehoboth Beach. Out of the 30 states with coastline, the Delaware Beaches ranked number 1 in water quality in 2011.

History
In 1868, "Rehoboth City" first appeared on a map of Lewes Rehoboth Hundred in Beer's Atlas of Delaware. It is believed that the name was changed to Dewey Beach following the 1898 Battle of Manilla (Spanish–American War) when Admiral George Dewey became a national hero. Dewey Beach was incorporated in 1981.

The Rehoboth Beach Life-Saving Station (RBLSS), located at the end of Dagsworthy Street, was commissioned in 1878. It became the Rehoboth Beach Coast Guard Station (RBCGS) in 1915. In 1921 citizens objected to the closing of the station, and it was recommissioned in 1926. The station was decommissioned in 1937 and abandoned in 1946. The original structure was moved to Lewes and became a residence. A replica of the station was built in 1988 which stands today.

Tourism
Dewey Beach lies on a small strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay and is about one mile long and two blocks wide. Despite its small size and low year-round population of about 300, it is not uncommon for 30,000 to descend upon the town during summer weekends. Numerous bars and restaurants line Coastal Highway (Delaware Route 1), the town's main street.

While it has a reputation as a magnet for partygoers in the summer months, Dewey Beach is also a popular family resort spot, particularly because of its wide, sandy beaches, and many hotels, cottages, and condominiums.

As is the case with most beach areas, Dewey Beach quiets down in the off season.

The town hosts the Dewey Beach Music Conference during the last weekend of September. This event began in 2002 and has been a huge draw for unsigned bands from all over the country.

Another popular Dewey Beach event, which occurs every Columbus Day weekend in October, is Greyhounds Reach The Beach, where thousands of rescued greyhounds and their owners congregate.

Also, the town is the location of the annual East Coast Skimboarding Championships, in mid-August.

In June, recently graduated high school seniors come to Dewey Beach for Senior Week.

Geography
Dewey Beach is located at 38.69278°N, -75.07472°W (38.6928899, –75.0746249).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 sqmi, all land.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dewey Beach has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Transportation
Delaware Route 1 (Coastal Highway) serves as the main north-south road in Dewey Beach, heading south along the coast and across the Indian River Inlet Bridge toward Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, and Ocean City, Maryland and turning northwest to provide access from inland points. Delaware Route 1A (King Charles Avenue) begins at DE 1 in Dewey Beach and heads north into Rehoboth Beach. Between May 15 and September 15, all parking in Dewey Beach is regulated by parking meters or parking permits.

DART First State provides bus service to Dewey Beach in the summer months along Beach Bus Route 208, which heads north to the Rehoboth Beach Park and Ride and the Lewes Transit Center Park and Ride near Lewes and south to the 144th Street Transit Center in Ocean City, Maryland to connect to Ocean City Transportation's Coastal Highway Beach Bus. The route provides connections to other Beach Bus routes and the Route 305 bus from Wilmington at the park and ride lots in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.

The Jolly Trolley is a private shuttle service that provides frequent transport in Dewey Beach and to neighboring Rehoboth Beach. The service operates daily through the summer tourist season between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day and on weekends in the shoulder season before Memorial Day and after Labor Day.

BestBus offers intercity bus service to Dewey Beach from Washington Union Station and Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., and 34th Street in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City on weekends in the summer months.

Cape Water Tours & Taxi operates a round-trip water taxi service to Dewey Beach from Lewes via the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal on Friday evenings in the summer months, offering access to dining and nightlife in Dewey Beach.

Utilities
Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon, provides electricity to Dewey Beach. Sussex County operates the Dewey Beach Water District, which provides water service to the town, and the Dewey Beach Sanitary Sewer District, which provides sewer service to the town. Trash and recycling collection in Dewey Bewch is provided under contract by Waste Industries.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 301 people, 161 households, and 83 families residing in the town. The population density was 876.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,369 housing units at an average density of 3,986.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.69% White, 0.33% African American, 0.33% Native American, 3.65% Asian, 2.66% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.32% of the population.

There were 161 households, out of which 9.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.4% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.87 and the average family size was 2.45.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 8.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 34.6% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $79,471, and the median income for a family was $97,505. Males had a median income of $56,563 versus $39,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was $51,958. None of the families and 1.9% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteen and 5.8% of those over 64.

Government
Dewey Beach is governed by a Town Council and Mayor. , the town's mayor is Bill Stevens

The Town has a full-time police force, whose command staff consists of the Chief of Police and a Lieutenant (assistant chief of police). The department has no "special units" as do some large agencies, but it does have two officers, a sergeant and a corporal, who are qualified as motorcycle officers. In addition, the department is one of only a few in the state to have a full-time communications center (dispatch).

During high-activity periods, the department is augmented by additional police officers who are commissioned for those times, such as the summer. Those officers are fully certified police officers who have the same police authority as year-round officers.

In July 2017, a 73-page lawsuit, which has Town Manager Marc Applebaum, Dewey Beach mayor Dale H. Cooke and commissioners, and Town Solicitor Frederick Townsend listed as defendants, accuses Applebaum of racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, hostile work environment, improper interference with the police department, improper interference with building inspector, improper interference with the beach patrol and improper interference with the Alderman Court.

During the investigation, Marc Appelbaum remained on staff. In August 2017, several bags were shredded and left in dumpsters at locations away from the town hall. Even though several of the accusations were found true and staff intimidation was prevalent, the Town of Dewey Beach separated with Marc Appelbaum. Marc Appelbaum ended up getting $100,000 plus the rest of his salary he would have earned up to March 11, 2018.

Education
Dewey Beach is in the Cape Henlopen School District. It is zoned to Rehoboth Elementary School. Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes is the sole comprehensive high school of the district.

title: Dewey Beach, Delaware


text:
Ellendale, Delaware

Ellendale is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 487 at the 2020 census, an increase of 27.8% since the 2010 census, and a 48.9% increase since the year 2000. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Ellendale is the "Gateway to Delaware's Resort Beaches" because it is the town located on U.S. Route 113, the resort area's westernmost border, and Delaware Route 16, the resort area's northernmost border with the eastern border being the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean and the southern border being the state line with Maryland.

Early history
Ellendale started as a forest and swamp on the divide between the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. The swamp was the hunting grounds of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe until they were driven out by the Lenape tribe in the Battle Green near Chestnut Ridge, a hill on Ellendale's north side. The Lenape Trace, a main thoroughfare of a trail, passed through Ellendale as a Native American trade route from Pocomoke City, Maryland to Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. With the arrival of Europeans, the Ellendale area was a province of fur traders and hunters. Early in the 18th century, farming and timbering pushed back the swamp that once covered the area. The tract of land on which the town would later be built was originally deeded in 1740 as "Bennett's Pleasure".

The Black Camp Insurrection
The "Nanticoke Swamp", as the Ellendale Swamp was then called, was depicted as a place where criminals routinely hid from the law in the depositions of a 1759 murder that occurred. One of the main causes being the issue of jurisdiction as both Maryland and Delaware were in a boundary dispute and claimed the area. The Ellendale Swamp became a refuge for Loyalists at the time of the 1780 Black Camp Insurrection during the American Revolution. Harold Hancock describes the insurrection in his History of Sussex County: "With the removal of the British from Philadelphia in the spring of 1778, the number of enemy vessels in Delaware Bay decreased, and the activities of Sussex County Tories diminished. Only one other insurrection in Sussex County occurred – the famous Black Camp Rebellion of 1780. The insurrectionists were mainly from Cedar Creek and Slaughter Neck Hundred, and their headquarters were in a swamp about six miles (10 km) north of Georgetown. Their leaders, Bartholomew Banynum (Banum) and William Dutton, had about 400 men formed in "Associations" or militia companies. An investigator reported the causes as follows: ‘Some of these ignorant people were for opposing all law, others for establishing what they called the King’s Laws – and others for opposing the payment of taxes – but generally seem to have believed that all to the southward of Chesapeake Bay had laid down their arms and submitted to the King’s Laws – and that they should very easy make Sussex County do the same.’

Militia from Kent County dispersed the insurrectionists. Some were sent off to serve in the Continental Army, and thirty-seven were indicted for treason in the State Supreme Court. Eight were ordered to be hanged ‘by the neck but not till you be dead, for then your bowels must be taken out and burnt before your face, then your head must be severed from your body, and your body divided into four Quarters, and these must be at the disposal of the Supreme Authority in the State. Fortunately this sentence which was customary for treason was not carried out, and all the participants were pardoned by the General Assembly on November 4, 1780."

There were two small villages in the area of Ellendale's current location by 1790. They were Fleatown (or Federalsburg) to the north, and New Market to the east, both of which later became ghost towns with the establishment of Ellendale.

19th century
In the Federal era, the Old State Road was built to connect the newly founded county seat of Georgetown with the state capital of Dover. With emancipation, African Americans took up free lives in the area and the railroads came after the American Civil War. Ellendale was founded in the early 19th century and surveyed in 1866–1867. Ellendale was first settled near the Morris Tavern Crossroads, near the current Old State Road and Main Street intersection, by a handful of families. The town is rumored to be named after either the daughter of Whig Republican Alfred Short, a state legislator, the wife of Dr. John S. Prettyman who laid out the town, or the daughter of Mr. Thomas William Dale, the chief engineer of the railroad survey team. Ellendale's current site was established in 1866 when the families moved east to settle around the Junction and Breakwater Railroad Depot. On July 16, 1873, the Ellendale Methodist Episcopal Church purchased land to erect a church, parsonage, and school. Ellendale's economy rapidly advanced as the RJ Clendaniel Sawmill, the Jester & Reed Canning Company, a brick yard, several peach evaporating and canning companies, basket factory, the Phillip J Ritter Ketchup Company, Ellendale Excelsior Company, and button factory opened in the town. The railroad was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1905 and that same year the town was formally incorporated. In February 1895, the Queen Anne's Railroad was authorized by the Delaware legislature to extend its rail lines across the state to Lewes. The goal of the company was to establish a direct link between Baltimore and Delaware's coastal resorts. This additional rail line passed through Ellendale and provided passenger, freight, and mail services as far west as Queenstown, Maryland (with links to Baltimore via steamship) and east to Rehoboth Beach (with links to Cape May, New Jersey via steamship) with the first passenger trains passing through in 1897. A post office was erected, with a large second floor room that was used by the Independent Order of Red Men, a break off group of the Improved Order of Red Men that was established in the town, at the site of what is now the Town Hall.

20th Century to Present
In 1918, the DuPont Highway (now known as DuPont Boulevard and U.S. 113) was completed. While this was seen as a great boon to the town, it would eventually lead to the decline of the railroad and the town's economy, leading to the closing of all the towns factories. In May 1920, after several fires in the town, the Town Council met to establish a fire department to protect the citizens and businesses of Ellendale and surrounding communities. The newly formed fire department purchased a Ford Model T fire truck for $1400 from the Viscose Silk Company in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. The formation of a police department followed soon after with the town of Ellendale hiring its first police officer, William Bennett, in June 1921.

New schools were built in the 1920s. In 1920, the Ellendale School 125 was built in the International style on Main Street on the towns west side, and the Ellendale Colored School 195C, was built between 1922 and 1925 on North Old State Road after funding was provided by the DuPont family. By the middle of the 1920s, with profits declining and competition for its other lines increasing, the Pennsylvania Railroad decided to abandon a large portion of the railway. The Denton, Maryland to Lewes section was purchased by the Maryland & Delaware Coast Railway, but with the decline of the locomotive as vehicle traffic increased, the line was again scheduled to be abandoned in 1931. The state of Delaware eventually purchased the portion of the line from Ellendale to Milton to maintain a freight link, making this section the last operable section of one that once spanned over 100 mi. Over sixty residents of Ellendale served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.

In 1927 the Lincoln and Ellendale Electric Company was established bringing electricity to the residents of the town for the first time. Also in 1927 the Ellendale State Forest was established by the State Highway Department. When it was turned over to the State Forestry Department in 1932, it totalled 40 acre, today it has been expanded and combined with the Redden State Forest to well over 5000 acre. The Appenzeller Tract in Ellendale, a small 45 acre section, was a gift to the state from the DuPont family. A large woods fire between Ellendale, Georgetown, and Milton burned over 38000 acre in 1930 and forced the General Assembly to pass a series of forest protection laws establishing a fire control system which included building a 120 ft fire tower just outside Ellendale to alert people of fires.

In the 1950s, numerous school districts in Kent and Sussex Counties, including Ellendale, continued to fight against desegregation after the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education. The protests which begin at the Milford School District, eventually bringing about a lawsuit that went to the Delaware Supreme Court which ruled that while segregation was unconstitutional, it did not require immediate desegregation. This was further bolstered by the findings of Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County. Bryant Bowles, President of the National Association for the Advancement of White People led several anti-desegregation rallies and boycotts in the area, including Ellendale, that resulted in decreased attendance at the schools. Ellendale School 125 and Ellendale Colored School 195C reached an agreement on consolidation, but attorney Louis L. Redding complained to the Department of Public Instruction that black teachers were being subjected to scrutiny that their white counterparts were not. After desegregation, all students were educated at Ellendale School 125.

The Ellendale Town Council reorganized a police department in the 1970s. Due to fiscal constraints, the department was shut down again in the 1980s. After being restarted in the 1990s, the economic crash that started with the housing crisis caused Congress to cut funding to community policing grants and the town was forced to cut its department down to one part-time officer.

On September 27, 2008, the town of Ellendale passed its first annexation vote, 69 for to 37 against, since the town was incorporated in 1905. The 5 acre parcel at the corner of Main Street and South Old State Road will be used for commercial purposes.

The Ellendale State Forest Picnic Facility and Teddy's Tavern are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Ellendale is located at 38.80706°N, -75.4227°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.6 km2), all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2020 there were 487 people, an increase of 27.8% from the year 2010. The population density was 1145.9 PD/sqmi. There were 216 housing units at an average density of 508.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 53.2% White, 28.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0% from Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 6.1% from other races, and 9.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population.

There were 205 households, out of which 50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a male householder with no spouse present, 41.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.1% were non-families. 7.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.66 and the average family size was 3.78.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 34, 19.9% from 35 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,268,a 49% increase from 2010, and the mean income was $62,238. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $17,614 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,831. About 7.2% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.3% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.

, the Ellendale region's population (for the entire zip code) was 2,522 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 13.1%. The median home cost in the Ellendale region is $185,000. Home appreciation the last year has been -2.5%. Compared to the rest of the country, Ellendale's cost of living is 14.4% lower than the U.S. average. The public schools serving the Ellendale region spend $7,073 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 18 students per teacher in the Ellendale region. The unemployment rate in the Ellendale region is 2.7% (U.S. avg. is 4.6%). Recent job growth is positive as Ellendale region jobs have shown an increase of 0.6%. The chart below shows the cost of living for the Ellendale regions versus the average cost of living for the rest of the United States.

Town government
Ellendale's government is a five-person town council with each member elected to a two-year term and no term limits. The town council meets the first Tuesday in each month. In 2022 the Ellendale Town Council is led by President Aaron Moore, Vice President Tamara M. Skis, Treasurer Lisa Workman, Secretary Kim Koukaras, and Tax Collector Kimberly Hughes.

Town planning and zoning is done by the five person Planning Commission with appeals of decisions and requests for exemptions going before the three person Board of Adjustment. There is also a Code Enforcement Officer for the town.

Public safety
The Ellendale Police Department is a small police force led by Chief Bruce Von Goerres that is responsible for policing in the town limits.

The Ellendale Fire Co. is a forty plus member volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS agency led by Fire Chief Andy Hamilton. The fire company is the primary provider of these services to the town of Ellendale and the surrounding areas with a local district of approximately 60 sqmi.

Crime
Ellendale is one of the safest municipalities in the state of Delaware based on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2014 Uniform Crime Reports, with only four total crimes reported in the town, the fewest of any of the 35 Delaware municipalities reporting to the FBI.

Economy
Ellendale, like many towns established in the mid-19th century, had a railroad based economy. Ellendale was centered around a junction of two rail lines. The north–south rail line is still in operation today as a freight line, operated by Delmarva Central Railroad and known as the Indian River Subdivision, although passenger operations have ceased. This secondary is designated as the area running from Harrington, Delaware south to the NRG Energy power plant. The main freight hauled on the track is coal for the NRG power plant located near Millsboro, Delaware. Other freight includes a mix of fertilizer, grain, paper, food products, chemicals, and stone. The Delmarva Central Railroad also operates another rail line in Ellendale, the Milton Branch of the former Queen Anne's Railroad, which leaves the Indian River Subdivision at Willow Street and heads east to Milton, Delaware. This line, called the Milton Industrial Track, is 6.8 mi from interchange to endpoint, and is currently used to store covered hoppers for Perdue and for other railcar owners. Plans are currently underway for this line to reopen with more operations to a propane tank farm being constructed in Milton.

The largest employer in Ellendale is the Ellendale Recovery Response Center, a health facility for adults with mental health or substance abuse issues. This facility is operated in the former Ellendale public school and took the place of the Kent/Sussex Detoxification Center formerly operated by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Other businesses include a machine shop, a nonprofit mental health medical facility, Philadelphia Bible College, and Perdue Farms research laboratory.

Transportation
Delaware Route 16 is the only highway directly serving Ellendale, running east–west along Main Street through the town. Also known as Beach Highway, DE 16 is a main thoroughfare to Delaware's resort beaches, connecting Ellendale with Milton to the east and Greenwood to the west. U.S. Route 113 bypasses Ellendale to the west, connecting the town with Milford to the north and Georgetown to the south via DE 16. Also known as DuPont Boulevard, US 113's opening allowed greater access to the town. An anonymous writer in the now extinct Sunday Star newspaper wrote of the Ellendale area " ...formerly one of the worst spots in the State for the traveler, where during the winter months, horses and men and automobiles became so deeply mired that they were continually having to be rescued." The writer went on to express that the area had become one of the most beautiful spots on the East Coast of the United States that was compared by tourists to part of Yellowstone National Park.

DART First State serves Ellendale on the inter-county Route 303, which links it to Dover and Georgetown. The Route 303 connects with DART's Kent County bus routes and the inter-county Route 301 to Wilmington and Route 302 to Newark in Dover and DART's Sussex County bus routes in Georgetown with connections to Laurel, Millsboro, and Rehoboth Beach.

Utilities
Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon, provides electricity to Ellendale. Chesapeake Utilities provides natural gas to the town. Water in Ellendale is provided by individual wells except for the Ingram Village development, which receives water from Artesian Water Company, a subsidiary of Artesian Resources. Sussex County operates the Ellendale Sanitary Sewer District, which provides sewer service to the town. Trash and recycling collection in Ellendale is provided by private haulers.

Education
Ellendale is in the Milford School District.

Places of interest
The town of Ellendale has several places of interest to visitors. Cedar Bugs Pub, the former Teddy's Tavern, located on DuPont Boulevard 0.6 mi north of Main Street in Ellendale is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ellendale State Forest Picnic Facility located on DuPont Boulevard 0.5 mi south of Main Street in Ellendale is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the last of its kind left in existence. Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work relief program for young men established in March 1933 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first hundred days in office, part of the New Deal. The Ellendale State Forest was recently merged with the Redden State Forest to create the largest state forest in Delaware. This state forest includes 44 mi of trails frequently used for hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, and bird watching. The large forests are also used every year for deer and small game hunting. The Headquarters Tract on East Redden Road includes a limited number of primitive camping sites, a catch-and-release fishing pond, and a natural resource education facility, formerly a historic carriage house, which opened in 2000, and the historic Redden Lodge, renovated in 1996, which is open to the public for camping at a small charge. The Redden/Ellendale Forest Legacy Area is one of four legacy areas in the State of Delaware. Approved in 1998, it is one of the areas with the highest concentration of forests in the state. The forests have their share of ghost tales as well. Tales include that of a headless figure that has been seen walking along the highway, US 113, that runs through the park between Ellendale and Georgetown. No one knows who the ghost is, but there is high rate of accidents reported along this road by the police. When driving along this stretch of US 113, you may notice the traffic fatality signs posted where numerous people have been killed by drunk drivers. It is also reported that in a deserted section of the forest lies a ranger's house that is supposedly haunted by a woman who died within the house.

The War Memorial for soldiers from Ellendale killed in the line of duty in the armed forces is located on McCaulley Avenue between Short's Alley and Willow Street next to the Town Hall/Police Department and Town Park and one block from the Ellendale Town Square located at Main Street and McCaulley Avenue.

There are several historical markers in Ellendale. The Cedar Creek Hundred Historical Marker and Georgetown Hundred Historic Markers are located on DuPont Boulevard across from the Ellendale State Forest. The Ellendale Railroad Square Historical Marker is located at Main Street and East Railroad Avenue. The Ellendale Town Historic Marker unveiled during the towns 100th Anniversary festivities is located at the Town Square at Main Street and McCaulley Avenue.

title: Ellendale, Delaware


text:
Fenwick Island, Delaware

Fenwick Island is a coastal resort town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to 2020 census figures, the population of the town is 355, a 2.6% decrease over the last decade. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland–Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is located on Fenwick Island, a barrier spit.

Fenwick Island and its neighbors to the north, Bethany Beach and South Bethany, are popularly known as "The Quiet Resorts." This is in contrast to the wild atmosphere of Dewey Beach and the cosmopolitan bustle of Rehoboth Beach. Fenwick Island, however, is somewhat less "quiet" than "the Bethanies" because it is immediately across the state line from Ocean City, Maryland, which has a reputation as a lively vacation resort.

Named after Thomas Fenwick, a planter from England who settled in Maryland, Fenwick Island lay in the part of Delaware which Lord Baltimore and his heirs claimed during the Penn–Baltimore border dispute.

Contrary to popular belief, the town does not sit on a barrier island but on a narrow peninsula which resembles a barrier island (unless one considers a narrow man-made boat canal well inland that connects White Creek to Little Assawoman Bay). The narrow strip of land separates the Atlantic Ocean from Little Assawoman Bay. Ocean City, Maryland, occupies the southern tip of this peninsula.

Local legend states that Cedar Island in Little Assawoman Bay was a spot for pirates to bury treasure. Regardless of the truth of the legend, the Delaware coastal area was well known as a place for pirates to hide from the law. Cedar Island has just about washed under the bay, as Seal Island did around 2010.

The town was an unincorporated area between South Bethany and Ocean City, Maryland, until July 1953, when the Delaware General Assembly passed an act to incorporate the town. Local sentiment demanded incorporation to prevent the relentless high-rise development of Ocean City from creeping north into Fenwick Island.

Fenwick Island's population was 48 in 1960.

Geography
Fenwick Island is located at 38.46222°N, -75.05139°W (38.4623346, –75.0512922).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 sqmi, of which 0.3 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi  (28.57%) is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Fenwick Island has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated Cfa on climate maps.

Transportation
Delaware Route 1 (Coastal Highway), which has its southern terminus at the Maryland border in Fenwick Island, serves as the main north–south road in the town, heading north along the coast toward Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach. Coastal Highway crosses the Maryland border and heads south through Ocean City as Maryland Route 528. Delaware Route 54 (Lighthouse Road) begins at DE 1 in Fenwick Island a block north of the state line and heads west toward Selbyville to provide access from inland areas. Between May 15 and September 15, parking permits are required along all streets in Fenwick Island.

DART First State provides bus service to Fenwick Island in the summer months along Beach Bus Route 208, which heads north to the Rehoboth Beach Park and Ride and the Lewes Transit Center Park and Ride near Lewes to connect to other Beach Bus routes and the Route 305 bus from Wilmington and south to the 144th Street Transit Center in Ocean City, Maryland, a short distance south of the state line to connect to Ocean City Transportation's Coastal Highway Beach Bus.

Utilities
Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon, provides electricity to Fenwick Island. Chesapeake Utilities provides natural gas to the town. Artesian Water Company, a subsidiary of Artesian Resources, provides water to Fenwick Island. Sussex County operates the Fenwick Island Sanitary Sewer District, which provides sewer service to the town. Cable and internet service in Fenwick Island is provided by Xfinity. Trash and recycling collection in Fenwick Island is provided under contract by Waste Industries.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 342 people, 178 households, and 126 families residing in the town. The population density was 994.5 PD/sqmi. There were 666 housing units at an average density of 1,936.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 99.42% White, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.

There were 178 households, out of which 5.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% were married couples living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.25.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 6.1% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 11.1% from 25 to 44, 40.6% from 45 to 64, and 39.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,333, and the median income for a family was $68,750. Males had a median income of $46,607 versus $48,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $44,415. About 3.3% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Residents are served by the Indian River School District.

Notable people

 * Deborah Birx, physician, diplomat, White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator

title: Fenwick Island, Delaware


text:
Frankford, Delaware

Frankford is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 847 at the 2010 census, an increase of 18.6% over the previous decade. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Located on U.S. Route 113, Frankford, was founded in 1808 and incorporated in 1937. The town was named Frankford Village in 1848 upon the acquisition of a post office. The establishment of the Pennsylvania Railroad brought a hotel, commercial establishments and an opera house to make Frankford a thriving commercial and cultural center.

The Capt. Ebe Chandler House (1880) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Transportation
Road is the primary method of travel to and from Frankford. U.S. Route 113 is the only significant highway serving the town, extending north toward Georgetown and south into Maryland. Frankford is the location of an interchange between the Delmarva Central Railroad and the Maryland and Delaware Railroad.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 714 people, 227 households, and 172 families living in the town. The population density was 1,012.7 PD/sqmi. There were 258 housing units at an average density of 365.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 45.24% White, 35.01% African American, 2.94% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 10.92% from other races, and 5.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.73%.

Of the 227 households 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 18.9% of households were one person and 11.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.62.

The age distribution was 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median household income was $35,333 and the median family income was $35,729. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $20,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,711. About 9.5% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Climate
Frankford experiences a Humid subtropical climate (cfa) with all year precipitation, warm to hot summers and snowy, wet winters.

Education
Frankford is in the Indian River School District.

title: Frankford, Delaware


text:
Georgetown, Delaware

Georgetown is a town and the county seat of Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 6,422, an increase of 38.3% over the previous decade.

Georgetown is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Second county seat
Lewes, sited on the Delaware Bay, was designated as the first county seat. It was the first colony in Delaware, founded by the Dutch in 1631, and it remained the only significant European settlement in the region for some time. When English colonist William Penn organized the three southern counties of Pennsylvania, which are now Delaware, Lewes was the natural choice for the location of the Sussex County's Seat of Justice.

Sussex County was not well defined until after 1760, following resolution of a dispute between William Penn's family and Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore after intervention from the Crown. This dispute over borders had delayed discussion over the location of a county seat. Earlier Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore had argued that the county ended with Lewes, while Penn's sons stated it continued into Fenwick Island, which it now does. The Mason–Dixon line was surveyed as part the agreement between the Penns and Lord Baltimore, and it has since defined the western and southern border of the county. Georgetown, located more centrally in the county, was later designated as its seat for court.

Founding of Georgetown
Lewes continued to serve as the county seat throughout much of the 18th century, although it was inconvenient for the growing population to the west; some persons had to travel more than a day over the poor roads to reach the town to conduct county business. After petitioning by western citizens of the county to the Delaware General Assembly, a law was passed on January 29, 1791, to centralize the location of the county seat. At the time, the land in central Sussex County was for the most part swampy and uninhabited. The county government hired ten commissioners to purchase land, build a courthouse and jail, and sell lots in an area at "James Pettyjohn's old field or about a mile from where Ebenezer Pettyjohn now lives," as the original order states, to encourage related development.

On May 9, 1791, the commissioners, under the leadership of the Delaware State Senator George Mitchell, purchased 76 acres (308,000 m2) for a townsite. Commissioner Rhodes Shankland began the survey by laying out "a spacious square of 100 yards each way." Eventually Georgetown was laid out in a circle one mile in diameter and centered around the original square surveyed by Shankland. The area within this circle is now listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The new location proved better as an administrative center; Georgetown is still said to be "sixteen miles from everywhere" in Sussex County.

The County Courthouse and Jail were built in the southeastern section of the town circle. Given this progress, the Seat of Justice was officially moved on October 26, 1791. The new community was named Georgetown in honor of the lead commissioner George Mitchell. Lots, measuring 60 by 120-foot, were surveyed and sold to give a return to the State's investment.

Later history
Because of Delaware's status as a border state during the Civil War, men enlisted on both sides of the war, with some fighting for the Union and others for the Confederates. The town and even some of its prominent families were divided by these split loyalties.

In 2007, a monument commemorating Sussex County Confederates and featuring the Confederate Battle Flag was constructed and installed at the Marvel Museum in Georgetown.

As of 2022, the town council continues to fund a museum that flies the Confederate battle flag. The museum had lost state funding in 2019.

Culture
Since the mid 20th century, the two most intense industries in Georgetown have been the Sussex County Courts and the raising and processing of chickens, largely grown on area farms under contract to a processor such as Purdue Farms which has a large chicken processing plant in Georgetown. It has attracted numerous immigrants from Haiti and Guatemala as workers, stimulating growth of the population and changing the town's demographics. Georgetown has a more diverse population than might be expected in a small Delaware inland town. Some residents speak Haitian French or Creole, while many more have a primary language of Spanish, in addition to those whose first language is English. In 2000 slightly more than one-third of the population was ethnic Hispanic and one-fifth was African American (including Haitians).

Georgetown is the home of WZBH radio and the Georgetown Speedway. The latter attracts attendees from miles around during race season.

Return Day
Every two years, Georgetown hosts Return Day, a half-day-long parade and festival two days after Election Day. It stems from colonial days, when the public would congregate in Georgetown two days after the election to hear the results (because it would take that long to deliver the results to the courthouse by horseback from the state capital in Dover, Delaware). The winners of that year's elections parade in horse-drawn carriages around The Circle. Together with the losers and the chairs of the county's political parties, they ceremonially "bury the hatchet" in a tub of sand. The afternoon of Return Day is a holiday for county and state workers in Sussex County. The day's events are marked by a traditional ox feast, and the beginning of the next round of campaigns.

Architecture

Georgetown is unusual among Delaware municipalities as the town was constructed around a circle, instead of the more traditional park square. Located at "The Circle" are the Town Hall, state and county buildings, and the historic Sussex County Courthouse. The original Courthouse was replaced by the current structure, which was built in 1837 on South Bedford Street. It was restored in 1976 and is managed by the Georgetown Historical Society. Lawyers' offices, the newer Court of Chancery and Family Court buildings, a bank, and the Brick Hotel, recently renovated into offices, also line the Circle. This layout is similar to that found in Annapolis, Maryland. The center of Georgetown's circle is a small green park with a fountain. Georgetown's oldest church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, was constructed in 1844 and remodeled in 1881 in the early Victorian Gothic style; its congregation organized in 1794, shortly after the close of the American Revolutionary War. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Other recognized historic properties are the Joseph T. Adams House, Brick Hotel, Peter S. Faucett House, First Broiler House, Georgetown Coal Gasification Plant, Stella Pepper Gyles House, Judge's House and Law Office, Dr. John W. Messick House and Office, Old Sussex County Courthouse, David Carlton Pepper Farm, Redden Forest Lodge, Forester's House and Stable, Richards Mansion, St. John's Methodist Church, Short Homestead, Thomas Sipple House, Sussex County Courthouse and the Circle, Gardiner Wright Mansion and McColley's Chapel, all listed on the NRHP.

Geography
Georgetown is located at 38.69°N, -75.38556°W (38.6901134, –75.3854728).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.1 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,643 people, 1,489 households, and 957 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,123.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,591 housing units at an average density of 385.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 56.19% White, 20.87% African American, 2.07% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 18.03% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.73% of the population.

There were 1,489 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 14.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $37,925. Males had a median income of $20,886 versus $19,944 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,288. About 20.9% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, 21.6% of Georgetown residents identified as being of Guatemalan heritage. This was the highest percentage of Guatemalan Americans in any place in the country.

Transportation
The main north–south road in Georgetown is US 113, which passes through the western part of town on Dupont Boulevard and heads south to Millsboro and Pocomoke City, Maryland and north to Milford, where it connects to DE 1 that heads north to Dover and Wilmington. US 9 runs southwest–northeast through Georgetown on Market Street, heading southwest to Laurel and northeast to Lewes and the Cape May–Lewes Ferry across the Delaware Bay. DE 18 begins at US 9 at The Circle in the center of Georgetown and heads northwest on Bedford Street before heading west toward Bridgeville. DE 404 passes through Georgetown as part of a route linking the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the Delaware Beaches, entering town from the west concurrent with DE 18 to The Circle, where it joins US 9 and heads northeast along with that route toward the beaches. US 9 Truck and DE 404 Truck provide a bypass of Georgetown to the south for truck traffic. Parking in portions of downtown Georgetown near the Sussex County Courthouse are regulated by two-hour parking meters on weekdays. The Delaware Coastal Airport is located to the east of Georgetown, offering general aviation. The nearest airport with commercial air service is the Wicomico Regional Airport in Salisbury, Maryland.

DART First State provides bus service to Georgetown out of the Georgetown Transit Hub along Route 206, which connects the town to the Lewes Transit Center near Lewes; Route 212, which links Georgetown to Bridgeville, Seaford, Laurel, and Delmar; Route 303, which connects the town to Dover. DART First State also operates a microtransit service called DART Connect serving the Georgetown and Millsboro areas.

Until the late 1940s, the Pennsylvania Railroad operated passenger trains from Harrington, Delaware through Georgetown along the train line of the former Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Railroad (DMV). Travellers from New York or Philadelphia could take trains to Wilmington, whereupon they would take a train to Harrington for the DMV line train. The route continued south to Berlin, Maryland (near Ocean City, Maryland) and to Franklin City, Virginia.

Today, the Delmarva Central Railroad operates a freight rail line called the Indian River Subdivision (the former DMV line) that runs north–south through Georgetown. In Georgetown, the Delmarva Central Railroad's Lewes Industrial Track branches east from the Indian River Subdivision and heads east to Cool Spring.

Utilities
Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon, provides electricity to Georgetown. Chesapeake Utilities provides natural gas to the town. The Town of Georgetown Water Department provides water service to the town, operating three water plants. The Town of Georgetown Wastewater Department provides sewer service to the town and some surrounding areas, operating the Georgetown Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Trash and recycling collection in Georgetown is provided under contract by Waste Industries.

The Bruce A. Henry Solar Farm near Georgetown became operational in 2013, and expanded from 23 to 40 acres in 2020.

Education

 * The Jack F. Owens campus of Delaware Technical Community College is located in Georgetown.
 * It is in the Indian River School District.
 * Sussex Central High School is located in Georgetown

Notable people

 * Wilbur L. Adams, lawyer and U.S. Representative from Delaware
 * Matt Barlow, former Iced Earth vocalist, works as a Georgetown police officer
 * Robert H. Pepper, lieutenant general, USMC during World War II
 * Luke Petitgout, NFL offensive tackle for New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Bryan Stevenson, civil rights attorney
 * Charles C. Stockley, 45th Governor of Delaware, was born in Georgetown
 * George Alfred Townsend, journalist and novelist, namesake of Gathland State Park in Maryland
 * Caleb Merrill Wright, jurist and lawyer

title: Georgetown, Delaware


text:
Greenwood, Delaware

Greenwood is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 973 at the 2010 census, an increase of 16.2% over the previous decade. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The Richards Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The official Delaware snow depth record was established near Greenwood on February 7, 2010, after the February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard resulted in a measurement of 28 inches. The record was measured at the Greenwood 2.9 SE station of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. Greenwood is also where a lot of the green is good, and houses kasanas VIP agents

Geography
Greenwood is located at 38.80694°N, -75.59139°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.7 sqmi all land.

Transportation
Road is the main method of transport to and from Greenwood. U.S. Route 13 (Sussex Highway) is the main highway serving the town, connecting to points north and south. Delaware Route 16 and Delaware Route 36 also pass through concurrently on an east-west alignment along Market Street. The Delmarva Central Railroad's Delmarva Subdivision line passes north-south through Greenwood.

Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 837 people, 335 households, and 211 families living in the town. The population density was 1,267.2 PD/sqmi. There were 394 housing units at an average density of 596.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 74.91% White, 22.58% African American, 1.08% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87%.

Of the 335 households 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.9% of households were one person and 14.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.15.

The age distribution was 31.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median household income was $35,588 and the median family income was $40,000. Males had a median income of $30,066 versus $21,094 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,918. About 8.3% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Greenwood is in the Woodbridge School District. Its high school is Woodbridge High School.

Notable people

 * Simeon S. Pennewill, politician, Governor of Delaware (1909–1913)
 * Earle D. Willey, politician, US Congressman (1943–1945)
 * Hugh M. Morris, attorney, US District Court Judge (1878–1966)
 * Mary Rawlinson Creason, honored aviator (1924–2021)

title: Greenwood, Delaware


text:
Henlopen Acres, Delaware

Henlopen Acres is a municipality north of Rehoboth Beach in Sussex County, Delaware, United States, and is the third smallest incorporated town in Delaware. According to 2010 census figures, the population of the town is 122, a 12.2% decrease from the 2000 census. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Henlopen Acres is located at 38.72972°N, -75.08639°W (38.7298343, –75.0862919).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.7 km2), all land. It is the smallest incorporated town in Delaware. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the northeast, Rehoboth Beach to the southeast, and unincorporated portions of Sussex County on the west and north. Much of its western border is demarcated by the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. An unincorporated neighborhood called North Shores separates the northernmost part of Henlopen Acres from the southern boundary of Cape Henlopen State Park.

Henlopen Acres is divided into 216 parcels of land, on which are 205 homes, the town hall and maintenance area, the town's marina, the Henlopen Acres Beach Club, Block W Beach, and the Rehoboth Art League. The town has 3.6 miles (5.8 kilometers) of roads, which generally are tree-lined.

Government
The municipal government of Henlopen Acres consists of seven elected officials who serve on the town's council, one of whom serves as mayor. The town employs eleven workers who manage the town office, operate the marina, maintain streets and easements, and provide security.

Henlopen Acres has no police department, but town-owned private security began in 1996. Henlopen Acres shares the services and expense of this security service with the unincorporated neighborhood of North Shores to its north. The security service, which patrols all of Henlopen Acres and North Shores, operates two vehicles.

The Rehoboth Beach Fire Department serves Henlopen Acres.

Henlopen Acres' municipal government generally maintains amicable relations with the government of Rehoboth Beach, follows Sussex County's lead on how to react to emergencies such as major storms and whether or not to evacuate in the face of them. Within Henlopen Acres governmental affairs generally have run smoothly.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 139 people, 69 households, and 42 families residing in the town. The population density was 544.2 PD/sqmi. There were 198 housing units at an average density of 775.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.40% White, 2.88% African American, and 0.72% Pacific Islander.

There were 69 households, out of which 11.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 1.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.62.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 11.5% under the age of 18, 2.2% from 18 to 24, 10.8% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 43.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 62 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $122,423, and the median income for a family was $162,681. Males had a median income of $0 versus $31,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $82,091. 3.5% of the population is below the poverty line. Out of the total population, none of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Henlopen Acres and Greenville (where the DuPont estate is located) are the two richest places in Delaware, all but tied for highest personal incomes, averaging over $80,000 per annum.

Only about one-third of the homes in Henlopen Acres are lived in year-round; the rest are vacation homes or rental properties. In 2000, the least expensive home was valued at $325,000 for real estate tax purposes and the value of all the land in Henlopen Acres was estimated at over $100 million.

History
The name "Henlopen" probably is derived from that of Thijmen Jacobsz Hinlopen (1572–1637), a merchant in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Evidence of Native American activity prior to the arrival of Europeans has been found in Henlopen Acres. After the arrival of the first European settlers, organized by the Dutch merchant Samuel Blommaert (1583–1651 or 1654), the area became farmland.

In 1930, a 156 acre parcel of this farmland was deeded to Colonel Wilbur S. Corkran (1888–1962) for $100,000. Corkran developed the parcel during the 1930s as a "residential development where quiet-loving, cultured people may live in a country seaside community amid conditions which make for health, comfort and refined pleasure." Corkran's development was incorporated in 1970 as the town of Henlopen Acres.

Education
Henlopen Acres is in the Cape Henlopen School District.

It is zoned to Rehoboth Elementary School.

Cape Henlopen High School is the sole comprehensive high school of the district.

Transportation
Roads are the main method of transport into and out of Henlopen Acres. However, no state highways serve the town, with only minor roads linking Henlopen Acres to surrounding areas. The closest state highway is Delaware Route 1A in neighboring Rehoboth Beach.

Notable people

 * Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States (2021–present), 47th Vice President of the United States (2009–2017), United States Senator from Delaware (1973–2009), and Jill Biden, educator and First Lady of the United States (2021–present), Second Lady of the United States (2009–2017) own a beach house in the North Shores neighborhood, just north of the Henlopen Acres town limits
 * John Delaney, United States Representative for Maryland's 6th congressional district (2013–2019) and candidate for President of the United States in 2020, owns a beach house in North Shores

title: Henlopen Acres, Delaware


text:
Laurel, Delaware

Laurel is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 3,708 at the time of the 2010 census. Laurel is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. It once hosted the Laurel Blue Hens of the Eastern Shore Baseball League.

History
The site of the town of Laurel was a Nanticoke Indian settlement known as Broad Creek Town during most of the eighteenth century. Its Nanticoke name is unknown. The Indian settlement was created on tracts known as Bachelor's Delight and Greenland in 1711 when the government of Maryland, who originally claimed this part of Delaware, set aside land for the Nanticoke Indians. Nearly all the Indian settlers left within 50 years, relocating to western Pennsylvania. The present town was laid out along the Broad Creek in the 1790s and was named for the laurel bushes that grew alongside the creek.

On March 29, 1929, the town was merged with the neighboring town of North Laurel which comprised most of the current town north of Broad Creek (then known as Laurel River). This merger was not properly reported to the United States Census Bureau, which resulted in the North Laurel's population not being included with the population of Laurel in the 1930 United States Census. As such, the US Census Bureau did not immediately make a change to the 1930 population statistics once the error was discovered, however it acknowledged in 1940 that the correct population for Laurel in 1930 was 2,542.

West Laurel is one of Delaware's oldest free black communities. According to the Delaware Historical Society, West Laurel dates back to the 1790s. At some point in the 1870s Captain Theodore Marsh settled in West Laurel, brought property, broke the property down into plots and sold them to his shipmates. The graveyard for New Zion United Methodist church in West Laurel, which has been around since the early 1800s is the resting place of Marsh and his shipmates.

Geography
Laurel is located on the Atlantic Coastal Plain in southwestern Delaware at 38.55639°N, -75.57139°W (38.5565041, −75.5713141).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.7 sqmi, of which 1.7 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (4.07%) is water.

Demographics
957 families, 1,389 households, 3,668 people reside in the town. The population density was 2,215.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,561 housing units at an average density of 943.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 55.56% White, 39.42% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.

There were 1,389 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 26.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 33.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,321, and the median income for a family was $30,329. Males had a median income of $28,006 versus $18,550 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,594. About 18.7% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture
Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:

 * Chipman Potato House
 * Chipman's Mill
 * Collins Potato House
 * Hearn Potato House
 * E. L. Hitch Potato House
 * Laurel Historic District
 * Moore Potato House
 * Old Christ Church
 * Phillips Potato House
 * Ralph Potato House
 * Rider Potato House
 * Ross Point School
 * Spring Garden
 * Stanley Potato House
 * Wright Potato House

Library
Laurel Public Library was established in 1909. A new library opened in 2006.

Sports
The District 3 All-Stars from Laurel won the senior Little League Softball World Series in 2011.

The Laurel Blue Hens were a member of the minor league Eastern Shore League in 1922 and 1923, playing at League Park.

Education
It is within the Laurel School District. Laurel High School is the local high school.

Media

 * Laurel Star, a weekly local newspaper.
 * Leader and State Register, a weekly local newspaper.
 * WBOC-TV (Channel 16, CBS Affiliate) has its broadcast tower in Laurel.
 * FOX 21 (Channel 21, FOX Affiliate) has its broadcast tower in Laurel.
 * WKDB (95.3FM known as "Studio 95.3")

Transportation

Roads are the primary means of travel to and from Laurel. U.S. Route 13 (Sussex Highway) is the most significant highway serving the town, connecting northwards towards Dover and southward to Salisbury. U.S. Route 9 also serves Laurel, heading northeastward from its terminus at US 13 toward Georgetown along County Seat Highway. Delaware Route 24 is the third numbered route to serve the town, traversing the region on an east-west alignment through the center of the town. DART First State operates the Route 212 bus that connects Laurel with Delmar and Georgetown. The Delmarva Central Railroad's Delmarva Subdivision line passes north-south through Laurel.

Notable people

 * Richard H. Ellis, General, United States Air Force
 * Mark Briscoe, Professional wrestler
 * Jay Briscoe, Professional wrestler
 * Bert Carvel, former Governor of Delaware
 * John Collins, former governor of Delaware (1821–1825)
 * William B. Cooper, former governor of Delaware
 * Timothy Dukes, Republican member of the Delaware House of Representatives
 * Carlton Elliott, former NFL player
 * Alex Ellis, current NFL player
 * Dallas Marvil, All-American football player, 1931
 * Joshua H. Marvil, former governor of Delaware
 * Nathaniel Mitchell, former governor of Delaware (1805–1808), Member of the Continental Congress
 * Ron Waller, former NFL player and coach

title: Laurel, Delaware


text:
Long Neck, Delaware

Long Neck is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 1,980 at the 2010 census. Long Neck was the only census-designated place in Sussex County until Lincoln was added in the 2020 United States census. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Long Neck is located at 38.62011°N, -75.15074°W (38.6201125, -75.1507399).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.7 km2, of which 0.68% is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,629 people, 817 households, and 545 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 655.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,807 housing units at an average density of 726.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.28% White, 0.43% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.

There were 817 households, out of which 10.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.38.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 10.4% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 13.6% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 40.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 62 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,688, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $27,117 versus $30,179 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,172. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

History
This is taken from deed record, page 247, Georgetown Court House, Delaware titled as;

"William Burton Patent for Long Neck"

"Whereas, there is a certaine parcel of land situated on the West side of Delaware Bay the which hath been certified by the Court at the Horekill and laide out for William Burton the saide Land being called the Long Neck lying on the South side of Rehoboth Bay and on the North side of the Greate River beginning at a point of woods and running West up the Greate River one thousand perches to a White Oak at the head of a small creek called Indian Cabin Creek and from thence North three hundred and fifty perches to a White Oak standing by a creek side called Middle Creek with a line of marked trees and from thence bounder upon the aforesaid Bay to the first bounded point Southeast one thousand perches containing One Thousand Acres of Land."

"Know Ye That by Virtue of His Majesty Lord's Patent and the Commission and authority unto me given by His Royal Highness, I have given and granted by these presents, Doe hereby give and grant unto the said William Burton his heirs and assigns the aforesaid recited piece of Land and Premises with their and every of their appurtenances; To Have and To Hold the saide piece of land and premises unto the saide William Burton his heirs and assigns unto the proper use and behoofe of him the said William Burton his heirs and assigns forever he making present improvements thereon and continuing in obedience and conforming himself according to the Laws of this Government and yielding and paying therefor yearly and every yeare unto His Royal Highness as a quite Rent Ten bushels of good winter wheat unto such officers as shall be there Impowered to receive the same."

For most of the second half of the 20th century, the area of Long Neck was sparsely populated, except for several mobile home communities that served mostly as summer vacation properties for permanent residents of the Washington, DC, Baltimore, Maryland, Wilmington, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan areas. However, in the late 1990s, more permanent, year-round communities began being built, such as the neighborhood surrounding the golf course at Baywood Greens, and The Peninsula, which is being developed by Jack Nicklaus. Long Neck is now seeing unprecedented growth in permanent residents.

Education
Long Neck is in the Indian River School District.

title: Long Neck, Delaware


text:
Millsboro, Delaware

Millsboro is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. Millsboro is part of the Salisbury metropolitan area.

History
Millsboro's earliest European settlers were of English family origin; though most were second generation colonists who simply migrated north from the eastern shore of Virginia in order to join in the timber drive of the later 17th century, which brought many seeking to cut the vast mixed deciduous forests. The settlement itself was created in the second half of the 17th century when settlers from Accomack County, Virginia arrived to cut timber along the drainages. At one time no less than seven lumber mills were present, the largest employing over 70 laborers. These early years are well documented in the annals of Virginia history. The township during the first settlement period, although unincorporated, had several stores, churches, a bakery and various tack and blacksmith shops as well as and both Anglican and Presbyterian congregations. The area has many cemeteries dating from this original settlement period, which is considered the founding of the township, including the Lingo Family Cemetery and others.

A second period of settlement occurred after Elisha Dickerson built a dam on the Indian River in the 1792. There had been a settlement there for nearly a century before this, but the building of the dam was considered the official town establishment. At the time it was called "Rock Hole". The town grew, and more mills were built. The official incorporation of the town was in 1893. Prior to the American Revolutionary War, the present-day Town of Millsboro was in the Province of Maryland (Somerset and, later, Worcester County). Members of the Nanticoke people and related tribes lived, and live, in Millsboro. Ball Theatre, The Robert Davis Farmhouse, Harmon School, Isaac Harmon Farmhouse, Harmony Church, Ames Hitchens Chicken Farm, Indian Mission Church, Indian Mission School, Indian River Archeological Complex, Johnson School, Perry-Shockley House, Warren's Mill, and Warren T. Wright Farmhouse Site at and near Millsboro are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

On January 17, 1893, the temperature fell to -17 °F (-27 °C) in Millsboro, the coldest temperature experienced in the state. On July 21, 1930, the temperature in Millsboro rose to 110 °F (43 °C), the highest temperature ever recorded in Delaware. Millsboro is one of only three cities in the United States to record both its state's extreme temperatures, the others being Chester, Massachusetts and Warsaw, Missouri. These are not official, however, as Millsboro does not have a weather station and the readings were recorded by amateur observers.

Geography
Millsboro is located at 38.59139°N, -75.29139°W (38.5915023, –75.2913018). The town is approximately 20 miles from the Delaware and Maryland beaches - as well as Salisbury, Maryland - and around 10 miles from the Maryland state line.

Economy
In 2020, Millsboro was ranked 2nd out of the 57 Delaware cities for number of residential building permits issued.

In 2021, PC Magazine named Millsboro one of the top 50 cities in the United States and Canada for remote work.

Government
The town government is run primarily by the mayor and a seven-member town council.

Demographics
At the 2000 United States Census, the population density was 1,367.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,153 housing units at an average density of 668.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 73.64% White, 19.41% African American, 0.76% Native American, 3.31% Asian, 1.61% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09%.

Of the households in the Town, 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 36.9% of households were one person and 19.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 21.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 26.6% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 71.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males.

Transportation
Millsboro is directly served by the four-lane U.S. Route 113 and three other major highways - Delaware Route 20, Delaware Route 24, and Delaware Route 30. Located along the headwaters of the Indian River, there is direct access to the Indian River Bay and, in turn, the Atlantic Ocean. Freight rail service is provided by the Delmarva Central Railroad. DART First State provides bus service to Millsboro via the Route 215 bus to Rehoboth Beach and also operates a microtransit service called DART Connect that serves the Millsboro and Georgetown areas.

Education
It is in the Indian River School District.

Notable people

 * Huck Betts, a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies (1920–1925) and the Boston Braves (1932–1935)
 * Richard S. Cordrey, businessman and politician

title: Millsboro, Delaware


text:
Millville, Delaware

Millville is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population in 2020 was 1,825, It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies within Baltimore Hundred.

Geography
Millville is located at 38.54944°N, -75.12333°W (38.5495569, –75.1232391), approximately 1 mi west of the Atlantic Ocean and about 1 mi south of Indian River Bay. It is contiguous on the east with Ocean View, and bordered on the north, west and south by unincorporated portions of Sussex County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 sqmi, in which all of it was land.

Transportation
Roads are the main means of transportation to and from Millville. Delaware Route 26 is the primary state highway serving the town, passing through on an east-west alignment. It heads eastward toward Bethany Beach and west to U.S. Route 113 in Dagsboro. Delaware Route 17 is the other primary highway serving Millville, heading southwestward from its junction with DE 26 just northwest of town, skimming the southwestern edge of town, then traversing rural areas until it reaches Selbyville.

Elected officials
Millville has a council-manager form of government. Under the current governmental structure and electoral system, which went into effect with the election of March 3, 2001, a five-person town council governs the town. After each election, the council elects one of its members to serve as mayor. Another council member serves as deputy mayor, another as treasurer, and another as secretary, while the fifth council member serves as a council member alone with no additional duties. Each council member serves a two-year term, and the terms are staggered so that three of the council members are elected in each odd-numbered year and two in each even-numbered year.

The Annual Municipal Election is held on the first Saturday in March. Anyone 18 years old or older registered to vote in Millville may run for the town council as long as the candidate has lived in Millville for at least 90 days before the date of that year's election.

If only one person runs for a particular council seat, that person takes office automatically without any election being held that year for that seat. If no one runs for a particular council seat, the incumbent automatically serves another term without any election being held that year for that seat.

Appointed officials and town operations
A town manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the town. The Delaware State Police provides police service to Millville under a contract with the Town and the Millville Volunteer Fire Company serves Millville, Ocean View, and unincorporated portions of Sussex County as far east as the Assawoman Canal and as almost as far west as Dagsboro; it purchased its first motor-driven firefighting vehicle in 1936 and today operates 16 vehicles.

Sussex County handled all land use regulation in Millville until 1993, when Millville itself began to pass zoning ordinances to control growth.

History
The early settlement of the Millville area by Europeans is poorly recorded, although it is known that the swampy, marshy nature of much of the land of eastern Baltimore Hundred in southeastern Delaware when the first Europeans arrived led them to establish plantations on higher ground in the vicinity of what are now Millville, Ocean View, and Clarksville. Millville itself grew up around a steam-powered sawmill operated by Captain Peter Townshend in the late 19th century, becoming a center for lumber, agricultural products, and commercial fishing.

For a time, the names "Dukestown" and "Dukesville" were considered for the town because of the prominence and number of members of the Dukes family who lived in the area. Eventually, the town was named Millville because of the sorghum mills, lumber mills and grist mills in the area.

Millville was incorporated in 1906. It had a population of 206 at the time, and has grown in population only very slowly since, reaching only 259 by the 2000 census. However, the population more than doubled by the 2010 census, rising to 544 residents, the highest in the recorded history of Millville.

Millville was considered the principal town of Baltimore Hundred, although this today lacks meaning because Delaware's hundreds lost their political functions long ago and now serve only as geographic points of reference.

title: Millville, Delaware