Milton is a town in
Sussex County,
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
, United States, on the
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula, or simply Delmarva, is a large peninsula and proposed state on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by the vast majority of the state of Delaware and parts of the Eastern Shore regions of Maryland and Virginia ...
. It is located on the Broadkill River, which empties into
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is the estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the northeast seaboard of the United States. It is approximately in area, the bay's freshwater mixes for many miles with the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean.
The bay is bordered inlan ...
. The population was 2,576 at the
2010 census, an increase of 55.5% over the previous decade.
It is part of the rapidly growing
Cape Region and lies within the
Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Delaware Route 5
Delaware Route 5 (DE 5) is a state highway in Sussex County, Delaware. The route runs from River Road and Oak Orchard Avenue on the Indian River Bay in Oak Orchard north to DE 1, north of Milton. Along the way, DE 5 pass ...
passes through Milton.
History
Located at the head of the
Broadkill River
The Broadkill River is a river flowing to Delaware Bay in southern Delaware in the United States. It is long and drains an area of on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
The Broadkill flows for its entire length in eastern Sussex County. It issues fro ...
, which enters Delaware Bay, the Milton area was first settled in 1675 by English colonists and founded as "Head of Broadkiln" in 1763. It became important for shipbuilding. The town was known by renamed by the Delaware Legislature in 1807, in honor of the English poet
John Milton
John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem '' Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and political ...
. The Delaware General Assembly passed a charter on March 17, 1865, that recognized the Town of Milton as a municipality.
History and Milton's shipbuilding heritage remain very important to the town, which is home to some of the finest Victorian and Colonial architecture in Delaware. Many of the homes have been restored to their original form, particularly those on Union and Federal streets.
Milton has 198 contributing structures listed within its
Federal Register Historic District. Significant buildings and sites are the Lydia Black Cannon Museum, the Governor James Carey home, the Chestnut Street Cemetery, and the Governor
David Hazzard
David Hazzard (May 18, 1781 – July 8, 1864) was an American merchant and politician from Milton, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, then the National Republican Party, and finally the Whig Party. ...
Mansion. The
Hazzard House
Hazzard House is a historic home located at Milton, Sussex County, Delaware. The original section dates to the 18th century, and is a two-story, three bay, single pile dwelling, of timber-frame construction on a brick foundation. It was expande ...
and
Gov. James Ponder House were listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1973. The
Milton Historic District was added in 1982.
Milton serves local residents and summer tourists in the Milton, Broadkill Beach and Primehook Beach areas with family-operated businesses and new office and shopping complexes. Several local businesses in the area are served by the
Delmarva Central Railroad
The Delmarva Central Railroad is an American short-line railroad owned by Carload Express that operates of track on the Delmarva Peninsula in the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The railroad operates lines from Porter, Delaware to Ha ...
, which operates a branch that extends to Milton from
Ellendale. Recreational opportunities abound with the
Broadkill River
The Broadkill River is a river flowing to Delaware Bay in southern Delaware in the United States. It is long and drains an area of on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
The Broadkill flows for its entire length in eastern Sussex County. It issues fro ...
, Wagamon's Pond, Diamond Pond and Lavinia Pond. Public boat docks and fishing piers are also available. It is within an easy drive to the coastal resorts of Lewes and
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Rehoboth Beach ( ) is a city on the Atlantic Ocean along the Delaware Beaches in eastern Sussex County, Delaware. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the population was 1,327, reflecting a decline of 161 (11.2%) from the 1,488 counted in the 2000 ce ...
.
A footpath known as the Governors Walk follows the Broadkill River in central Milton.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US.
Founded in 1951, The Natu ...
established a preserve along the river downstream of Milton in 1998. , an annual canoe and kayak race was being held on the river in Milton. The river passes through and feeds
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for migratory birds located east of Milton, Delaware, United States. It was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 on along the western shore of Delaware Bay. The refuge contains a var ...
to the east before entering Delaware Bay.
Milton is the home of the
Dogfish Head Brewery
Dogfish Head Brewery is a brewing company based in Milton, Delaware founded by Sam and Mariah Calagione and, as of 2019, owned by the Boston Beer Company. It opened in 1995 and produces 262,000 barrels of beer annually.
Select brews (includi ...
, a well-known East Coast beer-maker.
Transportation
Roads are the main means of transport to and from Milton.
Delaware Route 5
Delaware Route 5 (DE 5) is a state highway in Sussex County, Delaware. The route runs from River Road and Oak Orchard Avenue on the Indian River Bay in Oak Orchard north to DE 1, north of Milton. Along the way, DE 5 pass ...
is the main highway serving Milton, running on a north-south alignment through the center of town. Trucks are served by a bypass route,
Delaware Route 5 Alternate
Delaware Route 5 (DE 5) is a state highway in Sussex County, Delaware. The route runs from River Road and Oak Orchard Avenue on the Indian River Bay in Oak Orchard north to DE 1, north of Milton. Along the way, DE 5 pas ...
, which bypasses downtown to the west.
Delaware Route 16
Delaware Route 16 (DE 16) is an east-west state highway in Delaware, mainly across northern Sussex County, with a small portion near the Maryland border in extreme southwestern Kent County. It runs from Maryland Route 16 (MD& ...
also passes through Milton, skimming the north side of town on an east-west alignment.
Delaware Route 30
Delaware Route 30 (DE 30) is a state highway in Sussex County, Delaware. The route runs from an intersection with Bi-State Boulevard a short distance west of U.S. Route 13 (US 13) between Laurel and Delmar to DE 1 Bu ...
passes just outside the town to the west, following a similar north-south alignment to parallel DE 5.
DART First State
The Delaware Transit Corporation, operating as DART First State, is the only public transportation system that operates throughout the U.S. state of Delaware. DART First State provides local and inter-county bus service throughout the state and al ...
provides bus service to Milton along Route 303, which runs north to
Dover
Dover () is a town and major ferry port in Kent, South East England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies south-east of Canterbury and east of Maidstone ...
and south to
Georgetown. The
Delmarva Central Railroad
The Delmarva Central Railroad is an American short-line railroad owned by Carload Express that operates of track on the Delmarva Peninsula in the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The railroad operates lines from Porter, Delaware to Ha ...
's Milton Industrial Track line runs from Milton west to a junction with the Indian River Subdivision in
Ellendale.
Geography
Milton is located along the
Broadkill River
The Broadkill River is a river flowing to Delaware Bay in southern Delaware in the United States. It is long and drains an area of on the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
The Broadkill flows for its entire length in eastern Sussex County. It issues fro ...
.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (8.62%) is water.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 1,657 people, 700 households, and 438 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 804 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 67.11%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 24.32%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
, 0.24%
Native American, 0.48%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.12%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 6.04% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.69% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 8.93% of the population.
There were 700 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,368, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $26,065 versus $23,269 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $17,016. About 12.8% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
*
Jimmie Allen
James Edward Allen (born June 18, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Broken Bow Records imprint Stoney Creek, for which he has released the two singles "Best Shot" and " Make Me Want To" and the 2018 album ...
, country singer
*
Joseph M. Carey
Joseph Maull Carey (January 19, 1845February 5, 1924) was an American lawyer, rancher, judge, and politician, who was active in Wyoming
Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by ...
, Governor of Wyoming from 1911 to 1915
*
David Hazzard
David Hazzard (May 18, 1781 – July 8, 1864) was an American merchant and politician from Milton, in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, then the National Republican Party, and finally the Whig Party. ...
(1781–1864), politician, Delaware Governor
*
Robert G. Houston, publisher, lawyer, politician
*
James Ponder
James Ponder (October 31, 1819 – November 5, 1897) was an American merchant and politician from Milton in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Dela ...
(1819–1897), politician, Delaware Governor
*
Bryan Stevenson
Bryan Stevenson (born November 14, 1959) is an American lawyer, social justice activist, law professor at New York University School of Law, and the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, he ...
, lawyer, activist, author, law professor; founder and executive director of
Equal Justice Initiative
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is a non-profit organization, based in Montgomery, Alabama, that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, poor prisoners without effective representation, and othe ...
based in
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...
Education
It is in the
Cape Henlopen School District
The Cape Henlopen School District (CHSD) is a public school district in Sussex County, Delaware, Sussex County, Delaware in the United States. The district is based in an unincorporated area with a Lewes, Delaware, Lewes postal address, and serves ...
. The Milton School District was consolidated into the Cape Henlopen district in 1969.
Two elementary schools, Milton Elementary School and H. O. Brittingham Elementary School, serve sections of Milton.
[Elementary school zoning: and ]
Cape Henlopen High School
Cape Henlopen High School (CHHS) is a public high school in unincorporated area, unincorporated Sussex County, Delaware, United States, with a Lewes, Delaware, Lewes postal address. The school is part of the Cape Henlopen School District and is l ...
is the sole comprehensive high school of the district.
Gallery
Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, Delaware.jpg, Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton
Milton Hist Society Museum Sussex Co DE.JPG, Milton Historical Society
Milton Delaware.jpg, Federal Street in Milton in 2006
Sussex Co Title Trust & Coffee Federal St Milton DE.JPG, Federal Street Gallery & Espresso Bar
Climate
References
External links
Historic Milton DelawareTown of Milton Delaware
{{authority control
Towns in Sussex County, Delaware
Towns in Delaware
Salisbury metropolitan area