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