The Delaware Beaches are located along the Atlantic Ocean in the eastern part of Sussex County, Delaware, which is in the southern part of the state.[1] In addition to beaches along the ocean, the area offers many amenities, including restaurants, nightlife, fishing, golf courses, boardwalk areas, and tax-free shopping.[1][2] The beaches are popular tourist destinations for residents from the nearby areas of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Hampton Roads.[2] Out of the 30 states with coastline, the Delaware Beaches ranked number 1 in water quality in 2011[3] and again in 2014.[4]
Beaches in Delaware from north to south:
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In 2003, the Delaware Senate passed a bill for the coastal area of Delaware to be referred to as the "Delaware Beaches", as Delaware residents refer to their coastline as the "beach" and not the "shore" like the Jersey Shore in New Jersey. The bill called for DelDOT to change signage directing motorists to the beaches from "Shore Points" to "Beaches".[5]
The Delaware Beaches area, particularly the Cape Region, tend to be more affluent and populous than western portions of Sussex County. The combined population of all of the ZIP codes in the Delaware Beaches area is about 43,851 (2009). The median household income in 2009 was $77,030.
According to SeaGrant Delaware, the Delaware Beaches generate $6.9 billion annually and over $711 million in tax revenue.[6]
