Dewey Beach, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dewey Beach, Delaware
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| Motto(s):
Dewey Beach, A Way of Life
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Location of Dewey Beach in Sussex County, Delaware.
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 Dewey Beach, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Dewey Beach, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Delaware |
| County | Sussex |
| Incorporated | 1981 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2) |
| • Land | 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 353 |
| • Density | 1,066.47/sq mi (412.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
19971
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| Area code(s) | 302 |
| FIPS code | 10-20900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 213884 |
| Website | http://www.townofdeweybeach.com/ |
Dewey Beach is a small coastal town in Delaware, United States. It's located in eastern Sussex County. Even though it's small, it's a very popular place, especially in the summer!
In 2020, about 353 people lived in Dewey Beach. It's part of the growing Cape Region. In 2011, Dewey Beach received a special 5-Star rating for its water quality from the NRDC. This award was given to only 12 other places, including nearby Rehoboth Beach. Out of 30 states with coastlines, the Delaware Beaches were ranked number one for water quality that year.
Contents
History of Dewey Beach
How Dewey Beach Got Its Name
The area first appeared on a map in 1868 as "Rehoboth City." People believe the name changed to Dewey Beach after 1898. This was when Admiral George Dewey became a national hero during the Spanish-American War. Dewey Beach officially became a town in 1981.
The Life-Saving Station
The Rehoboth Beach Life-Saving Station was built in 1878. It was located at the end of Dagsworthy Street. This station helped rescue people from shipwrecks. In 1915, it became the Rehoboth Beach Coast Guard Station. It closed for a while but reopened in 1926. The station was finally closed in 1937. The original building was moved and became a home. Today, a replica of the station stands in its place, built in 1988.
Fun Things to Do in Dewey Beach
A Popular Summer Spot
Dewey Beach is a narrow strip of land. It sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay. It's about one mile long and two blocks wide. Even though only about 300 people live there all year, up to 30,000 people visit on summer weekends! Many places to eat and hang out are along Coastal Highway, which is the town's main street.
Dewey Beach is known for its lively summer atmosphere. It's also a great place for family vacations. The town has wide, sandy beaches. There are many hotels, cottages, and condominiums where visitors can stay.
Off-Season Calm
Like most beach towns, Dewey Beach becomes much quieter when summer ends.
Special Events in Dewey Beach
- The Dewey Beach Music Conference happens during the last weekend of September. This event started in 2002. It brings many new bands from all over the country.
- Another popular event is Greyhounds Reach The Beach. It takes place every Columbus Day weekend in October. Thousands of rescued greyhound dogs and their owners gather for this fun event.
- The town also hosts the annual East Coast Skimboarding Championships. This exciting competition happens in mid-August.
- In June, many high school seniors visit Dewey Beach for Senior Week after they graduate.
Geography of Dewey Beach
Dewey Beach is located at 38°41′34″N 75°04′29″W / 38.69278°N 75.07472°W.
The town covers about 0.3 square miles (0.8 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Climate in Dewey Beach
The weather in Dewey Beach has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
| Climate data for Dewey Beach, Delaware | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
86 (30) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
98 (37) |
92 (33) |
88 (31) |
77 (25) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45 (7) |
48 (9) |
55 (13) |
65 (18) |
74 (23) |
83 (28) |
87 (31) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
69 (21) |
59 (15) |
49 (9) |
67 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30 (−1) |
31 (−1) |
37 (3) |
46 (8) |
55 (13) |
65 (18) |
70 (21) |
69 (21) |
63 (17) |
52 (11) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
50 (10) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −11 (−24) |
0 (−18) |
9 (−13) |
18 (−8) |
32 (0) |
40 (4) |
47 (8) |
47 (8) |
37 (3) |
26 (−3) |
16 (−9) |
0 (−18) |
−11 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.62 (92) |
3.23 (82) |
4.40 (112) |
3.59 (91) |
3.72 (94) |
3.39 (86) |
4.78 (121) |
4.73 (120) |
4.04 (103) |
3.94 (100) |
3.66 (93) |
3.85 (98) |
46.95 (1,192) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
How to Get Around Dewey Beach
Roads and Parking
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Delaware Route 1 (also called Coastal Highway) is the main road that goes north and south through Dewey Beach. It connects the town to other beach areas like Bethany Beach and Ocean City, Maryland. Another road, Delaware Route 1A, starts in Dewey Beach and goes north into Rehoboth Beach. During the summer (May 15 to September 15), you need to pay for parking using parking meters or special permits.
Bus Services
DART First State offers bus service in Dewey Beach during the summer. Their Beach Bus Route 208 travels north to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, and south to Ocean City, Maryland. You can connect to other bus routes at the park and ride lots.
The Jolly Trolley is a private shuttle service. It provides frequent rides within Dewey Beach and to nearby Rehoboth Beach. It runs daily during the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall.
BestBus provides bus service to Dewey Beach from Washington, D.C. and New York City. This service is available on summer weekends.
You can also take a water taxi to Dewey Beach from Lewes. Cape Water Tours & Taxi offers this service on Friday evenings in the summer. It's a fun way to get to Dewey Beach for dinner and evening activities.
Town Services
Delmarva Power provides electricity to Dewey Beach. The town's water and sewer services are managed by Sussex County. Trash and recycling are collected by Waste Industries.
People of Dewey Beach
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 204 | — | |
| 2000 | 301 | 47.5% | |
| 2010 | 341 | 13.3% | |
| 2020 | 353 | 3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 301 people living in Dewey Beach. Most of the people living there were White (about 91.69%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 5.32% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Dewey Beach in 2000 was 52 years old.
Schools in Dewey Beach
Dewey Beach is part of the Cape Henlopen School District. Students in Dewey Beach attend Rehoboth Elementary School. For high school, students go to Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes.
See also
In Spanish: Dewey Beach para niños
