| We Sussex Countians are fortunate in many ways as | | | | most usual of all eco-tourism pursuits; beach walking, |
| we have a wonderful quality of life here.Climate: | | | | are all growing by several percent each year.Historic |
| Our climate for one thing is the best in the region. | | | | Appreciation and Preservation: |
| The United States Department of Agriculture has a | | | | Lewes, Milton and Georgetown all have (in that |
| map that shows the temperature zones for plants | | | | order) substantial historic preservation districts. |
| (and people). This map shows Delaware in the same | | | | Purchasing and restoring as well as maintaining these |
| climate band as mid-Texas, northern Georgia, and the | | | | historic homes and shops is a major and growing |
| Carolinas. Delaware is by far the northern most place | | | | contributing factor to our economy and local |
| for this climate. Southern Delaware, although not | | | | aesthetic beauty. There are hundreds of homes in |
| delineated on this map is shown as one zone more | | | | Lewes and Milton with extensive restoration work |
| southerly in the more detailed maps you get for | | | | done. Some of these are now Bed and Breakfast |
| planting flowers and vegetables as shown in | | | | Inns. Many of these Historic sites are listed in the |
| gardening texts.Sussex County Delaware has a | | | | national or state register of historic places because of |
| winter climate and temperature that equals the | | | | their importance to community, their place in state |
| Carolinas, Georgia and northern Florida. It has a | | | | history or prehistory, or due to significance in |
| summer climate and temperature that is more like | | | | architecture, archeology, or culture. Many of these |
| New York and Massachusetts. The reason for this is | | | | places are not suitably listed by beautiful never the |
| the tempering effects of the large bodies of water | | | | less and important to all of us. Sussex County has |
| that surround Sussex County have more local effect | | | | listed several buildings in the National/State Register in |
| on keeping us cool in Summer and Warm in winter | | | | recent years. Retaining our existing stock and |
| than the land does. The closer you get to the water | | | | extending the longevity of historic resources keeps |
| the more this is true. The Eastern Sussex area is | | | | the past vivid in our daily lives. Travelers tend to plan |
| almost identical to Boston temperatures in the | | | | longer trips around historic sites.Education: |
| summer and Tampa temperatures in the | | | | Education is a critical element in our community's |
| winter.Driving and Commuting Distance: | | | | quality of life. Our vision for the future creates a |
| In Sussex County we feel we are far enough from | | | | world-class education system that is challenging and |
| everything and close enough to all that's important. | | | | diverse enough to encourage the highest levels of |
| While we enjoy and idyllic rural and resort lifestyle | | | | student and faulty achievement, works in partnership |
| here, we are a couple of hours to the cities. When I | | | | with families and the community, and provides |
| lived in L.A. most of us drove two or more hours | | | | life-long learning opportunities. Sussex Technical & |
| each way to work. Southern Californians spend 4 to | | | | Community College, Wilmington College, Goldey |
| 8 hours a day in their cars - no wonder the car | | | | Beacon Business Schools, University of Delaware and |
| culture is so strong there. In two hours we can be | | | | more are active campuses here in Salt Water Sussex |
| past Wilmington to Philadelphia and beyond; past | | | | County. A thriving economy is essential to the |
| Baltimore and into Washington D.C. and beyond and | | | | education system. Healthy families ensure that |
| to the south we can reach Norfolk in just over two | | | | students are ready to learn. A vibrant arts |
| hours. The slowest part of each of these trips is the | | | | community and our unique natural environment |
| first 45 minutes which are on our picturesque Colonial | | | | provide opportunities for hands-on learning. We have |
| roads, but then we hit the open roads and the miles | | | | numerous work study programs particularly in |
| click on by. We are about 90 minutes to any of four | | | | education, the arts, health care, law enforcement, |
| International Airports - take your pick: Dulles, Reagan, | | | | oceanography, environmentalism and commercial |
| Baltimore Washington or Philadelphia. We have air | | | | boating. Our region will continue to enhance the |
| commuter service 45 minutes away in Salisbury or | | | | strength, depth and diversity of our region's |
| Newcastle. Charter service is available in Georgetown | | | | education system. Educational excellence is |
| right here in the middle of Sussex | | | | fundamental to our competitive economy, a healthy |
| County.Telecommuting and Teleworking: | | | | environment, self-sufficient families, and an |
| Sussex County, especially just west of the beach | | | | outstanding community. Our elementary schools, |
| areas is a rapidly growing area for telecommuting. | | | | middle schools and high schools in the Cape Henlopen |
| The ultra-high-speed cable access to the Internet is | | | | School District and nearby areas are usually at or |
| available anywhere that Comcast Cable television | | | | near the top of the Delaware education system |
| service is. This cable modem service is about 10-30 | | | | success gradients.Health Care: |
| times faster than dial-up service and makes all the | | | | Health and wellness are fundamental to community |
| difference if you are on line all day like Kate and I | | | | prosperity. A healthy community embraces all aspects |
| are. Although the cable modem costs about $50 a | | | | of health. Our vision of a healthy future focuses on |
| month, you can split it and without a drop in speed | | | | healthy behavior and prevention which allows people |
| have two or three people in your home on the same | | | | to celebrate and live life to its fullest and ensures |
| hookup - that makes it very cost effective. I | | | | accessible care to encourage the best health |
| specialize in helping those who do, or want, to | | | | outcomes. State of the art technology will allow |
| telecommute or as they say in Europe and the | | | | people with critical needs to get care in their own |
| Federal Government, to telework. We have helped | | | | community. Dedicated and caring doctors, nurses and |
| numerous people move in and work from home. The | | | | caregivers are at the heart of our health care |
| various government agencies are now pressing more | | | | system. A thriving economy and good jobs ensure |
| and more people to telework at least a few days a | | | | that families have access to health care. A clean |
| week. If you go to the various federal web sites | | | | environment offering rich recreational choices |
| most if not all of them have criteria and jobs for | | | | supports healthy families. Affordable, accessible health |
| teleworkers - check it out. And don't forget your | | | | care is essential to our vision of families that can |
| favorite jobs anywhere - you may be able to work | | | | support our economy and schools as well. Beebe |
| here and have a job in any other place on earth or | | | | Hospital headquartered in Lewes has developed (to a |
| at least any other place in America.Crime: | | | | great degree under the auspices of my father, Joe |
| Our crime, what there is of it, is mostly out of state | | | | Hudson) a large number of clinics and satellite health |
| speeders on the highways. Some of our visitors are | | | | care facilities spread frequently around the |
| of the opinion (right or wrong) that our major source | | | | area.Healthy communities focus on wellness, |
| of state income in Delaware is fines from speeding | | | | prevention and access to quality medical care. When |
| tickets. That is the primary function of our police on | | | | health care is hard to find or expensive, people may |
| a daily basis. We are certainly not crime free but we | | | | delay treatment, often making their health problems |
| are safer than most places. In fact of our serious | | | | worse. Timely access to appropriate health care |
| crimes, most are DUI, Driving Under the Influence | | | | benefits everyone.Beebe Hospital is certainly the |
| and still our statistics are that of a very peaceful and | | | | fastest growing and largest employer in the beach |
| laid back rural area.Size and Density: | | | | resort area and growing fast to support our |
| Sussex County is the largest county east of the | | | | retirement communities as more and more people |
| Mississippi River with 938 square miles! Sussex has | | | | retire here at earlier and earlier ages and remain more |
| almost the exact same size as the other two | | | | and more active in life, business and recreation. We |
| counties of Delaware combined; yet we have only | | | | have a wonderful school of nursing attached to the |
| about 15% of the state population with our 120,000 | | | | hospital as well: The Beebe Hospital School of |
| people. That relates to only 128 people per square | | | | Nursing.Beach and Natural Environment Areas: |
| mile, compared to almost 1100 people per square mile | | | | And this, our beach area, is of course what we are |
| in our northern county, New Castle.Financial and | | | | nationally famous for. The natural environment is the |
| Economic Vitality: | | | | very foundation of community well-being. We are in |
| Southern Delaware is uniquely a haven for the self | | | | late transition from a farming community to a resort |
| employed. The economic vitality of Sussex County, | | | | and arts community. Our best and most optimum |
| especially eastern Sussex County, is primarily that of | | | | future relies on a clean environment that attracts |
| self employment in addition to jobs in education, law | | | | tourists as well as high quality residents and |
| enforcement, lodging, health care, Real Estate of | | | | entrepreneurs. A world-class educational presence |
| course, Real Estate law, residential and commercial | | | | here supports environmental protection. Our highly |
| building and construction, which is related, and retail | | | | educated tourists and residents are another factor |
| management. Part of the reason for our overall | | | | ensuring our increasingly strong accent on an ever |
| economic health is that our owner operated | | | | improving environment. A strong economy is essential |
| businesses are so diverse. There are no huge | | | | to restoration projects. Well-planned land uses and |
| corporations employing thousands of people in high | | | | infrastructure investments can protect and enhance |
| paying jobs that can crash or affect our economy in | | | | the environment. Environmental vitality is essential to |
| any way. We also have a growing and vibrant arts | | | | our vision of a sustainable economy. An unmatched |
| community of fine artists, writers, and musicians who | | | | environment also supports year-round recreation to |
| live here and gain income from a wide national and | | | | attract a more diverse mix of tourists and our |
| international area. As the teleworking era grows here | | | | favorite and more diverse mix of teleworkers and |
| this self-employed base will grow and diversify even | | | | retirees.The National Parks & Recreation Association |
| more.Cultural Values: | | | | recommends 7 acres of community parks and 20 |
| We have so many cultural events in the so called | | | | acres of regional parks per 1,000 population. We are |
| off-season that we are developing another season | | | | far, far, beyond that ratio. Our beach area is one of |
| which some are calling the aesthetics season to | | | | our largest park assets and boasts a variety of |
| complement the beach tourism season. The arts are | | | | recreational facilities including ball fields, golf courses, |
| a measure of the richness of our lives, our | | | | and a variety of water sports and enjoyment |
| community and our economy. The arts are a | | | | opportunities. Keeping up with parks maintenance is a |
| multi-million dollar industry here when our aesthetics | | | | constant area concern which we do quite well.Parks |
| season visitors rent rooms, rent homes for the | | | | offer a place to relax, recreate, and visit with friends. |
| several day events, eat at our restaurants, shop at | | | | A combination of developed parks and natural areas |
| our hundreds of outlet stores and otherwise spend | | | | provides a mixture of activities like playing sports and |
| time and money in our various establishments. We | | | | walking a quiet trail. Trees, grass and other |
| have a couple of local pre-university schools which | | | | vegetation clean our air. Relocating individuals often |
| feature art and music education which studies show | | | | cite parks and schools as deciding factors for moving |
| enhance problem solving and abstract thinking abilities | | | | to our region. Trails can connect neighborhoods and |
| of students in whatever field they may end up in; | | | | contribute to healthy active lives. Trails enhance |
| arts or not.Many of us are working to further | | | | mobility and access to public lands. The hundreds of |
| enhance the emphasis on the arts here. There are | | | | miles of trails and bike paths have increased |
| many ways we can individually work to increase our | | | | constantly in our beach region. Funding issues make |
| cultural assets. One business could support art in | | | | development of trails challenging.The natural |
| public places. An individual can contribute time, money, | | | | environment, our beach and wetland areas as well as |
| or expertise to cultural organizations. All these efforts | | | | our farm land, is what most people list first when |
| will help stimulate an on-going cycle of learning, | | | | talking about our region's quality of life. This is an area |
| investment, and growth in our region. And, of course | | | | that clearly shows what a positive impact people can |
| the most important thing we can do is attend and | | | | have with relatively small individual contributions. Our |
| invite friends in from out of town to attend as many | | | | region's water quality and air quality are wonderful |
| of these events and functions as possible.Tourism: | | | | and have improved tremendously over the last 50 |
| For many decades, tourism has been the backbone | | | | years. Regional investment in the natural environment |
| of our local, eastern Sussex County economy. We | | | | can ensure that we continue to enjoy the natural |
| are well known, in Rehoboth Beach, as The Nation's | | | | benefits we can not easily replace: reducing pollution, |
| Summer Capital. Our other beaches are regionally | | | | processing waste, improving water and air quality, |
| favored above all others: Dewey Beach for the skim | | | | and moderating the damage of flooding. Investments |
| board surfing and parties; Bethany Beach for the | | | | in our community's "green infrastructure" are critical |
| bedroom community family oriented beachy place | | | | to the health of our families as well as to our |
| and Fenwick Island for the fine homes and fine | | | | tourist-based economy and those investments are |
| beaches that are revered by those who relish home | | | | being made by our various governmental divisions and |
| life without adjacent commercial activities. Of course | | | | by our individuals. Our largest park style land owner in |
| Fenwick Island is very close to thousands of | | | | fact, is Delaware Wild Lands a private organization |
| commercial enterprises in Ocean City Maryland.Visitors | | | | devoted to securing the quality of life for all |
| bring money into our local economy, support local | | | | Delawareans and doing it well.Land Use and Zoning: |
| businesses, which provide jobs, and they pay for gas, | | | | The land use choices we make are the blueprint for |
| rooms, home rentals and room sales taxes. We | | | | our community's design. Our vision of the future |
| increasingly enjoy higher returns from our visitors | | | | provides effective infrastructure that enables us to |
| thus maximizing on our investments. Bringing millions | | | | work, raise our families, and educate our children. Our |
| and millions of visitors to our Delaware Beach area | | | | land use supports our quality of life while protecting |
| affects not only our economy but also our | | | | the environment. Community infrastructures attract |
| transportation system, our water system and our | | | | tourists as well as high quality visitors, retirees and |
| natural environment. Studies show that different | | | | entrepreneurs. Our region will foster sustainable |
| types of visitors have different impacts. For example, | | | | development that meets the needs of present |
| visitors who attend an arts event typically stay | | | | generations without impairing future generations' |
| longer and spend more money.Tourism is evolving. | | | | ability to meet their own needs. A strong economy is |
| Our Bed and Breakfast establishments for instance | | | | essential to good land use planning and infrastructure |
| are a major factor in bicycle tourism, bird watching | | | | provision. A respect for the environment helps |
| and corporate and executive think-tank retreats. We | | | | maximize the use of land and infrastructure.Involved |
| are developing different types of visitors to our area | | | | neighborhoods are essential for a thriving community. |
| while maintaining our lifestyle, economic vitality, and | | | | Smart land use and high quality infrastructure are |
| environmental quality. Emphasizing outdoor recreation, | | | | essential if we are to achieve our vision of a robust |
| clean air, wide-open spaces and beautiful scenery, we | | | | economy, world-class education, and a safe |
| can attract "eco-friendly" visitors. Camping, for | | | | community. We are expanding rapidly as more and |
| instance, is a large and growing eco-tourism feature | | | | more people arrive here for short, medium or |
| where thousands of our campsites host those who | | | | permanent residential and business life. As our Quality |
| enjoy the area and often stay right at the camp | | | | of Life is what most people come here to enjoy; |
| most of the time. Canoeing and kayaking, sea | | | | part time or full time. ENJOY!Copyright 2000-2005 by |
| kayaking, the kite festival, jet skis and other personal | | | | Hudson is a Realtor of 35 years professional |
| watercraft as well as boating, fishing, sailing and that | | | | experience and a lifetime in America and Delaware. |