Our Town Revisited: Georgetown
GEORGETOWN, De. – It’s now 2025, and Georgetown has elected a new mayor, more residents live there, and development has expanded. But there’s still a friendly, welcoming vibe that keeps people calling this place home and locals are hoping to keep it that way
Sussex Seat
Founded in 1791 Georgetown was established as the county seat for Sussex County and has been ever since. Bill West has been the mayor for the past decade and says does this job because he wants to see the town succeed.
“This town needs people in it, if it doesn’t the town’s going to die… Every time I go to an event I say, we need to become one… This is where everybody had to come in horse and carriage, to listen to the results of the election, and I think that had a lot of moves on being the county seat.”
Community Circle
The Circle, once known as ‘the square; sits in the middle of the town and is what sparked its humble beginnings. “Everybody talks about the history of Georgetown, well, that is our history, the circle now is our history… They used to have their market food or sell their products… We still have a lot of events in the circle, we have a lot of marriages that take place, I think I’ve performed 3.”
Mayor West describes how commerce worked once upon a time. “That brings back the history of the trains going through Georgetown, how supplies were brought into Georgetown, and that used to be the only way things come to town, was by rail.”
Town Traditions
Georgetown is known for many historical sites like the Nutter Marvel Museum which is now the Georgetown Historical Society, and the old county courthouse on South Bedford Street. Return Day is one of the town’s oldest and most famous traditions. “It’s where people come and heard the results of the election, and it was a day of celebration, because we buried the ‘hatchet’. It was a time that, the politics are all done, now it’s time to start working together.”
Diverse in Delaware
In 1999 the population was less than 5,000 residents and they had one of the largest Guatemalan diasporas. 25 years later Mayor West says this area has become even more diverse, and that’s what going to keep Georgetown alive for another 230 odd years.
“Our population is probably, close to 50% Hispanic at this time. There’s probably 15% Afro-American, and the rest is made up by Asia, Haitian, and White Americans. So, the population of this town, and the makeup of this town has changed… We’re not living in the past; we’re living in the future.”
The Georgetown Historical Society’s mission is to foster an appreciation of the heritage by collecting, preserving, and displaying meaningful artifacts for education. For more information on the area visit their website.
