South Bethany, Delaware

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South Bethany is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 514.^[1]

South Bethany, together with the towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island, comprises Delaware's beach resort area and is Sussex County's most densely-populated and fastest-growing area.

South Bethany, its neighbor to the north, Bethany Beach, and its neighbor to the south, Fenwick Island are popularly known as "The Quiet Resorts". This is in contradistinction to the wild atmosphere of Dewey Beach and the cosmopolitan bustle of Rehoboth Beach. Assisting South Bethany's reputation as a "quiet" place is the presence of Delaware Seashore State Park to the north of Bethany Beach, a six mile-long barrier island providing a substantial buffer from Dewey Beach's noise. Serving as another buffer is a large unincorporated area of private condominiums and multi-million-dollar beach homes between the park and Bethany Beach.

The town was incorporated on June 18, 1969. It was formed as an unincorporated entity in 1952 when a Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hall purchased approximately 130 acres from the Delaware Shore Land Corporation and named the development "South Bethany". By 1959, the development counted 500 property owners.

Unlike Bethany Beach, South Bethany is almost exclusively residential.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Geography

South Bethany is located at 38°30′55″N, 75°3′29″W (38.515415, -75.057969)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 km² (0.5 mi²). 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is land and 1.89% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 492 people, 253 households, and 170 families residing in the town. The population density was 365.3/km² (948.6/mi²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 844.2/km² (2,192.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.19% White, 0.20% Asian, and 0.61% from two or more races.

There were 253 households out of which 9.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.32.

In the town the population was spread out with 8.7% under the age of 18, 2.0% from 18 to 24, 14.0% from 25 to 44, 40.0% from 45 to 64, and 35.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $67,125, and the median income for a family was $89,666. Males had a median income of $61,250 versus $37,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $53,624. None of the families and 1.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 3.1% of those over 64.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Town of South Bethany - Official Site
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 38.515415° -75.057969°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA