Sussex County, Delaware
Milford, Delaware
Milford is an incorporated municipality in Delaware, located mostly in Kent County, with a part in Sussex County. The 2020 Census counted 11,190 residents for the whole city, across both counties. Sussex County lists Milford among its municipalities. SussexCounty.ai is not the county government.
Key facts
- Type
- Incorporated municipality
- County
- Kent County (mostly) and Sussex County, Delaware
- 2020 population
- 11,190 (whole city, Kent and Sussex counties) (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- http://www.cityofmilford.com
- 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 Milford
- Land use and zoning (15 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (12 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (14 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (19 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 4,971 tax parcels in Milford, covering 3,253.3 mapped acres (median parcel 0.186 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Milford, see Milford 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 Milford
The basics
Is Milford a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Milford is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Milford city, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Milford, Delaware in?
Milford is located mostly in Kent County, with a part in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Milford in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 11,190 residents in Milford for the whole city, across both counties (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Milford?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 4,971 tax parcels in Milford (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Milford?
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 Milford City Hall?
The 2026 municipal election notice gives City Hall as 201 South Walnut Street, Milford. The city lists customer service at 119 S Walnut Street, phone 302-422-6616. Source: elections.delaware.gov, cityofmilford.com.
When does Milford City Council meet?
The city site says Council meets on the "Second and Fourth Monday of the month" at 6:00 pm in the council chambers at 201 South Walnut Street. Source: cityofmilford.com.
Who handles planning and zoning in Milford?
The city's Planning & Zoning Division oversees land use and code changes and reviews subdivision, site plan and variance applications. Milford sits in both Kent and Sussex counties, and the city site links to each county's permit office. Source: cityofmilford.com, cityofmilford.com.
Who provides electric, water and trash in Milford?
The city. Its site lists Electric (with DEMEC resources), Public Works with Water & Wastewater, and Solid Waste. Trash, recycling and yard waste requests go through the city's MyMilford request page. Source: cityofmilford.com.
Does Milford have its own police department?
Yes. The city site links a separate Milford Police Department website covering divisions and community programs. Source: cityofmilford.com.
History and lore
How was Milford founded?
Milford grew from two communities on either side of the Mispillion Creek. Rev. Sydenham Thorne built a dam and mills around 1780, and plantation owner Joseph Oliver laid out lots near his store. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
When was Milford incorporated?
The city recognizes an 1807 act creating commissioners to oversee streets as its first incorporation. A charter established the City of Milford in 1931, and the city lies in both Kent and Sussex counties. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
What role did shipbuilding play in Milford?
The City of Milford says shipbuilding was thriving on the Mispillion River by the 1770s and stayed the main industry through World War I. The high point came in 1917 with the launch of the four-masted Albert F. Paul. Source: cityofmilford.com.
How did the railroad affect Milford?
Town lots were laid out in South Milford around 1840, and the arrival of the railroad in 1859 strongly boosted growth. The town became a commercial center for the surrounding farm region. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
What historic sites are in Milford?
National Park Service records cover the Milford Shipyard Area Historic District, the North Milford and South Milford Historic Districts (part of the Milford Multiple Resource Area), Abbott's Mill southwest of Milford (record dated 1972) and the Mispillion Lighthouse and Beacon Tower (nomination prepared in 1986). Source: npgallery.nps.gov, npgallery.nps.gov, npgallery.nps.gov.
Events, holidays and occasions
What annual events happen in Milford?
Southern Delaware Tourism lists Toasting the Town pub crawl (March), Bug and Bud Festival (April), Riverwalk Freedom Festival (September), The Big Draw DE (October) and the Holiday Stroll on Walnut Street (December). Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
What is the Riverwalk Freedom Festival?
It is described as Milford's largest annual outdoor festival, hosted by the Milford Chamber of Commerce each September. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
What is the Bug and Bud Festival?
It celebrates the ladybug, Milford's symbol, and nature, and marks Arbor Day. Southern Delaware Tourism places it in April. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Does Milford hold a holiday event?
Yes. The Milford Holiday Stroll takes families along downtown Walnut Street in December with live entertainment and visits to local businesses. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Does Return Day apply in Milford?
Return Day is a Sussex County holiday under state law. Milford lies in both Kent and Sussex counties, so check with the city on closures. The main celebration is in Georgetown. Source: delcode.delaware.gov, visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Weather, geography and hazards
What is the climate like in Milford, 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 Milford, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Milford get per year?
The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Milford 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 Milford. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
Is Milford in a flood zone?
Part of Milford 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 21 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 Milford 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 Milford 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 Milford on?
Milford sits on both sides of the Mispillion River, which the Delaware Public Archives history also calls Mispillion Creek. North Milford is in Kent County and South Milford is in Sussex County. Source: archivesfiles.delaware.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What ZIP code covers Milford?
Milford uses ZIP code 19963. Source: explore.education.delaware.gov, bayhealth.org.
Is there a public library in Milford?
Yes. Milford Public Library is at 11 S E Front Street, phone (302) 422-8996. Source: milford.lib.de.us.
Is there public transit in Milford?
A 2018 state release lists DART First State Route 210 as local Milford service. Route 303 connects Georgetown and Dover with a transfer in Milford, and Route 307 runs from Lewes to Milford and Dover. Source: news.delaware.gov.
Is there a hospital in Milford?
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus is at 100 Wellness Way, Milford. Bayhealth lists the hospital and its Emergency and Trauma Center as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Source: bayhealth.org.
When should trash be at the curb in Milford?
The City of Milford says trash should be out by 7:00 am on pickup day, because collection starts at 7:00 a.m. If it was out on time and still not collected, residents can submit a report on the MyMilford portal. Source: cityofmilford.com.