Sussex County, Delaware
Ellendale, Delaware
Ellendale is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 487 residents. Sussex County lists Ellendale among its 25 municipalities, and the town's official website is linked below. SussexCounty.ai is an independent site and is not the county government.
Key facts
- Type
- Incorporated municipality
- County
- Sussex County, Delaware
- 2020 population
- 487 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- https://ellendale.delaware.gov/
- Current officials
- See the town website
Ask SussexCounty.ai
Look up Sussex County building permits by PIN on the permits page. Official records are kept by Sussex County at sussexcountyde.gov.
Go deeper on Ellendale
- Land use and zoning (13 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (9 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (20 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (17 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 1,240 tax parcels in Ellendale, covering 861.2 mapped acres (median parcel 0.172 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Ellendale, see Ellendale on The Sussex Ledger. The Sussex Ledger is a publication of The Conscient Group LLC, which also publishes SussexCounty.ai.
Terms used in Sussex County property records
Tax map parcel number, zoning district, building permit, FEMA flood zone and realty transfer tax. See the full Sussex County glossary, official sources and weather and hazard sources.
Questions about Ellendale
The basics
Is Ellendale a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Ellendale is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Ellendale town, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Ellendale, Delaware in?
Ellendale is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Ellendale in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 487 residents in Ellendale (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Ellendale?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 1,240 tax parcels in Ellendale (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Ellendale?
Sussex County issues building permits countywide, including inside municipalities, per the county building permits page. Check with the town as well for any town requirements.
Government, zoning and services
Where is Ellendale Town Hall?
Town Hall is at 300 McCaulley Ave., P.O. Box 6, Ellendale, DE 19941, phone (302) 422-6727, open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov.
When do Ellendale Town Council and the Planning & Zoning Commission meet?
The town site lists Town Council and Planning & Zoning meetings on its events calendar through December 2026. Past council events were held at Town Hall at 7:00 PM, for example on September 7, 2022. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov, ellendale.delaware.gov.
Who handles planning and zoning in Ellendale?
The town has its own Planning Commission and Council, both listed under Government on the town site. Zoning appears on the site only as Planning & Zoning meeting listings. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov.
Does Ellendale have its own police department?
Yes. The town site lists the Ellendale Police Department, office line (302) 422-3584. Coastal Point reported on January 20, 2026 that it earned state accreditation. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov, coastalpoint.com.
Does Ellendale charge a transfer tax?
Sussex County's first-time homebuyer page lists Ellendale as "Exempt" in its transfer tax column. The town site links a Tax Collection page but does not state a rate. Source: sussexcountyde.gov, ellendale.delaware.gov.
What public safety recognition did Ellendale get in 2026?
Coastal Point reported on January 20, 2026 that the Dagsboro, Ellendale and Selbyville police departments each earned state accreditation after an on-site assessment. (Reported 2026-01-20.) Source: coastalpoint.com.
History and lore
When was Ellendale founded and incorporated?
The current town site was established in 1866, when families settled near the Junction and Breakwater Railroad Depot, and it was surveyed in 1866 and 1867. Ellendale was formally incorporated in 1905. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
How did Ellendale get its name?
Accounts differ. A 1938 guide quoted in the town's comprehensive plan says Ellendale was named for the daughter of Alfred Short, while the Delaware Public Archives cites a place-names reference that credits Dr. John Prettyman's wife. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
What is Ellendale's nickname?
Ellendale is known as the "Gateway to Delaware's Resort Beaches." It sits at the crossroads of Routes 113 and 16. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
What was the Black Camp Insurrection near Ellendale?
According to the state historical marker, the forest and swamp near Ellendale bridging the divide between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays became a refuge for Loyalists during the 1780 Black Camp Insurrection. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
What historic sites are in Ellendale?
The Ellendale State Forest Picnic Facility and Teddy's Tavern were both listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Source: npgallery.nps.gov, npgallery.nps.gov.
What milestones marked Ellendale's early growth?
The Queen Anne's Railroad ran its first passenger trains through Ellendale in 1897, and the Town Council started the Ellendale Fire Company as a municipal fire department in 1920. The state marker adds that the Ellendale State Forest was established in 1927. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
Events, holidays and occasions
Does Ellendale have town festivals?
The Town of Ellendale website listed no events at last check, and Southern Delaware Tourism shows none. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov.
Which festivals are nearest to Ellendale?
Milton has an October Punkin Ale Fest and a December Holly Festival, and Georgetown hosts Wings & Wheels in October and Return Day in even-numbered Novembers. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com, visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Is Return Day a holiday in Ellendale?
Return Day is a Sussex County legal holiday under Delaware Code Title 1, Section 501: the second day after the General Election, after 12:00 noon. It falls on the Thursday after Election Day in even-numbered years, and in 2026 that is November 5. The main celebration is held in Georgetown. Source: delcode.delaware.gov, visitsoutherndelaware.com, dagsboro.delaware.gov.
Weather, geography and hazards
What is the climate like in Ellendale, Delaware?
Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the nearest of the stations we use, the average January low is 28.6 degrees F and the average July high is 87.7 degrees F. Annual precipitation averages 43.88 inches. The station is not inside Ellendale, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Ellendale get per year?
The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Ellendale does not publish snowfall. The nearest station we fetched with a 1991 to 2020 snowfall normal is the Lewes station, at 10.5 inches a year. Treat that as a regional reference, not a measurement for Ellendale. Source: ncei.noaa.gov, ncei.noaa.gov.
Is Ellendale in a flood zone?
Part of Ellendale may sit in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, and the answer depends on the address, so we do not give a town-wide yes or no. The USGS elevation at the town's Census center point is about 48 feet. Look up a specific property in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the DNREC Delaware Flood Planning Tool. Source: msc.fema.gov, floodplanning.dnrec.delaware.gov, epqs.nationalmap.gov.
Is Ellendale in a hurricane evacuation zone?
Delaware labels hurricane evacuation zones A, B, C and D, and describes them as low-lying areas susceptible to flooding and storm surge. The state page does not list communities by zone, so we cannot say which zone Ellendale or a given address falls in. Use the Know Your Zone lookup tool or interactive map to check an address. Source: preparede.org, dema.delaware.gov.
What body of water is Ellendale on?
The Census Gazetteer lists 0 square miles of water area within Ellendale's town limits. The state historical marker describes the area as forest and swamp bridging the divide between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Source: www2.census.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Ellendale?
Ellendale is in the Milford School District. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov.
What ZIP code covers Ellendale?
Ellendale uses ZIP code 19941. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov.
What major roads serve Ellendale?
DE 16 is the main street of Ellendale. US 113 (DuPont Boulevard) carries north-south traffic on the west side of the town. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov.
Is there public transit in Ellendale?
DART First State Route 303 serves Ellendale, with stops at US 113 and DE 16 and at DE 16 and McCaully Avenue. The route links the town with Milford, Georgetown and Dover. Source: dartfirststate.com.
What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Ellendale?
The Ellendale State Forest Picnic Facility, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, is a picnic area on US 113. The town also has a small fenced Town Park on Willow Street directly behind Town Hall. Source: ellendale.delaware.gov, npgallery.nps.gov.