Rehoboth Beach, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
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Rehoboth Beach boardwalk looking north toward Rehoboth Avenue
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| Nickname(s):
The Nation's Summer Capital
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Location of Rehoboth Beach in Sussex County, Delaware
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 Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Delaware | ||
| County | Sussex | ||
| Founded | 1873 | ||
| Incorporated | March 19, 1891 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.26 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1.18 sq mi (3.04 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.47 sq mi (1.22 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,108 | ||
| • Density | 942.98/sq mi (363.95/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 | 10-60290 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 214535 | ||
Rehoboth Beach is a city located on the Atlantic Ocean in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. In 2020, about 1,108 people lived there. It's a key city in Delaware's growing Cape Region, along with nearby Lewes. Rehoboth Beach is also part of the Salisbury metropolitan area.
This city is a very popular vacation spot, especially for people from Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Many people own summer homes here, including current U.S. President Joe Biden. During the summer, Rehoboth Beach's population can grow to over 25,000 people.
In 2011, the NRDC gave Rehoboth Beach a 5-Star rating for its water quality. Only 12 other places received this award, including nearby Dewey Beach. That year, the beaches in Delaware were ranked number one for water quality among all 30 states with coastlines.
Contents
History of Rehoboth Beach
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Early Days: Native Americans and European Settlers
When the first Europeans arrived in the 1600s, several Native American tribes lived along the coast. These included the Lenape, Sikkonese, Assateagues, and Nanticoke. This area was likely a very important fishing village for Native Americans.
Over time, English and Dutch settlers moved into the area. This led to many Native American tribes moving away. However, the Nanticoke people still live in the general area today.
The land later came under the control of the Duke of York. He was the younger brother of King Charles II. The Duke granted parts of the land to different owners. The name Rehoboth means "broad spaces" in Hebrew. It appears in the Old Testament of the Bible. The nearby Rehoboth Bay was already called Rehoboth for about 100 years before the town was founded.
How Rehoboth Beach Began
In the mid-1800s, the land was mostly used by farmers. The town was officially started in 1873. It was founded as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association by Reverend Robert W. Todd. He wanted it to be a place for Methodist Episcopal Church camp meetings, similar to other resorts in New Jersey.
The Camp Meeting Association stopped operating in 1881. In 1891, the area was officially named "Cape Henlopen City" by the Delaware state legislature. Two years later, in 1893, it was renamed Rehoboth Beach.
The first boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach was built in 1873. It has been changed many times over the years due to weather and storms. In 1878, a railroad line was built from Lewes to Rehoboth Beach. This made it easier for visitors from northern Delaware and Pennsylvania to come. This was the start of Rehoboth Beach becoming a popular tourist spot.
Rehoboth Beach in the 1900s
In 1925, a paved highway was built between Georgetown and Rehoboth Beach. This helped bring in more visitors from cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and other parts of Maryland and Northern Virginia.
From 1942 to 1943, Rehoboth Beach Airport was used as a base for the Civil Air Patrol. Volunteers flew planes to help the Army and Navy look for enemy submarines during World War II. Two of these airmen were the first civilians to receive the Air Medal for a rescue mission.
The Rehoboth Beach Airport closed in 1987. Today, the Rehoboth Shores Estates Community is located where the airport used to be. A historical marker was placed there in 2006 to remember Coastal Patrol Base 2.
Rehoboth Beach Today
Rehoboth Beach is often called "The Nation's Summer Capital." This is because many people from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania choose it for their summer vacations. People love the town's charm and that Delaware does not have a sales tax.
The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is a 1 mile (1.6 km) long wooden walkway next to the beach. It has restaurants, shops, and fun attractions. The Funland amusement park, which opened in 1962, is also on the boardwalk. Many restaurants and shops are found along Rehoboth Avenue, the town's main street. Outside the city, along Delaware Route 1, you can find the Tanger Outlets with over 130 stores.
Because it's close to Washington, D.C., Rehoboth Beach is a popular summer spot for members of the United States Congress. Joe Biden, the current President of the United States, and Jill Biden, the current First Lady of the United States, have a beach house nearby. This house is sometimes called their "Summer White House."
Rehoboth Beach has a seasonal beach patrol that works as lifeguards. They watch over the 1.5 miles of beachfront from Memorial Day weekend until the fall. They are on duty every day from 10 AM to 5 PM on weekdays, and 10 AM to 5:30 PM on weekends during the summer.
The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand is located on Rehoboth Avenue near the boardwalk. It's a free outdoor stage for music and entertainment in the summer. Over 50 bands perform there each season. Performances have been held at the Bandstand since 1963.
Reader's Digest magazine named the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk "Best of America" in 2006. Also, AARP has called Rehoboth Beach one of the "Best Places to Retire."
The town hosts several festivals every year. These include the Sea Witch Festival, the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, and the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival.
The Clear Space Theatre Company is a professional theater group. They perform musicals and plays all year at the Rehoboth Theatre of the Arts.
Dogfish Head Brewery's first brewpub is on Rehoboth Avenue. It's a popular place for people who enjoy American craft beer. Grotto Pizza started in Rehoboth Beach in 1960. It now has 23 locations in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
In 2011, the city banned smoking in parks and playgrounds. In 2014, this ban was extended to the beach, boardwalk, and other public areas. In 2017, the city also banned large tents, canopies, and umbrellas on the beach. This was the first such ban in Delaware.
Geography and Climate
Where is Rehoboth Beach Located?
Rehoboth Beach covers about 1.6 square miles (4.2 square kilometers). About 1.2 square miles (3.0 square kilometers) is land, and 0.5 square miles (1.2 square kilometers) is water. The city is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. To the north is Henlopen Acres, and to the west and south are parts of Sussex County. Cape Henlopen State Park is just north of Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach is just south.
What is the Weather Like in Rehoboth Beach?
Rehoboth Beach is on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Its weather is affected by the Atlantic Ocean and the Rehoboth Bay. The city has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and somewhat humid summers, cool winters, and rain throughout the year.
In summer, a cool afternoon sea breeze often blows. However, it can get very hot and humid sometimes. The highest temperature ever recorded was 102°F (39°C) on June 21, 1997. In winter, it can get very cold and windy. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -11°F (-24°C) on January 17, 1982.
On average, Rehoboth Beach gets about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of snow each winter. February is usually the snowiest month. Heavy snowfalls are not common, but some big snowstorms have happened.
| Climate data for Rehoboth Beach, DE (1981–2010 Averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 43.5 (6.4) |
45.3 (7.4) |
52.4 (11.3) |
62.3 (16.8) |
71.5 (21.9) |
81.0 (27.2) |
85.2 (29.6) |
83.6 (28.7) |
78.0 (25.6) |
68.0 (20.0) |
57.9 (14.4) |
47.9 (8.8) |
64.8 (18.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 36.3 (2.4) |
37.9 (3.3) |
44.5 (6.9) |
54.0 (12.2) |
63.1 (17.3) |
72.8 (22.7) |
77.5 (25.3) |
75.9 (24.4) |
70.1 (21.2) |
59.6 (15.3) |
50.0 (10.0) |
40.7 (4.8) |
57.0 (13.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.1 (−1.6) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
36.7 (2.6) |
45.7 (7.6) |
54.7 (12.6) |
64.5 (18.1) |
69.7 (20.9) |
68.2 (20.1) |
62.3 (16.8) |
51.2 (10.7) |
42.1 (5.6) |
33.4 (0.8) |
49.1 (9.5) |
| 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) | 3.58 (91) |
2.99 (76) |
4.17 (106) |
3.61 (92) |
3.69 (94) |
3.31 (84) |
4.43 (113) |
4.65 (118) |
3.86 (98) |
3.68 (93) |
3.57 (91) |
3.79 (96) |
45.33 (1,151) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.8 (7.1) |
4.5 (11) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
1.3 (3.3) |
9.6 (23.91) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68.7 | 67.2 | 64.3 | 63.5 | 68.1 | 71.1 | 71.1 | 73.7 | 71.9 | 70.2 | 69.2 | 68.4 | 69.0 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 27.0 (−2.8) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
33.2 (0.7) |
41.9 (5.5) |
52.4 (11.3) |
62.9 (17.2) |
67.4 (19.7) |
66.9 (19.4) |
60.6 (15.9) |
49.9 (9.9) |
40.3 (4.6) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
46.9 (8.3) |
| Source 1: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: PRISM | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Lewes, DE Ocean Water Temperature (5 NW Rehoboth Beach) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
36 (2) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
73 (23) |
76 (24) |
72 (22) |
62 (17) |
52 (11) |
44 (7) |
56 (13) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Nature and Wildlife
Rehoboth Beach is located in an area with a specific type of natural plant life. The main plants are Oak and Hickory trees, along with Pine trees. This forms a type of forest called a Southern Mixed Forest.
People of Rehoboth Beach
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 198 | — | |
| 1910 | 327 | 65.2% | |
| 1920 | 389 | 19.0% | |
| 1930 | 795 | 104.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,247 | 56.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,794 | 43.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,507 | −16.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,495 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,730 | 15.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,234 | −28.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,495 | 21.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,327 | −11.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,108 | −16.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2021, about 1,392 people lived in Rehoboth Beach. Most residents (96.16%) were White. A small percentage were Asian (0.31%), and 3.02% were from other backgrounds. About 0.13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The city had 847 households. Only 6.3% of these had children under 18 living there. About 34.8% were married couples. Many households (47.1%) were made up of single individuals. About 23.4% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 1.76 people.
The median age in the city was 57 years old. About 7.0% of the population was under 18. About 37.5% were 65 years or older. The median income for a household was $43,194. For families, the median income was $255,755.
Parks and Fun Activities
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Besides the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, Rehoboth Beach has several parks.
- Grove Park has a playground, a covered area, restrooms, and benches.
- Stockley Street Park is next to Silver Lake. It has benches and a playground.
- Teardrop Park offers a dock on Silver Lake.
- Lake Gerar Park is along Lake Gerar and has benches and a playground.
- Deauville Beach has tennis courts.
- Deer Park and Central Park are wooded areas where you can see wildlife.
- Lee Street Park provides shady trees.
- Martin's Lawn is a grassy area near the Anna Hazzard Museum and the Senior Center.
City Services and Travel
Getting Around Rehoboth Beach
_at_the_exit_for_Delaware_State_Route_1B_(State_Road)_in_Rehoboth_Beach,_Sussex_County,_Delaware.jpg)
Delaware Route 1 (Coastal Highway) runs along the edge of the city. Delaware Route 1A goes through Rehoboth Beach. It crosses a drawbridge over the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal.
Parking in downtown Rehoboth Beach uses parking meters during the summer. Parking permits are also needed for other street parking spots. There is a parking lot at Deauville Beach in the northern part of the city.
The Delaware Department of Transportation has a park and ride lot just outside the city. During summer, DART First State operates a Beach Bus service. This bus provides frequent rides in and out of the city. It also connects to other Delaware Beaches and Ocean City, Maryland.
On summer weekends, DART First State runs the "Beach Connection" bus. This bus goes from Wilmington to the Lewes Transit Center. You can connect to local buses to Rehoboth Beach from there. DART First State also has year-round bus services connecting Rehoboth Beach to Lewes and Millsboro.
The Delaware River and Bay Authority runs a shuttle bus in the summer. It goes to the Tanger Outlets and the park and ride lot from the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. This ferry crosses the Delaware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey.
The Jolly Trolley is a private shuttle service. It offers frequent rides in Rehoboth Beach and to nearby Dewey Beach. It runs daily during the summer tourist season.
BestBus offers bus service to Rehoboth Beach from Washington, D.C. and New York City. This service is available on summer weekends.
The Junction and Breakwater Trail is a path for bikes and hikers. It connects Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. The path is about 6 miles (9.7 km) long.
City Services
Delmarva Power provides electricity to Rehoboth Beach. Chesapeake Utilities provides natural gas. The city's Water Department provides water service. The Waste Water Department handles sewer service for Rehoboth Beach and nearby areas. The city's Streets Department collects trash and recycling.
Schools and Learning
Rehoboth Beach is part of the Cape Henlopen School District. The Rehoboth School District joined the Cape Henlopen district in 1969.
Students in Rehoboth Beach attend Rehoboth Elementary School. The current school building opened in 2019. It has 92,000 square feet (8,500 square meters) of space.
Cape Henlopen High School, located in Lewes, is the only high school for the district.
The Seaside Jewish Community started a Hebrew school for children in 2002.
Well-Known People from Rehoboth Beach
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- Sarah Aldridge, a writer.
- Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, and Jill Biden, the First Lady, own a beach house nearby.
- Tony Coelho, a former U.S. Representative from California.
- John Delaney, a former U.S. Representative from Maryland, owns a beach house nearby.
- A. Felix du Pont, a member of the du Pont family, owned a summer home here.
- Mary Beth Ellis, a long-distance triathlete.
- Jake Gelof (born 2002), a baseball player.
- Zack Gelof (born 1999), a baseball player for the Oakland A's.
- Robert Gover, a journalist and novelist.
- Aurelio Grisanty, an artist known for his Beach Town Posters.
- Robert Cutler Hinckley, an artist who painted portraits.
- Tony Kornheiser, a sports show host on ESPN.
- Robert McG. Thomas Jr., a journalist, owned a summer home here.
- William H. Vernon, a former member of the Delaware House of Representatives.
See also
In Spanish: Rehoboth Beach (Delaware) para niños
