Sussex

Sussex County is the state of Delaware’s southernmost county and home to such widely popular family beach destinations as Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island. The county has seen significant population growth over the years as more and more people begin to make these seaside resorts their year-round homes. Over the past decade alone, the county has grown by more than 25 percent.

Both tourism and agriculture are equally important to the county’s economic success. Ocean waves make tourism a natural while the agricultural industry dominates the vistas you see as you drive into the county headed toward the beachside resorts.  Almost half of the county’s land is currently being used toward agriculture with corn, soybeans, and the raising of chickens leading the list. In fact, Sussex County produces more chickens a year than any other county in the United States!

Of course, the number of farmable acres is slowly decreasing as the population continues to grow in favor of residences. If you are looking to purchase a home to enjoy year round or simply a beach retreat during the summer months, each of the beach resorts offer its own unique taste to fall in love with. Anchoring the southern stretches is Fenwick Island – a community only a few blocks long but one that abuts the largely commercial and built-up Maryland resort town of Ocean City. As you head north, stop in to see South Bethany, Bethany Beach and North Bethany, each with their own look and feel. Bethany Beach, with its quaint downtown area and modest boardwalk, is known as the ‘Quiet Resorts’ epicenter and is popular with families. For many years, the town didn’t even allow alcohol to be served. If you are looking for more nightlife, head north to Dewey Beach, which for many years has been popular with the younger crowd as kids flock there on weekends to enjoy live music or one of the five or six well-known beach bars. Next door to Dewey Beach is the larger and historically famous Rehoboth Beach, well known for its own boardwalk and Funland, which offers rides and games for the little ones. It is also drawing more national attention than ever as of late as current President Joe Biden and his wife own a vacation home there.