Milton, Delaware

Milton is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States, on the Delmarva Peninsula. It is located on the Broadkill River, which empties into Delaware Bay. The population was 2,576 at the 2010 census, an increase of 55.5% over the previous decade.[4]

Milton, Delaware
Town
House in Milton Historic District
Location of Milton in Sussex County, Delaware.
Milton Location within the state of Delaware Show map of Delaware Milton Milton (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°46′39″N 75°18′36″W
Country	United States
State	Delaware
County	Sussex
Founded	1763
Incorporated	March 17, 1865
Area [1]
• Total	1.89 sq mi (4.89 km^2)
• Land	1.79 sq mi (4.63 km^2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.26 km^2)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,576
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	3,012
• Density	1,686.45/sq mi (651.04/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	19968
Area code(s)	302
FIPS code	10-48330
GNIS feature ID	214325[3]
Website	www.ci.milton.de.us

It is part of the rapidly growing Cape Region and lies within the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Delaware Route 5 passes through Milton.

History

Located at the head of the Broadkill River, 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. The Delaware General Assembly passed a charter on March 17, 1865 that recognized the Town of Milton as a municipality.[5]

Sussex County Library in Milton

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 Mansion. The Hazzard House and Gov. James Ponder House were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The Milton Historic District was added in 1982.[6]

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, which operates a branch that extends to Milton from Ellendale. Recreational opportunities abound with the Broadkill River, 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.

A footpath known as the Governors Walk follows the Broadkill River in central Milton. The Nature Conservancy established a preserve along the river downstream of Milton in 1998.[7] As of 2005, an annual canoe and kayak race was being held on the river in Milton.[8] The river passes through and feeds Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge to the east before entering Delaware Bay.

Milton is the home of the Dogfish Head Brewery, a well-known East Coast beer-maker.[9]

Geography

Milton is located along the Broadkill River.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (8.62%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	780		—
1870	824		5.6%
1880	1,026		24.5%
1890	1,074		4.7%
1900	948		−11.7%
1910	1,038		9.5%
1920	898		−13.5%
1930	1,130		25.8%
1940	1,198		6.0%
1950	1,321		10.3%
1960	1,617		22.4%
1970	1,490		−7.9%
1980	1,359		−8.8%
1990	1,417		4.3%
2000	1,657		16.9%
2010	2,576		55.5%
Est. 2019	3,012	[2]	16.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 1,657 people, 700 households, and 438 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,568.5 people per square mile (603.6/km²). There were 804 housing units at an average density of 761.1 per square mile (292.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 67.11% White, 24.32% Black, 0.24% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 6.04% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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 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 for the town was $17,016. About 12.8% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Joseph M. Carey, Governor of Wyoming from 1911-1915.[13]
• David Hazzard (1781-1864), politician, Delaware Governor.
• Robert G. Houston, publisher, lawyer, politician.
• James Ponder (1819-1897), politician, Delaware Governor.
• Bryan Stevenson, lawyer, activist, author, law professor; founder and executive director of Equal Justice Initiative based in Montgomery,
• Jimmie Allen, country singer

Gallery

• 
  Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton
• 
  Milton Historical Society
• 
  Federal Street in Milton in 2006
• 
  Federal Street Gallery & Espresso Bar

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "Milton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
4. "The Delaware Census State Data Center". THe State of Delaware. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
5. http://milton.delaware.gov/2014/12/16/history-of-milton/
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
7. State of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Division of Parks and Recreation. "Greenways & Trails". Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
8. "Milton Fairs and Festivals". Retrieved 2007-02-04.
9. "Dogfish Head Brewery Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
10. DeLorme (2004). Maryland Delaware Atlas & Gazetteer. p. 45. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. ISBN 0-89933-279-X.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
13. "Wyoming Governor Joseph Maull Carey". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 2013. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links

• Historic Milton Delaware
• Town of Milton Delaware