Fenwick Island, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fenwick Island, Delaware
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Location of Fenwick Island in Sussex County, Delaware
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 Fenwick Island, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Fenwick Island, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Delaware |
| County |  Sussex |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.48 sq mi (1.26 km2) |
| • Land | 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 343 |
| • Density | 1,036.25/sq mi (399.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
19944, 19975
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| Area code(s) | 302 |
| FIPS code | 10-26880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 213954 |
| Website | |
Fenwick Island is a fun coastal town in Sussex County, Delaware. In 2020, about 343 people lived there. It's part of a larger area that includes Salisbury, Maryland. The town is located on a narrow strip of land called Fenwick Island. This land acts like a natural wall, separating the Atlantic Ocean from Little Assawoman Bay.
Fenwick Island and its nearby towns, Bethany Beach and South Bethany, are often called "The Quiet Resorts." This is because they are calmer than places like Dewey Beach or the busy Rehoboth Beach. However, Fenwick Island is a bit livelier than Bethany Beach. This is because it's right next to Ocean City, Maryland, which is a very popular and active vacation spot.
The town is named after Thomas Fenwick, a planter from England. He settled in Maryland a long time ago. Fenwick Island was once part of a land dispute between Lord Baltimore and William Penn. This disagreement was settled by the Mason–Dixon line.
Many people think Fenwick Island is on a separate barrier island. But it's actually on a narrow piece of land that looks like an island. This land is connected to the mainland. The southern part of this land is where Ocean City, Maryland, is located.
There's an old story that pirates used to bury treasure on Cedar Island in Little Assawoman Bay. Whether it's true or not, the Delaware coast was a known hiding spot for pirates. Cedar Island has mostly disappeared into the bay over time.
Fenwick Island was not an official town until July 1953. People wanted it to become a town to stop tall buildings from Ocean City, Maryland, from spreading north.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Fenwick Island is located at 38°27′44″N 75°03′05″W / 38.46222°N 75.05139°W. It covers about 0.5 square miles (1.26 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but a good portion is water.
Fenwick Island's Climate
The weather in Fenwick Island has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It's known as Cfa on climate maps.
| Climate data for Fenwick Island, Delaware | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) |
76 (24) |
87 (31) |
93 (34) |
96 (36) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
91 (33) |
86 (30) |
77 (25) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
46 (8) |
54 (12) |
64 (18) |
73 (23) |
82 (28) |
87 (31) |
85 (29) |
79 (26) |
68 (20) |
58 (14) |
48 (9) |
66 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25 (−4) |
27 (−3) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
60 (16) |
65 (18) |
64 (18) |
57 (14) |
45 (7) |
37 (3) |
29 (−2) |
45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −13 (−25) |
−8 (−22) |
3 (−16) |
20 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
39 (4) |
43 (6) |
42 (6) |
32 (0) |
21 (−6) |
15 (−9) |
−7 (−22) |
−13 (−25) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.94 (100) |
3.30 (84) |
4.57 (116) |
3.44 (87) |
3.91 (99) |
3.32 (84) |
3.47 (88) |
5.59 (142) |
3.99 (101) |
3.36 (85) |
3.26 (83) |
3.32 (84) |
45.47 (1,153) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
Getting Around Fenwick Island
Transportation
_just_north_of_East_Lewes_Street_in_Fenwick_Island,_Sussex_County,_Delaware.jpg)
Delaware Route 1 (Coastal Highway) is the main road that runs north and south through Fenwick Island. It starts at the Maryland border and goes north towards Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach. If you cross the border into Maryland, this road becomes Maryland Route 528 and goes through Ocean City.
Delaware Route 54 (Lighthouse Road) also starts in Fenwick Island. It heads west towards Selbyville. This road helps people get to Fenwick Island from inland areas. From May 15 to September 15, you need a parking permit to park on the streets in Fenwick Island.
During the summer, you can use the DART First State Beach Bus (Route 208). This bus goes north to Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. It also goes south into Ocean City, Maryland.
Utilities and Services
Delmarva Power provides electricity to Fenwick Island. Chesapeake Utilities supplies natural gas. Artesian Water Company provides water. Sussex County manages the sewer system for the town. For cable and internet, residents use Xfinity. Trash and recycling services are handled by Waste Industries.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 48 | — | |
| 1970 | 56 | 16.7% | |
| 1980 | 114 | 103.6% | |
| 1990 | 186 | 63.2% | |
| 2000 | 342 | 83.9% | |
| 2010 | 379 | 10.8% | |
| 2020 | 343 | −9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 342 people living in Fenwick Island. Most of the people were White. A small percentage were of two or more races or were Hispanic or Latino.
The town had 178 households. About two-thirds of these were married couples. Most households did not have children under 18 living with them. Many people living alone were 65 years old or older.
The average age of people in Fenwick Island was 61 years old. This means many older adults live in the town.
Education
Students in Fenwick Island attend schools in the Indian River School District.
Notable People
- Deborah Birx – A doctor and diplomat who was important during the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Images for kids
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Looking south at Fenwick Island beach
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Fenwick sailboats on southwest side of island
See also
In Spanish: Fenwick Island para niños
