Delmar, Delaware

Delmar, Delaware
—  Town  —
Seal
Nickname(s): The Little Town Too Big for One State
Location of Delmar, Delaware
Coordinates: 38°27.5′N 75°34.3′W / 38.4583°N 75.5717°W / 38.4583; -75.5717Coordinates: 38°27.5′N 75°34.3′W / 38.4583°N 75.5717°W / 38.4583; -75.5717
Country	United States
State	Delaware
County	Sussex
Founded	1859
Incorporated	1899
Government
– Mayor	Michael Houlihan
– Vice Mayor	Mary Lee Pase
Area
– Total	0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
– Land	0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)  0.0%
Elevation	49 ft (15 m)
Population (2010)
– Total	1,597
– Density	1,744.4/sq mi (665.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	19940
Area code(s)	302
FIPS code	10-20380
GNIS feature ID	0213878
Website	www.townofdelmar.us

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

Geography

Delmar is located at 38°27.5′N 75°34.3′W / 38.4583°N 75.5717°W / 38.4583; -75.5717 (38.4589, -75.5716)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.

History

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

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

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

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

Delmar is a popular destination for diners seeking unlimited steamed crabs, corn on the cob, fried shrimp, chicken, and hushpuppies, found at the Old Mill Crab House.^[2]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1940	881		—
1950	1,015		15.2%
1960	934		−8.0%
1970	943		1.0%
1980	948		0.5%
1990	962		1.5%
2000	1,407		46.3%
2010	1,597		13.5%

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,407 people, 542 households, and 344 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,498.9 people per square mile (577.9/km²). There were 595 housing units at an average density of 633.9 per square mile (244.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.77% White, 20.82% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.71% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 542 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 78.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,818, and the median income for a family was $35,521. Males had a median income of $26,251 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,060. About 9.1% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people from Delmar

• William Alland Actor, Producer, Writer of B-Rated Sci-Fi and Westerns

Schools

• Delmar Senior High School

See also

• Twin cities (geographical proximity)
• Delmar, Maryland

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
2. ^ Messner, Emily (2004-08-29). "Old Mill Crab House". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37153-2004Aug26.html. Retrieved 2009-09-15. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Towns of Delmar, Delaware and Maryland
• Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce
• Charter of the Town of Delmar
• News Journal Profile of Delmar