SUSSEX COUNTY, DE
County Offices
2 The Circle
Georgetown, DE
302-855-7742
www.sussexcountyde.gov
Chamber of Commerce
37 The Circle
Georgetown, DE
302-856-1544
www.georgetowncoc.com
Services
The largest of Delaware’s three counties, Sussex County is diverse in natural treasures as well as in lifestyles. Anchored by the county seat and leading city of Georgetown, this area is home to popular seaside resorts, small towns, industry, and acres of cultivated land. Although tourism, recreation, and the vacation industry dominate the coastal villages that many call the Nation’s Summer Capital, this region pioneered the commercial broiler industry and remains number one in the production of poultry. The region’s resources and open space are drawing businesses who appreciate the relatively low cost of living, the lower cost of conducting business, and the close proximity to the dynamic metropolitan centers along the East Coast including Norfolk, Richmond, New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Spurred by recreational opportunities along the oceanfront and inland bays, two centers of growth have emerged along the western section of U.S. 13 and Delaware 1. The increase in commercial and retail activity coincides with an influx of both seasonal and permanent residents, particularly near the Nanticoke River and its tributaries along the U.S. 13 connection. Contributing to the benefits and luxuries of life in Sussex County is $1 billion in tourist trade and the high percentage of property owners who are non-residents. In fact, 60 percent of the property taxes are traveling across state lines before pouring into the local economy. The result is a quality of life not commonly associated with a rural lifestyle.
Leading the county’s healthcare institutions, Beebe Medical Center in Lewes includes national centers of excellence like the comprehensive cardiac care facility of Hastings HeartCare Center. In addition to the full-service hospital and community centers, Beebe maintains specialized services such as a convalescent center, sleep disorders center, wound care center, pain center, adult daycare center, lab express, imaging centers, and Tunnell Cancer Center.
In addition to well-support and top-performing public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, the county offers the Beebe School of Nursing, the Sussex Vocational-Technical Center, and the Jack F. Owens campus of Delaware Technical & Community College. A number of private and state-supported colleges and universities are available within an easy commute, including the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Drexel University, Goldey-Beacom College, Wesley College, Wilmington College, and the Widener University School of Law.
Lifestyle
In spite of a limited geographic area, every amenity and recreational opportunity imaginable is available within the borders of Sussex County. Residents and visitors can choose from premier cultural institutions, enjoy the excitement of competitive sports, or take relaxing rides on the convenient and scenic ferry that connects Lewes to Cape May, New Jersey. For sheer architectural wonder, few sites can compare to the unusual Zwaaendael Museum, a replica of a city hall in the Netherlands.
Rehoboth and Delaware Bays offer excellent conditions for small boating, sailing, and water skiing. Clams and crabs are also abundant around Rehoboth Bay and special areas of Love Creek. Without a doubt, Sussex County offers some of the finest surf and deep-sea fishing to be found along the entire East Coast, particularly along the shoreline and waters of the Indian River Inlet, Rehoboth Bay, and Delaware Bay. Even the children have a fishing bridge, a popular spot on Lake Gerar in downtown Rehoboth. For nature lovers, few delights can rival watching the dolphins play in the glistening surf from late July through early October.
The Great Cypress Swamp covers 12,000 acres with a freshwater reservoir in south central Sussex. Year-round recreational activities can be found in five state parks, numerous state fish and wildlife facilities, and a national wildlife refuge. For more grounded outdoor activities, Sussex County offers beautiful campsites and miles of scenic paths ideal for bicycling. Visit the lush Nassau Vineyards, explore Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro, enjoy first-rate cultural venues and theatre, or perfect your swing on a clay tennis courts or championship golf course.
Proud of its unique heritage and resources, the county is known for its colorful celebrations and homespun festivals. Tradition is the focus of the Nanticoke Indian Pow Wow, while musical strains and rhythm dominate the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival. The Apple-Scrapple Festival invites visitors to enjoy fried scrapple, listen to the hog-calling contest, and indulge in apple dumplings and fresh apple cider. Punkin’ Chunkin occurs soon after Halloween, when athletic hopefuls line up in a field near Millsboro for a gourd-tossing contest. On a more serious note, the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival is a must for connoisseurs of innovative film works.
Aficionados of shopping can choose from small-town specialty shops to the bargains of factory outlets and sprawling malls. Picturesque boardwalks provide entertainment for all ages, from amusements and waterslides to inviting eateries, restaurants, and shops. Home options throughout Sussex County are abundant and varied, including small and large farms, second and vacation homes, historic homes, multi-family complexes, magnificent estates, beautiful new residential developments, and beachfront or bayshore living.
Communities like Georgetown, Milton, and Millsboro enjoy a centralized location with Milford actually sprawling into Kent County. In addition to new developments, Milton claims nearly 200 homes on the National Register of Historic Places. Also on the Register is every Gothic Revival and Victorian home in the small town of Bethel. Intimate communities like Selbyville and Delmar also offer a pleasing mix of historic properties and lovely new homes.
In Sussex County, even some of the neighborhoods represent distinct communities, such as Henlopen Acres near Rehoboth Beach—often called the Westover Hills of the beach area. A number of celebrity homeowners and executives have taken residence in this heavily wooded and quiet residential haven just minutes from the Rehoboth business district. The Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club is another favored destination, where custom homes can offer more than 6,000 square feet of luxurious living space. Lewes blends charming colonials and elegant Victorians with beautiful new construction.
Not all prime real estate opportunities in Sussex County are beach oriented. Privileged with easy access to waterfront recreation via the Nanticoke River, Seaford intermingles traditional and contemporary homes on rolling terrain. The Long Neck area between the beach communities and Millsboro has become one of the fastest-growing areas in the entire State of Delaware. Even small towns like Blades and Laurel near Seaford are pouring millions of dollars into ambitious riverfront developments.
With its exceptional recreational opportunities, superb services, and natural beauty, Sussex County is experiencing a shift from a rural environment of vast open spaces and popular beach communities to a network of dynamic towns growing in sophistication and economic diversity. As the opening decades of the new millennium continue to unfold, Sussex will undoubtedly hold and solidify its position as the place where people and businesses are moving forward.
Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island
Bethany Beach Offices
302-539-8011
www.townofbethanybeach.com
Fenwick Island Offices
302-539-3011
https://fenwickisland.delaware.gov
Chamber of Commerce
800-962-SURF
https://thequietresorts.com
Known as “The Quiet Resorts.” the small towns of Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island claim only about 800 year-round residents. This seven-mile stretch of sandy, Atlantic Ocean beach is ideal for swimming, fishing, surfing, sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, fishing, crabbing, water-skiing and boating. Nestled in the southeastern corner of the state, Fenwick Island attracts many retirees with its combination of small-town ambiance and superb recreational amenities.
The town is most famous for its historic lighthouse that began operating in 1859. Other attractions include an abundance of quaint shops and a magnificent state park. Bethany Beach and neighboring South Bethany Beach were founded in the early 1900s. Both maintain the charm of original cottages as well as single-family homes, handsome estates, vacation houses, condominiums, and lovely waterfront developments.
Georgetown
Municipal Offices
302-856-7391
www.georgetownde.com
Chamber of Commerce
302-856-1544
www.georgetowncoc.com
Home to just 4,210 residents, the county seat of Sussex offers the advantage of a centralized location. Quaint and appealing, the focal point of the town is “The Circle,” listed among the National Historic Records and dominated by the red-brick Greek Revival courthouse that was built in 1839. You’ll even see the original “ hipping post” near the town’s original Courthouse. Reverence for the past is most evident on the Thursday after the general election in November, when “Return Day” activities include a parade, the reading of the election results from the Courthouse tower, and the “burying of the hatchet.”
Boasting a progressive, vital economy that revolves around service and agriculture, Georgetown is home to the Sussex County governmental operations as well as Wilmington Trust, Eastern Shore Poultry, and Purdue poultry processing. In the community’s residential sectors, real estate options continue to reflect the prevailing harmony of the past with the present. Beautifully restored historic homes, handsome new construction, and contemporary developments are all available in or around Georgetown.
Lewes
Municipal Offices
302-645-7777
www.ci.lewes.de.us
Chamber of Commerce
302-645-8073
877-465-3937
www.leweschamber.com
Home to 2,300 residents, Lewes is the county’s northernmost coastal town. Situated on the Delaware Bay rather than the Atlantic Ocean, this historic community claims the title of “The first town in the first state.”Known for its fishing marinas, Lewes is also the site of an enclave of historic buildings and homes —many of which were carefully restored and relocated to the town. In fact, the collection of historic structures that form the town’s charming commercial district forms a clear reflection of yesterday’s “fishing village” atmosphere.
One of Delaware’s attractive “tourist towns,” Lewes manages to balance modern life with historic preservation at every turn. In 1931, the town commemorated its Tricentennial by constructing the Zwaanendael Museum, an architecturally amazing replica of a city hall in the Netherlands. Beebe Medical Center and the Barcroft Company represent major employers, although growth in all sectors is carefully managed to ensure quality of life. With its tranquil atmosphere and abundance of townhouses and condominiums, Lewes is growing in popularity as a retirement community.
Millsboro
Municipal Offices
302-934-8171
www.millsboro.org
Chamber of Commerce
302-934-6777
www.millsboro.org
Located along U.S. 113 and the meandering Indian River, Millsboro claims approximately 1,825 residents. The community is also the modern home of the remaining members of the region’s first inhabitants, the Nanticoke Indians. Almost completely surrounded by water, this scenic town enjoys the natural beauty of Millsboro Pond, Ingrams Pond, and Betts Pond. Cupola Park provides a wonderful recreation center with trails that offer vistas of the Indian River.
Among the companies and businesses that contribute to Millsboro’s flourishing economy are Conectiv, First Bank Center, Townsends, and Vlasic Foods. Newcomers will find a variety of home choices, from beautiful historic properties to newer construction in welcoming neighborhoods. The Millsboro area also embraces the community of Long Neck, distinguished as one of the county’s fastest growing residential havens —particularly among retirees who move to Sussex County.
Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach
Rehoboth Beach Offices
302-227-6181
www.cityofrehoboth.com
Dewey Beach Offices
302-227-6363
www.townofdeweybeach.com
Chamber of Commerce
302-227-2233
www.beach-fun.com
Incorporated in 1981, Dewey Beach claims only 230 permanent residents along its 21-block expanse. With a population nearing the 1,300 mark, Rehoboth blends magnificent old Victorians in the heart of town with new developments around its periphery. With Rehoboth Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Dewey Beach seems more like a barrier reef than a community. Water sport enthusiasts can enjoy a wide variety of activities, from skimboarding and sail boarding to catmaran sailing. Families with small children can enjoy the calmer bay waters.
The more highly developed town of Rehoboth Beach is known for its mile-long boardwalk, providing opportunities for walking, jogging, and cycling. In addition to the close proximity of the expansive Delaware Seashore State Park, Rehoboth offers diversions like miniature golf, arcades, food and candy booths, and a small amusement park. At the intersection of Rehoboth Avenue and the boardwalk is a bandstand that features live entertainment throughout the bustling summer season.
Seaford, Laurel
Seaford City Offices
302-629-9173
www.seafordde.com
Laurel Offices
302-875-2277
www.townoflaurel.net
Chamber of Commerce
302-629-9690
800-416-GSCC
http://www.seafordchamberofcommerce.com
Home of the DuPont Company’s first nylon plant, Seaford is also known for the exceptional quality of hunting and fishing opportunities. Situated on the Nanticoke River, Seaford received a ranking of 28 in “The Best 100 Small Towns in America.”With nearly 5,700 residents, this relatively small town is home to thriving businesses like Allen’s Hatchery and the DuPont plant as well as important historic sites, verdant parks, and a charming downtown district with a four-star restaurant.
Rich in heritage and natural beauty, Seaford is a proud and vital community that intermingles the dynamic energy of newcomers with deeply rooted, long-established families. Nanticoke River provides tributaries and freshwater ponds for recreation spaces, boat ramps, fishing piers, and a riverwalk. Other recreational facilities include tennis courts, swimming pools, athletic fields, a golf course, and a nearby skating rink. Although Seaford offers a collection of elegant Victorians as well as new construction, the nearby community of Laurel claims more buildings on the National Register of Historic Places than any solitary Delaware town.
