Delmar: The Little Town Too Big for One State
Delmar straddles the Delaware-Maryland border in Sussex County, with about 1,730 residents on the Delaware side. The town's nickname, "The Little Town Too Big for One State," reflects its unusual geography: State Street runs along the Mason-Dixon Line, with Delaware on one side and Maryland on the other. The two municipalities share the name and some services but maintain separate governments. The Delaware portion is governed by its own town council and police department.
The town developed around the railroad in the mid-1800s. The New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad established a junction here, and the name "Delmar" combines the first syllables of the two states it spans. Rail traffic has diminished, but the Norfolk Southern line still passes through. Route 13 serves as the main commercial corridor, running north toward Laurel and Seaford and south into Salisbury, Maryland, which is the nearest city of any size and the economic hub of the Delmarva Peninsula's interior.
Agriculture and poultry processing are the dominant industries in the surrounding area. Perdue Farms, headquartered in Salisbury, and Mountaire Farms, based in Millsboro, operate processing plants within commuting distance. Delmar's housing costs are among the lowest in the region, attracting residents who work in Salisbury or the Sussex County beach towns. The community maintains a small-town atmosphere with a volunteer fire company, local churches, and a July Fourth celebration that draws both the Delaware and Maryland sides together.
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Delmar straddles the Delaware-Maryland border in Sussex County, with about 1,730 residents on the Delaware side. The town's nickname, "The Little Town Too Big for One State," reflects its unusual geography: State Street runs along the Mason-Dixon Line, with Delaware on one side and Maryland on the other. The two municipalities share the name and some services but maintain separate governments. The Delaware portion is governed by its own town council and police department.
The town developed around the railroad in the mid-1800s. The New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad established a junction here, and the name "Delmar" combines the first syllables of the two states it spans. Rail traffic has diminished, but the Norfolk Southern line still passes through. Route 13 serves as the main commercial corridor, running north toward Laurel and Seaford and south into Salisbury, Maryland, which is the nearest city of any size and the economic hub of the Delmarva Peninsula's interior.
Agriculture and poultry processing are the dominant industries in the surrounding area. Perdue Farms, headquartered in Salisbury, and Mountaire Farms, based in Millsboro, operate processing plants within commuting distance. Delmar's housing costs are among the lowest in the region, attracting residents who work in Salisbury or the Sussex County beach towns. The community maintains a small-town atmosphere with a volunteer fire company, local churches, and a July Fourth celebration that draws both the Delaware and Maryland sides together.
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