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Lewes, DE

Lewes, DE

Lewes  is an incorporated city on the Delaware Bay in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 3,303. Along with neighboring Rehoboth Beach, Lewes is one of the principal cities of Delaware's rapidly growing Cape Region. The city lies within the Salisbury, Maryland–Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lewes proudly claims to be "The First Town in The First State."

Lewes is located at 38°46′28″N 75°08′22″W (38.7745565, –75.1393498). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11 km2), of which 3.7 sq mi (9.6 km2) is land, and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) (14.7%) is water.

Lewes was the site of the first European settlement in Delaware, a whaling and trading post that Dutch settlers founded on June 3, 1631, and named Zwaanendael (Swan Valley). The colony had a short existence, as a local tribe of Lenape Indians killed all 32 settlers in 1632.

The area remained rather neglected by the Dutch until, under the threat of annexation from the colony of Maryland, the city of Amsterdam made a grant of land at the Hoernkills (the area around Cape Henlopen, near the current town of Lewes) to a group of Mennonites for settlement in 1662. A total of 35 men were to be included in the settlement, led by a Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy of Zierikzee and funded by a sizable loan from the city to get them established. 41 persons came with Plockhoy from the Netherlands to the Hoernkill onboard the Dutch ship the Sint Jacob, one of whom was Otto Wolgast from the town of Wolgast, Pomerania. The settlement was established in 1663, and lasted until the very next year; in 1664, the English captured New Netherland from the Dutch, and they ordered the settlement razed with reports indicating that “not even a nail” was left there.

The Dutch colonists proved slow to regroup, but a new settlement gradually regrew around the Hoernkills. In late December 1673, when the area was briefly held again by the Dutch, the settlement was attacked and burned down again by a group of Maryland colonists. In 1680, under the authority of the Duke of York, who had been granted such authority by his brother, King Charles II, the village (and county) was reorganized and known for two years as New Deale, Deale County, Delaware. A log courthouse was authorized to be built at this time. An Anglican congregation was established by 1681 and a Presbyterian church was built in 1682.

Lewes was incorporated by an act of the state assembly on Feb. 2, 1818. The act provided for five persons to be chosen as commissioners to be known as "Trustees of the Town of Lewes."

Beebe Healthcare Medical Center is located in Lewes, founded in 1916 by the brothers, Drs. James Beebe and Richard C. Beebe. The hospital's name was changed to Beebe Healthcare in 2013 and 2016 marked its 100th anniversary.

Health and wellness is one of the top priorities of Lewes, DE for its residents. Beebe Healthcare is a major healthcare system in the region, offering a range of medical services including acute care, emergency services, surgery, cancer care, and more. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Lewes Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include ELI Trained, Midway Motion & Fitness and CustomFit360. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Lewes, such as the Georgetown-Lewes Trail and Gordons Pond Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Lewes, DE are Cape Henlopen State Park, Zwaanendael Museum, The Lewes Historical Society Main Campus, and Lightship Overfalls LV-118.

Population: 3,604 (2023). ZIP Code: 19958. Area code: 302. Elevation: 13 ft (4 m). Area: 5.11 sq mi (13.25 km2).

FAQs

What is Lewes, Delaware known for?

Lewes was the site of the first European settlement in Delaware, a whaling and trading post that Dutch settlers founded on June 3, 1631, and named Zwaanendael (Swan Valley). The colony had a short existence, as a local tribe of Lenape Indians killed all 32 settlers in 1632. The area remained rather neglected by the Dutch until, under the threat of annexation from the colony of Maryland, the city of Amsterdam made a grant of land at the Hoernkills (the area around Cape Henlopen, near the current town of Lewes) to a group of Mennonites for settlement in 1662. 

Is Lewes, Delaware expensive?

Lewes is ranked 77 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. The cost of living in Lewes is 102.5% of the national average. The median household income in Lewes is $78,125, which is 7% more than that of the state. The median income for an individual is $38,750, which is 2% less than that of the state. The average rent in Lewes (located in Salisbury MD- Metro) metro area for a 2-bed home is $1,634, which is 11% more than the average rent across the US.

Why is Lewes, DE so popular?

It is considered part of the Eastern Shore and the Mason–Dixon Line is just 34 miles west of Lewes. This central location has made Lewes an attractive tourist destination, weekend get-away, and a home base for those commuting to their jobs in larger cities. Lewes is a walking town.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Lewes

Beebe Healthcare

Lewes Parks and Recreation Department 

ELI Trained

Midway Motion & Fitness 

CustomFit360

Georgetown-Lewes Trail 

Gordons Pond Trail

Cape Henlopen State Park

Zwaanendael Museum

The Lewes Historical Society Main Campus

Lightship Overfalls LV-118

Flyhomes

Our Town

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