Delmar, Delaware facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Delmar, Delaware
Town
State Line Plaza on US Route 13 in Delmar
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  The Little Town Too Big for One State
Location of Delmar in Sussex County, Delaware.
Delmar, Delaware Location in Delaware Show map of Delaware Delmar, Delaware Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Delaware
County	Sussex
Founded	1859
Incorporated	1899
Area
• Total	1.90 sq mi (4.92 km2)
• Land	1.90 sq mi (4.92 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.0%
Elevation	52 ft (16 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,027
• Density	1,066.28/sq mi (411.79/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	19940
Area code(s)	302
FIPS code	10-20380
GNIS feature ID	213878
Website	www.townofdelmar.us

Delmar is a town located in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. It sits right on the border with Maryland. Its special motto is "The Little Town Too Big for One State."

In 2020, about 2,027 people lived in Delmar, Delaware. If you add the population of Delmar, Maryland, the total population for the whole town was around 4,600 in 2010. Delmar is part of the larger Salisbury metropolitan area.

History of Delmar

How Delmar Was Founded

The town of Delmar started in October 1859. This happened when the Delaware Railroad was built all the way to the southern edge of Delaware. A special line called the Transpeninsular Line was important for creating this unique town that crosses two states.

The railroad company in Delaware could only build tracks in Delaware. The company in Maryland could only build tracks in Maryland. So, in 1859, the two railroads met at this spot, and the town of Delmar was born! The name "Delmar" is a mix of the names of the two states: Delaware and Maryland.

Delmar's Growth and Challenges

Delmar grew slowly at first. But in 1884, a new railroad, the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad, was finished. This railroad connected places like Pocomoke City, Maryland to Cape Charles, Virginia. It also had a ferry service across the Chesapeake Bay.

These new connections 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 peninsula. It became a key spot where trains would change crews and engines. It was also a center for fixing train equipment.

Because of this, many experienced railroad workers moved to Delmar. This created lots of jobs for local people too. Delmar quickly became a "boom town." Many new homes and businesses appeared to serve the growing population. By 1889, Delmar's population had grown to 680 people.

Railway station in Delmar, 1905

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

Working Together Across the State Line

For a long time, the Delaware and Maryland parts of Delmar mostly acted separately. The first sign of them working together was in 1924. They started planning a sewer system for the whole town. In 1927, this sewer system was built. Both towns agreed to share the costs and upkeep.

A big step towards joining the two parts of town happened with the schools. The local Lions Club wanted to combine the two school systems. Since the town was founded, each side had its own school. The Delaware school was run by a local board, and the Maryland school by Wicomico County.

This idea was debated for over three years. Finally, in 1949, the junior and senior high schools combined. They used the Delaware school buildings. Four years later, the younger grades (fourth, fifth, and sixth) also combined. They used the Maryland school building. This was a huge step forward for education in Delmar. It also helped to remove the invisible border between the two parts of town.

Historic Places

Some important historic buildings in Delmar are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Dickerson Potato House, the Highball Signal, and the West Potato House.

Geography

Delmar covers a total area of about 1.9 square miles (4.92 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Transportation

US 13 northbound in Delmar

The main way to travel in and out of Delmar is by road. U.S. Route 13 is the main highway. It goes north towards Dover, Delaware and south towards Salisbury, Maryland. Route 54 also runs along the southern edge of town. It follows State Street, right on the border with Delmar, Maryland.

DART First State operates a bus route, Route 212. This bus connects Delmar to other towns like Georgetown, Delaware, Laurel, Delaware, Seaford, Delaware, and Bridgeville, Delaware. The Delmarva Central Railroad also has a train line that passes through Delmar, running north and south.

Population in Delmar

In 2010, there were 1,597 people living in Delmar, Delaware. There were 606 households in the town. Most of the people were White (75.64%). About 10.58% were African American, and 1% were Asian. About 1.37% were from other races, and 8.89% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 6.95% of the population.

The population included people of all ages. About 26.6% of the people were under 18 years old. About 19.4% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the town was 41.6 years.

Education

Delmar is part of the Delmar School District. This district runs Delmar Middle School and Delmar Senior High School. Younger students attend Delmar Elementary School, which is actually in Delmar, Maryland. This is part of an agreement with the Wicomico County Public Schools.

Notable People from Delmar

• William Alland: An actor who was in the movie Citizen Kane. He was also a producer and writer.
• Alex Ellis: An American football player who played as a tight end for the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League.
• Lauren Witzke: A political figure who was a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2020.

See also

In Spanish: Delmar (Delaware) para niños