Slaughter Beach, Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Slaughter Beach, Delaware
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Location of Slaughter Beach in Sussex County, Delaware.
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 Slaughter Beach, Delaware
Location in Delaware
Slaughter Beach, Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Delaware |
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| County |  Sussex |
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| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.44 sq mi (3.74 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.42 sq mi (3.68 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.06 km2) | |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 218 | |
| • Density | 153.63/sq mi (59.31/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Area code(s) | 302 | |
| FIPS code | 10-67050 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 214663 | |
Slaughter Beach is a small town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. It is located on the southwest shore of Delaware Bay. In 2020, about 218 people lived there. The town is part of the larger Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Slaughter Beach
Slaughter Beach was first settled in 1681. It officially became a town in 1931. There are a few different stories about how the town got its interesting name.
How the Town Got Its Name
- One story says the town was named after William Slaughter. He was a local postmaster in the mid-1800s.
- Another idea comes from the many horseshoe crabs that visit the beach each spring. These crabs come out of the Delaware Bay to lay their eggs. Sometimes, when the tides change, many crabs get stuck on the beach. They might not survive, which led some people to call it "Slaughter Beach."
- A third story is a local legend. It says a man named Brabant "slaughtered" some local people with a cannon in the mid-1700s. He supposedly did this to stop a planned attack. This story is often debated.
In 2018, an animal rights group called PETA asked the town to change its name. They suggested "Sanctuary Beach" instead. PETA even offered to help pay for new signs if the town changed its name.
Mispillion Lighthouse
Slaughter Beach used to be home to the last wooden lighthouse in Delaware. This lighthouse was called the Mispillion Lighthouse. It stood tall, looking over the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek.
The lighthouse was built in 1831 and had a tower 65 feet high. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2002, lightning struck the lighthouse, damaging it. Later, someone bought the lighthouse. They moved it by a large boat down the bay. It is now part of a private home in the town of Lewes.
Wildlife in Slaughter Beach
Slaughter Beach is a special place for wildlife. It is home to the Milford Neck Wildlife Area. Many visitors come here to watch birds. Birds stop in this area to eat the eggs of horseshoe crabs. The crabs lay their eggs on the beaches every spring.
Slaughter Beach, along with other nearby beaches, is an official sanctuary for horseshoe crabs. These crabs are the state marine animal of Delaware. They are also a very important species for the Delaware Bay Estuary. Because horseshoe crabs and the birds that eat their eggs are so important, Slaughter Beach has made the horseshoe crab its official town symbol.
Geography
Slaughter Beach is located at 38.9128903 degrees North and -75.3040800 degrees West.
The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Transportation
The main way to get around Slaughter Beach is by car. Bay Avenue is the main road that goes through the town. It runs parallel to the bay shore. Just outside of town, Bay Avenue connects to Delaware Route 36. This road leads west to Milford and Delaware Route 1.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 46 | — | |
| 1950 | 85 | 84.8% | |
| 1960 | 107 | 25.9% | |
| 1970 | 84 | −21.5% | |
| 1980 | 121 | 44.0% | |
| 1990 | 114 | −5.8% | |
| 2000 | 198 | 73.7% | |
| 2010 | 207 | 4.5% | |
| 2020 | 218 | 5.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 198 people living in Slaughter Beach. This population was spread across 108 households. By 2010, the population grew slightly to 207 people. The most recent count in 2020 showed 218 residents.
Education
Children living in Slaughter Beach attend schools in the Milford School District.
See also
In Spanish: Slaughter Beach para niños
