Fenwick Island, Delaware | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Fenwick Island in Sussex County, Delaware | |
  Fenwick Island Location within the state of Delaware Show map of Delaware Fenwick Island Fenwick Island (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:38°27′44″N75°03′05″W / 38.46222°N 75.05139°W /38.46222; -75.05139 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Delaware |
| County |  Sussex |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.49 sq mi (1.26 km2) |
| • Land | 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 343 |
| • Density | 1,035.2/sq mi (399.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 19944, 19975 |
| Area code | 302 |
| FIPS code | 10-26880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 213954[2] |
| Website | www |
Fenwick Island is a coastal resort town inSussex County,Delaware, United States. According to 2020 census figures, the population of the town is 355, a 2.6% decrease over the last decade.[3] It is part of theSalisbury, Maryland–Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is located onFenwick Island, abarrier spit.
Fenwick Island and its neighbors to the north,Bethany Beach andSouth Bethany, are popularly known as "The Quiet Resorts." This is in contrast to the wild atmosphere ofDewey Beach and the cosmopolitan bustle ofRehoboth Beach. Fenwick Island, however, is somewhat less "quiet" than "the Bethanies" because it is immediately across the state line fromOcean City, Maryland, which has a reputation as a lively vacation resort.[citation needed]
Named after Thomas Fenwick, a planter from England who settled inMaryland, Fenwick Island lay in the part of Delaware whichLord Baltimore and his heirs claimed during thePenn–Baltimore border dispute.
Contrary to popular belief, the town does not sit on abarrier island but on a narrow peninsula which resembles a barrier island (unless one considers a narrow man-made boat canal well inland that connects White Creek toLittle Assawoman Bay). The narrow strip of land separates the Atlantic Ocean from Little Assawoman Bay. Ocean City, Maryland, occupies the southern tip of this peninsula.[citation needed]
Local legend states that Cedar Island in Little Assawoman Bay was a spot forpirates to bury treasure. Regardless of the truth of the legend, the Delaware coastal area was well known as a place for pirates to hide from the law. Cedar Island has just about washed under the bay, as Seal Island did around 2010.[citation needed]
The town was an unincorporated area between South Bethany and Ocean City, Maryland, until July 1953, when theDelaware General Assembly passed an act to incorporate the town. Local sentiment demanded incorporation to prevent the relentless high-rise development of Ocean City from creeping north into Fenwick Island.
Fenwick Island's population was 48 in 1960.[4]
Fenwick Island is located at38°27′44″N75°03′05″W / 38.46222°N 75.05139°W /38.46222; -75.05139 (38.4623346, –75.0512922).[5]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), of which 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (28.57%) is water.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Fenwick Island has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviatedCfa on climate maps.
| Climate data for Fenwick Island, Delaware | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) | 76 (24) | 87 (31) | 93 (34) | 96 (36) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 91 (33) | 86 (30) | 77 (25) | 102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44 (7) | 46 (8) | 54 (12) | 64 (18) | 73 (23) | 82 (28) | 87 (31) | 85 (29) | 79 (26) | 68 (20) | 58 (14) | 48 (9) | 66 (19) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25 (−4) | 27 (−3) | 34 (1) | 41 (5) | 51 (11) | 60 (16) | 65 (18) | 64 (18) | 57 (14) | 45 (7) | 37 (3) | 29 (−2) | 45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −13 (−25) | −8 (−22) | 3 (−16) | 20 (−7) | 28 (−2) | 39 (4) | 43 (6) | 42 (6) | 32 (0) | 21 (−6) | 15 (−9) | −7 (−22) | −13 (−25) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.94 (100) | 3.30 (84) | 4.57 (116) | 3.44 (87) | 3.91 (99) | 3.32 (84) | 3.47 (88) | 5.59 (142) | 3.99 (101) | 3.36 (85) | 3.26 (83) | 3.32 (84) | 45.47 (1,153) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[6] | |||||||||||||
_just_north_of_East_Lewes_Street_in_Fenwick_Island%2c_Sussex_County%2c_Delaware.jpg)
Delaware Route 1 (Coastal Highway), which has its southern terminus at the Maryland border in Fenwick Island, serves as the main north–south road in the town, heading north along the coast towardBethany Beach andRehoboth Beach. Coastal Highway crosses the Maryland border and heads south throughOcean City asMaryland Route 528.Delaware Route 54 (Lighthouse Road) begins at DE 1 in Fenwick Island a block north of the state line and heads west towardSelbyville to provide access from inland areas.[7] Between May 15 and September 15, parking permits are required along all streets in Fenwick Island.[8]
DART First State provides bus service to Fenwick Island in the summer months alongBeach Bus Route 208, which heads north to the Rehoboth Beach Park and Ride and theLewes Transit Center Park and Ride nearLewes to connect to other Beach Bus routes and the Route 305 bus fromWilmington and south to the 144th Street Transit Center in Ocean City, Maryland, a short distance south of the state line to connect toOcean City Transportation's Coastal Highway Beach Bus.[9]
Delmarva Power, a subsidiary ofExelon, provides electricity to Fenwick Island.[10][11]Chesapeake Utilities provides natural gas to the town.[12]Artesian Water Company, a subsidiary ofArtesian Resources, provides water to Fenwick Island.[10] Sussex County operates the Fenwick Island Sanitary Sewer District, which provides sewer service to the town.[10][13] Cable and internet service in Fenwick Island is provided byXfinity.[10] Trash and recycling collection in Fenwick Island is provided under contract byWaste Industries.[14]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 48 | — | |
| 1970 | 56 | 16.7% | |
| 1980 | 114 | 103.6% | |
| 1990 | 186 | 63.2% | |
| 2000 | 342 | 83.9% | |
| 2010 | 379 | 10.8% | |
| 2020 | 343 | −9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 342 people, 178 households, and 126 families residing in the town. The population density was 994.5 inhabitants per square mile (384.0/km2). There were 666 housing units at an average density of 1,936.7 per square mile (747.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.42%White, and 0.58% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.63% of the population.
There were 178 households, out of which 5.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% weremarried couples living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.25.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 6.1% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 11.1% from 25 to 44, 40.6% from 45 to 64, and 39.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,333, and the median income for a family was $68,750. Males had a median income of $46,607 versus $48,750 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $44,415. About 3.3% of families and 8.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Residents are served by theIndian River School District.[17]
| Preceded by | Beaches of Delmarva | Succeeded by |
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