Georgetown

Sussex County seat in southern Delaware, laid out around the historic Circle and its 1837 courthouse.

Georgetown is the county seat of Sussex County in southern Delaware, a small working town rather than a tourist destination. It was laid out in 1791 from a central square — the Circle — which remains the heart of town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original design placed the courthouse on the southeastern side of the square, and the present 1837 courthouse still stands there.

The town is home to a campus of Delaware Technical and Community College and is a service centre for the surrounding agricultural region. Sussex County is Delaware's largest county and one of the most productive agricultural areas in the mid-Atlantic. Georgetown itself is quiet and unhurried — worth a stop if you are travelling through southern Delaware, but not a destination in itself. The Delaware Aviation Museum near the Coastal Airport is worth an hour for anyone with an interest in flight history.

Guide

Getting There

Georgetown sits at the junction of US Route 9 and US Route 113 in central Sussex County. By car it is about 45 minutes south of Dover (the state capital), 90 minutes from Wilmington, and 30 minutes from Rehoboth Beach.

There is no Amtrak service to Georgetown. The DART First State bus system runs limited service between Georgetown and other Sussex County towns including Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, but a car is the practical choice for most visitors. Delaware Coastal Airport (GED), a general aviation field, is located a couple of miles east of the town centre.

Guide

Things to Do

Georgetown is a compact historic town built around its central Circle. The main draws are the historic architecture around that central square and the small but worthwhile museums nearby. It's a slow afternoon rather than a long stay.