Sussex County, Delaware

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware

Report to the Coastal Community Enhancement Initiative, 2007

Small Towns

EXPLORE Agriculture Sussex

Architecture

Religion Maritime

Landscape

Produced by the Center for Historic Architecture and Design and the Institute for Public Administration—University of Delaware

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware

Prepared by Andrew Homsey, David Ames, Xuan Jiang, and Rebekah Gayley

November, 2007

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA i Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

This report, Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, was funded through a grant from the Coastal Community Enhancement Initiative (CCEI), a cooperative partnership among the Colleges of Marine & Earth Studies, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Human Services, Education, & Public Policy at the University of Delaware. This is a joint project of the Center for Historic Architecture and Design (CHAD) and the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) , in the College of Human Services, Education & Public Policy (CHEP) at the University of Delaware.

The University of Delaware is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discrimi- nate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, veteran or handicapped status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment practices as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes. Inquiries concerning Section 504 compliance and information regarding campus accessibility should be referred to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator, 831-4643, located at 413 Academy Street. Inquiries concerning Title VII and Title IX should be referred to the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Affirmative Action, 831-8735, located at 124 Hullihen Hall.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA ii Contents Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County,

Delaware November, 2007

Overview 1 Introduction Sussex County in Context The Region Tourist Trends in Delaware The Potential of Heritage Tourism

2 Sussex County Trends Population Trends County-wide Trends Sussex County Development Zones, 1970 to 2000 Census County Divisions Census Tracts and Block Groups Land Use Trends County-wide Trends Sussex County Development Zones, 1992 to 2002 Census County Divisions

3 Identifying Heritage Themes The Natural Environment Setting the Stage Creating a Culture Fuel for the Economic Fire Settlement of the Sussex People Settlement along the Waterways The Railroad Era The New Resort Towns Ag is (Still) King Conclusion

4 Threats to Heritage Resources Threats from Environmental Pollution A County of Water The Role of Agriculture The Role of Development Pressure The Effects of Pollution Assessing the Problem Threats from Land Use Changes and Development The Varied Natures of the Threats Geographic Variability of the Threats Thematic Variability of the Threats Assessing the Threats Quantifying the Threats The Threat Factors The Threat Map

5 Conclusions Sussex County at a Crossroads Directions

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA iii Overview

Overview

This research assesses the astride the drainage divide of tentially negative impacts of feasibility of heritage tourism as the Chesapeake and Delaware growth on heritage resources in part of an economic develop- Bays. The western part of the Sussex. ment strategy for Sussex county is part of the Chesa- The research presented here County, Delaware. peake drainage system, while to indicates that a program of heri- the east drainage is to the Dela- The University of Dela- tage tourism has a great deal of ware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. ware’s Coastal Community En- promise, especially given that hancement Initiative (CCEI) is Until 1775, when the there is an already highly devel- responsible for funding this county officially became part of oped tourist infrastructure in research. Through a grant from Delaware, Maryland controlled many areas. In 2003, the county CCEI, the Center for Historic much of the southwestern por- attracted 2.5 million visitors, Architecture and Design tion of Sussex. Sussex has mostly to the beach and resort (CHAD) and the Institute for therefore traditionally been a communities in the east. There Public Administration (IPA) at place where the Eastern Shore are, however, a relative lack of the University of Delaware were culture of Maryland meets that tourist draws in many other areas able to study the heritage re- of Delaware. With a land area of the county. This study identi- sources of the county within the of 938 square miles, it is the fies seven distinct thematic context of land use trends, largest of Delaware’s three groupings of heritage resources demographic shifts, and threats counties, comprising nearly half around which tourism programs to cultural heritage in Sussex the area of the entire state. In may be built. Many of these the- County, Delaware. The goal 2005, it had a population of matic groupings have a wide throughout the project has been 176,500 with 19 percent living geographic range, occurring both to study Sussex County’s op- in towns of more than 2,500 in the more populous and visited portunities and challenges in and 53 percent living in rural east as well as the less known order to offer an economically areas. regions in the central and west- viable approach to heritage The county is at a critical ern portions of the county. The tourism. David Ames and An- stage in its history. It is experi- seven themes are: the natural drew Homsey were principal encing rapid growth which, if environment (including the investigators for the project, not carefully planned, may serve coast), maritime tradition, beach with assistance from graduate to undermine the historic and resort communities, historic ar- students Xuan Jiang and Re- cultural character of the county, chitecture, agriculture and agri- bekah Gayley. its attractiveness as a place to tourism, small towns, and religion. The most southerly of the live, and the potential for heri- three Delaware counties, Sussex tage tourism as an agent of eco- The beaches and resort is located on the east-central nomic development. In addi- towns of Sussex County have portion of the Delmarva Penin- tion to inventorying and map- long been summer tourist desti- sula with a shoreline fronting ping many of those resources nations, producing seasonal both the Atlantic Ocean and and recommending a heritage surges in the coastal population. Delaware Bay. The county lies tourism strategy for the county, Since the 1930s and 1940s resort this report also looks at the po- Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA iv Overview towns such as Rehoboth have ond, retirees created a demand The dual goals of heritage advertised themselves as mod- for new units, many of which tourism—to protect and sustain estly-priced “family” resorts. were built inland where land delicate and threatened cultural, The influx of summer beach- values were lower. New devel- historical, and natural resources, goers, however, did not greatly opment began migrating west- while enhancing the regional affect the rest of the county and ward from the coast. economy—may seem incompati- Sussex retained its rural, small ble. Certainly traditional tourism As a coastal county, Sussex town, agricultural character. activities have at times served to is not alone in the issues it Overall, from the 1930s to the degrade or diminish the area in faces. One of 673 coastal 1970s, the county’s year-round which they were practiced. Ex- counties in the United States, population grew modestly. Ag- ploitative or ill-conceived prac- Sussex is part of a national riculturally, as the largest pro- tices clearly can do harm to a trend of growth along our ducer of broiler chickens in the region, its people, and the long- coasts. Nationally, according United States, the county has term economic picture. Heritage to a recent report by the Na- long had a vital agricultural tourism, however, views the cul- tional Oceanic and Atmos- economy. tural, historic, and natural con- pheric Administration – Popula- texts of a place as the raison d'être In the 1980s, the number of tion trends Along the Coastal for the development of a tourist people coming to the beaches United States: 1980 – 2008(1)-- industry in the first place. Hence in the summer increased. At “our coasts are among the it would be ill-advised and that time, most summer visitors most rapidly growing and de- counter-productive not to ac- rented properties for a short veloped areas in the United tively and effectively protect time. By the 1990s more peo- States.”(2) Coastal counties those assets, which truly form ple were building new units or constitute 17 percent of the the “raw material” for the indus- buying existing units and choos- total land area of the United try as a whole. Among tourists ing not to rent them seasonally. States (not including Alaska) as well there is a growing appre- The effect of this was increased but account for 53 percent of ciation of authentic cultural land- property values, rents, and de- the total population. The scapes as central to their experi- mand for rental property. Na- northeast region—extending ence. As a county rich in histori- tionally, this period also saw a from Maine to tidewater Vir- cal, cultural, and natural re- generally sharp rise in real estate ginia—is the most populated sources, and a long tradition of values, especially close to coastal region in the United openness to tourists, Sussex is coastal areas. Rising housing States, home to 51.6 million well placed to take advantage of costs caused some displacement people or 34 percent of na- this economic development strat- of the population as both per- tion’s total coastal population. egy. manent residents and summer Coastal counties, such as Sus- visitors looked inland, for in- sex, are especially vulnerable to stance at towns such as Milton, population growth and devel- for less expensive places to live opment. Growth tends to be References or vacation. concentrated along coastal 1. Kristen M. Crossett, Thomas bays, inlets, and estuaries, During this period, the J. Culliton, Peter C. Wiley, and which generally host the great- Timothy Goodspeed, Population growing number of seasonal est wealth of delicate natural Trends Along the Coastal the United visitors was augmented by a habitats and ecosystems, and States: 1980 – 2008. Washington, wave of retirees who began are often subject to destructive D.C. NOAA (September 2004) moving to the coastal areas of natural forces such as storms eastern Sussex County. This 2. Ibid, p. 3 and flooding. Coastal regions shift has resulted in two major also tend to be the focus of shifts land use. First, since re- significant economic activities tirees are generally year-round including recreation, tourism, residents, the number of rental fishing, and waterborne com- units was reduced further. Sec- merce. Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA v 1. Introduction 1 Introduction

Sussex County in within easy reach for a large County using one of a few Context number of people from across major corridors, including the region. In fact, over Delaware State Route 1 from The Region 42,000,000 people—14 per- the north, US 13 from the cent of the population of the south, and State Routes 16 Sussex County lies cen- United States—live within a and 404, which connect to US trally along the mid-Atlantic 200 mile radius of the county, Route 50 and the Chesapeake seaboard, affording ready ac- based on U.S. Census data Bay Bridge (see Figure 1.2). cess to major population cen- from 2003 (see Figure 1.1).(1) Access is also provided by ters. Given its location, the ferry service across the Dela- county’s tourist amenities are Most people reach Sussex ware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey. The predominant method for accessing the county today is the automobile, though historically its waterways provided the main form of access from the outside. Today, the waters of the county represent a significant source of recreational potential, but initially, they enabled a thriving maritime economy, which included major shipbuilding facilities on the Nan- ticoke at Seaford and Bethel, and in Milford, along the Mis- pillion River. Ready rail access was established in the mid-19th century, encouraging an early and strong connection to major metropolitan centers, particularly to the north. Throughout its history, then, Sussex County has enjoyed a position of relative physical isolation from the main centers of urbanization,

Figure 1.1 Sussex County’s position along the eastern seaboard of the U.S.. but with a close interrelationship with these centers due to

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 1 1. Introduction

that year totaled $370 million. (2) Tourism in Delaware is a major economic contributor to the state, and Sussex County, particularly the beach areas, is the focus of much of the state’s tourist activities. Statewide, in 2004, it was estimated that the tourism industry generated approximately $1.2 billion in revenues, and directly supported almost 23,000 full-time jobs.(3) This makes travel and tourism, the 5th largest industry in the state, employing, directly and indirectly, almost 7 percent of the

Figure 1.2 Transportation system in Sussex County region. state’s workers. The preva- lence and importance of the tourism in Delaware have in- its proximity, varied transpor- in the spring/summer season creased significantly over the tation networks, and role as (between April and Septem- past few years. Figure 1.4 an agricultural and industrial ber), with 1,100,000 coming in shows the rise in the number producer. the 3rd quarter of the year of jobs related to the tourism alone (July through Septem- trade, both directly (purple ber). In all, it is estimated that bars) and indirectly (gold tourist spending in Sussex for Tourist Trends in Delaware bars). The tourism industry Sussex County has a relatively small population, but represents a major component of the tourist picture for the state, drawing visitors mainly from elsewhere in Delaware and nearby states. Maryland visitors comprise the majority, with Pennsylvania also con- tributing a large proportion of visitors (see Figure 1.3).(2) The major attraction for visitors are the beach and resort communities, and therefore most people visit in the summer months. In 2003 there were over 2.5 million visitors to Sussex County. Of those, over 1,901,000 (around 70 Figure 1.3 State of origin for all visitors to Sussex County in 2003. (Source: Global percent of all visitors) arrived Insight, Inc.)

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 2 1. Introduction

30000 It is estimated that currently, upwards of 60 percent

25000 of the population of the U.S. lives in one of 772 counties which lie along the country’s 20000 coastlines, and this trend is likely to continue.(4) As coastal 15000 populations, particularly those along the eastern seaboard,

Number of Jobs 10000 swell, more people will choose to visit, recreate, and

5000 settle in Sussex County. An increasingly aging population will also contribute to this 0 trend as retirees seek the re- 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 laxed lifestyle and relatively Figure 1.4 Jobs related directly (in purple) and indirectly (in gold) to the tourism indus- low cost of living the county try in Delaware. (Source: Global Insight, Inc.) offers. The impact of travel and tourism on the overall also represents a significant the central and western por- economic picture of the state source of state revenue, par- tions of the county have not and region, therefore, is cer- ticularly through income and traditionally been major tour- tain to continue to increase. property taxes, with contribu- ist destinations, the beach and The boom in coastal de- tions to the state, totaling resort areas to the east repre- velopment has the potential to nearly $163 million in 2004. (3) sent the single largest genera- cause several undesired ef- tor of tourist spending in Sussex County represents fects. For instance, the deli- Delaware, responsible for an extremely important com- cate ecosystems of coastal over 40 percent of the total ponent of the total revenue environments are often par- dollars spent (see Figure 1.5). generated by tourism and (3) ticularly vulnerable to human- travel in Delaware. Though induced disturbance. Tradi- tional ways of life and the

Wilmington 29.2% landscapes that these have engendered are also in danger from encroachment by devel- Sussex 5.3% opment. Additionally, rapid growth often places strains on

Newark 13.3% the ability of local services such as health care and emergency response to address Kent 11.6% increased demands. In particular, storm related emer-

Beaches 40.6% gencies, which may be increasing in occurrence and

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% severity due to climatic Tourism Expenditure changes, require a large degree of planning and resources to Figure 1.5 Relative importance of the Sussex County beach resorts in Delaware’s tour- address.(5) In Sussex County, ism picture. (Source: Global Insight, Inc.) therefore, as elsewhere, care-

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 3 1. Introduction ful planning to allow for de- which form the basis for a specific sub-type of tourism, velopment without damaging heritage tourism program are has been shown to attract visi- irreplaceable resources or en- ample, diverse, and retain tors who will stay longer and dangering human well-being much of their integrity. This spend more than the average must be undertaken. It is in report will outline many of tourist seeking entertainment the interest of all to ensure these by identifying three only.(8) From the standpoint that the essential economic broad thematic areas of cul- of heritage tourism develop- engine of the tourism and rec- tural heritage. A critical com- ment, Sussex County’s is in reation industries can be sus- ponent in the development of the enviable position of hav- tained, and that the resources, heritage tourism is a compre- ing a large “captive” audience amenities, and lifestyle which hensive plan to help guide the in the millions who flock to are the impetus for this eco- process by identifying oppor- its eastern shores for annual nomic vitality are not threat- tunities and threats, and indi- vacations. It is certainly pos- ened or destroyed. cate the path forward to en- sible that development and sure that the resources are not marketing of heritage sites

lost or diminished. across the rest of Sussex County will attract short term The Potential of Efforts to promote pres- visits from the resort areas in Heritage Tourism ervation occur at many scales the summer, as well as attract using many approaches. Heri- From its founding as a longer visits from those peo- tage tourism development is Dutch colony in 1631, Dela- ple seeking a heritage-based particularly attractive because ware’s historic landscape has experience. been shaped by many factors: it can simultaneously promote wartime skirmishes, the devel- the preservation of diverse Heritage tourism in Sussex opment of water-powered historic, cultural and natural County is an attractive option manufactories, the culture of resources across a wide geo- in terms of its viability and its small towns and historic graphic area while providing potential wide-ranging bene- architecture, the growth of opportunities for economic fits; it can also be a vital trade related to railroad trans- growth. While preservation mechanism to preserve the portation, the importance of has sometimes been viewed as historic character of the agriculture and the poultry being antithetical to job county in the face of residen- industry, and its natural growth and economic devel- tial and commercial develop- amenities such as bays, water- opment, successful heritage ment pressures. Population ways, and pristine ocean tourism programs can address growth and development in shoreline.(6) Sussex County’s both needs. the county has been great. In a single decade, 1990-2000, rich and diverse history serves In a study commissioned Sussex County’s population as a backdrop to the dynamic by the Delaware Economic increased by 43,409 people.(9) living community it now com- Development Office, tourism A recent demographic analysis prises. The fact that there are was identified as the fifth larg- revealed that Sussex County’s so many intact historical and est employer in the state . population is growing 2.2 per- cultural elements, along with According to Bureau of Labor cent per year, and is outpacing its attractiveness as a destina- Statistics Data, the leisure and the overall growth rate of tion for visitors and new resi- hospitality industry in Dela- Delaware, Pennsylvania, and dents, means that the county ware has grown in the ten- Maryland. Sussex County’s is well positioned for the de- year period from January 1, population is projected to in- velopment of heritage tour- 1995 to January 1, 2005 from crease 43.6 percent, from ism. 30.3 thousand employees to 175,775 to 252,376 in the pe- over 41.8 thousand employ- The resources and assets riod between 2005 and 2030. ees.(7) Heritage tourism, as a Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 4 1. Introduction

(10) boundaries. Rather, it is the structures. On the other, population that sprawls across however, it may have a much The greatest amount of former agricultural and for- greater, if not devastating, im- growth is occurring in the ested lands in scattered subdi- pact on area-based resources eastern part of the county. visions that threatens re- such as historic and agricul- Sussex County is divided into sources. Analysis of changes tural landscapes and environ- nine County Census Divisions in land use between the perimental resources. In either (CCDs). Milton, Lewes, ods 1974-1984 and 1992-2002 scenario, the outcome is re- Millsboro, and Selbyville- revealed an increasing trend grettable; the county’s historic Frankford are in the eastern toward this pattern of devel- character, consisting of build- half of the county. From 1980 opment. During the latter ings, townscapes, agricultural to 1990, these four eastern decade, 44,710 acres of land landscapes, and environ- CCDs grew nearly twice as changed from one use to an- mental resources, is an essen- fast as the western and north- other in the county. Of that tial part of the livability of the ern areas, gaining 9,000 new change, the largest conversion county, and of its attractive- residents. This trend has ac- was the loss of 12,755 acres of ness to visitors. celerated through the 1990s agricultural land to built-up and into the current decade. Today, and in the recent (predominantly residential) However, towns such as past, the landscapes of Sussex uses. This loss was partially Greenwood, Seaford, Bridge- County have been largely offset by the conversion of ville and Laurel in the western open and agricultural in na- 8,828 acres of forest and wet- edge are also experiencing ture, but this was not always lands to agricultural uses re- pressures from increased the case. Originally, as ex- ducing the net loss of agricul- population. Respectively, they perienced by the earliest set- tural land. In total, 15,400 experienced growth rates of tlers, the landscape had been acres of forest-wetlands were 53 percent, 18 percent, 30 predominantly characterized converted to agricultural and percent, and 18 percent, be- by dense forests inland from built-up uses. tween 1990 and 2005 (based the coastal bays and marshes. on US Census estimates for These land use changes Though most of these forests 2005). In fact, every incorpo- were mapped to assess their have long since disappeared, rated area in Sussex County areal distribution. As ex- they helped shape one of the experienced population pected, the areas with the early industries in the area— growth in the period between highest rates of land use shipbuilding, which developed 1990 and 2005 at a rate of at changes were in a band along along the Nanticoke River in least 10 percent, and as high the eastern coast and in the Bethel, and in the east, along as 247 percent in South Beth- west, in the Seaford area. the Broadkill River in Milton. any. Growth in the western Also revealed was a pattern of Slowly, over the course of at and central towns of the dispersed development (i.e. least a century, the forests county, though more gradual sprawl) throughout the were cleared and agriculture than in the east, has nonethe- county. came to predominate. Ini- less been increasing, with tially, the main crops included This finding has signifi- growth in population ranging strawberries, melons, holly, cant implications for the im- from 10 percent to 53 per- and sweet potatoes, which pact of land use changes on cent. were aided by the subsequent environmental, cultural, and arrival of rail lines throughout The threat to Sussex historic resources. On one the county. Railroads enabled County’s cultural and historic hand, the dispersed form of these perishable crops to resources does not come pri- development may have less reach urban markets to the marily from population in- impact on point resources, north more quickly. Agricul- creases within municipal such as individual historic Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 5 1. Introduction ture has retained its predomi- References 10. Delaware, Kent, New Castle nance in the economic and and Sussex Economic Profiles; physical landscape since then, 1. U.S. Census, 2003 State and Executive Summaries. University but it has undergone changes County QuickFacts, U.S. Cen- of Delaware Center for during that period. For in- sus Bureau. (2003) Demographic Analysis and stance, earlier crops have 2. Visitor Profile Study, Sussex Survey Research (2005), gradually given way to the County, Delaware Economic p .V:vii broiler industry starting in Development Office. (Feb, 1923 when Cecile Steele raised 2005) her first flock of broiler-fryer chickens. 3. How Important is Tourism in Delaware? (Presentation), The landscapes of Sussex Global Insight, Inc. (June, County have been evolving 2005) from the time of the arrival of humans. The current shift 4. Don Hinrichsen, Coastal away from agriculture and Population Explosion. Paper pre- agrarian lifestyles toward a pared for NOAA Workshop, pattern of more extensive Global Issues: The Next 25 residential communities con- Years. (1999) tinues this evolution. Un- 5. Economics and the Environ- precedented, however, is the ment, Human Links to Coastal speed at which these change Disasters, the H. John Heinz are occurring and the nature III Center for Science. (2002) of the threats to the county’s heritage. It is imperative, if 6. David Ames, Lisa McIl- the county’s landscapes and vaine, and Marcia Scott, Con- heritage are deemed valuable, cept Paper: Development of a that the impacts of these Heritage Tourism Industry in changes on small towns, cen- Delaware, University of Dela- tury farms and even the tradi- ware CHAD & IPA. (January tional beach communities 2005) with their small, working-class 7. U.S. Department of Labor cottages, be considered. Bureau of Statistics, Bureau of While the change in land- Labor Statistics Data, scapes two centuries ago from www.bls.gov (data extracted forest to agriculture did alter 06/03/2005) landscapes to a profound degree, traces of prior liveli- 8. Confer, John C. and Deb- hoods remained. The fear is orah Kerstetter. “Past Per- that without proper planning, fect: Explorations of Heritage the same will not be true into Tourism.” Parks and recreation; the future, as Sussex becomes Feb. 2000, Vol 35, Issue 2. increasingly edgeless, sprawl- Pg. 28-33. ing, and placeless. 9. US Census, www.census.gov (data extracted 07 /10 / 2007)

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 6

Stages of Sussex History

Earliest Settlement About 400 years ago, before Europeans arrived, Native Indians lived in Delaware along the banks of streams and rivers and the coast of the Delaware Bay. Around 1610, Delaware Bay was discovered by the Dutch, and in 1631 they organized a colony called Zwaanendael on Cape Henlopen, north of the present town of Lewes. Due to attacks on the colony, the Dutch had to rebuild Zwaanendael in 1660 and renamed the colony Ho- erekil (Hoere Kill). Early European settlement was concentrated in the vicinity of water transportation routes and did not penetrate far inland from the Delaware River and Dela- ware Bay. The map to the right illustrates the extent to which early settlements appeared along the Delaware Bay. Areas be- Source: Color map of Dutch settlements in Delaware, New yond the waterways were largely unexplored. York and New Jersey, along the Delaware and Hudson Rivers. (1666)

Founding of the Lower Counties Prior to 1704, Delaware was considered part of Pennsyl- vania and organized according to the customs of the Eng- lish government that ruled Pennsylvania. Known as the Lower Counties of Pennsylvania, Delaware’s counties were laid out by the governing body of Pennsylvania. This part of the country was settling quickly and by the end of the seventeenth century, towns were founded and farms were established across the three counties of Delaware, especially in New Castle County. As of 1704, Delaware became independent of Pennsylvania. The map to the left, from 1739, shows the demarcation between “Sufsex County” (current-day Sussex), and Kent County. Most of the inland waterways on the eastern part of the state were well charted by this time. Source: Map of part of the province of Pennsylvania. Chillas, David. (1739)

The Impact of Waterway Transportation Prior to the 1850s, when the railroad was brought to Sussex County, transportation of goods in the county was heavily dependent on a network of waterways. The 1820 map to the right shows the locations of towns such as Lewes, Georgetown, Dagsboro, and Millsboro. All, with the exception of Georgetown, had access to water. Although the towns of Seaford and Laurel were both founded well before 1820 (1726 and 1683, respectively) on the Nanticoke River, they do not appear on this map. Settlement and growth during this period in history was focused primarily on the center and eastern portions of the state. And trade was oriented towards the northern ports of Wilming- ton and Philadelphia. It was not until the railroad was established that western Sussex was opened to the rest of the state and region. Source: Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Tanner, Henry Schenck. (1820)

Railroads and the Rise of Agriculture The first railroad in Delaware was the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad built in 1832. In the 1850s, the Delaware Railroad was built and ran through the west of Delaware, from the north to the south of the state. This line linked Middletown, Clayton, Harring- ton, and Seaford. Later, a branch of the railroad was built through eastern Sussex to Lewes. The Delaware Railroad was very important to the farmers in western Sussex because it allowed them a means to get their crops to markets quickly. For this reason, the railroads were very important to the farmers in Delaware.

Source: New map of Maryland and Delaware with their Roads and distances. Mitchell, S. Augustus. (1850)

The Development of Resort Towns The advent of railroads in Delaware accelerated the development of resort towns in Sussex County along the Atlantic Ocean. Settlement had historically been dispersed in Sussex County. The extension of the railroad towards the south stimulated growth in existing towns while also establishing new ones. With the advent of relatively quick travel by rail, residents of regional population centers, such as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. traveled to the Atlantic Coast in Delaware to vacation for the summer. As a result, Rehoboth Beach, Beth- any Beach, and Fenwick Island were all founded during this era. The map to the right shows the rail lines that made Rehoboth Beach accessible to visitors traveling from a long distance.

Source: Map of Delaware. (1896)

DuPont Highway and the State Highway System After 1900, automobiles changed Delawareans’ way of life. In 1911, T. Coleman DuPont decided to build Delaware a highway linking the north and the south. DuPont Highway is today’s Route 13 from Clay- mont in the north to Dover, and Route 113 south of Dover to Selbyville. The highway, Delaware’s first modern paved road, was completed in 1924. With the completion of DuPont Highway, many other paved connecting roads were also built. Improved roads and streetcars lines, coupled with a growing middle class led to a significant suburban expansion in northern Delaware. Both the population and physical size of the towns increased during the twentieth century. New residential patterns of development changed the physical appearance the state, beginning in New Castle County and spreading to Kent and Sussex County. Today, Sussex is experiencing sprawling suburban development in many areas.

Source: Map of the state of Delaware, official road map. Delaware, State Highway De- partment. (1930)

8 2. Sussex County Trends 2 Sussex County Trends

Population Trends 250,000 County-wide Trends 200,000 Historically, Sussex County has been primarily agrarian and relatively isolated 150,000 from major population centers. For most of its history, Population 100,000 therefore, its population has remained low. From 1810 50,000 through the 1860s, the population of the county remained nearly stable at about 26,000. 0 By 1870, it had grown to ap- 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 Population proximately 31,600. After Year Projection that time, the population of Figure 2.1 Population trend of Sussex County, 1970-2030. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau Sussex County increased at a and Delaware Population Consortium Projections) steady rate of 10 percent per decade, reaching 52,502 by mated to have reached the time of the 1940 census. which time there was a large 180,275, an increase of 15 In the period following World influx of retirees and growth percent within just six years. War II, Sussex saw even more of the resort communities, Based on such trends, the of an increase, growing 14 saw the county’s highest population of Sussex County percent from 1940 to 1950 population growth rate to that is projected to reach over and approximately 20 percent time—40 percent —a trend 250,000 by 2030 (see Figure from 1950 to 1960. The which continues today. 2.1). population growth rate fell Between 1970 and 2000, closer to 10 percent in the the population of Sussex 1960s, with a resurgence in County almost doubled, Sussex County Develop- the 1970s, to 22 percent . growing from 80,356 to ment Zones, 1970 to 2000 The decade between 1980 and 156,638, an increase of 95 The pattern of population 1990 saw another small drop percent, according to the U.S. changes is uneven throughout in the growth rate to under 15 Census (see Table 2.1). In Sussex County and may gen- percent . The 1990s, during 2006, the population was esti-

1970 1980 1970-1980 1990 1980-1990 2000 1990-2000 Population 80,356 98,004 22.0% 112,129 14.4% 156,638 39.70% Table 2.1 Population growth in Delaware, 1970-2000. Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 9 2. Sussex County Trends

South, Georgetown, and Mil- ton; and western Sussex includes Bridgeville- Greenwood, Seaford, and Laurel-Delmar (see Figure 2.2). In 1970, the population distribution was relatively even across these three sub- areas. Eastern and western Sussex had similar populations of approximately 30,000 people, while central Sussex had approximately 20,000 inhabitants (see Table 2.2). Nationwide, there has been a trend of people increasingly migrating toward Figure 2.2 Sub-areas of Sussex County, showing Census County Division (CCD) coastal areas. It is not surpris- names. ing, therefore, that population growth in Sussex County was erally be broken down into includes Lewes, Millsboro, mainly focused in the east, three main sub-areas: eastern and Selbyville-Frankford; cen- with these coastal areas ex- Sussex, made up of the tral Sussex includes Milford periencing the highest growth beaches, Inland Bays, and resort communities; central Sus- 70000 sex, lying along U.S. Route 113, and made up of the 60000 largely agricultural area sur- rounding Georgetown; and 50000 western Sussex, along US 40000 Route 13, defined by the corridor linking the towns of 30000 Laurel, Seaford, and Bridge- 20000 ville and their environs. The U.S. Census has divided the 10000 county into nine Census 0 County Divisions (CCDs); East Central West each sub-area in the county roughly corresponds to three 1970 1980 1990 2000 of the CCDs. Eastern Sussex Figure 2.3 Population growth in the sub-areas of Sussex County, 1970-2000.

1970 1980 1990 2000 1970-1980 1980-1990 1990-2000 East 27,117 34,997 42,856 65,321 29.06% 22.46% 52.42% Central 20,646 24,695 29,491 38,947 19.61% 19.42% 32.06% West 32,593 38,312 40,882 52,370 17.55% 6.71% 28.10% County Total 80,356 98,004 113,229 156,638 21.96% 15.54% 38.34% Table 2.2 Total population and percentage population growth in the sub-areas of Sussex County, 1970-2000. Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 10 2. Sussex County Trends rates in each of the decades 100% between 1970 and 2000. In eastern Sussex, the population increased at the rate of 29 per- 80% cent in the 1970s, 22 percent in the 1980s, and 56 percent 60% in the 1990s. In central Sus- sex, the growth rate was 40% steady at about 20 percent through the 1970s and 1980s, jumping to 32 percent in the 20% 1990s. The population growth in the western part of the 0% county has been somewhat 1970 1980 1990 2000 slower than in the other two East Central West sub-areas. Here, the population grew at the rate of 18 Figure 2.4 Population distribution changes in the sub-areas of Sussex County, 1970- percent during the 1970s, 7 2000. percent during the 1980s, and

28 percent during the 1990s 30000 (see Table 2.2 and Figure 2.3). Between 1970 and 2000, 25000 the county as a whole saw a marked population increase, 20000 with the population center shifting eastward from its fo- 15 0 0 0 cus around the western industrial town of Seaford, toward 10 0 0 0 the coastal resorts. The relative distribution of western 5000 and eastern population was 0 virtually reversed in those Bridgeville- Seaford Laurel- Milford Georgetown Milton Lewes Millsboro Selbyville- three decades, with 41 percent Greenwood Delmar South Frankford of the population in the west 1970 1980 1990 2000 and 34 percent along the coast Figure 2.5 Population change in Sussex County, by CCD, 1970-2000.

County Subdivision 1970 1980 1990 2000 1970-1980 1980-1990 1990-2000 Bridgeville-Greenwood 5,902 6,285 6,899 9,462 6.49% 9.77% 37.15% Seaford 16,216 17,153 18,897 22,498 5.78% 10.17% 19.06% Laurel-Delmar 10,475 14,874 15,086 20,410 42.00% 1.43% 35.29% Milford South 10,400 12,323 14,044 16,525 18.49% 13.97% 17.67% Georgetown 5,615 6,470 7,776 11,811 15.23% 20.19% 51.89% Milton 4,631 5,902 7,671 10,611 27.45% 29.97% 38.33% Lewes 9,038 11,530 13,628 21,517 27.57% 18.20% 57.89% Millsboro 7,794 9,971 12,897 19,558 27.93% 29.35% 51.65% Selbyville-Frankford 10,285 13,496 16,331 24,246 31.22% 21.01% 31.22% County Total 80,356 98,004 113,229 156,638 21.96% 15.54% 38.34%

Table 2.3 Population and population growth rates in Sussex County, 1970-2000, by CCD. CCD names in red indicate western, those in black, central, and those in blue, eastern Sussex County areas.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 11 2. Sussex County Trends

0 - 0.10 0.10 - 0.15 0.15 - 0.2 0.20 - 0.25 0.25 - 0.30 0.30 - 0.40

(a) Population in 1970. (b) Population in 1980.

(c) Population in 1990. (d) Population in 2000. Figure 2.6 Population density change (people per acre) in Sussex County, based on census figures from between 1970 and 2000, by CCD. Labels indicate total population, with density shown in parentheses. in 1970, and 33 percent in the the percentage change during decennial year. These data are west and 42 percent along the each decennial period. These normalized by area, so that coast by 2000 (see Figure 2.4). graphics clearly demonstrate the colors indicate population the increasing rate of growth density within each CCD.

in the population of Sussex The number below each CCD Census County Divisions County, especially in those name indicates total popula- areas closest to the beach and tion, and the numbers in pa- Population trends based resort areas. rentheses indicate number of on Census County Divisions people per acre. Figures 2.7a- The map series in Figures were also examined for the d illustrate the growth rate in 2.6a-d illustrates the popula- period from 1970 to 2000, each CCD in each decennial tion trends in the county in using data from the decennial period between 1970 and the period of 1970 through U.S. Census. Figure 2.5 and 2000, as well as the growth 2000. The maps show the Table 2.3 summarize the rate for each CCD for the en- absolute population for each population of each CCD, and tire 30 years between 1970 Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 12 2. Sussex County Trends and 2000. Numbers on each 1990s. saw a shift in the highest map indicate the percentage growth rate from the south to Central Sussex growth rates in CCDs. the north, similarly to what Central Sussex saw most occurred in western Sussex. Western Sussex of its growth in the Milton Throughout the area, growth Over the period, in west- area between 1970 and 2000, rates were uniformly high, ern Sussex, the area of fastest with a population growth rate particularly during the decade growth shifted from the south of nearly 130 percent there. of the 1990s, with Lewes to the north. Laurel-Delmar Milford South, at the northern growing at a rate of 58 per- had the highest population end of the county, experi- cent, Millsboro at 52 percent, growth rate, 42 percent, in enced the lowest growth and Selbyville-Frankford at the 1970s, Seaford had the rate—under 60 percent. 31 percent. highest rate, 10.2 percent, in The highest population the 1980s, and Bridgeville- Eastern Sussex growth was seen in the east- Greenwood had the highest During the period from ern coastal region, but growth rate, 37.2 percent, in the 1970 to 2000, eastern Sussex rates and total population in-

Under 20% 20 - 35% 35 - 40% 40 - 50% 50 - 60% Over 60%

(a) 1970 to 1980. (b) 1980 to 1990.

Figure 2.7 Population changes in Sussex County, 1970-2000, by County Census Division.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 13 2. Sussex County Trends

> -21.7% between 1980 and 1990 based -21.7 - 0% on census tracts. The change 0 - 7.5% in population density, which is the number of people 14.6% 7.5 - 11.3% (0.037) 11.3 - 20.1% gained or lost by census tract, 20.1 - 34.7% per acre, is indicated in paren- 34.7 - 60.7% theses. Brown shades indicate 11.3% 9.8% positive growth rates, and (0.012) 3.2% (0.011) purple shades indicate nega- 30.0% (0.013) (0.050) tive growth rates. Darker shades indicate greater abso- 20.2% 52.4% lute rates. (0.036) (0.128)-21.7% 10.2% (-0.367) Growth during this period (0.034) 60.7% was focused along the Inland (0.102) Bays and in the Georgetown 6.2% area. Elsewhere, there were 7.5% (0.012) (0.026) modest rates of increase, ex- 16.3% -8.2% 34.7% cept, notably, in the least (0.013) (-0.018) (0.064) -0.3% populous areas at the extreme (-0.001) -3.0% southwest corner of the (-0.009) county and in the region en- compassing Cypress Swamp. Dewey Beach also experi- Figure 2.8 Population change in Sussex County, 1980-1990, by census tract. Percent- age change is indicated for each Tract, with the change in population density, in people enced small negative growth per acre, shown in parentheses. over this period. In general, the census creases were also relatively Census Tracts and Block tracts containing major towns high in the western portion of Groups saw greater growth than other the county. A shift toward areas, with the highest rates in higher growth rates in CCDs Prior to the 1980 Census, a the Tracts immediately inland to the north and east, is also Census County Divisions was from the coast. evident. In the 1970s, CCDs the smallest unit of measure- in the south—Laurel-Delmar ment of population available and Selbyville-Frankford— in Sussex County. In 1980, a Land Use Trends had the highest population new division was intro- growth rates for their respec- duced—the census tract— The term “land use” is tive sub-areas (42.0 percent which afforded the opportu- defined as a description the and 31.2 percent) whereas in nity for a greater level of type of activities which occur the 1990s, the northerly CCD analysis. Again, in 1990, data at a particular area at a par- of Bridgeville-Greenwood had were tabulated across an even ticular time. For example, a the highest rate in the west smaller geographic area—the given plot of land may be a (37.2 percent); at the same Census block group. Popula- farm, a factory, or a residence, time growth in the eastern tion trends were therefore a characteristic which deter- three CCDs was uniformly also examined using data pro- mines its land use classifica- higher than in any others. viding the highest level of de- tion. Each type of land use tail for each of these periods. has its own reason for occurring in a particular location, Figure 2.8 illustrates and has characteristic effects growth trends in the decade Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 14 2. Sussex County Trends on the landscape as a whole. acres of forests and wetlands ment across much of the In general, land uses follow a were converted to agricultural western portion of the county. progression from more uses, resulting in a net reduc- Gray areas on the map are “natural”, less intensive uses tion of agricultural land across protected from development to more “built-up”, more in- the county of 2.9 percent. due to regulatory or other re- tensive uses. The forests 15,400 acres of forests and strictions, so were not in- which once covered Sussex wetlands (i.e. natural areas) cluded in these calculations. County, for instance, have were lost to built-up or agri- The chart in Figure 2.11 de- long-since largely given way to cultural uses over the period, tails the conversion of land land cleared for agriculture a decrease of 6.6 percent. during this period, for certain and towns. In turn, many major land use class transfor- The map in Figure 2.10 farms have subsequently been mations. illustrates the distribution, converted to residential, com- character, and intensity of Looking at general trends mercial, and industrial uses, land use changes in the at the county level, it is possi- while certain areas within county from 1992 to 2002. ble to draw conclusions about towns have been redeveloped This map shows the relatively the course of land use and expanded. With some great amount of land being changes over the past several exceptions this transition converted to built up uses in decades. For the purposes of tends to be one-way: once a the coastal areas, the generally this investigation, land use natural area has given way to lower level of land use transi- classes were combined into a development, it does not go tion in the center of the few, generalized categories: back. county, and a pattern charac- Agriculture, Built-up, Forest- terized by dispersed develop- Wetland, Water, and Other. County-wide Trends Agriculture Built-Up Given the recent rapid Natural Land population growth in many Non-Buildable Towns areas of Sussex County, it is not surprising to see accelera- tion of land use change in many areas. Between 1992 and 2002 alone, approximately 44,700 acres of land (7.5 percent of the total land area) changed from one use to another in Sussex County. The areas of agricultural land and forests in particular have been shrinking, and the areas of built-up land have consis- tently grown. In this period, built-up, or developed, land increased by 30.9 percent, with 12,755 acres converted from agriculture and 6,571 acres from forests and forested wetlands. During this time, approximately 8,800 Figure 2.10 Emergent land uses in the period from 1992 to 2002. Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 15 2. Sussex County Trends

By aggregating the classes, Other Land and summarizing over a large Agriculture to Use Changes spatial extent, valid trends do Built-Up 13755 emerge. Figure 2.12 illustrates 12755 the general trend of conversion of farmland and of forests/wetlands to built uses in the nearly thirty year period from 1974 to 2002. This trend was apparent even for the early dates, and was shown to accelerate in later Forest- Wetland to periods. The rate of conver- Forest- Wetland to Other to Built-Up sion of natural and agricul- Agriculture Built-Up 6571 tural lands, therefore, is 8828 2801 shown to have increased in the decade between 1992 and Figure 2.11 Land use changes, Sussex County, 1992-2002 (numbers indicate acreage of 2002, a time in which, as has each change category). been shown, there was also a marked increase in popula- from the 1990s and beyond. snapshot of the land use for tion. In general, the data for 1974 each year; together they illus- and 1984, and those for 1992 trate a clear progression of Land use trends were ana- and 2002 were generated us- lyzed for 1974, 1984, 1992, land use changes. Four major ing compatible sources and categories are shown: red and 2002 (see Figures 2.13a- methodologies, but a valid d ). Such analysis can be very represents built-up areas, tan detailed comparison between represents agriculture, green helpful in determining the na- these two periods is problem- ture and rate of the changes in represents forests and wet- atic. It is for this reason that lands, and blue represents wa- land use. The data may be the data were highly general- compared to population, eco- ter. Of particular note is the ized into a few, general increasing intensity of devel- nomic, cultural, and other in- classes. formation to gain a clearer opment along the eastern understanding of causes and Figures 2.13a-d show a coast, and the increase in scat- to make predictions regarding 300000 future changes. The draw- back of using data from dif- 250000 ferent periods is that the sources of information (e.g. 200000 aerial photographs, satellite imagery, ground surveys, etc.) 150000 are often different. Often, Acre too, the methods for extract- 100000 ing information may change, due to differing emphasis on 50000 the part of compilers or to advances in technology. For 0 this reason, it is difficult, in A g ricult ure B uilt -up Land Fo rest -W et land particular, to compare land 1974 1984 1992 2002 use from the 1980s to that Figure 2.12 Land use pattern in Sussex County, 1974-2002. Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 16 2. Sussex County Trends tered and non-focused built changes during this time were treated below areas in the west. not uniform throughout the Eastern Sussex county. Changing land values

and settlement patterns drove In 1992, approximately Sussex County Develop- densities higher in the east 19.6 percent of all land area in ment Zones, 1992 to 2002 and encouraged more scat- the eastern section of the tered development in the county was developed. Over Closer examination of the west. Agriculture, too, tended approximately the next dec- pattern of land use changes to shift westward, with most ade, the amount of developed was made by the three county new agricultural land occur- land increased to 24.3 percent. zones (eastern, central, and ring in the central portion of From 1992 to 2001, the western) for the period be- the county, following the con- amount of developed land tween 1992 and 2001. Simi- version of forested lands. Re- increased 23.6 percent, with larly to the pattern of popula- fer to Figure 2.2 for an illus- 3,961 acres being converted tion change over the period tration of the three zones from agriculture, 2,693 acres from 1990 to 2000, land use

Land Use Type

Harrington Harrington Built-Up Milford Milford Agriculture Forest-Wetland Barren/Transitiona Water Other

CapeCape HenlopenHenlopen StateState PP CapeCape Henlopen State PP

LewesLewes LewesLewes

Georgetown Georgetown eederalsburgderalsburg eederalsburgderalsburg

Seaford Seaford

LongLong NeckNeck LongLong NeckNeck

Millsboro Millsboro

Ocean View Ocean View

Ocean City Ocean City Salisbury Salisbury (a) Land use patterns in 1974. (c) Land use patterns in 1984.

Harrington Harrington Milford Milford

CapeCape HenlopenHenlopen StateState PP CapeCape Henlopen State PP

LewesLewes LewesLewes

Georgetown Georgetown eederalsburgderalsburg eederalsburgderalsburg

Seaford Seaford

Long Neck LongLong NeckNeck Long Neck

Millsboro Millsboro

Ocean View Ocean View

Ocean City Ocean City Salisbury Salisbury (b) Land use patterns in 1992. (d) Land use patterns in 2002. Figure 2.13 Land use in Sussex County for four different years, from 1974 to 2002.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 17 2. Sussex County Trends from forest or wetlands, and 80,000

2,002 acres from other uses. 70,000 At the same time 2,087 acres of forests and wetlands were 60,000 converted to agriculture, 50,000 which nevertheless experi- 40,000

enced a net loss of 5.5 per- Acres cent. Forests and wetlands 30,000 decreased by 6.9 percent, with 20,000 4,780 acres of these land types being lost. Figures 2.14a-b 10,000 illustrate the general land use 0 trends and conversions for Figure 2.14a Land Agricultureuse in eastern Sussex County, Built-Up 1992-2002. Forest-Wetland this period. 1992 2002 Central Sussex 70,000 From 1992 to 2001, the amount of developed land in 60,000 the central parts of the county increased from 14,575 to 50,000 18,903, a rise of 29.7 percent, with 3,095 acres converted 40,000 from agriculture, 1,987 acres Acres 30,000 from forest-wetland, and 503 acres from other uses. 20,000 Though nearly 2,000 acres of forest and wetlands were con- 10,000 verted to agricultural land, agriculture still experienced a 0 net loss of 2.7 percent. For- Agriculture Built-Up Forest-Wetland est and wetlands saw a net 1992 2002 decrease of 4.8 percent, with Figure 2.15a Land use in central Sussex County, 1992-2002. 3,609 acres of this type being converted to agricultural or 140,000 built-up land (see Figures 2.15a-b). 120,000 Western Sussex 100,000 The western part of the 80,000

county is the largest of the Acres 60,000 three zones in area, and con- tains several important towns 40,000 and a good deal of agricultural 20,000 land. In 1992, 48 percent, 123,655 acres, of all the agri- 0 cultural land in the county was Agriculture Built-Up Forest-Wetland here. Between 1992 and 1992 2002 2001, the area of built-up land Figure 2.16a Land use in western Sussex County, 1992-2002. increased by 8,619 acres, or 45 Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 18 2. Sussex County Trends percent; 5,699 acres coming changes in Sussex County, percentage of the total, county from agriculture, 2,166 acres land use patterns at the CCD wide change accounted for by from forests and wetlands, level were also examined. As each CCD. Additionally, the and 804 acres from other land expected, the areas with the percentage of all land in each uses. Again, though 4,255 highest rates of land use CCD which has undergone acres of forests and wetlands changes occurred in a band some change is shown, both were converted to agriculture, along the eastern coast and based on the total area and on agricultural land still saw a around Seaford in the west. the area of buildable land slight net loss of 1.6 percent. Each of the nine CCDs ex- within each CCD. The latter During this period, forests perienced a unique and char- measure excludes those areas and wetlands decreased by 7.7 acteristic land use change pat- which cannot be developed percent, a loss of 6,371 acres tern. Figure 2.17 shows, for due to environmental, regula- (Figures 2.16a-b). each CCD, the acreage in each tory, or other restrictions, for of three major land use cate- example, tidal wetlands, state

gories, in 1992 and in 2001. parkland, and those lands in permanent agricultural ease- Census County Divisions Table 2.4 details the total ment. In the Lewes CCD, for amount of land that changed To provide a more de- example, in the period from use in the period from 1992 tailed picture of the land use 1992 and 2001, only 8.3 per- to 2001 for each CCD and the

70,000

60,000

50,000

40,000 Acres

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 Bridgeville- Georgetown Laurel-Delmar Lewes Milf ord South Millsboro Milton Seaford Selbyville- Gr emwood Fr ankf or d

Agriculture1992 Agriculture2002 Built-Up1992 Built-Up2002 Forest-Wet land1992 Forest-Wetland2002

Figure 2.17 Land use change in Sussex County by CCD, 1992 to 2001.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 19 2. Sussex County Trends cent of total land area changed from one type to another, but in fact 15.1 percent of buildable land underwent a change.

% of Total % of Buildable Acreage % of All Changes Total Acre- Acreage Total Buildable Acreage County Division Changed in Sussex County age of CCD Changed Acreage of CCD Changed Bridgeville- Greenwood 4,634 10.4% 68,598 6.8% 59,123 7.8% Georgetown 2,959 6.6% 45,586 6.5% 36,772 8.0% Laurel-Delmar 8,391 18.8% 117,575 7.1% 103,923 8.1% Lewes 4,805 10.8% 57,679 8.3% 31,780 15.1% Milford South 4,054 9.1% 82,686 4.9% 61,725 6.6% Millsboro 5,252 11.8% 63,576 8.3% 54,809 9.6% Milton 3,084 6.9% 40,746 7.6% 35,621 8.7% Seaford 4,469 10.0% 60,722 7.4% 52,609 8.5% Selbyville- Frankford 7,031 15.7% 89,286 7.9% 62,583 11.2% Sussex County 44,679 100.0% 626,455 7.1% 498,945 9.0% Table 2.4 Summary of land use changes in Sussex County, by CCD, 1992 to 2002.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 20

3. Heritage Themes 3 Identifying Heritage Themes

A goal of this project has in this report does not span environment, the settlement been to document heritage 10,000 years, but it does tell a patterns of people, and the resources in Sussex County. rich and textured story. In legacy of agriculture. The aim We define heritage as a com- the landscape as well as in of creating these categories is bination of the cultural, his- narrative accounts, the evolu- to not only help the public toric and natural resources of tion of daily life in Sussex is understand Sussex’s heritage an area. The good news for revealed. Delaware is known but to also tell a compelling Sussex is that if those re- as the “First State” because it story about the county. What sources could be converted was the first of the thirteen will be revealed is that Sussex into economic ones then Sus- colonies to ratify the US Con- County has a layered land- sex County would be quite stitution on December 7, scape in which the natural en- wealthy. 1787. Sussex County boasts vironment, the settlement pat- the title of being the oldest terns of people, and the im- Long before Europeans part of the state because it portant industry of agriculture “discovered” the land that was the site of the first colony each forge and mould a dis- would later become Sussex in Delaware, Zwaanendael tinctive perspective of Sussex. County, the area was inhab- (present-day Lewes), estab- ited by descendents of Asian lished in 1631. Additionally, upper-Paleolithic nomads Sussex is the site of eleven The Natural who crossed the Bering Strait more towns settled prior to land bridge some 10,000 years Environment US independence. There are ago. There is evidence that currently twenty-five incorpo- Setting the Stage over thousands of years the rated areas in Sussex County; descendents of these people It makes sense to begin fifteen were settled by the established sophisticated trade the tour of Sussex County’s close of the 18th century. routes that stretched half-way heritage by setting the stage Lewes, the oldest town, re- across the continent.(1) The and describing its natural cently celebrated its 375th an- Native Americans with whom landscape which varies from niversary. European settlers had first east to west and from north contact in Delaware were part It becomes clear that to south. If one were to look of either the Nanticoke or the when talking about Sussex’s at a map of Sussex County, Lenape (sometimes Leni- heritage there is a lot to con- the most obvious feature lenape) tribes. Unfortunately, sider. To better display and would be its coastlines. Sus- the traces of this past have write about this heritage, the sex County has access to two largely been lost, with the ex- cultural, historic and natural coasts: the Atlantic Ocean is ception of the Nanticoke In- resources of Sussex County to the east and the Nanticoke dian settlement, located east have been put into the con- River draining to the Chesa- of Millsboro, Delaware. text of three broader narra- peake Bay is to the west. tives: the natural environment Though history discussed When Dutch settlers first of Sussex including the coastal landed in Delaware in 1631 TowardTowardToward Heritage HeritageHeritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,SussexSussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 21

3. Heritage Themes after months at sea, they discovered a land densely covered with wetlands and forests. If today’s visitors wanted to better imagine the unexplored landscape settlers encountered, they would be wise to visit Primehook Na- ture preserve just north or Lewes, or one of the many other nature reserves along the county’s coastlines: the Cypress Swamp, Nanticoke Wildlife Area, Assawoman Wildlife Area, or Fenwick Is- land State Park. Inland from Figure 4.1 Church in Sussex County. Note the forested background; this is how most the coastlines, Sussex County of Sussex County once looked. (Source: CHAD Archives) was heavily wooded throughout the colonial era. The part the land granted to Wil- wooded area offered what liam Penn by the King of appeared to be a limitless sup- Creating a Culture England. However, William ply of timber for new dwell- The natural environment Penn was a Quaker and re- ings, shipbuilding and other of Sussex County has proven fused to take military action to pursuits. If one uses a bit of to be more than just the set protect southern Delaware imagination, visitors to Sussex on which Sussex County’s from the pirate attacks. De- County can still experience historic narrative unfolded. fenseless and angry, the set- this “wooded hinterland” The early wooded and coastal tlers argued strongly and con- when they visit places like the landscapes contributed equally vincingly that Delaware ought Marshy Hope Wildlife Area, to the shaping of the culture to separate from Pennsylvania Cedar Creek Nature Preserve, in the county by creating a and form their own militias Trap Pond State Park or Red- forest economy. The ready for defense. Three centuries den State Forest. Sussex supply of timber dictated the later, a do-it-yourself attitude County is also home to the types of homes built through- is still found among many most northern extension of out the county: log or frame southern Delawareans; per- Cypress trees in the Cypress houses as opposed to the haps it is partially linked to Swamp, as well as a northern brick that became common in this earlier event. extension of pine trees that New Castle and Kent Coun- The forested areas of the begins in Texas. So much of ties to the north. The timber county made it difficult to Sussex’s landscape has been supply also allowed for ship- defend because it was closed converted to agriculture that building to expand as Sussex to internal travel and move- many have forgotten that County’s first major industry. ment. Sussex’s hinterland was Delaware was once covered in difficult to reach and this kept the virgin forests that However, Sussex County population growth in the stretched across most of the was remote, even by colonial county modest from its northeastern United States. standards. Consequently, it founding until very recently. The parks and wildlife re- was left open to attack by pi- This, in turn, contributed to serves offer a glimpse at that rates during that early colonial Sussex’s reputation as a past. period. During the late 1600s, Delaware was still considered county of small towns with a

TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 22

3. Heritage Themes slower way of living. In Fenwick Island as “Cape pected ways. First, residents Southwestern Sussex County Henlopen.” For those unfa- filed property taxes and deeds a border dispute kept that part miliar with the geography of with both Delaware and of the county “lawless” and the Delmarva Peninsula, Fen- Maryland until 1769. A large undeveloped for many years. wick Island is approximately amount of land in western Until 1769, residents living in twenty-five miles south of Sussex had been granted by western Sussex County were Cape Henlopen. both the Penns and the Cal- not sure if they were residents verts. Landowners quickly In 1750, it was decided by of Delaware or Maryland. realized that a disputed land the courts that the original title would render the land The confusion worthless if it had to began in 1632 when go to court. To cir- the Calverts who cumvent this unfor- had settled in Mary- tunate situation prior land claimed that the to 1769, land titles Maryland Charter were entered with gave possession of both proprietors.(2) land “hitherto unset- tled by Europeans” Second, Maryland’s north of Virginia on influence is seen in the peninsula. The the architecture of Penns claimed that Western Sussex as the Zwaanendael well as in the town settlement (site of design of George- present-day Lewes) town. Georgetown’s was established in Figure 4.2 The Woodland Ferry enables passage between Western street design follows 1631 and therefore Sussex County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, over the Nanticoke a pattern of a central could not belong to River. (Source: CHAD Archives) circle with arterial Maryland. From streets forming a 1684 until 1769, this wheel-and-spoke de- argument continued in the map would be used: the bor- sign. This pattern mirrors British courts and political der would be drawn westward Annapolis’s baroque style, not circles. In 1732, the two par- from Fenwick Island. Two Philadelphia’s or Wilming- ties agreed to draw a line famous British astronomers ton’s grid pattern. Built in westward from Cape and surveyors then deter- 1727, the Maston House near Henlopen to the Chesapeake mined the final boundary be- Seaford is viewed as a and to accept this as the tween the states. Charles Ma- “Maryland house in Dela- southern boundary of Dela- son and Jeremiah Dixon ar- ware” (National Register ware. The mid-point of this rived in Delaware in 1763 and Nomination) because of its line would extend northward completed the boundaries af- architectural style and details. to the Pennsylvania border ter four years of astronomical Third, western Sussex and form the western bound- observation and field surveys. towns such as Seaford, Bethel ary of Delaware. Each party On January 29, 1768, they and Laurel historically based agreed. completed their work and the their economic livelihoods on border dispute between Mary- Unfortunately, the parties the Chesapeake Bay rather land and Delaware finally were agreeing to something than the Atlantic Ocean and ended. which neither realized: the so they found similarities with map attached in the agree- The results of this border Maryland towns rather than ment incorrectly identified dispute are displayed in unex- Delaware ones. TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 23

3. Heritage Themes

Jumping ahead two centu- Chesapeake Bays is only five ries, from the pirate attacks miles. While Sussex did not and border disputes to the have the monopoly on trade turn of the nineteenth cen- for the state – that occurred tury, a religious trend began to further North in New Castle take shape in the northeastern County – it did receive eco- United States in which con- nomic benefits from being in gregations set up religious re- such a strategic location. vivals and camps at beaches. Geographical location Again, Sussex’s geography aside, Sussex County families influenced its cultural heri- have depended on the land tage. Sussex County, with its and water for their livelihoods Atlantic coastline, was an ex- since it was first settled. In cellent site for such camps fact, the 1631 crew that Cap- and the towns of Rehoboth tain deVries, the Dutchman and Bethany were established. who settled at Lewes (then Figure 4.3 The legacy of Sussex called Zwaanendael), came to County’s shipbuilding past is visible in the US in a ship called Walvis, most old cemeteries, on the grave stones Fuel for the Economic Fire or whale. He was lured by of former seamen. (Source: CHAD The natural environment rumors that the Delaware Bay Archives) lent an important hand in was filled with whales. How- shaping cultural influences in ever, his hunting expeditions were futile. Sussex. Had the landscape not thousands, of horseshoe been tamer, prairie instead of Whaling was not the only crabs that come on shore to forest, or without its coast- failed attempt at harnessing lay their eggs and are then lines, then the culture of the the ocean for economic gain. stranded when the tide goes county would have been car- Enterprising individuals also out. Their crustacean bodies ried along a much different tried salt-making, but without line the sands, making the trajectory. The natural envi- much success at a large scene look like a veritable ronment of Sussex County is scale. Though whaling and “slaughter.” important as the stage for salt-making never actually be- Oyster collecting is more events and as an influence of came major industries, fishing, unique to Sussex County. culture. It is also extremely crabbing, and oyster collecting Most coastal counties have important as an economic did. Deep sea fishing off the some element of fishing and force throughout the history Atlantic Coast offers eco- crabbing as part of their heri- of the county. It begins with nomic benefits today, as fish- tage; not all, though, are a simple geography lesson that erman from all around the blessed with the rich oyster allowed Sussex to prosper. world travel to this area for beds that were found in Sus- the sport. Bethany Beach and The state was an impor- sex County by early settlers. Fenwick Island host a spring tant trade center during the The European settler used the surf fishing tournament each colonial era because it linked oyster as a source of food and year that draws large crowds. northern cities, via the Dela- lime. The shells were burned The waters around Sussex ware River, to southern cities to make most of the plaster County are plentiful with via the Chesapeake Bay. At and mortar that was used in crabs – both the edible and certain points in northern the colony.(3) An individual inedible varieties. The town Delaware, the distance be- could easily earn a living from of Slaughter Beach received tween the Delaware and the oyster collecting during this its name from the hundreds, if TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 24

3. Heritage Themes period. The oyster beds were so large and so bountiful in Lighthouses are the Indian Bay that many be- prominent features lieved that they would never along Delaware’s shoreline and were con- run out. By 1812, though, structed early in Sus- people began to realize that sex’s history. Life- this belief was wrong. The saving stations were also oyster bays in Connecticut established along the had dwindled in size some Atlantic and Delaware years earlier so oystermen Bay coasts. The Dela- from that state began trolling ware Bay was notorious Delaware’s water for oysters. for its treacherous wa- It put too much demand on ters because the Bay is the oyster beds, and in 1871 relatively shallow and it the General Assembly of causes many large ships Delaware had to put very to run ashore. As a re- strict controls on all oyster sult, many innovative designs were made to collection. Today, the oyster help keep ships safe. beds are slowly recovering but For instance, lightships, cannot provide the same eco- or floating lighthouses, nomic advantage as they once were first introduced in did. 1820 to aid the naviga- tional systems of pass- Figure 4.4 East End Breakwater Lighthouse. Shipbuilding, like oyster ing ships. There was a (Source: University of Delaware Library Collec- collection, is another water- lightship station at tion) based industry that rose and Overfall Shoals in near fell. As mentioned before, Lewes, marking the en- shipbuilding was an important trance to the Delaware Bay. The National Harbor of Refuge and Dela- industry for Sussex County ware Breakwater Harbor Historic District is one site visitors inter- for many years. The town of ested in this part of Sussex’s history ought to visit. Other lighthouses Bethel, in Western Sussex, is and life-saving stations in Sussex County include the Lewes Life-Saving located on the Broad Creek Station Boathouse (c1884), the Bethany Beach Indian River Life Saving which drains into the Nanti- Service Station, the Fenwick Island Lighthouse Station, the Delaware coke River and then to the Breakwater East End Lighthouse, the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay, was the site Lewes, and the Mispillion River Lighthouse. of a robust shipbuilding econ- All of the lighthouses and life-saving stations have individual sto- omy during the nineteenth ries of heroics. For example, the Lewes Life-Saving Station Boathouse century. is best known for its actions during a freak snow squall in 1888. The blizzard caused dozens of ships to wreck off the coast and the life- In the east, Milton crafted saving station is credited with many brave rescues. Lighthouses and the vessels that were used on light-saving stations are very much a part of Sussex’s landscape and the Atlantic Ocean. The ship- history. Without them, the towns established near the coastline man yards used timber cut in Sus- not have flourished as they did. sex County, giving the county Differing from lighthouses in their purpose, watchtowers were an advantage that other ship- built along Sussex County’s shoreline during WWII to protect the yards did not have. The ship- country from enemy attacks. Eleven concrete cylinders rise from the builders also became fine car- coastline, from Fenwick Island to Cape Henlopen. These watchtowers penters in their own right, and are unique to the Sussex County shoreline but were obsolete soon after their handiwork can be seen construction. in the older homes in towns TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 25

3. Heritage Themes such as Bethel and Milton, Visiting Sussex County in 3 Stops: along with Ocean View, Sea- ford and Laurel. However, Heritage tourism is partly about what you can see from the road, shipbuilding began to decline whether driving or biking. Sussex County has a rather amazing his- in the late nineteenth century tory and three stops in Sussex would introduce the tourist to the as the forests were depleted range of experiences possible to them in the county. In the east, the first stop would be the town of Lewes at Cape Henlopen on the coast and as steam-powered ships of the Delaware Bay; the second is in the Cypress Swamp in south surpassed the sail-powered central Sussex; and the third place, the town of Seaford, is near the wood ships made in Sussex. county’s western border on the Nanticoke River which crosses Mary- Today, even with the vir- land to empty into the Chesapeake Bay. gin forests gone north of the Cypress Swamps and the coastlines mainly used for recreation, many Sussex residents still depend on the land for their income through agriculture. The land cleared by early residents during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was good for plant- ing crops. The earth in Sus- sex County is wet and fertile and Sussex residents took full advantage of that by growing Figure 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 Church in Lewes; Delaware Cypress Swamp; Seaford Train Sta- sweet potatoes, strawberries, tion. (Sources: www.flickr.com; www.destateparks.com; CHAD archives) melons and peaches, among many other crops. The farm- in Sussex County occurred New towns are generally land in Sussex County re- while the interior was still located along the Atlantic mains very productive. covered in dense forests in the coastline and the Route 1 The Sussex landscape is 1700s. Settlement, therefore, highway corridor in Sussex evolving again – this time, came from the east and west County. Each stage of settle- from agricultural to built-up and concentrated along water ment brings with it stories of areas. What is worrisome is routes. As the landscape the people of Sussex County the speed at which the change transformed from dense for- and the types of communities is happening; with little time est to agricultural lands in the where they lived. During past given to understanding how 1800s, the interior was stages of settlement, towns the changes to the landscape opened and rail lines brought remained the central organiz- will affect small towns, family new people to the county. ing force in the county. farms and the traditional Finally, in the most recent Known as a county of small beach communities. stage of Sussex history, the towns, Sussex differs from coast has gained popularity Kent and New Castle Coun- Settlement of the with the coastal highway ties in the north by the num- Sussex People Route 1 that opened the area ber of towns – 25 in total – The evolution of the land- to vacationers and year-round found within its borders. scape coincides to great extent residents. The county has These towns tell fascinating with the waves of settlement accommodated this interest and distinctive histories of the experienced in the county. with new housing projects county as a whole. Water-oriented development and commercial development. TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 26

3. Heritage Themes

The twenty-five “jewels” most recent town to incorpo- Fenwick Island were also set- of Sussex County, as the rate was Dewey Beach, which tled during the 17th century towns are called, each have did so in 1981. though it took many years for their unique personalities. the population to become

Over half share a long history substantial enough for incor- with fifteen of the twenty-five Settlement along the poration. All of these towns jewels founded before 1800. Waterways share a common trait of being An additional five were on easily navigable waters. founded between 1800 and Delaware settlement be- Bethel and Laurel grew as 1899, and four were founded gan in 1631 when the Dutch shipbuilding towns along the during the first half of the landed near the opening of Broad Creek in the west, as twentieth century (there is one the Delaware Bay. Water ac- did Milton which was situated town without information). cess, therefore, has historically along the Broadkill River in the east. The towns were able In Delaware, a distinction dictated where towns were to easily move wooden, sail- is made between when a town settled. Some of the oldest powered ships to the Chesa- is founded and when it is in- towns in the county exist at peake and the Atlantic waters. corporated. “Founding” the eastern and western ex- Water access was and contin- means that families grouped tremes of the county where ues to be crucial for these together to establish a town. water access allowed for easy communities. Therefore, it Perhaps a post office was in- settlement. Lewes was was important to keep the stalled. Incorporation is a founded by the Dutch in water protected and the peo- legal process of establishing a 1631. Although this is some- ple safe. To do this, a num- local government and receiv- thing most Delaware residents ber of lighthouses and life- ing special status from the know, few may realize that saving stations were con- county. In 1791, George- Milton was founded just forty structed the coasts of the At- town, as the county seat, be- years later (1672) and Laurel lantic Ocean, and the Dela- came the first town to incor- was founded ten years after ware Bay and River. porate in the county. The that (1683). Slaughter Beach, Ocean View, Milford and

First Stop: Lewes, Delaware

Lewes is a good place to start in the County. It was the ini- tial point of settlement by the Dutch in 1644 and it chroni- cles the succession of Dutch, Swedes, and English colonists, all of whom left their distinctive architecture marks. The most striking is the stepped, gable, red-brick Zwaanendael Museum designed by E. William Martin and built in 1931. The English influence can be seen in the handsome Georgian houses built by English sea captains. These reflect Lewes’ most important role as Sussex County’s market town and door to the larger world of North American and Atlantic trade. It was the port from which the county exported tim- Figure 4.8 Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes. (Source: ber and forest products such as shingles north to Wilming- www.lewes.com) ton, Philadelphia, New York, and beyond. It was home to a fishing fleet that plied the Delaware Bay and River, which was an important part of the county’s economy. Burned twice, raided by pirates, shelled by the British during the war of 1812, the town boasts a colorful history. It was also the seat of Sussex County government for its first 150 years. Today, it is a resort town that blends its historic character with recreation on the beach and fishing. It is the terminal for the Lewes- Cape May Ferry.

TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 27

3. Heritage Themes

crease from 553 in 1860 to 895 in 1880. Milford saw a similar increase during that time period; it grew from 584 people in 1860 to 1,034 in 1880. This great population growth was certainly aided by the new railroads in the county. The Baltimore, Chesapeake, and Atlantic Rail- road was established during the late 1850s; this line ran on the western edge of the county and connected the towns of Greenwood, Bridge- Figure 4.9 Farmland in Sussex County. (Source: CHAD Archives) ville, Laurel, Seaford, and Del- mar. Delmar was not a set- The architectural styles located in towns settled prior tled area prior to the railroad; found in pre-railroad towns to 1856 (the year that railroad its founding is set at 1859, the were influenced by the Dutch lines were established in Dela- year that it became the termi- and Swedish log home and ware): Bethel (1720c); Bridge- nus for the BAC Railroad line. later by the Georgian style. ville (1747); Laurel (1683); Greenwood, founded in 1856, The oldest homes in Sussex Lewes (1631); Milford (1680); also owes its existence to the County are almost always and Milton (1672). These his- railroad. Close to half of the constructed from wood frame toric districts offer fine exam- “25 Jewels” in Sussex County as brick was unattainable in ples of the architectural styles were officially incorporated Southern Delaware. Ship used throughout the past 350 during the forty year period Carpenter’s square in Lewes years in Sussex County. between 1865 and 1905. In- displays a wide variety of ar- corporation status was pur- chitectural styles, though not sued after these communities all are native to Lewes (many The Railroad Era experienced economic pros- of the homes were moved to perity and population growth the square from elsewhere in What helped the most to brought by the railroad. Sus- the county). All of Sussex open up the interior of the sex County was no longer the was conservative with archi- county was the establishment isolated county prone to pi- tectural styles and often of several railroad lines run- rate attacks. Because im- lagged behind national trends. ning north to south in the proved highways were un- This means that while the rest state of Delaware. The Dela- known until T. Coleman Du- of the east coast was caught ware Railroad was completed Pont began to build the Du- up in a Gothic Revival craze in 1856 and within a few years Pont Parkway in 1911, the from the 1840s to the 1860s, it had expanded with spur railroad was the county’s life- it did not reach a place like lines to connect most of the line to the rest of the north- Ocean View until 1885 or Delmarva Peninsula. The east corridor. later – after the railroad was Delaware Line passed through The railroad not only established. Largely, the the center of Sussex County, brought people and goods towns kept to simple, ver- giving new life and momen- into the county, it also helped nacular styles. Of the Na- tum to the towns of Ellendale move goods out, to larger tional Register Historic Dis- and Georgetown. George- markets in Wilmington, Phila- tricts in Sussex County, all are town saw a population in- TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 28

3. Heritage Themes

Second Stop: Sussex County Cypress Swamp known as the Melon Capitol, and also for its sweet potato The Cypress Swamp in southern Sussex County is the second neces- production. Milton and Mills- sary stop. It is the most northern stand of cypress in the United boro became national centers States. A visitor needs to spend some time and take in the Swamp for holly wreaths and other with its watery floor punctuated by tall Cypress trees topped by holiday decorations. Before broad leafy canopies and anchored by the spreading bell-like base of the railroad, strawberries, mel- their trunks. The traveler will have to imagine how much of the county was covered by forest marshes when the Europeans first ar- ons, and holly would have rived. Indeed, at the end of the Pleistocene geologic period -- some never survived the long route 12,000 years ago – most of Sussex County was covered in forest to market via land or water. marsh, as indicated by borings taken of the soil. Railroads ensured that crops made it to market at their The history of the county and its landscape is tied to that forest. peak of freshness, before rot In the first 150 years, the forest provided the economy through could begin. logging and forest products while at the same time its density and marshy floor blocked extensive settlement. Agriculture was subsis- Though agriculture was tence and practiced in the forest in small fields. To be farmed, the the leading economic force forest marsh had to be drained during the railroad heyday, it and cleared which was slow and was not the only one. Spin- arduous work. Standing timber off industries produced fruit (including oak, cypress, popular baskets to carry peaches and and pine) was cut, and buried cypress was mined for the pro- tomatoes to market.. C85 duction of shingles, plank, bar- Canning became very im- rel staves, tan bark and ship portant sources of revenue for stores. Forest products were towns. The canning process shipped by water to Philadel- was invented in France in phia, Wilmington, and New York. Forest economy pro- 1795 by Nicolas Appert who Figure 4.10 Cypress Swamp at Trap duced several significant by- competed for a prize of Pond State Park. (Source: 12,000 Francs from Napo- products such as improved www.destatepark.com) transportation systems, ship- leon. Napoleon was looking building concerns, local saw mills, for a way to keep soldier’s and land reclamation efforts. rations from spoiling. The military secret soon leaked abroad and by the mid- delphia, and Baltimore. The watermelon, cantaloupe, and nineteenth century, Sussex railroad was incredibly impor- strawberries. County’s canning operations tant for Sussex farmers; they were in full swing. Canning Fortunately, Sussex’s could not grow more crops became so mechanized during southern, coastal location until they had a fast, reliable the second half of the nine- meant a longer growing sea- way to get them to market. teenth century that a cannery son than in central New Jer- The railroad was the fast, reli- could be found in nearly every sey. Often, Sussex farmers able way. As a result, peach, depot town in Southern Dela- had fruits ready earlier than melon, and strawberry pro- ware.(4) New Jersey growers. The rail- duction soared. The speed of road enabled places like the The railroad also made trains acted as modern refrig- very southern, very isolated Sussex towns more enticing to eration for the produce head- Selbyville to become the self- outside industries looking to ing north. Sussex farmers declared “Strawberry Capitol relocate. In 1939, the DuPont could hardly keep up with the of the World.” Laurel was Company opened its first ny- Northern market’s taste for TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 29

3. Heritage Themes lon plant at Seaford. The rail- trains continued to run in Sus- dence that the newest towns road through Seaford had sex County until the 1960s; are all located along the Atlan- made it a major population however, they had peaked tic coastline. Rehoboth and center – over 2,000 people some twenty to thirty years Bethany Beaches are the old- living there in 1930 – and earlier. Though trains still run est of the new resort towns connected it to major urban on the tracks laid in 1856, the and share a somewhat similar markets; both traits were at- trains transport neither people history. Both were estab- tractive to the DuPont Com- nor produce. The line, now lished as religious camps near pany as it considered places to run by Southern Norfolk, is the turn of the 20th century. open its new plant. dedicated to more industrial Rehoboth was founded by the pursuits. The highways Rt. 13 Reverend Robert W. Todd of Economic prosperity and Rt. 113 have replaced the the Wilmington St. Paul’s from the booming agricultural rail lines as means to move Methodist Episcopalian market along with trains able people through the county. Church, with the purchase of to import materials from 414 acres by the Rehoboth across the country changed The New Resort Towns Camp Meeting Association in the housing styles of Sussex 1873. Bethany Beach traces County. The towns best known to visitors and vacationers are its roots to a different church, Prior to 1860, architec- actually the newest. Sussex the Disciples of Christ of tural styles across Sussex County is known today as an Washington, DC. Bethany changed little. Growing rail- excellent place to visit in the was established with the same road towns tested the waters summer. However, these re- mission as Rehoboth: to pro- of new styles. Queen Anne, sort towns are only the most vide a year-round Christian Gothic Revival, and Second recent change to Sussex’s community and resort. How- Empire homes were built in complexion. It is no coinci- ever, Rehoboth and Bethany the towns of Bridgeville, Del- were slow to grow because it mar, and Millsboro. Fine examples of Gothic Revival and Population change, 1900-2005 Queen Anne exist throughout Central and Western Sussex. 250,000 There are many homes in Sus- 200,000 sex County now listed on the Population for entire National Register of Historic 150,000 county Places. 100,000 Population in incorporated areas Population The completion of the 50,000 railroad through Sussex changed the nature of the 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 6 county. It went from an iso- 9 9 9 9 980 005 1900 1 1 1940 1 1 1 199 200 2 lated place to one open to Census years outside influences and change. The economy, people and homes all changed as a result Figure 4.11 Population by county as compared to population by incorporated area. of the railroad. The passenger Year 1860 1880 1900 1910 1920 1940 1950 1960 1980 1990 2000 2005 Total for all towns 4,841 9,263 13,174 16,341 17,260 23,067 27,158 28,983 29,689 33,572 41,844 43,973 County total 42,276 46,413 43,741 52,502 61,336 73,195 98,004 113,229 156,638 176,578 Town dwellers as % of total 31.2% 35.2% 39.5% 43.9% 44.3% 39.6% 30.3% 29.6% 26.7% 24.9% Table 4.1 Population change for Sussex County, 1860-2005.

TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 30

3. Heritage Themes

Third Stop: Seaford, Delaware of train, boat, and possibly carriage, and it took between The final worthy stop in Sussex County is the town of Seaford. Lo- twelve hours and two days. cated in the western portion of the county, Seaford is representative For this reason, when people of all towns in Sussex that were historically oriented towards Mary- land and the Chesapeake Bay. Seaford, along with Bridgeville and reached Bethany, they tended Greenwood, were once part of Dorchester County in Maryland until the to stay for the entire summer. boundaries were determined by Mason and Dixon in 1763. It was not until 1934 that the first paved road between Seaford has been and remains today the commercial hub of lower Sus- Bethany and Rehoboth was sex County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In its earliest history, completed. The towns re- Seaford was an agricultural area particularly known for its cultivation ceived a second boost shortly of tobacco; the style of living there was based on a plantation model similar to tobacco plantations in the south. Because of its location at after as the population in New the head of naviga- Castle County grew and be- tion on the Nanti- came more affluent during the coke River, Seaford 1950s and 1960s. These resi- had access to the dents were eager to drive Chesapeake Bay and south for a summer resort thus to Baltimore experience. Bethany and and Norfolk. Balti- Rehoboth then saw a second more, Annapolis, influx of population and and Norfolk were growth during the 1980s and cities with whom 1990s as the entire country Seaford had steady started viewing beaches as interactions. This prime vacation destinations. Figure 4.12 Burton Brothers Hardware Store in Seaford, is in contrast with DE. (Source: CHAD Archives) other Delaware However, there are several towns that may reasons why it took until the have identified most with Philadelphia or New York City. second half of the twentieth In 1857, the Seaford became a station on the Delaware Railroad line century for coastal towns to and also a terminus for the Dorchester Branch, connecting it to Cam- flourish. Geographical isola- bridge, MD. The railroad was Seaford’s connection to the larger Del- tion is one reason. Other rea- marva region and thus increased the town’s importance to the nearby sons include a lack of job op- small towns of Bethel, Laurel and Bridgeville. The canning and shipping portunities, a difficult climate of agricultural produce added revenue to Seaford’s economy so that by with exposure to threats from the start of the twentieth century, it was able to support a population the water, and a cultural atti- of almost 3,000 people. tude that did not view beaches Today, Seaford is a vibrant small town of 7,080 people. Traces of its as recreational or as suitable rich history are evident in the vernacular houses and Italianate com- places to live. For this reason, mercial buildings within the town’s limit. Though other Western Sus- the towns of Slaughter Beach, sex towns have their own nuanced history, the generally tend to follow Frankford, Fenwick Island, the form and outline of Seaford’s. South Bethany, Henlopen Acres, and Dewey Beach did not incorporate until after 1930, even though some had was so difficult for vacation- a difficult place to reach for been settled many years ear- ers to reach either town. nearly thirty-five years after its lier. Year-round population Rehoboth got a boost in 1879 founding. The Disciples of in resort towns is still rela- when a rail line was estab- Christ congregants traveled tively low; nearly all have lished to connect Lewes and from Pittsburgh and DC. The fewer than 550 full-time resi- Rehoboth. Bethany remained trip involved a combination TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 31

3. Heritage Themes dents (as of 2005 census esti- total county residents it is eth century, Laurel was mates). However, the rate of smaller than it has been since known for its successful growth from 1990-2005 in 1900 (Figure 4.12). sweet potato crops. At one these towns has been much point, Delaware was ranked Growth that is not con- higher than in other Sussex 14th in the nation for sweet centrated in incorporated ar- communities – 189% in Beth- potato production. The top eas is more difficult to man- any Beach; 85% in Slaughter producers were North age because it increases the Beach; 92% in Fenwick Is- Carolina, Alabama, and area that must be managed for land; 247% in South Bethany; Georgia. These states are traffic, environmental impact, and 52% in Dewey Beach. significantly larger than and threat to cultural re- Beach living is appealing to Delaware – as are all but sources. It is also detrimental more and more people, espe- one state in the US – and to the fabric of small towns in cially retired individuals. yet Delaware was still able the county because it causes to make it to top rankings Although Sussex County individuals to be less con- for sweet potato produc- has always been known by its nected to their neighbors, the tion. A few sweet potato towns with the twenty-five community, and the local houses, the special buildings jewels being an important part economy. used to store potatoes at a of the county’s identity, this is constant temperature, are changing. Today, population Ag is (still) King still present in Western Sus- growth in Sussex County is Sussex County is the top sex near Laurel, Bethel and occurring outside of incorpo- producer in the country for Delmar. Sweet potato pro- rated areas in disconnected chickens among counties. duction reached its peak developments, also known as That means that while mil- from 1901 to 1940; after sprawl (See Chapter 2). To lions of people in the US have that it began to dwindle as illustrating this concept of never visited Rehoboth or the national palette began to sprawling development, con- Dewey Beach, it is almost cer- favor other flavors. sider that even though the tain that the millions who eat population total for all incor- chicken regularly have tasted a But it is chicken that porated Sussex towns is bit of Sussex County. keeps farmers in business higher than it has ever been today. The commercial (43,973), as a proportion of At the start of the twenti- chicken (sometimes called broiler) industry of today traces its history back to Ocean View and a farmer’s wife named Cecile Steele. Robin Brown, journalist for The News Journal describes what happens well: In the hardscrabble 1920s, farmer's wife Steele kept a family flock, as many did, to put eggs and meat on the table. She ordered 50 chicks a year. But in 1923, her supplier sent 500 by mistake. So Steele rigged a heater, fed Figure 4.13 Working farm in Sussex County. (Source: CHAD Archives) them and sold grown birds to a

TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 32

3. Heritage Themes

New York butcher for 62 cents a common. As well, most fam- replaceable and in need of pound, about $7 in today's money. ily farms in Sussex County defending. The forces of still operate their own farm change now at work in Sussex Then she ordered 1,000 more stands or participate in weekly County threaten to erase the peeps. Then 10,000 more.(5) farmer’s markets. These ac- traces of valuable histories. And so began the modern tivities are very important for Developing and promoting chicken industry in Sussex small farmers trying to make heritage tourism within the County, Delaware. ends meet and keep the farm. county is one option for defending the resources. How- The Cecile Steele house One interesting thing that ever, local governments and has since been moved to the has happened within the residents will need to begin a University of Delaware’s Ex- County’s agricultural indus- conversation about this op- perimental Station in George- tries links into a larger, nation and potentially others town and is listed as a Na- tional trend having to do with before the opportunities are tional Register historic site. migrant farm workers. Sussex lost. Sussex County currently ranks County farms have always first in the nation in the num- been dependent on migrant ber of broilers raised farm workers to help with

(246,600,000). Both livestock day-to-day tasks and harvests. and produce have been a valu- Historically, migrant workers References able asset to Sussex County’s might have come from vari- 1. A Topical History of Delaware. farming economy. Just how ous ethnic backgrounds and Delaware Department of central agriculture has been to would travel the Northeast State, Division of Historical Sussex’s heritage is shown looking for seasonal work. and Cultural Affairs. (1976) through the number of local Today, migrant farm workers festivals with agricultural are largely of Hispanic origin 2. A Topical History of Delaware. themes: the Apple Scrapple and some are choosing to stay Delaware Department of State, Division of Historical Festival in Bridgeville; the in Sussex County rather than and Cultural Affairs. (1976) “Punkin Chunkin” Festival in travel seasonally. In response, Bridgeville; the Strawberry one town has established a 3. A Topical History of Delaware. Festival in Milford; the Bug festival to celebrate the contri- Delaware Department of and Bud Festival in Milford; butions of these individuals State, Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. (1976) the Farmers’ Market Inaugural and families. Millsboro’s Fes- Opening in Rehoboth Beach; tival Hispano recognizes the 4. A Topical History of Delaware. and the Annual Old Timers’ culture, heritage and contribu- Delaware Department of Day Celebration in Selbyville. tions of the Hispanic commu- State, Division of Historical nity in the area. and Cultural Affairs. (1976) Recently, some farmers have switched to a new way to 5. Brown, Robin. “State's long generate income: Agri- association with chickens is Conclusion story worthy of pullet sur- tourism. Agri-tourism uses prise,” The News Journal. (May the qualities of the farm to In conclusion, the narra- 8, 2007) attract visitors; examples in- tives told by the natural envi- clude farm bed-and-breakfast, ronment of the county, by the teaching workshops on the settlement of people and the farm, and children’s activities creation of towns, and by the like corn mazes and pick- dominance of agriculture de- your-own-pumpkin patches. scribe the wealth of Sussex’s This type of farm activity is heritage to visitors willing to becoming more and more listen. Sussex’s heritage is ir- TowardToward Heritage Heritage Tourism Tourism in Sussex in County,Sussex County, a report Delaware, by CHAD/IPA—2007 CHAD/IPA 33

4. Threats to Heritage Resources 4 Threats to Heritage Resources

Just as threats to the natu- Certainly such changes are to struction of buildings, and ral environment often stem some extent inevitable and establishment of institutions from outside pressures such indeed desirable. People such as churches, civic as pollution, overpopulation, move and populations grow; groups, and governments. or deforestation, the cultural economies change, and older Similarly the people and the and historic fabric of a place ways of living give way to the manifestations of their civili- can be similarly jeopardized. new. It is also important, zation are shaped by the char- Threats to our physical, his- however, to take steps to en- acter of the landscape in torical, and cultural heritage sure that the qualities of a which the arise; over time often come in the form of place and of a culture which people and place become in- increasing development pres- deserve to be preserved are tricately interrelated. The na- sures from without. These protected to the degree possi- ture of this interrelationship stresses typically stem from ble. We are acutely aware of constitutes the distinctive increases in population due to the loss entailed with the de- character of a place. This dis- changing demographic, eco- struction of a forest or wild- tinction is precisely why nomic, or cultural conditions. life area, or of pollution caus- places such as Sussex County Along with this growth come ing degradation of our rivers, are deemed desirable places to changes in the land use pat- lakes and oceans. Similar live, recreate, and visit. terns of an area or region; in- processes can also threaten creased population means a the human cultural and his- greater number of houses, toric essence of a place. Threats from stores, services such as banks, Human influences on the Environmental gas stations, schools, medical land tend to persist over time. facilities, manufactories, ware- Pollution The pattern of roads, rail- houses, and so forth. What- roads, and towns, laid out Sussex County’s natural ever had been there before long ago, continues to influ- environment represents a sig- either disappears or moves. ence settlement and develop- nificant amenity to both resi- We are all familiar with ment. The situation of hu- dents and visitors alike. land use change occurring as a man settlements in relation to Throughout its history the result of changing population rivers, estuaries, hills, and land has shaped settlement distribution. A local farm is plains were determined by the patterns, the economics and converted to a housing subdi- economic and cultural activi- politics of the region, and the vision or a familiar rural ties of the earliest inhabitants. character of its inhabitants. crossroads seemingly over- The people living in a place Today, the scenic, relatively night burgeons into a multi- continually alter that place unspoiled natural beauty of lane intersection with traffic through use of natural re- many places in Sussex County lights, large retail stores, res- sources, large-scale engineer- are a powerful draw for taurants, and filling stations. ing of the landscape, con- sportsmen, birdwatchers, and

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 34

4. Threats to Heritage Resources other lovers of the outdoors, and Mispillion Rivers have air as well as the waters of as well as those vacationing in been designated exceptional Sussex County, and while the nearby coastal resort towns. recreational and ecological DNREC is addressing these Development, population in- resources (ERES) by the problems through regulation, creases, and competition Delaware Department of they will probably continue to among farmers, developers, Natural Resources and Envi- be an issue for some time.(1) residents, and visitors for use ronmental Control (DNREC). Other sources of pollut- of and access to the county’s ERES waters are those de- ants, not so readily identifiable resources places them under fined as having “regional sig- as smokestacks and factories, pressure, a situation which nificance with respect to rec- also represent challenges to can threaten their integrity reational use… or have sig- the protection of the environ- and their viability as a draw nificant or widespread river- ment of Sussex County. The for tourists. ine, riparian, or wetland natu- following sections outline ral areas”,(1) but which may be Environmental pollution some of the challenges to the experiencing degradations in remains one of the biggest county which environmental terms of water quality. The challenges to the well-being of degradation presents. the county’s citizens and the Delaware Inland Bays Estuary region’s potential as a tourist has further been recognized as destination. The inland wa- an “estuary of national signifi- ters of the county are of par- cance” by the USEPA’s Na- The Role of Agriculture ticular concern, due to their tional Estuary Program Agricultural uses, for in- ecological sensitivity and their (NEP).(2) stance row cropping and the proximity to population cen- The county’s waters are an raising of chickens, impact the ters, industrial uses, agricul- important resource to a wide environment by making use tural districts, and recreational variety of interests. They rep- of surface and groundwater opportunities. resent a critical source of infor irrigation, and by produc- dustrial water supply, agricul- ing pollutants—including tural irrigation, recreation, sediment, bacteria, and nutri- A County of Water plus wildlife, fishery and shell- ents (i.e. nitrogen and phos- fish production. Those who phorous)—through stormwa- Sussex County lies across ter runoff. In particular, the two major drainage areas, the come to visit and vacation in the county also usually make poultry industry in Sussex Chesapeake Bay and the Dela- County is a large contributor ware River/Bay watersheds, use of the water resources here, and many residents con- of nutrients to the system. and is characterized by nu- The Delmarva peninsula is a merous small tributaries, ex- sider proximity and access to water bodies highly desirable. major producer and processor panses of tidal and non-tidal of poultry, with much of the wetlands, and larger water- Unfortunately the intensity with which these resources industry occurring in Sussex bodies to which many of County. In 2005, for instance, these drain. Several of Sussex are sought by often compet- ing interests can threaten their 71% of farming income in County’s waters have been Delaware stemmed from the recognized as significant local sustained viability. Certainly, industrial pollution is a major broiler chicken industry. Na- and regional resources. The th contributor to the problem of tionwide, Delaware ranks 7 Inland Bays (comprising in the total weight of chickens Rehoboth Bay, Indian River, nitrogen oxides, sulfur diox- produced.(3) Sussex is the pri- Indian River Bay, and Little ide, and mercury, particularly in the Delaware Inland Bays mary chicken producing Assawoman Bay), the Nanti- county in the state, and ac- coke River and many of its Estuary. These industrial pollutants are a problem for the cording to the 2002 Census of tributaries, plus the Broadkill Agriculture, is ranked first in Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 35

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Chicks Placed in Delaware, 1960 to 2006 grains). While it is relatively straight- 300,000 Much of the forward to identify and treat

250,000 manure from the problems caused by point

200,000 the poultry source pollution, non-point industry is source pollution is often more 150,000 applied as difficult to address, since the 100,000 1000s of Chicks of 1000s fertilizer to sources are ubiquitous, and 50,000 these farms, the pollutants they produce 0 and as a re- are non-localized.(5) 0 6 9 5 1 4 0 6 9 2 5 0 963 972 978 987 993 0 196 1 196 196 1 197 1 198 198 1 199 1 199 199 2 200 sult, some of Year In Sussex County non- the associ- point sources such as on-site Figure 4.1a Chicken production in Delaware, 1960 to 2006. ated pollut- septic systems pose a particu- (Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service) ants are trans- lar threat to the surface and ported by wa- groundwater of the county, as 310,000 2,500,000 ter runoff into pathways for bacteria, nitro- 300,000 the waterways, 2,000,000 gen and phosphorous to enter 290,000 and by leach- 280,000 the waters. It is estimated 1,500,000 ing into the that there are 16,000 active or 270,000 groundwater. 1,000,000 recently abandoned house-

260,000 1000s of lbs.

1000s of Head An additional hold septic systems in the 250,000 significant 500,000 Inland Bays watersheds, and 240,000 source of ni- an additional 15,000 in the 230,000 0 trogen, ac- 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Nanticoke watershed system. Year cording to a (4) Number Slaughtered Total Live Weight Sussex County is actively study by the converting many areas of the Figure 4.1b The quantity of the chicken production in number College of county to public sewer sys- and poundage, Sussex County, 2001-2006. (Source: USDA, Na- Marine Stud- tems, which greatly improves tional Agricultural Statistics Service) ies at the Uni- water quality, reducing the versity of amount of nutrients that get the nation among broiler pro- Delaware, is atmospheric am- into the water systems. This ducing counties.(3) The suc- monia (NO4+), also linked to is particularly important since cess of the industry is re- poultry production. This virtually all of Sussex County’s flected in the increases in source may, in fact, account drinking water comes from chicken production in the for 15-25% of total nitrogen groundwater wells. The po- state, at a time during which assimilated by the Inland Bays rous, sandy character of the agriculture as a whole has Estuary.(4) soils makes for easy recharge tended to decrease. Figure of the aquifers there, but also 4.1a shows the increase in allows for more easy infiltra- chickens in Delaware since The Role of Development tion by pollutants. In the 1960, and Figure 4.1b illus- Pressure Inland Bays area alone, more trates the increase in both the than 13,000 private septic sys- number of chickens processed Human development is tems have been abandoned, here and the total poundage also a significant source of replaced by sewer service. of that production since 2001. pollution, both from point sources (single locations such Throughout the county, over Other agricultural ac- as an effluent outflow pipe) $171 million is currently tivities in the county include and non-point sources (non- planned to be spent toward row crop production (e.g. localized sources, for example installing sewer systems and corn, soybeans, and cereal parking lots and farm fields). treating wastewater.(4)

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 36

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

The mere act of building ments making their way into environment, the very waters roads, houses, and other the water system. At the which sustain farmers and buildings can also contributes same time, increased impervi- other residents, businesses significantly to the pollution ous cover causes a decrease in and industries, and which at- load in the waters of Sussex groundwater recharge, lower tract the many visitors who County. Impervious cover, overall base stream flows, and support the local economy which is defined as a hard sur- an increase in the frequency may become imperiled. face which does not allow the and severity of flooding.(6) The effects of environ- infiltration of water (for in- mental pollution are wide- stance, parking lots, roads, spread. Federal, state, and sidewalks, asphalt roofs, etc.), The Effects of Pollution local agencies have set up has the effect of concentrating monitoring programs to track a variety of pollutants, pre- In 1972 the U.S. Congress pollution levels and identify venting their being filtered by passed the Clean Water Act streams which are most af- soil, and facilitating their in- (CWA), an aim of which was fected. Figure 4.2 shows troduction into streams and to restore the physical and streams in Sussex County other water bodies. Much biological integrity of Amer- which have been determined research has been done on the ica’s waters to a condition by the USEPA to be impaired effects of impervious cover where they are “swimmable due to one or more pollut- on waters and watersheds. In and fishable”. As a result, ants. general increased impervious most states, including Dela- cover is directly correlated to ware, have adopted a set of The effects of pollutants increases in pollutants includ- water quality standards. on the Inland Bays, dimin- ing nutrients, heavy metals These standards bear directly ishes their value as a critical (such as lead and mercury), on the economic viability of recreational resource. Many hydrocarbons (such as oil and Sussex County’s tourism and areas are already highly af- gasoline), pesticides, and sedi- resort economic sectors. fected. Figure 4.3 shows the Without a clean and healthy overall benthic water quality index—an indication of overall water quality and/or degree of degradation.(7) Addi- tionally, recreational shell- fishing has for many years been threatened by increased levels of coliform bacteria enter- ing the bays from septic systems and accumulating in shellfish such as clams and oysters. Figure 4.4 shows areas in the bays where shell- fishing is prohibited or restricted.(8) Other effects of environmental pollution can also prove detrimental to the Inland Bays waterways, and as a consequence, to the tourism Figure 4.2 Impaired stream segments in Sussex County. (Source: USEPA Enviomap- and recreation potential in the per) Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 37

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Addressing the Problem Environmental pollution and its effects have been, and continue to be addressed in Sussex County. The USEPA and the DNREC have identified key threats to various waterways in the county, and established a goal of reduction of the pollutants causing the threats. As a result, various organizations, or Tributary Action Teams, organized by DNREC, have produced or Figure 4.3 Overall Benthic water quality in Sussex County. (Source: Spatial Analysis are in the process of crafting Lab, College of Agriculture and Nature Resources, the University of Delaware) strategies (called Pollution Control Strategies) designed to help meet these reduction county. Eutrophication, in water, and can sometimes lead thresholds. A key concept in which excess nutrients in the to fish kills. Sedimentation, these plans is the identifica- water cause rapid algae which occurs as a result of tion and implementation of growth, leads to low dissolved agricultural and urban rain Best Management Practices oxygen levels as the bacteria runoff, can cause high water (BMPs), which are policies consume the dead algae. turbidity (low clarity), which and techniques (such as limi- These low oxygen levels can detracts greatly from peoples’ tations on impervious cover, have detrimental effects on enjoyment of the resource, as the creation of buffers around the animals that live in the well as its quality as habitat. streams and wetlands, runoff To highlight this issue, each control, and livestock manure year since 2001 Governor management) intended to re- Ruth Ann Minner has spon- duce the pollution loads get- sored a “Wade-In Event”, ting into the environment. In which uses a simple test to addition, several public, pri- measure the relative clarity of vate, non-profit, and grass- the water: the “sneaker index” roots organizations are seek- test. In this test, the number ing to maintain and improve of inches of water depth in the quality and quantity of the which a wader can still see her county’s natural resources or his white sneakers indicates through preservation of natu- how clear the water is. Such ral areas, protection of water- simple, “low-tech” test helps ways and groundwater, and demonstrate the importance overall reduction of pollution, of water quality to all users of all of which serve to maintain the county’s water resources. and enhance the county’s natural heritage. Figure 4.4 Areas in the bays where shell-fishing is prohibited or restricted, Sussex County. (Source: Center for the Inland Bays)

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 38

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Threats from Land Use ings, monuments, historic Examples might include areas Changes and sites and the like may come of significant agricultural heri- under pressure as new build- tage which as a result of scat- Development ing occurs. Perhaps a struc- tered, small-scale develop- The nature of the historic, ture with historic significance ment of residential subdivi- cultural, and environmental cannot meet the needs of a sions lose their cohesiveness heritage of Sussex County is new owner, the cost to reno- and agrarian character. Simi- as complex and varied as its vate or maintain a property is larly, high-quality forested ar- long interaction with its hu- considered too high, or a his- eas may become fragmented man inhabitants. The rich torically significant site lies in through the same process, maritime, agrarian, industrial, the way of proposed infra- thus losing not only their vi- and resort community tradi- structure expansion. In these ability as natural habitat, but tions have left a considerable cases physical resources may also their value as a recrea- impact upon many of the fall victim to the wrecking tional resource. ball. Such losses are clear and landscapes here. These ele- Once a “critical mass” of readily identifiable. ments of Sussex heritage con- loss in a significant sector of tribute to its richness and at- Other losses may not be the county’s heritage is tractiveness as a destination so evident. In areas where reached, the value of that for visitors and as a place lower land prices or popula- heritage as a destination for where people want to live. tion increases do not result in visitors and an amenity for The threats to the heritage of the intensive development of residents is negatively im- Sussex County are as varied as roads and buildings, more ex- pacted. This threshold may these resources themselves. tensive development often differ for different types of There is considerable varia- occurs, resulting in lower den- heritage resource, but cer- tion in the extent and nature sities of buildings, but having tainly once a certain degree of of these threats, depending on an impact on a much larger integrity is lost, it is difficult if the particular historic context spatial area. This type of ex- not impossible to recover it. one considers, as well as tensive development, some- Since the threats themselves where in the county one times referred to as “sprawl”, vary in their characters, it is looks. Beyond the environ- tends to separate where peo- useful to divide the county mental threats which affect ple live, shop, work, go to into three parts, each of which the county as a whole, the his- school, and recreate, hence is defined by it proximity to toric resources are imperiled promoting an automobile- the coast and relationship to as a result of population in- oriented way of life, which transportation corridors. crease and land use change, threatens not only areas of which in this dynamic county development, but also inter- are occurring rapidly and pro- vening locations, through Geographic Variability of foundly. which traffic must pass. Cul- the Threats tural and historical heritage may become threatened in Eastern Sussex The Varied Nature of the these areas indirectly, as the This portion of the county Threats character and continuity of roughly comprises the Lewes, In some cases intensive the resource is degraded Selbyville-Frankford, and development, for instance through fragmentation or loss Millsboro Census County Di- where coastal resorts undergo of integrity. The effect on visions (CCDs) (see Figure periods of rapid growth at heritage resources can, there- 2.3), and generally encom- high densities, the threat is fore, greatly exceed the direct passes the beach resort areas direct and clear. Old build- effects of such development. and the inland bays, which are

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 39

4. Threats to Heritage Resources the focal points of population were established in the latter Central Sussex development, recreation, and part of the 19th and early part Central Sussex county is tourist activity. The main ar- of the 20th centuries as reli- roughly defined by the Mil- tery defining this region is gious meeting camps, but did ford-South, Milton, and Delaware State Route 1 not become widely popular as Georgetown CCDs. The ma- (previously Route 14, also re- tourist destinations until to- jor artery connecting this area ferred to as the Coastal High- ward the middle of the 20th to points north and south is way), which provides access century. In the post-World US Route 113, the DuPont to the coast from the north War II era, suburbanization, Highway, completed in 1923, and the south. Though rela- increasing popularity of the conceived and financed by T. tively new, having been built automobile, and increasing Coleman du Pont, a promi- in the early 1930s, this route is vacation time and discretion- nent industrialist in the state. heavily traveled today, and ary wealth of the middle-class Previously, access by road to serves as the major connector contributed to the boom in the southern portions of the among the coastal communi- population and development state had been largely on un- ties. in eastern Sussex. In the past paved and sinuous roadways. few decades, rapidly increas- Threats in this area tend Du Pont saw the road as a ing land values, coupled with to be intensive. The desirabil- way of “giving back” to the a burgeoning retirement ity of land close to the state in a way that benefited population drawn by the var- beaches and coastal waterways all its inhabitants. He wished ied recreational possibilities, has driven up land values to “..build a monument a hun- temperate climate, and low here, resulting in a relatively dred miles high and lay it on cost of living, plus a nation- high density of population the ground”.(10) Though not wide population shift toward and buildings. The abun- as early as the King’s Highway coastal communities, have dance of attractive rivers, or the railroad system to the intensified this trend. As a bays, wetlands, and state- west, this road was quite sig- result, many lower income protected sensitive lands have nificant in the fact that it families and individuals have further tended encourage opened up the southern por- relocated to the western sec- high-density, intensive devel- tion of the state to automobile tions of the county, even opment here. Much of this traffic, which would soon be- though their jobs may have development has occurred come the predominant mode remained along the coast.(9) relatively recently, starting in of transportation. In general there has also been the latter half of the twentieth a shift in agricultural uses to- Georgetown was founded century and continuing ward the west, as land in short to be the county seat in 1791 through today. Previous to supply is converted to more (replacing the town of Lewes this, development was fo- intensive uses. Since this area in this role), based on its cen- cused in the central and west- developed fairly recently, tral location. Outside of ern portions of the county, there is relatively little physical Georgetown, which remains where agricultural and indus- heritage to be threatened out- one of the county’s largest trial development was already side historic town centers towns, this region has tradi- well established by the mid- to such as Lewes and Milton. tionally been largely agricul- latter portion of the nine- However, the natural environ- tural in nature. The natural teenth century, due largely to ment, agricultural heritage, areas of Redden State Forest the establishment and expan- and the tranquil lifestyle and Cypress Swamp are also sion of the railroad and high- which people value are all located near the center of the way system. Resort commu- highly threatened due to the county. As a result, this area nities such as Rehoboth rapid and dramatic nature of retains a relatively high Beach and Bethany Beach the change here. amount of open space, com- Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 40

4. Threats to Heritage Resources prising both high-integrity Chesapeake and Atlantic Rail- a navigable water course in agricultural districts, forestry road line. Historically, the the Nanticoke River, which resources, and opportunities towns which lie along this encouraged their early devel- for outdoor recreation and route were the main popula- opment as trading hubs, as eco-tourism. tion centers in the county. well as shipbuilding centers. The old King’s Highway ran The advent of the railroad in Even with the access to the mid-19th century ce- the area from more urbanized mented the role of these areas provided by the DuPont towns as regional centers of Highway, this portion of the commerce, agriculture, and county has remained relatively industry. Efficient rail con- undisturbed by major devel- nections linking them with the opment. In the last few dec- population centers to the ades, during the period of in- north allowed western Sussex tensive development of the County to serve as a major coastal regions, populations provider of food to the re- have increased considerably, Figure 4.5 Waters and wetlands are a gion. It also fostered the while land uses have remained predominant feature of Sussex County. Dark blue indicates open water, light growth of industry there, cul- relatively stable. This is due blue non-tidal wetlands, and blue-green minating in the establishment to the fact that in large part, tidal wetlands. of the first Nylon plant by the increased population has fo- DuPont Company in 1939. cused in the towns, a fact along the current Route 13, which has helped to maintain Historically, the western and represented one of the the open character of the sur- part of the county outside the earliest roads in the county, rounding areas. Analysis of towns has been largely agrar- fostering the establishment of land use changes in the central ian. A variety of crops have towns such as Bridgeville, part of the county bear out been produced there, with Seaford, and Laurel in the late this trend. This area tended poultry and poultry feed op- 17th through the mid-18th cen- to retain its open, undevel- erations now predominating. turies. Bethel and Seaford in oped character, with the acre- In recent years, this area has particular were endowed with age of farmland in some Cen- sus Tracts here actually increasing slightly over the past decade. This increase is due mostly to the conversion of previously forested areas to farmland, as loss of agriculture to more intensive development to the east has accelerated. Western Sussex The Census Divisions of Bridgeville-Greenwood, Sea- ford, and Laurel-Delmar make up most of the region of west- Figure 4.6 Ditches and tax ditch in Sussex County. Ditches in Sussex County (shown in ern Sussex County, which is blue) are widely distributed, and are generally created to help drain wet land to be suit- centered around the US Route able for agriculture. The DNREC regulates many of these ditches (called “Tax Ditches”, 13 corridor and the Baltimore, here depicted in orange). (Source: DNREC, Division of Soil & Water Conservation)

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 41

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

welfare. Such issues will likely Indeed, the county’s history also impact negatively on and pattern of settlement have natural resources, adversely been deeply influenced by the affecting drinking water, hu- natural environment, particu- man health, and wildlife habi- larly its vast amount of water tat. and forest resources. Water, including navigable water- Thematic Variability of the ways, streams and ponds, as Threats well as extensive tidal and As has been shown, the inland wetlands, literally in- nature of threats to the heri- fuses the land (see Figure 4.5). Figure 4.7 Distribution of the forests in Sussex County. tage, and the heritage tourism The maritime heritage of potential, of Sussex County the county, including its navi- are varied. Different types of gation, shipbuilding, and mili- seen a marked increase in the this heritage are threatened to tary histories, would not exist amount of residential devel- different degrees by various without the many waterways opment. Easy access to the factors. Three of the major here. These waters enabled job centers to the north in thematic areas of heritage in early access by ship, encour- Dover and the south in Salis- the county are its natural ar- aged development long before bury, Maryland, along Route eas, its traditional agricultural overland access was conven- 13, as well as proximity to the character, and the physical ient, and provided a source of intensively developing eastern and cultural heritage embod- food and livelihood for gen- parts of the county, have en- ied in its towns and settle- erations of inhabitants. Be- couraged its growth. This ments. yond the influence of naviga- growth tends to be extensive, ble waterways on economic occurring at relatively low Waterways, Wetlands, activity in the county, waters densities across a fairly wide and Forests and wetlands have provided area. Land values that are low The natural heritage of vast benefits to people. relative to the coast, an excel- Sussex County is significant. Abundant fresh surface- and lent road system, and histori- ground-water provide for resi- cally permissive zoning laws dential use, serve to irrigate have encouraged migration of crops, and support various lower-wage workers from the industries. Tidal wetlands eastern part of the county in protect the inland areas from search of a lower cost of liv- floods and storms, filter con- ing. This new pattern of de- taminants, provide habitat for velopment represents a sig- aquatic and terrestrial life, and nificant threat to the heritage were even used for the pro- resources of Sussex County, duction of salt hay, a product particularly its traditionally once widely used as feed for agrarian character. The loss livestock. The delicate inland of open space also threatens bays--actually flooded river the viability of the region’s valleys--form the center of outdoor recreation activities, sport fishing, recreational and and the need for infrastruc- shell fishing, and watersports, ture such as roads, schools, Figure 4.8 Delaware Forest Service’s beyond their roles in the eco- water, and sewers, could strain Forestry Legacy Areas in Delaware. systems of the coast. the county and the state’s abil- (source: Forest Service, Delaware De- ity to provide for the general partment of Agriculture) Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 42

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Increases in population of the state’s highest quality and development have been and most significant forest shown to be detrimental to resources are still to be found water quality. Additional in Sussex County (see Figure threats related to localized 4.8). Land in these areas are development include a lower- eligible for protection through ing of the water table as more easements or purchase using ground water is pumped out, USDA funds. increased salinity due to sea Forests are one of the water infiltration into the aq- most threatened uses in Sus- uifer, direct loss of wetlands, sex County and throughout particularly non-tidal, to de- much of the state. Develop- velopment and farming, deg- ment pressure both from ur- radation of marshes from ban and agricultural uses ditching, either for mosquito poses the greatest threat to control or for drainage, and forests. The loss of these for- major disruptions to hydrol- ests represents not only an Figure 4.9 Private/public ownership of ogy from agricultural ditching economic loss from a de- forests in Delaware. (Source: Forest (see Figure 4.6). crease in the amount of tim- Service, Delaware Department of Agri- Additional threats include ber harvested, but also in culture) the spread of invasive species, terms of degraded habitats, such as Phragmites australis water quality, and recreation (Common Reed), sea level potential. While public own- stewardship plans.(12) rise, coastal storms, and ership of forest lands has in- emerging problems such as creased from less than 10,000 Sudden Wetland Dieback, in acres in 1960 to over 50,000 Sussex County’s Agrarian which large areas of vegeta- acres in 2006, most lands re- Character tion in marshes die or fail to main in private hands(12)(see The centrality of agricul- regenerate for unknown rea- Figure 4.9), so the need to ture to the economy and his- sons.(11) provide incentive-based pro- tory of Sussex County is well- grams to ensure their preser- Prior to European settle- documented. Sussex has been vation is paramount. ment, much of Delaware was traditionally the most agrarian covered with forests. Origi- Several such programs in and rural county in the state, nally, of the state’s 1.3 million fact exist. The Delaware For- though it is now rapidly losing acres, over 1 million was forest Legacy Program seeks to agricultural land to develop- ested. Today, a far smaller identify the highest-value and ment. Even with these losses, percentage of the state, ap- most threatened areas of for- however, Sussex remains the proximately 375,000 acres, is est for easements or outright center of agricultural produc- forested, though this number purchase through federal tion in the state. According represents a rise from the low USDA funding. Additionally, to the USDA, National Agri- of 350,000 acres which oc- the state holds easements on cultural Statistics Service’s curred near the beginning of more than 9,000 acres of Census of Agriculture, since the 20th century.(12) In Sussex farmland. Other initiatives 1920, the number of farms in County, forests are a promi- include the Commercial For- Delaware has declined from nent feature (see Figure 4.7), est Plantation Act (CFPA), over 10,000 to under 2,500 in with extensive stands still which grants 30 year property 1997, while over the same pe- found especially toward the tax exemptions to eligible par- riod the average farm size has center of the county. Much ticipants who develop forestry grown from 93 to 236 acres, Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 43

4. Threats to Heritage Resources resulting in a decline of total Changes in the agricultural The Delaware Depart- acreage in farms from ap- industry, the nature of farms, ment of Agriculture (DDA) in proximately 944,000 to less and pressures from urban and 1991 instituted a Farmland than 580,000.(13) Of these suburban development in Sus- Preservation program in Dela- farms, 1366, or more than sex County threaten many ware, identifying areas of sig- 55%, were located in Sussex material cultural artifacts, such nificant agriculture heritage, County, which contained over as farmhouses and related and implementing a program 307,000 acres, or 53% of all structures, but more pro- of easements and Purchased the farm acreage in the state. foundly affect the very rural, Development Rights to pro- Based on the 2002 Census of agrarian nature of the county vide incentives to farmers in Agriculture, the loss in the itself. Agritourism has and these areas to protect this re- number of farms has contin- should continue to be an im- source. The program’s main ued, with 1312 reported for portant draw for visitors to goals are to preserve “a criti- Sussex County, for a total the county.(15,16) If the charac- cal mass of crop land, forest acreage in 2002 of 283,503, a ter of agricultural landscapes land, and open space to sus- loss of nearly 8% from 1997. is sufficiently degraded or tain Delaware’s…[agricultural] (13) During the same time, fragmented, however, this …industry and way of life” Kent County experienced a valuable resource could be and to provide “landowners loss of 4.5% of farmland, and lost as a source of income and an opportunity to preserve New Castle County a loss of as a defining characteristic of their land” despite develop- 7.8%. Market value of agri- place. A decreasingly urban- ment pressures and increasing cultural products, however, ized, more dispersed and low- land values.(18) Of Delaware’s while declining in other coun- density pattern of develop- 519 Agricultural Preservation ties, actually increased by al- ment, along with increased Districts, 205 are in Sussex most 18% in this period, due population, puts great pres- County, representing 45,492 mainly to increases in the sure on the county’s agricul- acres. There are also 20,869 poultry industry.(14) tural heritage.(17) acres (109 individual farms) permanently protected through Purchased Develop- ment Rights (PDR) program (see Figure 4.10).

Other groups, such as The Nature Conservancy, the Sus- sex Land Trust, Delaware Na- ture Society, and Delaware Wildlands are also actively preserving farmland and other open spaces through easements and purchases. The Department of Agriculture even recognizes long-term stewards of Delaware’s agricultural heritage by designat- ing farms that have been in Figure 4.10 Agricultural Districts (shown in green) and Agricultural Easements (in orange) in the DDA’s Farmland Preservation Program. (Source: Delaware Department of the same family for over 100 Agriculture) years “Century Farms”. While less than 1% of Dela- Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 44

4. Threats to Heritage Resources ware’s population actually is most evident, and often sense of place and concern farms,(19) the significance of most intact. Places where hu- over heritage, these elements this way of life is considerable, mans have settled and resided tend to be far more protected. as a livelihood, a vital indus- through time bear the mark of Often the protection of heri- try, a resource for tourism, the economic, cultural, and tage assets is recognized as an and a reflection of a funda- religious activities which have priority for a town; certainly, mental characteristic of Sus- occurred there. To a greater the existence of many local sex County. or lesser degree, subsequent historical societies attests to inhabitants, due to changing this fact. Many towns in Sus-

tastes, economics, politics, or sex County are attractive tour- Historical and Cultural growth patterns, inevitably ist destinations for their his- Landscapes: Towns and change the landscapes in toric character and their asso- Communities which they live. The towns of ciation with one or more im- Sussex County have a long portant historic themes. The Perhaps the most obvious and varied history, with ele- National Trust for Historic component of the cultural and ments of many historic trends Preservation (NTHP) main- historical heritage of Sussex and contexts still evident, tains a registry of places and County are its towns and both physically and through buildings of historic and cul- communities. Certainly, it is activities such as reenact- tural significance—the Na- in these settled places that the ments, festivals, and fairs. tional Registry of Historic material evidence of the past Where there is a strong local Places. The many sites that have been listed under this Abbott’s Mill, near Milford program attest to the rich Lightship Overfalls, Lewes heritage of the county, though such a listing can not guaran- tee protection from demoli- tion (see Figure 4.11). Threats to the heritage of many towns is therefore often well recognized, and can be countered with strategies such as adaptive reuse of threatened buildings, tax incentive programs, and protective or- dinances. Population and development pressures, how- Old Christ Church ever, are often not directed toward the historic centers of towns, where build-out is complete and populations tend to be relatively stable. Instead, much of the threat to these resources occurs as the fringes of these established population centers. The build- Figure 4.11 Places and buildings in Sussex County listed under National Trust for His- ing and improvement of roads torical Preservation. (Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation) affords greater access to historic resources for more visi-

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 45

4. Threats to Heritage Resources tors, but also tends to focus high-intensity commercial and residential development along the corridors leading into and out of town. In the coastal resort areas, the seasonal influx of visitors, and the increasingly year-round population living farther from traditional population centers ex- acerbates this trend. In the less populated central and eastern locations, towns tend to serve as a focus for more decentralized, “leapfrog” development, which in turn en- courages more intensive “strip”-style development around the periphery of Figure 4.13 The City of Lewes Historic Preservation Regulations. (Source: Lewes His- towns. toric Preservation Committee) Such development pat- traditional central district of tain a high degree of physical terns can disrupt or degrade historic places have been lost and historical integrity. Based the character of a town and its or threatened. These proper- on a list assembled by the heritage, and is also a threat to ties are often neglected and non-profit group Preservation the material landscape in the sometimes nearly unnoticed, Delaware, out of a total of 93 countryside immediately sur- as they are not usually part of structures in Sussex County rounding the town or com- a clearly defined historic dis- identified as both historically munity. Many historically sig- trict, and perhaps do not re- significant and currently or nificant buildings, outside the previously threatened by development or neglect, 25 (27%) have been demolished or significantly impaired, Unknown while only about 32 have been Demolished or Impaired significantly protected or re- habilitated(20) (see Figure 4.12). Sussex County has a variety of active and successful programs promoting cultural Preserved heritage. For example, Lewes has an active grassroots historical society which pro-

Neglected or motes the town’s history as a Threatened reason to visit and organizes and coordinates various heritage related events (see Figure Figure 4.12 Status of historically significant structures in Sussex County. (Source: Pres- 4.13). In 2006 the National ervation Delaware) Trust for Historic Preserva-

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 46

4. Threats to Heritage Resources tion designated Lewes as one sources and support sustain- people and the environment of “Twelve Destinations of able development. Optimally, through its regulation and Distinction” in America; since these programs should be co- permitting programs, such as 2000 only 95 other towns have ordinated and cooperative, so for on-site septic licenses, been awarded this honor. that the aims of one do not sewer and water service per- run counter to another. In mits, and the enforcement of To varying degrees many that way, consensus can be provisions under the federal towns and communities rec- reached, resources pooled, Clean Air Act, Clean Water ognize and seek to protect and a wide variety of voices Act, and the state’s Coastal and promote their heritage. heard. Zone Act. Threats to this heritage, however, exist, and the extent to At the state and federal Other efforts toward pres- which the heritage can be pro- levels, there are many pro- ervation include market-based moted as a reason to visit de- grams aimed at protecting re- incentives such as conserva- pends largely on being able sources and ensuring that the tion easements and the pur- not only to identify assets, but public needs for services and chase of development rights, also recognize, anticipate, and safety are met. For example, offered by the Department of counter the negative effects of the Federal Emergency Man- Agriculture’s Farmland Pres- those threats. Certainly it is agement Agency (FEMA), ervation Program, Forest Ser- not possible to freeze time or designates flood hazard areas vice initiatives, as well through stop change, and some losses and offers flood insurance private and non-profit are inevitable over time, but protection to eligible home- sources. Additionally, the everyone benefits when these owners. Lenders generally State Historic Preservation changes do not occur to the require properties in these Office administers the His- detriment of Sussex County. areas to be insured, thus act- toric Preservation Tax Credit It is possible and important ing as a de facto regulatory con- Program, which has provided that the essential, unique, and trol. The DNREC is also ac- over $3 million dollars of in- worthwhile character of the tive in ensuring the safety of centives toward the rehabilita- county’s places not be lost or diminished by such change.

Addressing the Threats In dealing with the threats to Sussex County’s natural, historic, and cultural heritage, there are several strategies at the state, county and local levels which may be employed. These strategies include regulatory controls to preserve the environment, protect resources, or promote public health and welfare, restrictions on where and what may be built, and guidance or incentives by public or private Figure 4.14 State strategies for policies and spending. (Source: Office of Management entities to encourage wise and Budget, Office of State Planning Coordination, Delaware) stewardship of heritage re- Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 47

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

threats to the county’s heritage are exacerbated by this ambiguity. The dispropor- tionate, adverse effects of extensive, non-localized low density development are Figure 4.15 therefore not ameliorated by Sussex County this zoning scheme. zoning map, showing zoning The state’s Preliminary codes. (Source: Land Use Service (PLUS) is a Sussex County process through which pro- Office of Plan- posed developments of a cer- ning and Zon- tain size are reviewed by perti- ing) nent state agencies, so that potential issues can be ad- tion of historic structures each proposals and where they will dressed and concerns raised. year since 2001. meet with more regulatory A review of current projects resistance. Under the Governor’s in PLUS review reveal some Livable Delaware initiative the Management of develop- of the effects of the county’s state developed a comprehen- ment at the county level oc- zoning. Figure 4.16 illustrates sive document outlining the curs primarily through the the location of all current pro- priorities of the state in terms county’s zoning ordinance, jects under PLUS review and of allocation of resources and which defines which uses are the relative number of resi- of priorities expressed by all permitted at a location (see dents potentially added by departments. This document, Figure 4.15) The white and each project. The red shapes the Strategies for State Policies pink areas on the map are indicate the location of pro- and Spending, details how, why, designated Agricultural- posed projects, and the height and where the state wishes to Residential (AR-1 or AR-2), of each is proportional to the expend its resources. A key and comprise the majority of number of residents each component of the Strategies is the county’s total area. These could potentially contain. a map establishing four in- areas allow both general agri- Note that many of these pro- vestment zones which define cultural uses and low-density, jects fall outside the desig- where the state is willing to single-family residential devel- nated investment zones speci- expend resources and where it opment. Yellow areas are fied in the State Strategies recommends preservation and designated General Residen- map, which means that provi- conservation (see Figure tial (GR), and allow the same sion of services there might 4.14). uses as AR districts, with an be impaired, and that impacts additional allowance for mo- on the natural environment The Strategies map indi- bile homes. Since most of and agrarian landscape will be cates where the state wants Sussex County falls into one heightened. Also, since the development to focus (red, of these general categories, it PLUS process only applies to orange and yellow areas), and is unclear where the county subdivisions of 50 parcels where they will be less willing wishes to focus higher-density (lots) or more (or those lo- to expend resources for devel- growth (beyond the mostly cated in environmentally sen- opment. While not binding, coastal Medium Density Resi- sitive areas as defined by local these recommendations allow dential, or MR, districts), or comprehensive plans), many developers to understand where more protections from smaller projects are not re- where various state agencies growth are sought. The flected on this map. will be willing to support their Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 48

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

of these plans come to frui- tion (see Figure 4.17). At the local and “grassroots” level, there is a great deal of interest in historic, cultural and heritage preservation and planning. Several towns have active historical societies, including Bridgeville, Georgetown, Lau- rel, Lewes, Milford, Milton, Rehoboth Beach, and Seaford. Such groups serve to raise awareness of the need for and benefits of preservation within the community. Figure 4.16 Potential population impact of current Preliminary Land Use Service projects in Sussex County. Guidance in the development of protections to heri- Taken together, these people. The effect on Sussex tage resources is available PLUS projects could poten- County’s heritage, and the through groups such as the tially cause an increase in the potential for heritage tourism National Trust for Historic residential population of the would certainly be extensive if Preservations, which, among county of more than 150,000 even a significant percentage other services, provides guidance for establishing local 450,000 present heritage tourism programs as a mechanism toward preser- 400,000 vation. Their Heritage Tourism Program outlines four steps for 350,000 initiating such an effort. The first step involves identifica- 300,000 150,000 tion of the potential of such a people program based on an inven- 250,000 tory of historical and cultural assets, visitor accommoda- 200,000 tions, level of organization, Sussex County Projected Population Growth protections afforded these 150,000 resources, and at local and

100,000 regional levels, marketing ca- pacity. Subsequent steps in- 50,000 clude planning for heritage tourism by organizing and 0 coordinating effort develop- 2000 2006 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 ing facilities and materials to support such tourism, and Figure 4.17 Delaware Population Consortium projections for growth in Sussex County designing innovative and is shown in solid green. The dashed line indicates the potential effect of current residen- comprehensive marketing tial projects under PLUS review, given an average household size of 2.45 people. strategies for the program.(21) (Source: Delaware Population Consortium Projections for Growth)

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 49

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Other, more local organi- sion and intensification of ered are: population change, zations such as the Sussex land usage. By looking at the relative increase in housing Land Trust, Delaware Agri- county as a whole and assign- values, per capita land usage, tourism, the Historical Society ing relative “threat levels”, it land changing to developed of Delaware, Preservation is possible to get a sense of from other uses, and prelimi- Delaware, and the State His- the spatial variability of the nary proposed developments toric Preservation Office, pro- threats and discern larger- (PLUS locations). vide resources and expertise scale trends. to assist localities and the re- Toward this end, a simple gion to develop and protect model was created which fo- The Threat Factors the heritage assets of Sussex cused on two major compo- County. Such groups recog- Population Change nents forcing change across nize that the key to guiding the county: demographic The decade of the 1990s change so that all may benefit shifts, particularly population saw a large increase in the is to anticipate the threat, expansion and changing set- number of people living in identify the assets, and make sure that growth and development fits with well-defined strategies and the county’s vision for the future.

Quantifying the Threats As has been demon- (a) Continuous surface of threat values. (b) Discrete threat levels , from green strated, there is a wide array (lowest threat) to red (highest threat). of components of Sussex County’s heritage that are Figure 4.18 Population density change in Sussex County, from 1990 to 2000 worthy of protection. These tlement patterns, and the na- Sussex County. Increased assets serve to enhance quality population pressures naturally of life, health, and economic ture of land use change over time. In both cases, analysis put a strain on infrastructure viability for the county and its and provision of social ser- inhabitants. These compo- focused on a recent period, roughly the decade of the vices, and also can threaten nents, however, face a variety heritage resources. Using U.S. of challenges from several 1990s into the early part of the 21st century, since data for Census data at the Block sources. Attempting to quan- Group level, the change in tify, or rank, the threats to this period afforded the highest level of detail and compa- population, normalized by the these resources, therefore, is acreage of each Block Group, not straightforward, since rability. The model considers several factors which have a was calculated, and a statistical these threats stem from such surface created to predict this a large number of factors, and bearing on increased pressure on the natural, historic, and value across the county. Fig- encompass the interests of a ure 4.18a shows the surface of wide range of stakeholders. It cultural resources of Sussex County, divides these factors population density change is helpful, however, to broadly between 1990 and 2000, and examine the challenges that into discrete levels of threat, then combines them to estab- Figure 4.18b illustrates the the county faces in terms the levels of threat based on clas- pervasive and inevitable pres- lish an overall “threat score”. The factors which are consid- sifying the surface into four sures from population expan- categories, from lowest to Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 50

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Threat Layer Level Threshold Units Comments Population Change People per Acre Measured as the increase between 1990 and 2000, normalized by the area of buildable 0 <=0.035 land, by Block Group. 1 >0.035 and <= 0.2 2 >0.2 and <=0.35 3 >0.35 Sprawl Index Acres per Person The number of acres converted to built-up between 1992 and 2002, per new resident 0 <=0.25 added, by Block Group. 1 >0.25 and <=1.0 2 >1.0 and <=3.0 3 >3.0 Housing Value Percentage Increase or The percentage difference between median Percent Increase Decrease housing unit value from 1990 to 2000, in 1990 dollars, adjusted for inflation using the CPI factor of 1.3175 0 <=0 1 >0 and <=10 2 >10 and <=25 3 >25 Land Changed to 2 - 30m Square Grid Cells Combines land area, including agriculture, Built-up forest, wetland, converted to built-up or transitional use from 1992 to 2002.

Active PLUS Pro- 3 - 30m Square Grid Cells Shows all active PLUS sites in Sussex jects County, 2007

Table 4.1 Inputs and threshold values for defining threats to heritage resources. highest threat level, based on housing, or the razing of ex- as well as the nature and in- natural breaks in the data. isting structures for higher tensity of these changes. Refer to Table 4.1 for the density residences and com- Again, using U.S. Census thresholds employed for each mercial properties. The rela- information, housing values level of threat. tive change in these values is were examined at the Block of particular interest for pre- Housing Values Group level, to determine dicting which existing land- how values changed relative At the same time that the scapes are under the most to each other. Median hous- population of Sussex County pressure to undergo changes, was rising rapidly, housing values also saw a dramatic increase in the 1990s. This jump was particularly marked in the coastal resort areas. Where housing and land values are high, there is increased pressure on the existing built environment. Development pressures tend toward more (a) Continuous surface of housing value (b) Discrete threat levels. intensity in building, whether changes. through the conversion of farmland to single family Figure 4.19 Change in housing values, Sussex County, from 1990 to 2000. Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 51

4. Threats to Heritage Resources ing values for 2000 were cor- therefore a measure of the some other use to develop- rected to 1990 dollars, based land consumed for each new ment. on the Bureau of Labor Statis- resident of Sussex County, by tics Consumer Price Index Block Group, over the period. (CPI) figures, then compared In this way, the measure pro- PLUS Project Sites across time to determine the vides a sense of how inten- The Preliminary Land Use relative change. Figures 4.19a sively newly built land is being Service (PLUS) is a process and 4.19b illustrate the con- used. which “provides for state tinuum of changes in housing This “sprawl index” pro- agency review of major land values across Sussex County, vides the converse of the pic- use change proposals prior to and the discrete levels of rela- ture provided by the popula- submission to local govern- tive change used in the model, tion density maps: it indicates respectively. where land is being consumed Per Capita Land Usage by development more exten- sively, rather than where more This measure was calcu- intensive land uses are pre- lated using the change in dominating. Figure 4.20a and population density over the Figure 4.20b illustrate both period from 1990 to 2000, the continuous and the dis- divided by the amount of built crete threat levels, based on land that was converted from this measure. another use during approxi- Figure 4.22 Locations of current pro- mately the same time. It is Land Changed to Developed jects under :PLUS review as of August, This metric looks at the 2007, Sussex County. land converted to a built-up use over the period. These ments”.(22) Proposed develop- lands are included directly in ments which meet certain size the model, based on the and other criteria must undergo this process, according to state statute. Projects which have been submitted for review, therefore, provide a good basis for where in the (a) Continuous surface of change of county future development land usage per capita. may occur. Figure 4.22 shows the locations of these current Figure 4.21 Land use changes from projects for Sussex County. other uses to development in Sussex County, from 1992 to 2002. The Threat Map premise that land converted to development will tend to Once the inputs focus further development, (summarized in Table 4.1) potentially putting a strain on were categorized into discrete the heritage resources in that levels based on the threshold (b) Discrete threat levels. area. Figure 4.21 shows the values shown, they were com- areas which converted from bined arithmetically to arrive Figure 4.20 Change in per capita land at a total “threat score”. This usage, Sussex County, from 1990 to 2000.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 52

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

Figure 4.23 Threats to the heritage resources of Sussex County. a score, based on its relative consideration all the factors level of threat. Figure 4.23 which may threaten resources, score was then divided into represents the map of this but rather attempts to quan- four discrete levels defining final score. tify these threats across an the overall threat to the heri- extensive geographic area Clearly, this sort of broad tage resources of Sussex within which many different analysis does not take into County. Each area is assigned types of heritage resources Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 53

4. Threats to Heritage Resources exist. However, such a map distance away from the town. can serve as a basis for plan- Areas of lower threat tend to ning for a Heritage Tourism be in the more rural, natural program. Such trend infor- areas, father from towns, mation can help in the devel- though these areas also tend opment of broad strategies to to be more vulnerable to ex- protect the spectrum of envi- tensive “sprawl” develop- ronmental, historic, and cul- ment, which as we have seen tural resources which make up can have an effect out of pro- Sussex County’s heritage, and portion with its actual physical which constitute a valuable footprint. A map such as this yet fragile asset for the county may therefore serve as a basis as a whole. An area whose on which to start evaluating heritage resources are not cur- the known, existing heritage rently particularly threatened, resources, to help planners of course, could quickly be- identify which resources may come so, for instance because have a higher likelihood of of new proposed land subdi- becoming threatened in the visions, alterations in settle- future. ment patterns, or the building or improvement of roads or other infrastructure. A pattern of predicted threat emerges across the county, in which the eastern portion--particularly around the inland bays--appears highly vulnerable, as do many areas on the outskirts of existing towns such as George- town, Greenwood, Milford, Milton, and Seaford. Other areas which are potentially vulnerable include the western portion of the county, in which sprawl tends to be highest, as well as an area between Laurel and Millsboro, in which there are several large proposed developments, and a marked increase in housing and land values. Generally, the most threatened areas are those at the periphery of existing population centers, with the “threat level” falling off with

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 54

4. Threats to Heritage Resources

References the Inland Bays. (Spring 2007) 1. State of Delaware Surface Wa- 12. Forest Service Report, Dela- ter Quality Standards, Delaware ware Department of Agricul- Department of Natural Re- ture Forest Service. (2007) sources and Environmental 13. Farm Sector of Delaware Ag- Control. (2004) riculture: Changes from 1982 – 2. Inland Bays Journal, Center 1997, Department of Food for the Inland Bays. (2007) and Resource Economics, University of Delaware. 3. Facts about Delaware’s Broiler (September, 2002) Chicken Industry, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., avail- 14. 2002 Census of Agriculture, able at http:// U.S. Department of Agricul- www.dpichicken.org/ ture. (2004) download/factsde2006.doc 15. The Delaware Agricultural (May, 2007) Museum and Village, Delaware 4. Scudlark, JR, et al., Atmos- Agriculture Museum, Inc. pheric Nitrogen Input to the Dela- (2005) ware Inland Bays: the Role of Am- 16. Delaware Agritourism, the monia, Environment Pollution. Delaware Agritourism Asso- (July, 2005) ciation. (2007) 5. Environmental Indicators Re- 17. Trends in Delaware’s Growth port, Center for Inland Bays. and Spending, American Farm- (2004) land Trust. (2007) 6. Impacts of Impervious Cover on 18. Land Use Planning and Pres- Aquatic Systems, Center for ervation, Delaware Department Watershed Protection. of Agriculture. (2007) (March, 2003) 19. Ag Land Vital to Delaware’s 7. Mackenzie, John et al., Prosperity, Delaware Depart- Delaware Inland Bays Watershed ment of Agriculture, available Nutrient Management Project. at http:// (January, 1999) treasurer.delaware.gov/ 8. Environmental Indicators Re- ag_land.shtml (March, 2007) port, Center for Inland Bays. 20. Preservation Delaware, Pres- (2004) ervation Delaware, Inc. (2006) 9. Delaware Comprehensive His- 21. Four Steps for Cultural Heri- toric Preservation Plan, Center tage Tourism, National Trust for Historic Architecture and for Historic Preservation. Design, the University of (2007) Delaware. (June, 1989) 22. Livable Delaware: the Strate- 10. Historic Context for the Du- gies for State Policies and Spend- Pont Highway U.S. Route 113, ing, Office of State Planning Delaware Department of Coordination, Delaware, avail- Transportation. (July, 2005) able at http:// 11. “What Does Wetland Die- stateplanning.delaware.gov/ back Mean for the Future of (2007) our Saltmarshes?” Inland Bays Journal, Delaware Center for

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 55

5. Conclusions 5 Conclusions

Sussex County at a toric sites around the county The heritage of Sussex Crossroads are the most visible and vis- County is not isolated in one ited locations on a tourist’s particular area. The wide dis- Sussex County is at a criti- itinerary, these should not be persal of National Register cal point in terms of opportu- considered in isolation. Sites and Historical Markers nities for and challenges to Rather, they should be seen as attest to this fact (see Figure maintaining a high quality of integral parts of a larger 5.1). life for its residents and ensur- whole. The broader context Sussex County heritage is ing that it remains an attrac- of Sussex heritage comprises a made up of an assemblage of tive and viable destination for variety of geographic and the- parts. Some resources, such visitors. Shifts in demograph- matic areas and chronological as specific buildings, national ics and land uses represent a periods. Such a wide array of register sites, and districts, are significant determinant of the disparate components making localized. Others, however, county’s future configuration. up the overall heritage of the are non-localized, for in- The role of tourism in the county necessitates a compre- stance, landscapes represent- county is significant, and its hensive approach in order to ing agricultural heritage, for- importance as an economic promote their value as an as- estry resources, wetlands, wa- engine is likely to remain high set for Heritage Tourism. for the foreseeable future. terways, and other natural en- Beyond being worthy of protection and promotion in their own right, the heritage resources of Sussex County represent a critical component of they county’s future prosperity. Decision makers in the county must balance growth against preservation of the elements and qualities that have historically characterized the county, such as small towns, rural landscapes, and access to unspoiled nature. It is important to take a broad view of what constitutes “heritage” for the purposes of tourism. While the Figure 5.1 Locations of National Register Sites and State historic markers in Sussex significant buildings and his- County.

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 56

5. Conclusions vironmental assets. A suc- few, should be encouraged. implementation of a Heritage cessful approach to using Tourism program will be de- Attention should also be these resources most advanta- rived from the ideas presented paid to the administrative and geously in the development of here. Public outreach and regulatory factors that either a Heritage Tourism program education will further this encourage or discourage heri- should emphasize the interre- work in Phase II of the pro- tage resource protection in the lationships among these com- ject. As well, specific tools county. These factors include ponents, and recognize the and analysis to guide the proc- cognizance of the role of Liv- synergy which can occur if ess will be developed and im- able Delaware and the State they are managed properly. plemented. CHAD and IPA Strategies for Policies and Such management includes have proposed four specific Spending in guiding develop- the development of a compre- tasks toward this goal. ment in a sustainable manner, hensive plan to identify sig- assessment of the County’s First, a website to facili- nificant resources, assess their zoning regulations to ensure tate the dissemination of the viability or integrity, and out- that growth is guided wisely information and data pre- line a strategy to sustain them. through regulation, and mar- sented here will be developed. The need to provide for the keting and promotion of pub- The website will provide ac- protection of these resources lic and private programs of cess to many of the primary should be emphasized in any tax incentives and easements resources used in Phase I and such strategy so that they do for land preservation. Local will include an interactive not undergo degradation or and state policy makers mapping component to allow destruction. should also seek to undertake users to explore the data An important component new and innovative strategies through a user-friendly inter- in establishing a comprehen- to protect Sussex’s land and face. sive approach to the develop- heritage. Examples of such Second, a thorough expo- ment of Heritage Tourism in strategies could include sition of the specific heritage Sussex County is the coordi- broadening the economic vi- assets outlined in this report nation of the many diverse ability of preservation through will continue. Heritage assets interests, both local and at the local tax initiatives, establish- will be described in terms of state level—including private, ing a “heritage trading” pro- their significance, historical non-profit, academic, and gram (similar to emissions role, and position in the over- governmental organizations— trading systems), and institut- all historic context of the which are concerned with ing programs of public mar- county. This document will various aspects of preserva- keting and education to in- serve to prioritize areas in tion, conservation, and eco- crease awareness about the terms of their significance and nomic development. Interre- significance of the county’s the threats they face from de- lationships among groups rich heritage. velopment and population such as state and county-wide pressure. planning and preservation agencies, local historical socie- Directions Third, a short manual is ties, special interest and grass- proposed that will serve as a roots preservation groups, This document represents guide or model for localities local, regional and national a summary of the heritage re- to develop their own plans to environmental organizations, sources of Sussex County and preserve heritage resources. academic institutions, local a recounting of some of the In much the same way that chambers of commerce, and threats to these resources. the town comprehensive plan- members of the local business Ultimately, it is hoped that a ning process helps ensure that community, just to name a comprehensive plan for the issues such as growth, zoning,

Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 57

5. Conclusions environmental protection, These unique communities known as a county of small infrastructure, and so forth, were first established in late towns. Sometimes referred to are addressed, a model Heri- 1800s and early 1900s. as the County’s twenty-four tage Tourism plan will stan- Rehoboth and Bethany were jewels, the towns all have dardize the way communities the first resort communities, populations less than 10,000; and towns approach the de- but others have followed with most have populations under velopment of Heritage Tour- distinguished, albeit brief, his- 2,000. Each of these towns ism. Such a plan will, it is tories. has developed in its own par- hoped, serve to coordinate ticular fashion, whether as 3. Maritime traditions – With a and provide structure for the marketplace, railroad stop, coastline along the Delaware process county-wide. crossroads, maritime center, Bay and access to the Chesa- mill village, or shipping cen- Fourth, two public work- peake Bay, Sussex County was ter. The towns represent the shops will be conducted to a natural location for a grow- spine of Heritage Tourism in help educate the public on ing shipbuilding industry in the county. issues related to protecting the the late eighteenth and early- county’s heritage. The work- to-mid nineteenth centuries. 7. Religion – Religion has shops will introduce the con- Coastal defenses were also played an important role in cepts involved in designing established along the Atlantic the cultural and historical de- and implementing a heritage Coastline to provide protec- velopment of Sussex County, resource protection plan in a tion during the War of 1812, as evidenced by the many locality. The feedback derived WWI, and WWII. Presbyterian, Episcopalian, from such outreach efforts Christ’s Church, and AME 4. Historic resources and architec- will help guide future efforts. places of worship found there. ture – Lovely examples of his- Methodism, in particular, Other products which toric architecture abound in flourished in Sussex County. might derive from this re- Sussex County. Georgian, In fact, Delaware is known as search could include a series Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, the cradle of Methodism in of interpretive trail maps and/ and Italianate homes are the United States. Most or brochures. These would tie found throughout many of towns contain historic together thematically linked the towns of Sussex. Enli- churches that still dot the resources through an anno- vened by many vernacular landscape, recounting a spe- tated driving tour of the variations, they are well worth cial history of the county. county. Some of the themes a visit. which might be explored These themes encompass 5. Agriculture – Farming has through driving tours were the entire county, including historically been the primary developed during Phase I of those less traveled spots. By industry in the county, al- the project and are listed be- emphasizing the thematic though its character has low: continuity of disparate loca- changed over time. In the tions within the county, areas 1. The natural environment – Sus- nineteenth century, peaches, that are not usually frequented sex County consists of a di- strawberries, sweet potatoes, by tourists will increasingly verse ecosystem of fresh and and melons were grown by become attractive destinations saltwater coastlines, swamps, local farmers. Today, the as they gain more exposure. and wildlife preserves. The main crops are broiler chick- Increased business opportuni- various ecosystems of Sussex ens, corn, soy, and sod. Sev- ties will also result, helping County are home to numer- eral towns celebrate their agri- fuel economic growth in these ous bird species as well as the cultural pasts with annual fes- locales by encouraging the horseshoe crab. tivals. establishment of restaurants, 2. Beach and resort communities – 6. Small towns – Sussex is inns, bed-and-breakfasts, and Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 58

5. Conclusions shops, and by sustaining those and intensity. As more people now there. and more interest groups vie for the limited supply of land, In the course of research- natural and environmental ing this project, CHAD and resources, and recreational IPA discovered at least one possibilities, it is inevitable major gap in the availability of that many of these assets will information. The Delaware become imperiled. From an State Historic Preservation economic as well as preserva- Office’s Cultural Resources tion/conservation perspec- Survey (CRS) database is in tive, it is critical that the re- need of crucial updates. The sources not be squandered by CRS database is an inventory a short-sighted lack of plan- of historically significant ning and guidance. Protection buildings in the state. Cur- and promotion of the re- rently, many of the CRS sources which lend Sussex points appear only on paper County its unique character is maps, though others are in fundamental. They are what the process of being digitized make Sussex County a place into a GIS-compatible format. worth visiting and residing in. As a result, a comprehensive Planning for Heritage Tour- list of historic structures is ism is an effective and viable unavailable. It is important strategy toward this end. that this database be completed, updated, and linked to information such as date, thematic area, and condition of building so that a list of potential historic resources may be compiled and analyzed. The cultural and natural heritage of Sussex County is undeniably rich, and its appeal is considerable for visitors and residents alike. It is important that these irreplaceable assets not be degraded or destroyed. The various places and landscapes of the county provide a wide range of opportunities for recreation and tourism and as such represent an important component of the engine of growth and prosperity that Sussex County has enjoyed for many years. The current threats to this heritage are very real and in many ways unprecedented in both scope Toward Heritage Tourism in Sussex County, Delaware, CHAD/IPA 59 The Center for Historic Architecture and Design The Institute for Public Administration The University of Delaware November, 2007