Delaware

Sussex

237,378

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Sussex

Sussex, Delaware, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 20,488. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 237,378.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 155 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	237,378
2010	197,145
2000	156,638
1990	113,229
1980	98,004
1970	80,356
1960	73,195
1950	61,336
1940	52,502
1930	45,507
1920	43,741
1910	46,413
1900	42,276
1890	38,647
1880	36,018
1870	31,696
1860	29,615
1850	25,936
1840	25,093
1830	27,115
1820	24,057
1810	27,750
1800	19,358
1790	20,488

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Sussex

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sussex, Delaware.

Moore Potato House

Laurel

Old Sussex County Courthouse

Georgetown

Ellendale State Forest Picnic Facility

Abbott's Mill (Boundary Increase)

Faucett, Peter S., House

Adams, Joseph T., House

Deep Creek Furnace Site

Milford Shipyard Area Historic District

Milford

Prince George's Chapel

Dagsboro

Robinson, Jesse, House

Seaford

Browse all Delawarehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Delaware

Explore census history and historic records for more Delaware counties.

Washington city Dist. of Columbia Georgetown Georgetown city Kent New Castle Remainder Subdivision Washington

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Everything a full report reveals about Sussex County, Delaware

This page charts the census history of Sussex County, Delaware. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Sussex

When does Sussex first appear in the US census?

Sussex, Delaware first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 20,488.

What is the population of Sussex?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Sussex had a recorded population of 237,378.

How many historic places are in Sussex?

155 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sussex, Delaware.

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