Delmar, Maryland Facts for Kids

Delmar is a town in Wicomico County, Maryland, in the United States. In 2010, about 3,003 people lived there. It is part of the larger Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. When you add the population of Delmar, Delaware (which is right next door), the total population for both towns is around 4,600 people.

History of Delmar
Geography
Population Information
- 2010 Census Details
Education
Notable People
Fun Fact
See also

History of Delmar

How Delmar Started

The town of Delmar began in October 1859. This happened when the Delaware Railroad was built all the way to the southern border of Delaware. Delmar is a very special town because it sits in two different states! This is because the railroad companies had rules. The Delaware company could only build tracks in Delaware. The Maryland company could only build tracks in Maryland. So, in 1859, the two railroads met at this spot, and the town of Delmar was created. Its name comes from the two states it touches: DELaware and MARyland.

Growing with the Railroad

Delmar grew slowly at first. But in 1884, things changed a lot. The New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad Co. finished a new railroad. This line went from Pocomoke City, Maryland to Cape Charles, Virginia. They also started a ferry service across the Chesapeake Bay. This ferry connected Cape Charles to Norfolk, Virginia.

These new railroads made the Delmarva Peninsula a very important link between the northern and southern parts of the country. Delmar was right in the middle of the Delmarva Peninsula. It was already a railroad hub. This meant trains would stop there to change crews and engines. It was also a place where train equipment was fixed.

Because of this, many experienced railroad workers moved to Delmar. This also created many jobs for local people. Delmar quickly became a "boom town." New homes and businesses appeared everywhere to serve the growing population. By 1889, Delmar's population had grown to 680 people and was still getting bigger.

Challenges and Cooperation

In 1888, the Maryland part of Delmar officially became a town. It received a special document called a charter from the General Assembly of Maryland. For a long time, the Maryland and Delaware parts of Delmar acted like separate towns.

Delmar faced big challenges when fires almost destroyed it twice. The first fire in 1892 burned down everything in a large area. The second big fire in 1901 was also very destructive. But each time, the people of Delmar rebuilt their town. It continued to be a busy and successful place.

The first time the two parts of Delmar really worked together was in 1924. They started planning a shared sewer system for the whole town. This system was built in 1927. It was the first joint project, meaning both towns shared the costs and responsibilities.

Schools Come Together

A big step towards uniting the two towns happened because of the Lions Club. This group decided to help combine the two school systems in Delmar. Since the town began, each side had its own school. The Delaware school was run by its local school board. The Maryland school was run by the Wicomico County Board of Education.

This idea was very debated for over three years. But finally, in 1949, the junior and senior high schools became one. They used the school buildings in Delaware. Four years later, the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades also combined. These classes were held in the Maryland school. This decision was a huge step forward for education in Delmar. It also helped break down the invisible border between the two parts of town.

Geography

Delmar is located at 38°27.1′N 75°34.2′W / 38.4517°N 75.5700°W / 38.4517; -75.5700.

The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 1.73 square miles (4.48 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.72 square miles (4.45 square kilometers), is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	135	—
1900	659	—
1910	959	45.5%
1920	1,291	34.6%
1930	1,180	−8.6%
1940	1,184	0.3%
1950	1,328	12.2%
1960	1,291	−2.8%
1970	1,191	−7.7%
1980	1,232	3.4%
1990	1,430	16.1%
2000	1,859	30.0%
2010	3,003	61.5%
2020	3,798	26.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 Census Details

In 2010, there were 3,003 people living in Delmar. These people lived in 1,162 households, and 742 of these were families. The town had about 1,746 people per square mile (674 people per square kilometer).

Most people in Delmar were White (68.2%). About 21.3% were African American, and 5.5% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 4.6% of the population.

About 40% of the households had children under 18 living there. The average household had 2.58 people, and the average family had 3.11 people. The average age of people in Delmar was 30.5 years old. About 27.8% of residents were under 18.

Education

Students in Delmar, Maryland, attend schools run by Wicomico County Public Schools. Delmar Elementary School opened in 1920. It was once a school for grades 7-12 but later became an elementary school.

Interestingly, students on the Maryland side can also go to public schools in the Delmar School District in Delaware. These schools include Delmar Middle School and Delmar Senior High School. As of 1999, students from Delmar, Maryland, could choose to attend the Delmar, Delaware schools or Wicomico Middle School in Maryland.

Notable People

Some well-known people have connections to Delmar:

Lewis J. Fields: A high-ranking United States Marine Corps officer.
Elihu Emory Jackson: He was the Governor of Maryland from 1888 to 1892.
Edward L. Fike: A journalist and publisher who lived from 1920 to 2011.

Fun Fact

Delmar was one of the places where the 1986 horror movie Redneck Zombies was filmed!

Delmar, Maryland facts for kids

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