Selbyville, Delaware

Town in Delaware, United States

Selbyville, Delaware

Town

Selbyville Library, July 2012

Location of Selbyville in Sussex County, Delaware.

Selbyville

Location within the state of Delaware

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Selbyville

Selbyville (the United States)

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Coordinates: 38°27′37″N 75°13′15″W﻿ / ﻿38.46028°N 75.22083°W﻿ / 38.46028; -75.22083
Country|  United States
State|  Delaware
County|  Sussex
Founded| 1778
Incorporated| 1902
Area

[1]

• 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

[2]

| 36 ft (11 m)
Population

(2020)

• 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

Area code| 302
FIPS code| 10-64840
GNIS feature ID| 214630[2]
Website| selbyville.delaware.gov

Selbyville is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. Its population was 2,167 at the 2010 census, an increase of 31.7% over the previous decade.[3] It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History[edit]

Selbyville was founded in 1778 and incorporated in 1902.

It was originally known as Sandy Branch, due to its location on a branch of that name emanating in the Cypress Swamp at the head of the St. Martin's River. A grist mill and saw mill opened there in the late 18th century. In 1842, Sampson Selby began marking packages for delivery to his country store, Selby-Ville.

By 1918, Selbyville was the major supplier of strawberries for the east coast, an industry that remained strong until the 1930s.[4]

Today, one of its main employers is Mountaire Farms, a poultry company with a processing plant on Hosier Street.

The town is also home of the Mumford Sheet Metal Works, which held the world record for the largest frying pan in 1950.

Selbyville is also home to Doyle's Restaurant, recognized by the State of Delaware as the state's oldest operating diner. (The original 1930s diner is attached to a modern expansion.)

## Transportation[edit]

US 113 northbound in Selbyville

The main means of transport to and from Selbyville is by road. U.S. Route 113 is the primary highway serving the town, connecting north towards Georgetown and south into Maryland. Delaware Route 54 also serves the town, traversing east to west along the southern edge of the state. Finally, Delaware Route 17 extends northeastward from Selbyville to Millville. The Snow Hill Line of the Maryland and Delaware Railroad runs north-south through Selbyville.

## Geography[edit]

Selbyville is located at 38°27′37″N 75°13′15″W﻿ / ﻿38.46028°N 75.22083°W﻿ / 38.46028; -75.22083 (38.4603917, –75.2207438).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all land.

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

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[6]

At the 2000 census there were 1,645 people, 615 households, and 439 families living in the town. The population density was 1,176.9 inhabitants per square mile (454.4/km2). There were 664 housing units at an average density of 475.1 per square mile (183.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 72.89% White, 15.38% African American, 0.73% Asian, 0.55% Pacific Islander, 9.48% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.09%.[7]

Of the 615 households 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.6% of households were one person and 13.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median household income was $36,250 and the median family income was $41,522. Males had a median income of $25,368 versus $20,660 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,965. About 10.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.

## Education[edit]

It is in the Indian River School District.[8]

### Public library[edit]

Sign inside Selbyville Public Library, commemorating former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's visit in 1946

The former home of Senator John G. Townsend, Jr., located at 11 South Main Street at the intersection with West McCabe Street, became the site of the Selbyville Public Library in 1966. A plaque in the library identifies Senator Townsend's dining room, where former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt dined with the senator in 1946. Other distinguished visitors included future president Richard Nixon. The home was built in 1904. The senator's family donated it to the library after his death.[9]

## See also[edit]

* List of towns in Delaware

## References[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Selbyville, Delaware
3. ^ "2010 Census Data". The Delaware Census State Data Center. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
4. ^ "Town History - Town of Selbyville". Retrieved December 3, 2022.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sussex County, DE" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
9. ^ "Library History". Selbyville Public Library. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2012.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Selbyville, Delaware.

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Municipalities and communities of Sussex County, Delaware, United States

County seat: Georgetown

Cities|

* Lewes
* Milford‡
* Rehoboth Beach
* Seaford

Map of Delaware highlighting Sussex County

Towns|

* Bethany Beach
* Bethel
* Blades
* Bridgeville
* Dagsboro
* Delmar
* Dewey Beach
* Ellendale
* Fenwick Island
* Frankford
* Georgetown
* Greenwood
* Henlopen Acres
* Laurel
* Millsboro
* Millville
* Milton
* Ocean View
* Selbyville
* Slaughter Beach
* South Bethany

CDPs|

* Lincoln
* Long Neck

Former towns|

* North Laurel
* Roxana

Unincorporated
communities|

* Adams Crossroads
* Adamsville‡
* Angola
* Argos Corner
* Atlanta
* Bacons
* Bayard
* Belltown
* Blanchard
* Broad Creek
* Broadkill Beach
* Bunting
* Cannon
* Carpenters Corner
* Cedar Beach
* Cedar Creek
* Clarksville
* Concord
* Cool Spring
* Cross Keys
* Fairmount
* Federalsburg
* Flea Hill
* Gravel Hill
* Gumboro
* Harbeson
* Hollymount
* Hollyville
* Indian Beach
* Jimtown
* Johnson
* Lowe
* Middleford
* Midway
* Mission
* Nassau
* North Shores
* Oakley
* Oak Orchard
* Old Furnace
* Omar
* Overbrook
* Pepperbox
* Phillips Hill
* Pinetown
* Portsville
* Primehook Beach
* Quakertown
* Redden
* Reliance‡
* Scotts Corner
* Shortly
* Staytonville
* Stockley
* Sussex Shores
* Sycamore
* Ward
* Warwick
* Wescoats Corner
* Westwoods
* Whaleys Corners
* Whitesville
* Williamsville
* Wood Branch
* Woodland
* Zoar

Hundreds|

* Baltimore
* Broad Creek
* Broadkill
* Cedar Creek
* Dagsboro
* Georgetown
* Gumboro
* Indian River
* Lewes & Rehoboth
* Little Creek
* Nanticoke
* Northwest Fork
* Seaford

Ghost towns|

* Banning
* New Market
* Owens Station
* Saint Johnstown

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Delaware portal
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Salisbury metropolitan area

Counties|

* Dorchester
* Somerset
* Sussex
* Wicomico
* Worcester

Principal city|

* Salisbury

Places
5k–20k|

* Cambridge
* Georgetown
* Milford
* Ocean City
* Ocean Pines
* Seaford

Places
1k–5k|

* Algonquin
* Berlin
* Bethany Beach
* Blades
* Bridgeville
* Crisfield
* Delmar, DE
* Delmar, MD
* Fruitland
* Hurlock
* Laurel
* Lewes
* Long Neck
* Millsboro
* Milton
* Ocean View
* Pittsville
* Pocomoke City
* Princess Anne
* Rehoboth Beach
* Selbyville
* Snow Hill
* West Ocean City

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

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