Selbyville, Delaware Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 10, 2019 · Updated September 12, 2024

Selbyville, Delaware is located in the eastern part of Sussex County and is bordered by Fenwick Island to the east and Ocean View to the south. The city has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters. Selbyville’s history dates back to 1856 when it was founded as a small rural farming community. In recent years, Selbyville has become more urbanized with its population growing significantly since 2000. Politically, Selbyville is part of the Sussex County Council district and is represented by Republican representatives in both the House and Senate.

The economy of Selbyville is largely based on tourism, especially during the summer months when visitors flock to its beaches and other attractions. There are also several small businesses located in town that provide jobs for local residents. Schools in Selbyville are served by Indian River School District and include two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

Among the landmarks in Selbyville are several historic buildings such as St. George’s Episcopal Church (built in 1872) and The Old Firehouse (built in 1910). Other attractions include nearby Trap Pond State Park which offers camping, hiking trails, fishing opportunities, boating access to Broad Creek, as well as historic sites such as a 19th century grist mill and a former African-American church built by freed slaves after the Civil War. Additionally, nearby Fenwick Island State Park features beaches on both sides of Assawoman Bay that offer swimming, sunbathing, fishing areas, kayaking access points and more.

Population: 1,645. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,742 (+5.9% change)
Males: 839 (51.0%), Females: 806 (49.0%)

Sussex County

Zip code: 19975

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.9 years
Median household income: $36,250
Median house value: $105,100

Population by Race

Races in Selbyville:

White Non-Hispanic (62.2%)
Hispanic (21.1%)
Black (15.4%)
Other race (9.5%)
Two or more races (1.0%)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (0.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (12.3%), English (11.5%), Irish (10.9%), United States (5.3%), Italian (2.6%), Polish (1.8%).

Elevation: 32 feet

Land area: 1.4 square miles

Map of Selbyville, DE

Population by Education

Selbyville, Delaware is a small town located in Sussex County. It is home to a population of approximately 3,000 people, with many of them being long-time residents. The town is known for its rural atmosphere, with many farms and small businesses located throughout the area. The median age of the population is 43 years old and the median household income is $50,000. The majority of the population identifies as White (78%), followed by Black or African American (15%), Hispanic or Latino (4%) and Asian (2%). There is also a small percentage of Native American and other ethnicities in town. Selbyville has a strong sense of community among its citizens, which helps to create an inviting atmosphere for both new and existing residents alike. Additionally, due to its close proximity to the popular beach town of Bethany Beach, Selbyville attracts many visitors during the summer months who come to enjoy the area’s attractions. Overall, Selbyville is an attractive place to live with plenty to offer for both residents and visitors alike.

For population 25 years and over in Selbyville

High school or higher: 67.3%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.0%
Unemployed: 5.2%
Mean travel time to work: 18.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Selbyville town

Never married: 21.1%
Now married: 61.8%
Separated: 2.1%
Widowed: 7.9%
Divorced: 7.1%

18.0% Foreign born (16.8% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +163 (+11.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Selbyville:

ATLANTIC GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 9 miles; BERLIN, MD)
BEEBE MEDICAL CENTER (about 21 miles; LEWES, DE)
HEALTHSOUTH CHESAPEAKE REHAB HOSPITAL (about 28 miles; SALISBURY, MD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Selbyville:

SALISBURY-OCEAN CITY WICOMICO REGIONAL (about 21 miles; SALISBURY, MD; Abbreviation: SBY)
DOVER AFB (about 48 miles; DOVER, DE; Abbreviation: DOV)
ATLANTIC CITY INTERNATIONAL (about 82 miles; ATLANTIC CITY, NJ; Abbreviation: ACY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Selbyville:

OCEAN CITY MUNI (about 14 miles; OCEAN CITY, MD; Abbreviation: OXB)
SUSSEX COUNTY (about 18 miles; GEORGETOWN, DE; Abbreviation: GED)
LAUREL (about 26 miles; LAUREL, DE; Abbreviation: N06)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Selbyville:

DELAWARE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE-OWENS (about 19 miles; GEORGETOWN, DE; Full-time enrollment: 2,053)
SALISBURY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 28 miles; SALISBURY, MD; Full-time enrollment: 5,645)
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-EASTERN SHORE (about 38 miles; PRINCESS ANNE, MD; Full-time enrollment: 2,940)
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 53 miles; Dover, DE; Full-time enrollment: 2,641)
ATLANTIC CAPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 78 miles; MAYS LANDING, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 3,086)
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (about 81 miles; NEWARK, DE; Full-time enrollment: 17,786)
THE RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (about 85 miles; POMONA, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 5,526)

Public primary/middle schools in Selbyville:

SELBYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 643; Location: 80 BETHENY RD.; Grades: 06 – 08)
SOUTHERN DELAWARE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (Students: 374; Location: 31 HOOSIER STREET; Grades: 01 – 08)
PHILLIP C. SHOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 312; Location: 41 BETHANY ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)

Libraries

Library in Selbyville:

SELBYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $140,495; Location: 11 MAIN & MCCABE STREET; 24,033 books; 321 audio materials; 530 video materials; 65 serial subscriptions)