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'Sussex County' is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2000 the population was 156,638. The county seat is Georgetown. In 2005, the population of the county was estimated to be 176,548, an increase of 12.7%.
Sussex County is Delaware's largest county by land area, with . The first European settlement in the state of Delaware was founded in 1631 near the present-day town of Lewes. However, Sussex County was not organized until 1683.

Contents

History

Law and Government

Education

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Major highways

Economy

Demographics

Cities and towns

References

External links

History

See History of Sussex County

Law and Government

Sussex county's government is composed of an elected legislature and various elective executive heads of departments.
The county council is has five members; all are elected in and for specific geographic subdivisions for four years. This forms the legislative authority of the county, which then chooses a "County Administrator" or executive.
The current county council members are George Cole, Dales Dukes, Finley Jones, Vance Phillips, and Lynn Rogers.
The additional offices of Clerk of the Peace, Register of Deeds, Register of Chancery and Sheriff are elected at large.^[1]. These positions are held by George Parish, John Brady, David Wilson Sr., and Eric Swanson, respectively.

Education

There are 10 public school districts serving Sussex County. The schools include Cape Henlopen School District, Delmar School District, Georgetown Charter School, Indian River School District, Laurel School District, Milford School District, Seaford School District, Sussex Academy of Arts & Sciences, Sussex Technical High School, and Woodbridge School District. Most of these schools offer education for grade level K-12. Those high schools which participate in sporting events are members of the Henlopen Conference. There are also several secondary schools in Sussex County. Delaware Technical & Community College has the largest presence in the county, but students can also attend Delaware State University, Goldey-Beacom College, University of Delaware, and Wesley College.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,097 km² (1,196 mi²). 2,428 km² (938 mi²) of it is land and 668 km² (258 mi²) of it (21.58%) is water.
The eastern portion of the county is home to the Delaware beaches and many seaside resorts. The western side of the county is center of Delaware's agriculture industry with more acres of arable land under cultivation than anywhere else in the state.

Adjacent Counties

★ Kent County, Delaware - north

★ Cape May County, New Jersey - northeast¹

★ Worcester County, Maryland - south

★ Dorchester County, Maryland - southwest

★ Wicomico County, Maryland - southwest

★ Caroline County, Maryland - northwest
¹ ''across Delaware Bay; no land border''

Major highways

There are three major north-south highways in Sussex County:

★ US Route 13 in the west,

★ US Route 113 in the middle, and

★ State Route 1 along the coast
In addition, Sussex has a number of east-west thoroughfares, the primary being U.S. Route 9. State Routes 16, 18, 20, 24, 30, 54 and 404 also service the area, providing alternatives east-west routes to most municipalities in the county.

Economy

The average home and property price in Sussex County increased 250% in the ten years between 1995 and 2005. Local increases within Sussex County for this period include a 381% increase for Millsboro and a 609% increase for Millville. Sussex County is served by the Delaware Coast Line Railway, the Maryland & Delaware Railway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad.^[2]

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 156,638 people, 62,577 households, and 43,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 64/km² (167/mi²). There were 93,070 housing units at an average density of 38/km² (99/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.35% White, 14.89% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.02% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 4.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.9% were of English, 14.3% United States or American, 12.9% Irish, 12.5% German and 5.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 93.3% spoke English and 4.3% Spanish as their first language.
There were 62,577 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,208, and the median income for a family was $45,203. Males had a median income of $30,811 versus $23,625 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,328. About 7.70% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

★ Bethany Beach

★ Bethel

★ Blades

★ Bridgeville

★ Dagsboro

★ Delmar (part of Delmar is in Maryland)

★ Dewey Beach

★ Ellendale

★ Fenwick Island

★ Frankford

★ Georgetown

★ Greenwood

★ Gumboro

★ Henlopen Acres

★ Laurel

★ Lewes

★ Lincoln

★ Long Neck

★ Milford (part of Milford is in Kent County)

★ Millsboro

★ Millville

★ Milton

★ Ocean View

★ Rehoboth Beach

★ Seaford

★ Selbyville

★ Slaughter Beach

★ South Bethany

References

1. Sussex County - Government Structure
2. Looking to live in Sussex? Good luck

In MacKinlay Kantor's ''If the South had Won the Civil War'', Sussex secedes from Delaware to join the state of Maryland, which had also seceded after Lee's victory at Gettysburg.

External links

★ Official website

★
★ Official site of the Sussex County Sheriff

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★
★ Official Auction of Sussex County