Georgetown, Delaware
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Georgetown is a town located in Sussex County, Delaware. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 4,643. It is the county seat of Sussex CountyTemplate:GR.
Georgetown was founded in 1791 specifically to serve as the new county seat of Sussex County. Previously, the county seat had been in the town of Lewes, located on the Delaware Bay. However, as the population of Sussex County increased, a more central location for the county's government was sought. Georgetown's location, almost in the geographic center of the county, was felt to be ideal for that purpose, and 76 acres (308,000 m²) of farmland was purchased for that purpose in 1791.
Georgetown is unique among Delaware municipalities in that the center of the town is built around a circle, instead of the more traditional parklike square. Straddling "The Circle", as it is unsurprisingly called, is the Town Hall; state and county buildings, including the historic Sussex County Courthouse (built in 1837); lawyers' offices; and banks. This layout is similar to that found in Annapolis, Maryland, except that, unlike in Annapolis, where the State House is the focal point of the circle, the center of Georgetown's circle is a small park with a fountain.
Every two years, Georgetown hosts an unusual event known as "Return Day", a half-day-long parade and festival two days after Election Day. Stemming from the colonial days in which the public would congregate in Georgetown two days after the election to hear the results (because it would take that long to deliver the results to the courthouse by horseback), the winners of that year's political races parade around The Circle in carriages with the losers and the chairs of the county's political parties ceremonially "bury the hatchet" in a tub of sand. The afternoon of Return Day is a holiday for county and state workers in Sussex County, and the event is marked by a traditional oyster feast, much revelry, and, of course, the beginning of the next round of campaigns. Many in Delaware feel that the state's traditionally chummy and staid political climate is due in large part to the Return Day tradition.
Because of Delaware's status as a border state during the Civil War, Georgetown, like all of Sussex County, sent men to fight for both the Union and Confederate sides.
The town is home to a large chicken processing plant owned by Perdue Farms. The plant employs a sizeable number of immigrants from Haiti and Guatemala. Consequently, Georgetown has more of an international flavor to it than one would expect from a Colonial-era town.
In 1981, a baseball team from Georgetown won the Senior Little League World Series in Gary, Indiana. Members of the team included Tim Conoway, Kevin Duperron, Mike Hearn, Barry Joseph, Alan Mears, Brian Messick, Tim Mumford, Bruce Noble, Tim Reynolds, Bill Savage, Jeff Shockley, Tom Tipton, Kevin Waples, Guy Wilkins, and John Young. They were coached by Russell Elliot and Coston Shockley.
Geography
Image:DEMap-doton-Georgetown.pngGeorgetown is located at 38°41'25" North, 75°23'12" West (38.690177, -75.386676)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.7 km² (4.1 mi²). 10.7 km² (4.1 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 4,643 people, 1,489 households, and 957 families residing in the town. The population density was 434.1/km² (1,123.9/mi²). There were 1,591 housing units at an average density of 148.7/km² (385.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 56.19% White, 20.87% African American, 2.07% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 18.03% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 31.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,489 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 14.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 107.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $37,925. Males had a median income of $20,886 versus $19,944 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,288. 25.1% of the population and 20.9% of families were below the poverty line. 34.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
In 2000, 21.6% of Georgetown residents identified as being of Guatemalan heritage. This was the highest percentage of Guatemalan Americans of any place in the country.
External links
| State capital: Dover Counties: Kent County | New Castle County | Sussex County |
