Selbyville
Selbyville is a small incorporated town in Sussex County, Delaware, situated in the southern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula. Founded in January 1778, Selbyville has grown from a modest colonial settlement into a community of roughly 1,600 residents, preserving historical character while maintaining access to the beaches and recreational destinations of coastal Delaware. Incorporated in 1902, the town has historically been tied to the agricultural economy of Sussex County, most notably the cultivation and trade of strawberries, which once drew merchants and buyers from across the region. Today, Selbyville offers residents and visitors a blend of small-town living, antique shops, unique retail establishments, and historical sites, all within short distance of the Delaware coast.[1]
History
Founding and Early Settlement
Selbyville was founded in January 1778 by a group of five individuals: Benjamin Long, Arthur McCabe, John Murray, Reuben Stevens, and Elijah Campbell.[2] The founding occurred during the turbulent years of the American Revolutionary War, and the settlement developed within the broad agricultural landscape that has long characterized Sussex County. The town's location in the southern reaches of Delaware gave it a character distinctly tied to the land, and over the following century it gradually took on a more defined civic identity.
The official incorporation of Selbyville as a town came in 1902, formalizing the community's governance and providing the foundation for municipal services, zoning, and public infrastructure that continue to define life in the town today.[3] The Selbyville Historical Society, a nonprofit organization operating under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, works to preserve and document the town's history for future generations.[4]
The Strawberry Trade
Among the most significant chapters in Selbyville's economic history is its role in the regional strawberry trade. During the peak of the harvest season, buyers traveled to Selbyville in considerable numbers. They erected tents along the town's streets so they could conduct business close to where the fruit was being harvested and sold.[5] This seasonal commercial activity made Selbyville a notable hub in Sussex County's agricultural economy, drawing commerce and attention that extended well beyond the immediate locality.
The strawberry trade helped establish Selbyville as a center of agricultural commerce in the lower Delaware region, and the legacy of that era remains a part of the town's identity. Sussex County as a whole has maintained a strong tradition of agricultural production, and Selbyville's history as a strawberry-trading community reflects the broader patterns of rural commerce that shaped Delaware's southern counties throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Community and Civic Life
Local Organizations
Selbyville supports a range of civic and volunteer organizations that contribute to the character and safety of the community. Among these is the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company, which provides fire protection and emergency services to the town and surrounding areas. The company includes a Ladies Auxiliary, an affiliated organization whose members contribute to the fire company's activities and community efforts.
In April 2021, the town mourned the death of Laura Madara, a member of the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company and president of the Ladies Auxiliary, who was killed on April 9 after a Selbyville Fire Police truck reversed over her.[6] Madara's passing underscored both the risks faced by volunteer emergency personnel and the close-knit nature of Selbyville's civic community.
The Selbyville Historical Society
The Selbyville Historical Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization established to preserve and promote the history of Selbyville and the surrounding area. Operating under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Historical Society serves as a repository for local historical knowledge and works to engage residents and visitors in the town's heritage.[7] Institutions such as the Historical Society play an important role in communities of Selbyville's size, ensuring that records, artifacts, and stories from earlier periods are maintained and made accessible.
Economy and Commerce
Retail and Small Business
Selbyville has developed a small but varied retail landscape that includes antique stores, unique shops, and specialty businesses. The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce describes the town as a place where residents and visitors can find a relaxed lifestyle alongside access to distinctive local commerce and historical sites, all within proximity to the Delaware coastline.[8]
One example of the local business environment is the woodworking studio and retail store known as "Attics of My Life," which relocated to Selbyville after a fire destroyed its location in Berlin, a nearby community in Maryland. The owners chose Selbyville as the new home for their studio and retail operation, and expressed plans to continue operating there following the difficult transition.[9] The establishment of businesses such as this reflects Selbyville's capacity to attract small enterprises seeking an affordable and accessible location in lower Delaware.
Agricultural Legacy
As noted in the town's history, agriculture — and the strawberry trade in particular — played a formative role in Selbyville's economic development. The patterns established during the height of the strawberry harvest, including the influx of seasonal buyers and the commercial infrastructure that developed around the trade, helped define the character of the town during key periods of its growth.[10] While modern Selbyville's economy is more diverse, agriculture continues to be an important component of the broader Sussex County economic landscape in which the town participates.
Infrastructure and Environment
Water System
Selbyville's municipal water system, operated by the Selbyville Water Department, serves approximately 1,645 people. According to data compiled by the Environmental Working Group and reported by The New York Times, the water system has recorded one contaminant above legal limits. Specifically, testing data indicated that total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) recorded an average result of 36.42 parts per billion (ppb) with a maximum result of 104 ppb, against a legal limit of 80 ppb.[11]
In addition to contaminants above legal limits, the same data source identified several contaminants that, while below legal limits established by the Safe Drinking Water Act, were above the typically stricter health guidelines used by researchers and advocacy organizations. These included alpha particle activity, chloroform, and lead, each of which registered in testing data above health guidelines but within the legal limits at the time the data was collected.[12] It should be noted that in some cases, a small percentage of water tests were performed before the water was treated, meaning some reported levels of contamination may be higher than what was ultimately present at the tap.
The New York Times data also notes that results shown are based on individual samples and may not indicate a formal violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which typically requires prolonged testing showing concentrations above a legal limit before a violation is formally declared.[13]
Wastewater Treatment
Selbyville operates a wastewater treatment facility known as the Selbyville WWTF, located on Delaware Route 386. According to records from the Environmental Protection Agency as reported by The New York Times, the facility has recorded no total fines, and no formal or informal enforcement actions have been taken against it. The facility has not been found out of compliance during the relevant reporting period covered by that data.[14]
The Selbyville WWTF is classified under the sewerage systems category in EPA records. Detailed information about the facility is also reported directly to the Environmental Protection Agency, providing ongoing oversight of the facility's environmental compliance.[15]
Location and Access
Selbyville is located in the southernmost part of Sussex County, near the border with Maryland and within a short distance of the beaches of the Delaware coastline. Its position along Delaware Route 386 and proximity to major coastal routes makes it accessible to both year-round residents and seasonal visitors drawn to the southern Delaware shore. The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, which includes Selbyville within its regional coverage area, notes the town's accessibility to coastal amenities as a defining characteristic of its appeal.[16]
The town's zip code is 19975, placing it within the postal geography of lower Sussex County. With its founding date, incorporated status, and ongoing civic life, Selbyville represents a durable example of small-town development in the Delmarva region, reflecting the agricultural and commercial history of southern Delaware while continuing to serve as a functioning community for its residents.
See Also
References
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web