Bethany Beach, Delaware
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Bethany Beach is an incorporated town located in Sussex County, Delaware. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 903.
Bethany Beach, together with the towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island, comprises Delaware's beach resort area and is Sussex County's most densely-populated and fastest-growing area.
Bethany Beach and South Bethany 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 Bethany Beach's reputation as a "quiet" place is the presence of Delaware Seashore State Park (http://www.destateparks.com/dssp/dssp.asp/) immediately to the north of the town, 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 the town.
Despite its small size, Bethany Beach boasts the usual attractions of a summer seaside resort, including a short boardwalk, a broad, sandy beach, motels, restaurants, and vacation homes. Because Bethany Beach does not sit on a barrier island, residential areas continue some distance to the west of the town's limits.
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History
Like its neighbors to the north, Rehoboth Beach, and Ocean City, Dewey Beach was founded by Christian evangelists as an site for summer camp meetings for the faithful. In the case of Bethany Beach, its founding denomination was the Disciples of Christ.
The town celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 4, 2001.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.0 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.71% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 903 people, 473 households, and 281 families residing in the town. The population density is 303.2/km² (782.4/mi²). There are 2,376 housing units at an average density of 797.7/km² (2,058.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.90% White, 0.78% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 473 households out of which 10.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% are married couples living together, 4.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% are non-families. 35.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.91 and the average family size is 2.40.
In the town the population is spread out with 10.3% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 15.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 39.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 59 years. For every 100 females there are 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $51,875, and the median income for a family is $67,500. Males have a median income of $41,705 versus $35,909 for females. The per capita income for the town is $41,306. 4.7% of the population and 2.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.6% of those under the age of 18 and 1.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Government
External link
- Town of Bethany Beach - official site (http://www.townofbethanybeach.com/)