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Bethany Beach is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 903 at the 2000 census.
Bethany Beach, together with the towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island, comprises Delaware's beach resort area and is Sussex County's most densely-populated and fastest-growing area. Bethany Beach and South Bethany are popularly known as "The Quiet Resorts". This is in contradistinction to the wild atmosphere of Dewey Beach and the cosmopolitan bustle of Rehoboth Beach. Assisting Bethany Beach's reputation as a "quiet" place is the presence of Delaware Seashore State Park immediately to the north of the town, a six mile-long barrier island providing a substantial buffer from Dewey Beach's noise. Serving as another buffer is a large unincorporated area of private condominiums and multi-million-dollar beach homes between the park and the town.
Despite its small size, Bethany Beach boasts the usual attractions of a summer seaside resort, including a short boardwalk, a broad, sandy beach, motels, restaurants, and vacation homes. Because Bethany Beach does not sit on a barrier island, residential areas continue some distance to the west of the town's limits.
History
Like its neighbors to the north, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, and Ocean City, Bethany Beach was founded by Disciples of Christ evangelists as a site for summer camp meetings for the faithful. It was founded by six Pittsburgh businessmen: W. R. Errett, a lawyer, John M. Addy, a plumber, W.S. Kidd, a steel manufacturer, R.S. Latimer, a tea merchant, Dr. T. E. Cramblet and W.A. Dinker.
The town celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 4, 2001.
Geography
Bethany Beach is located at (38.540807, -75.061771).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.0 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.71%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 903 people, 473 households, and 281 families residing in the town. The population density was 303.2/km² (782.4/mi²). There were 2,376 housing units at an average density of 797.7/km² (2,058.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.90% White, 0.78% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.22% Asian, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 10.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.40.
In the town the population was spread out with 10.3% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 15.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 39.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,875, and the median income for a family was $67,500. Males had a median income of $41,705 versus $35,909 for females. The per capita income for the town was $41,306. About 2.9% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
External link
External links
"Bethany Beach, Delaware"