Partnership

Officially founded in 1860, Millsboro is the largest community in central Southern Delaware and the fastest growing, with a population of approximately 17,000 year-round residents. The town is named for the numerous sawmills and gristmills that thrived at the headwaters of the Indian River during the 1800s. Picturesque Cupola Park on Indian River was named for the iron foundry and forge that operated on the site until after the Civil War. Always industrious, Millsboro residents continue a thriving commercial scene, with a busy downtown and numerous shops and services. Millsboro is graced with several scenic freshwater ponds and access to tidal Indian River.

The word "neck" is an old term in Southern Delaware that describes a narrow stretch of land between two waterways. Long Neck is just that, a long peninsula dividing Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay that stretches out to the Indian River Inlet. This area has been known as "the Long Neck" since the mid 1600s. Massey's Landing, a newly renovated boat launching area at the tip of the peninsula, offers a magnificent view of the inland bays. Long Neck is now home to many active retirees, families with young children, and waterfront vacation communities, with a variety of new businesses and restaurants.

The charming Town of Dagsboro was founded in 1747 at the headwaters of Pepper Creek, a tributary of Indian River Bay. The town was named in honor of General Dagworthy, a local resident who served in the American Revolution as a commanding officer. Dagworthy is buried in the cemetery of historic Prince George's Chapel in Dagsboro, a restored mid-18th century Anglican church with a beautiful wooden interior, now maintained as a museum by the State of Delaware. Dagsboro offers many delights for visitors, including Dagworthy Day in October, several large antiques shops, lawn and garden supplies, small eateries, and an old-fashioned movie theater.

Located just east of the Town of Millsboro, Oak Orchard has been the ancestral home of the Nanticoke Tribe for at least 2000 years. The Oak Orchard area hosts the annual Nanticoke Powwow and the Nanticoke Museum, where visitors can share in the special traditions and culture of these long-time residents. The quiet communities of Oak Orchard and Riverdale along Indian River Bay offer beautiful scenic views, small seasonal and year-round restaurants, charter fishing, and a boat launch and crabbing pier at Rosedale Beach. The streets in Riverdale are labeled with Native American names. A scenic drive along the bay on County Road 312 through these communities is delightful.

Located west of the Great Cypress Swamp, Gumboro can be found at the junction of Routes 26 and 54 near the Maryland line. This small community was named for the Sweet Gum trees that were once logged to produce bushel baskets, pallets, and other commodities for the surrounding farms. Bald cypress trees were also logged in the area for shipbuilding, shingles, and "corduroy" road construction through the swamps. Gumboro offers an old-fashioned store and antiques shops, and several historical buildings including a school and church.