Selbyville, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Selbyville, Delaware
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Selbyville Library, July 2012
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Location of Selbyville in Sussex County, Delaware.
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 Selbyville, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Selbyville, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Delaware |
| County |  Sussex |
| Founded | 1778 |
| Incorporated | 1902 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.60 sq mi (9.31 km2) |
| • Land | 3.59 sq mi (9.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,878 |
| • Density | 802.12/sq mi (309.71/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 | 10-64840 |
| GNIS feature ID | 214630 |
Selbyville is a small town located in Sussex County, Delaware, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,878 people lived there. Selbyville is part of the larger Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to a bigger group of towns and cities.
Contents
Discovering Selbyville's Past
Selbyville has a long and interesting history. It was first settled in 1778. Later, in 1902, it officially became a town.
How Selbyville Got Its Name
The area was first called Sandy Branch. This name came from a stream that flowed from the Cypress Swamp into the St. Martin's River. In the late 1700s, a grist mill (for grinding grain) and a saw mill (for cutting wood) opened here. In 1842, a man named Sampson Selby started marking packages for his country store as "Selby-Ville." This is how the town got its current name!
Selbyville's Strawberry Boom
By 1918, Selbyville was very important for growing strawberries. It was the main place supplying strawberries to the entire East Coast! This industry was very strong for many years, lasting until the 1930s.
Local Businesses and Landmarks
Today, one of the biggest employers in Selbyville is Mountaire Farms. This company processes poultry, like chickens, at its plant on Hosier Street. The town is also home to Mumford Sheet Metal Works. In 1950, this company held the world record for making the largest frying pan! You can also visit Doyle's Restaurant, which is recognized as the oldest diner still operating in Delaware. The original diner from the 1930s is still there, connected to a newer part.
Getting Around Selbyville
Most people travel to and from Selbyville by road.
Major Roads and Highways
- U.S. Route 113 is the main highway that goes through Selbyville. It connects the town north to Georgetown and south into Maryland.
- Delaware Route 54 also serves the town. It runs from east to west along the southern border of Delaware.
- Delaware Route 17 goes northeast from Selbyville towards Millville.
_at_Hoosier_Street_in_Selbyville,_Sussex_County,_Delaware.jpg)
Railroad Connections
The Snow Hill Line, which is part of the Maryland and Delaware Railroad, also runs through Selbyville. This railroad goes north and south through the town.
Where is Selbyville Located?
Selbyville is located at 38°27′37″N 75°13′15″W / 38.46028°N 75.22083°W. This is a way to describe its exact spot on a map using latitude and longitude. The town covers an area of about 3.6 square miles (9.3 square kilometers), and almost all of it is land.
Selbyville's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 149 | — | |
| 1910 | 342 | — | |
| 1920 | 462 | 35.1% | |
| 1930 | 661 | 43.1% | |
| 1940 | 882 | 33.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,086 | 23.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,080 | −0.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,099 | 1.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,251 | 13.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,335 | 6.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,645 | 23.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,167 | 31.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,878 | 32.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,645 people living in Selbyville. About 28% of the households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.67 people. The median age in town was 37 years old. This means half the people were younger than 37 and half were older.
Learning in Selbyville
Children in Selbyville attend schools within the Indian River School District.
The Selbyville Public Library
The Selbyville Public Library is in a special building. It used to be the home of Senator John G. Townsend, Jr.. The library opened there in 1966. There's even a plaque inside that shows where former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt ate dinner with the senator in 1946. Other important people, like future president Richard Nixon, also visited this home. The house was built in 1904, and the senator's family gave it to the library after he passed away.
See also
In Spanish: Selbyville para niños
