Delaware

7 Delaware town names that will make you do a double-take

Published

9 months ago

March 30, 2025

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7 Delaware town names that will make you do a double-take

In Delaware, you don’t need to travel far to find a place with a name that raises an eyebrow or piques curiosity.

While some states boast straightforward town or city names like Springfield or Washington, Delaware’s map reads more like an eclectic short story collection. According to WorldAtlas.com, these seven uniquely named communities in Delaware, spread across the state’s three counties, often catch visitors by surprise and spark curiosity about their origins.

From Slaughter Beach to Pot-Nets, Delaware’s quirky town names tell tales of the First State’s rich history, each one a window into the region’s colonial past, maritime heritage and rural traditions.

Slaughter Beach, a coastal sanctuary

Perhaps the most striking example of an unusual name on the map is Slaughter Beach, a tiny coastal community of about 220 residents, along the Delaware Bay. Founded in 1681, the town’s name origins remain unclear; however, there are several theories on the town’s website.

The most straightforward theory speculates the name is connected to “Slaughter Neck,” an area located just southwest of the town. In colonial Delaware, “neck” commonly referred to elevated terrain between two boundaries. Another explanation points to a former postmaster named Slaughter. A more dramatic account suggests that the name refers to the springtime spawning of horseshoe crabs. When these crabs are stranded upside down and dying in the sun, they are said to resemble a ”slaughter” of crabs. A darker local legend tells of settlers ambushing Native American leaders during peace talks by asking them to gather around a cannon they claimed was their “god.”

Today, the town offers a peaceful retreat along the Delaware Bay. Known for its environmental conservation efforts, it serves as a sanctuary for horseshoe crabs.

Broadkill Beach’s Dutch roots and natural beauty

Just north of Slaughter Beach lies Broadkill Beach, whose name nods to its Dutch origins. Nestled along the Delaware Bay, the town offers picturesque waterfront views and easy access to the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, a popular spot for birdwatching and kayaking. The town comes alive during its Fourth of July festivities, drawing locals and visitors alike with fireworks and family-friendly events.

Corner Ketch is still a mystery

Tucked near the Pennsylvania-Delaware border, how Corner Ketch got its name is still a mystery. According to World Atlas, some believe the name comes from the French word cache, meaning “hiding place,” while others trace it to an old English term for a tavern. An unincorporated area of New Castle County, Corner Ketch offers few commercial attractions providing visitors a glimpse into the county’s quieter side.

Gumboro, formerly known for gum trees

Located near the Maryland border, Gumboro stays true to its agricultural roots. The town’s name may stem from the white gum trees once common in the area. History buffs can explore the West Woods Methodist Episcopal Church, which dates back to the 1800s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gumboro Community Center, housed in a former school, serves as a hub for local events and gatherings.

Bacons: A slice of railroad history

Bacons, a small outpost in Sussex County, earned its name not from breakfast meat but from its founding family. The town, also known as Bacons Switch, honors the Bacon family, early settlers who built a sawmill and basket-making business. Its railroad heritage lives on through its name, referencing the “switch point” where trains once connected nearby towns Laurel and Delmar.

Wyoming: East not west

Despite its Western-sounding name, Wyoming is firmly rooted in the Mid-Atlantic. In 1856, “Camden Station” or “West Camden” was renamed Wyoming to honor the Rev. John J. Pierce, a pastor who helped plan and later led a church in the town. Pierce was originally from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.

Wyoming later grew into an agricultural center, notably for cultivating apples and peaches. Today, the town hosts an annual Peach Festival, held downtown on the aptly named Railroad Avenue.

Pot-Nets: A nod to coastal traditions

Rounding out Delaware’s collection of distinctive place names is Pot-Nets. The unusual moniker comes from the pots and nets used to catch crabs and other shellfish in Indian River Bay. Today, the area is a waterfront community offering scenic views of the bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Visitors can enjoy boating, crabbing, and scenic strolls along Pot-Nets Point, a popular local spot also known as Lingos Point.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

Snow melting soon as Delaware warms after icy blast

Published

12 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Snow melting soon as Delaware warms after icy blast

Delaware may have seen its first snowfall of the season, but it won’t stick around for long.

Despite below freezing temperatures Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, it’s possible that by the weekend there won’t be a trace of snow.

Here’s what to know about this week’s weather and snow melt.

When will the snow melt away?

While Delaware will face freezing temperatures Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for a warmup starting on Dec. 17. Here’s the forecast:

New Castle County

Cold weather will continue this evening and into Dec. 16 with lows dropping into the teens. The county will hit 32 degrees on Dec. 16 before dropping to 22 that night. Temperatures start climbing into the low 40s with partly sunny skies on Dec. 17. Highs will hit 51 degrees on Dec. 18. If most of the snow hasn’t melted by that point, it should be gone after rain goes through the area during the overnight between Dec. 17 and Dec. 18. Highs will remain above freezing, hitting 44 on Dec. 18.

Kent County

Lows will drop into the teens overnight before climbing above freezing on Dec. 16. On Dec. 17, Kent County will see partly sunny skies with highs in the upper 40s. It will be mostly cloudy on Dec. 18 with highs hitting 55. There’s a 90% chance of rain during the overnight hours into Dec. 19. The 19th is looking mostly cloudy with highs reaching 47.

Sussex County

After lows hit 19 during the overnight tonight, the high for Dec. 16 will be 38 degrees with sunny skies. Any snow in the southern part of the state will vanish Dec. 17 and Dec 18. Both days will feature sunny skies with highs reaching the low 50s on Dec. 17 and almost hitting 60 on Dec. 18.

What is black ice?

Despite the warm up, overnight temperatures are expected to be below freezing. If you are driving at night, you’ll need to watch out for black ice.

According to The Weather Channel, black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on roads and is difficult to see. It’s generally found on bridges, overpasses and spots on the road shaded by trees or other objects.

If roadways are wet from rain, snow or fog and temperatures drop below 32 degrees, black ice can form on roadways.

If you hit black ice, you should do the following:

Keep your steering wheel straight.
Do not brake
Take your foot off the accelerator to reduce speed

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Delaware

Delayed openings in Delaware: What schools are starting late?

Published

24 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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Delayed openings in Delaware: What schools are starting late?

Potentially icy road conditions have led every public school in Delaware to announce delayed openings for Dec. 15.

Every public school is operating on some sort of delay, most of which are two hours. The Delaware Department of Transportation already sent out a warning about treacherous driving conditions. Whatever has not dried from the Dec. 14 snowstorm will freeze over as temperatures plunge into the 20s and winds kick up over night.

The following school districts have announced delays.

New Castle County

Red Clay- 2 hours
Christina- 2 hours
Brandywine- 2 hours
Colonial- 2 hours
Appoquinimink- 2 hours
New Castle County Vo-Tech- 2 hours

Kent County

Smyrna- 2 hours
Capital- 1 hour
Lake Forest- 2 hours
Polytech- 2 hours

Sussex County

Milford- 2 hours
Woodbridge- 2 hours
Cape Henlopen- 2 hours
Laurel- 2 hours
Seaford- 2 hours
Delmar- 90 minutes
Indian River- 2 hours
Sussex Tech- 2 hours

(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)

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Delaware

How much snow fell on Sunday? Totals for Philadelphia area

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

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How much snow fell on Sunday? Totals for Philadelphia area

PHILADELPHIA – Snow stacked up quickly across the Philadelphia region Sunday, with new reports showing nearly 9 inches in some suburbs and several inches on the ground in much of the city.

December Snow in Willow Grove, PA (Photo: Tyler Thrasher/FOX)

The latest Public Information Statement from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, issued at 10:36 a.m. Sunday, shows significantly higher snowfall totals than the early-morning reports. Many communities that were sitting at 1 to 3 inches before sunrise are now in the 5 to 8 inch range, especially north and west of Philadelphia.

5,500+ PECO homes, businesses without power Sunday as winter storm impacts region

In the city, an observation from Center City lists 3.6 inches of snow, while neighborhoods in the Northeast like Fox Chase, Bustleton and Somerton are reporting between 4 and 5 inches. An official reading at Philadelphia International Airport shows 1.3 inches, underscoring the sharp gradient from the airport to the rest of the city.

The heaviest bands have focused on parts of Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Lehigh, Carbon and Northampton counties, where multiple towns are now reporting 7 to 8 inches. South Jersey and northern Delaware have also seen a solid plowable snow, with widespread 4 to 7 inch totals in some communities.

These totals are based on reports collected through about 10:30 a.m. Sunday and may continue to rise where snow is still falling.

Snow totals in the Philadelphia area

Philadelphia

Fox Chase: 5.0″
Bustleton: 4.9″
Rockledge (city border): 4.9″
Somerton (1 SW): 4.3″
Center City/Philadelphia (observer): 3.6″
Philadelphia International Airport: 1.3″

December Snow in Willow Grove, PA (Photo: Tyler Thrasher/FOX)

Southeastern Pennsylvania

Chester County

East Nantmeal Twp: 8.8″
East Nottingham Twp: 8.5″
Malvern: 8.0″
Berwyn: 8.0″
Exton area: 7.9″
Atglen / West Sadsbury Twp: 7.8″
West Caln Twp: 7.5″
West Chester (2.4 SSE): 6.5″

Montgomery County

Blue Bell (2.3 NW): 8.7″
Near Worcester Twp: 8.5″
Skippack area: 8.0″
Harleysville / Salford Twp: 7.5″
Pennsburg area: 7.0″
New Hanover Twp: 7.0″
Pottstown area (including Stowe and NE Pottstown): 6.6″–7.3″
Norristown: 7.2″
Willow Grove / Jenkintown corridor: 6.0″–6.4″

Bucks County

Doylestown (3.4 SW): 8.0″
Hilltown Twp: 7.8″
Tinicum Twp area: 7.5″
Perkasie / Souderton / Trumbauersville: around 7.0″
Fricks: 7.0″
Newtown / Langhorne area: around 6.0″
Levittown: 5.0″
Croydon: 5.2″

Delaware County

Bethel Twp: 6.5″
Springfield: 6.0″
Upper Chichester: 5.5″
Aston: 4.8″
Morton: 4.9″
Lansdowne: 4.0″

Berks, Lehigh, Carbon and Northampton counties

East Nantmeal / Alburtis / Earl Twp / Lake Harmony / Lehigh Twp (Carbon): around 7.0″–8.0″
Coopersburg (Lehigh): 8.0″
Center Valley: 7.0″
Macungie (1 NW): 6.5″
Allentown: 5.6″
Bethlehem area: around 6.0″
Pen Argyl: 7.0″

New Jersey

Burlington County

Moorestown: 7.0″
Mount Laurel / Burlington: 5.8″
Medford Lakes: 4.8″
Mount Holly (NWS office): 3.6″

Camden and Gloucester counties

Haddon Township: 5.7″
Pennsauken: 5.7″
Pitman: 5.6″
Washington Twp (Gloucester): 5.5″
Monroe Twp (Gloucester): around 4.0″
Winslow Twp: 3.1″

Atlantic, Salem and Cumberland counties

Hammonton: 4.0″
Woodstown: 4.5″
Salem: 3.8″
Pennsville: 3.5″
Ventnor City: 2.5″
Atlantic City International Airport: 0.6″

Delaware

New Castle County

Bear: 6.8″
Hockessin: 6.0″
Wilmington (north): 5.4″
Newark area: 3.9″–4.6″
Middletown area: 3.8″
New Castle County Airport: 3.3″

Kent County

Smyrna / Clayton / Cheswold area: around 2.0″
Magnolia area: 1.4″

Winter Light Spectacular at Lehigh Valley Zoo canceled Sunday due to snow, cold temperatures

By the numbers:

Highest total so far: 8.8″ in East Nantmeal Township (Chester County)
Other standout totals: 8.7″ in Blue Bell (Montgomery County), 8.5″ in East Nottingham Township (Chester County), 8.0″ in Doylestown area, Coopersburg and parts of Carbon County
City of Philadelphia: generally 3″–5″ away from the airport, with around 3.6″ in Center City and up to 5.0″ in Fox Chase
Many suburbs: now in the 5″–8″ range, especially north and west of the city

What’s next:

Snow continues to impact travel across the region Sunday, with many neighborhood and secondary roads still snow-covered or slushy. Drivers should plan for reduced visibility, slick spots, and extended travel times, especially in areas that picked up more than 5 inches of snow.

The Source: This article is based on observed snowfall totals from the National Weather Service Mount Holly Public Information Statement.

WeatherPhiladelphia

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