10 Small Towns in Delaware Where Everyone Knows Your Name
By Katy|Published May 21, 2016
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Katy
Author
Katy is a life-long Delaware resident who grew up on a small grain farm and spent her summers enjoying time at the beach. A full time public relations professional by day and a content specialist with OIYS at night, Katy loves sharing her love of her home state with fellow Delawareans and others. Loves: local food, dachshunds, horseshoe crabs, hiking, farmers markets, bourbon.
Here at Only in Delaware, we’ve raved about Delaware’s small town life more than once, and that’s because this state screams “Small Town USA.” With only 57 incorporated areas, and with the vast number of them with populations that are only four digits long (according to the 2010 census), it’s no doubt that for many places in Delaware, it’s a little like the TV show “Cheers” – where everyone knows your name. Here are 10 of Delaware’s smallest towns where we bet that’s the case.
Hartly has experienced population decline in the last few decades and is now the smallest of Delaware's incorporated areas at less than 100 people, and only 0.1 square miles. But that doesn't stop the town from socializing, especially around the holidays to decorate and light up a town tree and have a visit from the North Pole.
Viola is another one of Delaware's small towns that sits along railroad tracks that were built back in the 1800s to transport goods and people up and down the state. Today, the tracks still exist, along with a post office....and that's about it.
The entire town of Bethel--all 0.4 square miles of it--is listed on the National Historic Register. It owes much of its heritage to being a ship building community in the 1800s.
Leipsic has all that a small Delaware waterfront community needs: a bait shop, a marina, a sandwich shop and a tavern. Locals and tourists alike belly up to the bar or a newspaper covered table at Sambo's Tavern to pick crabs and tip a cold one back.
Nevermind the creepy name, year-round residents of Slaughter mostly have a strong tie to the water and family tie to the community. Locals can spot the visitors who are just there for the great bird watching and horseshoe crab phenomenon each spring.
7. Little Creek, Population 224
K. O'Connell
If you drive along Route 9 west of Dover, you'll drive straight through the tiny town of Little Creek. Much of the town's activity revolves around the bustling Fire Company, its volunteer force and the social events hosted there.
Kenton actually has a stop light at the main intersection--a huge deal for such a small town. At the four corners is a country store where you can get gas, groceries, sandwiches from the deli, and get the scoop on the town.
Bowers seems to be split into two smaller subsets: those who have bay beach bungalos as a little get-away, and those who make their living off the water. The docks in town are where you'll find the locals.
