Located on the Delmarva Peninsula, between the
Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Seaford has
always been a land rich in resources. The area was used by the Leni-Lanape Indians for both hunting and fishing and was first settled by Europeans in the seventeenth century. As early settlers raised their families and new generations thrived, Seaford began to take shape. Churches, businesses, schools, and
other civic and social institutions were formed, and, in 1835, Seaford became an established town. A vibrant riverside community on the banks of the
Nanticoke in Sussex County, Seaford has long been one of the Eastern Shore's most important economic sites. From the oyster houses and boatyards lining the river to the numerous produce farms and canneries to DuPont's first textile plant, many
industries have contributed to the growth and stability of the greater Seaford area. Images in this visual retrospective not only provide glimpses of these important businesses of days gone by, but also pay tribute to the remarkable people and places that have given Seaford its proud heritage.