Sussex County, Delaware
Seaford, Delaware
Seaford is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 7,957 residents. Sussex County lists Seaford 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
- 7,957 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- https://www.seafordde.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 Seaford
- Land use and zoning (16 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (12 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (15 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (19 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,277 tax parcels in Seaford, covering 2,923.1 mapped acres (median parcel 0.187 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Seaford, see Seaford 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 Seaford
The basics
Is Seaford a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Seaford is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Seaford city, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Seaford, Delaware in?
Seaford is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Seaford in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 7,957 residents in Seaford (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Seaford?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,277 tax parcels in Seaford (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Seaford?
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 Seaford City Hall?
City Hall is at 414 High Street, P.O. Box 1100, Seaford, DE 19973, phone 302.629.9173. Source: seafordde.com.
When does Seaford City Council meet?
The city site says Council "meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 7pm in City Council Chambers at 414 High St." Source: seafordde.com.
When does the Seaford Planning & Zoning Commission meet?
The commission "meets on the first Thursday of every month in the City Council Chambers at 414 High Street." Applications are filed through the city's Planning & Zoning Application form. Source: seafordde.com.
Does Seaford have its own code?
Yes. The city site publishes a City Code and City Charter page, plus a Board of Adjustments for variances. Source: seafordde.com.
Who provides electric in Seaford?
The City of Seaford. Its electric department serves about 5,211 customers inside city limits and buys power through the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC). Source: seafordde.com.
History and lore
When was Seaford incorporated?
Seaford received its charter and was incorporated April 6, 1865. Source: seafordde.com.
How did Seaford get its name?
Seaford's original name was Hooper's Landing, which the ship on the city seal represents along with shipping on the Nanticoke River. A Delaware Public Archives marker says the town was laid out in 1799 as Hooper's Landing and first incorporated in 1865. Neither source explains how the name Seaford was chosen. Source: seafordde.com, archives.delaware.gov.
Why was Seaford called the Nylon Capital of the World?
In 1939 DuPont chose Seaford for the world's first nylon plant, earning the town the nickname "Nylon Capital of the World." Source: seafordde.com.
What is the earliest recorded settlement near Seaford?
"Martin's Hundred," a 1,750-acre tract between the Nanticoke River and Herring Creek, was granted to Jeremiah Jadwin of Virginia on January 22, 1672. The area was part of Dorchester County, Maryland until Mason and Dixon set the boundary in 1763. Source: seafordde.com.
What historic sites are in Seaford?
National Register of Historic Places listings in Seaford include the Gov. William H. Ross House (listed October 28, 1977), St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church, Burton Hardware Store and Hearn and Rawlins Mill (1978), and the First National Bank of Seaford and J. W. Cox Dry Goods Store (1987). The Ross house is a brick Italianate villa built about 1859, according to the National Register nomination and a state historical marker. The city's history page gives 1850. Source: nps.gov, npgallery.nps.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
Events, holidays and occasions
When is Nanticoke Riverfest in Seaford?
Nanticoke Riverfest is held in downtown Seaford in July, with a Float-In, Duck Dash, canoe and kayak races, a car show and a boat parade. The 2022 festival was the 27th. No 2027 date was found. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com, wmdt.com.
When is the Eastern Shore AFRAM Festival?
It is held on the second Saturday of August at the Seaford Sports Complex, with cultural foods, exhibits and free live music. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
When is the Seaford Christmas parade?
The parade steps off at 7 p.m. on a Saturday in early December. In 2025 it was Saturday, December 6, themed Candyland Christmas, with no rain date. The city site lists a 2026 parade but showed no date. Source: seafordde.com, seafordde.com.
What fall events happen in Seaford?
Downtown Seaford's calendar showed a Fall Harvest Festival on October 24, 2026, and a Halloween Parade on Cedar Avenue on October 28, 2026. The Seaford Historical Society has also held a community fall festival at Governor Ross Mansion. Source: seafordde.com, visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Is Return Day a holiday in Seaford?
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 Seaford, 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 Seaford, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Seaford get per year?
The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Seaford does not publish snowfall. The nearest station we fetched with a 1991 to 2020 snowfall normal is the Salisbury, Maryland (Wicomico Regional Airport) station, at 8.0 inches a year. Treat that as a regional reference, not a measurement for Seaford. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
Is Seaford in a flood zone?
Part of Seaford 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 31 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 Seaford 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 Seaford 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 Seaford on?
Seaford developed around 1800 as a village at the head of navigation on the Nanticoke River, near Herring Creek, per the Delaware Public Archives. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Seaford?
Seaford is in the Seaford School District. Per the Delaware Department of Education, the district has four elementary schools (Blades, Frederick Douglass, Seaford Central and West Seaford), Seaford Middle School and Seaford Senior High School. Source: education.delaware.gov, explore.education.delaware.gov.
What ZIP code covers Seaford?
Seaford uses ZIP code 19973. For example, TidalHealth Nanticoke is at 801 Middleford Road, Seaford, DE 19973. Source: tidalhealth.org, archives.delaware.gov.
Is there a public library in Seaford?
Yes. Seaford District Library is at 600 N. Market St. Ext. Source: sussexcounty.lib.de.us.
What major roads serve Seaford?
US 13 (Sussex Highway) is a state principal arterial through Seaford. Delaware Route 20 (Norman Eskridge Highway) crosses it at a signalized intersection. Source: deldot.gov.
Is there public transit in Seaford?
DART First State Route 212 is titled Georgetown / Seaford / Laurel, and DART schedules show trips between Delmar and the Georgetown Hub. The state also announced Flex Route 903 for local Seaford service. Source: dartfirststate.com, news.delaware.gov, dartfirststate.com.