Explore Sussex

Sussex County, Delaware is a place of beauty, dynamism, and rich natural and cultural resources. It offers visitors a wealth of vacation opportunities including outdoor recreation, rich and varied historical sites, many shopping and dining locations, all in a relaxed and amiable atmosphere. For residents, the county provides a variety of housing opportunities, and an ever-increasing and diverse job base. Given the County's proximity to major population centers, and its famously "laid-back" lifestyle, beautiful beaches, and pleasant weather, it is no wonder that it has been a popular destination for visitors and new residents alike for many years, a trend which is likely to continue for some time to come.


With popularity, however, come challenges. Sussex County's recent population boom has put a strain on many of the features which make it an attractive destination in the first place. As more people move into the area, there is increased pressure on limited resources. Public services such as drinking water and sewer provision, roads, and police service may become strained. There is increased pressure on sensitive ecosystems and natural habitats. Health services might become overtaxed, and rapidly rising housing values have caused dislocations of established residents. As more people and stakeholder groups vie for a limited amount of space in the county, changes in the landscape and the population are inevitable.

Population growth also produces positive effects. There are increased opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship, and social, cultural and recreational activities. It is important, however, not to imperil those factors which make Sussex County unique. Heritage tourism, which uses the area's strong historical, cultural, and environmental features as a catalyst rather than an impediment to growth and economic development, can be an excellent way to reconcile the needs of growth and preservation so that all might benefit.

This project outlines some of the features of heritage tourism, and identifies those characteristics of the county which make up the rich inventory of historical, cultural, and environmental themes which can form its basis. Also outlined are some of the major threats to these resources. These threats include demographic disruptions, environmental degradation, and significant changes in land use patterns. As an instrument of development and preservation, heritage toursim has the potential to help to mitigate the negative effects of population growth and land use change.

This project was made possible through a grant from the Coastal Community Enhancement Initiative (CCEI), a collaborative effort among three colleges of the University of Delaware--the College of Marine & Earth Studies (CMES), the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (CANR), and the College of Human Services, Education & Public Policy (CHEP). The Initiative seeks to improve the lives of Delawareans in our coastal areas, particularly Sussex County, by addressing economic conditions, the environment, public services, and liveability issues. The project was undertaken as a joint effort of the Institute for Public Administration and the Center for Historic Architecture and Design.

Sussex County: Rich in History

Resort town image Sussex is located on the east-central Delmarva Peninsula, with a shoreline fronting both the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware River. It is the southernmost and largest of the three Delaware counties. The earliest settlement in Delaware was established by the Dutch, in 1631, at the present site of the City of Lewes. With the subsequent colonization of the British, much of the county's early history was characterized by territory disputes between the Calverts in Maryland and the Penns in Pennsylvania, until the Mason and Dixon line was finally established in 1774.

Sussex has long been a regional summer tourism destination, due to the beautiful beach and resort towns along its eastern coast. However, the abundant cultural and historic resources throughout the county have been relatively unexplored and form the basis for a potentially robust heritage tourism program. One useful way to look as these resources is by classifying them into several broad themes. CHAD has identified seven such important themes:

  • The natural environment (including the coast)
  • The maritime tradition
  • Beach resort communities
  • Historic architecture
  • Agriculture and agritourism
  • Small towns
  • Religion

Sussex County at a Crossroads

Sussex County is now at a critical stage in its history. Rapid population growth and land use changes in recent decades have the potential to undermine Sussex County's attractive and valuable heritage resources. Demographic and land use trends are the result of an ever-increasing number of tourists and an influx of retired residents and younger families. The seasonal residential population dramatically increased in the 1980s as new and improved highways were built. By the 1990s, many of these newcomers began buying existing rental cottages or building new homes along the county's eastern coast, causing a sharp increase in property values and rental charges, sometimes forcing existing residents to move westward. Recently, new developments have shifted progressively inland from the eastern coast, toward the western Sussex, where land tends to be more affordable.

 

Heritage Tourism as an Economic Development Tool

Image of a large sail ship Traditionally, historic preservation has been assumed to be incompatible with economic development. However, implementation of historic preservation can be effected through the use of the wise application of heritage tourism programs. Heritage tourism uses existing natural, historic, and cultural resources as attractions to generate revenue, and as a vehicle for protecting these resources. The market for heritage tourism is rising quickly, and in recent years, has been successfully implemented in numerous places. A well designed, comprehensive implementation of heritage tourism in Sussex County has the potential to become a valuable strategy as the county moves forward.