Moving to Laurel, Delaware

by btobers · Published June 10, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Laurel, Delaware is a small town located in Sussex County with a population of around 3,000 people. The town is situated on a flat plain in the middle of the Delmarva Peninsula, which is a region encompassing parts of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The climate in Laurel is considered to be humid subtropical with hot and humid summers and mild winters.

The history of Laurel dates back to 1732 when the area was first settled by European immigrants. In 1883, the town was officially incorporated as Laurel, named after the laurel shrubs that grew abundantly around it. As far as politics go, Laurel operates under a Mayor-Council form of government with an elected mayor and four council members who are elected every two years.

The economy in Laurel mainly revolves around agriculture and tourism. Some of the crops grown in this area include corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. There are also several local businesses such as restaurants, wineries and farms that attract tourists from all over the state.

There are several schools located in Laurel including two public elementary schools and one public high school. Additionally, there are several private schools including religious institutions like St Mary’s Catholic School and non-denominational institutions like Laurel Academy Private School.

Finally, some of the main landmarks in Laurel include Trap Pond State Park which offers camping sites as well as hiking trails; Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation which serves as a Boy Scouts camp; Bethel Historical Society Museum which displays artifacts related to local history; and Nutter D Magothy Park which features playgrounds for kids along with picnicking areas for families to enjoy together.

Population: 3,668. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,822 (+4.2% change)
Males: 1,665 (45.4%), Females: 2,003 (54.6%)

Sussex County

Zip code: 19956

Demographics

Median resident age: 29.7 years
Median household income: $28,321
Median house value: $79,900

Population by Race

Races in Laurel:

White Non-Hispanic (54.9%)
Black (39.4%)
Two or more races (2.5%)
Hispanic (2.3%)
Other race (1.2%)
American Indian (0.7%)

Ancestries: English (14.5%), United States (12.3%), Irish (12.2%), German (8.0%), Italian (2.5%), West Indian (1.9%).

Elevation: 29 feet

Land area: 1.7 square miles

Map of Laurel, DE

Population by Education

Laurel, Delaware is a small town located in Sussex County. It has a population of approximately 4,500 people. The majority of the population is white (75%), followed by African American (20%) and Hispanic (4%). The median age of the town is 39 years old. Most of the residents are employed in retail or service industries, with many commuting to larger cities for work. There is also a large agricultural presence in the area, with many farmers and other agricultural workers living in Laurel. The town’s economy relies heavily on agriculture and tourism as well as small businesses like restaurants, shops and other local services. Education is well-represented in Laurel as there are two public elementary schools, one middle school and one high school within the town limits. The community is close-knit and residents enjoy participating in various festivals throughout the year such as the Annual Watermelon Festival and Christmas Parade. In addition to these events, there are also several recreational activities available including fishing, boating, swimming and golfing at nearby courses. People from all walks of life come together to make Laurel a vibrant place to live for its citizens.

For population 25 years and over in Laurel

High school or higher: 58.2%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
Unemployed: 7.6%
Mean travel time to work: 23.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Laurel town

Never married: 37.1%
Now married: 40.2%
Separated: 3.3%
Widowed: 9.9%
Divorced: 9.6%

5.0% Foreign born (4.7% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +237 (+6.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Laurel:

NANTICOKE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC (about 7 miles; SEAFORD, DE)
DEER’S HEAD CENTER (about 13 miles; SALISBURY, MD)
HEALTHSOUTH CHESAPEAKE REHAB HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; SALISBURY, MD)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Laurel:

SALISBURY-OCEAN CITY WICOMICO REGIONAL (about 17 miles; SALISBURY, MD; Abbreviation: SBY)
DOVER AFB (about 40 miles; DOVER, DE; Abbreviation: DOV)
NEW CASTLE COUNTY (about 77 miles; WILMINGTON, DE; Abbreviation: ILG)

Other public-use airports nearest to Laurel:

LAUREL (about 2 miles; LAUREL, DE; Abbreviation: N06)
BENNETT (about 11 miles; SALISBURY, MD; Abbreviation: 1N5)
SUSSEX COUNTY (about 18 miles; GEORGETOWN, DE; Abbreviation: GED)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Laurel:

SALISBURY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 14 miles; SALISBURY, MD; Full-time enrollment: 5,645)
DELAWARE TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE-OWENS (about 15 miles; GEORGETOWN, DE; Full-time enrollment: 2,053)
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND-EASTERN SHORE (about 26 miles; PRINCESS ANNE, MD; Full-time enrollment: 2,940)
DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 42 miles; Dover, DE; Full-time enrollment: 2,641)
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY (about 69 miles; ANNAPOLIS, MD; Full-time enrollment: 4,172)
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (about 70 miles; NEWARK, DE; Full-time enrollment: 17,786)
ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 73 miles; ARNOLD, MD; Full-time enrollment: 6,467)

Schools

Public high schools in Laurel:

LAUREL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 497; Location: 1133 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE; Grades: 08 – 12)
WESTERN SUSSEX ACADEMY (Students: 15; Location: 815 CENTRAL AVENUE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Laurel:

EPWORTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 327; Location: ROUTE 1 BOX 65 1/2; Grades: PK – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Laurel:

NORTH LAUREL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 506; Location: 300 WILSON STREET; Grades: 02 – 04)
LAUREL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL (Students: 350; Location: 801 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE; Grades: 05 – 06)
LAUREL MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 323; Location: 801 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE; Grades: 07 – 08)
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 317; Location: 499 WEST SIXTH STREET; Grades: PK – 01)

Libraries

Library in Laurel:

LAUREL PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $305,180; Location: 101 EAST FOURTH STREET; 38,284 books; 439 audio materials; 1,791 video materials; 86 serial subscriptions)