Editing Laurel, Delaware

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Laurel, Delaware
| settlement_type    = [[Town (Delaware)|Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "Great Things Come Naturally"
| etymology          = Laurel bushes that grew alongside Broad Creek

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = LRWalls-SpringGarden, FrontExt.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = [[Spring Garden (Laurel, Delaware)|Spring Garden]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = LaurelDEseal.png
| image_map          = File:Sussex County Delaware Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Laurel Highlighted 1041310.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location of Laurel in Sussex County, Delaware.
| pushpin_map        = Delaware#USA
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_label      = Laurel
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Delaware

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Delaware}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Delaware|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{flagicon image|Flag of Sussex County, Delaware.gif}} [[Sussex County, Delaware|Sussex]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_10.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 7.40
| area_land_km2      = 7.16
| area_water_km2     = 0.24
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.86
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.77
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.09

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 3865
| population_density_km2 = 539.47
| population_density_sq_mi = 1397.32
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 26
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|33|23|N|75|34|17|W|region:US-DE_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 19956
| area_code          = [[Area code 302|302]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 10-41310
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 214203<ref>{{cite gnis|214203|Laurel}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.townoflaurel.net/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Laurel''' is a town in [[Sussex County, Delaware]], United States. The population was 3,865 at the time of the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Census Bureau Profile: Laurel Town, Delaware |url=https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US1041310 |url-status=live |access-date=21 March 2025 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Laurel is part of the [[Salisbury metropolitan area|Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It once hosted the Laurel Blue Hens of the [[Eastern Shore Baseball League]].

==History==
The site of the town of Laurel was a [[Nanticoke people|Nanticoke Indian]] settlement known as Broad Creek Town during most of the eighteenth century.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} Its Nanticoke name is unknown. The Indian settlement was created on tracts known as Bachelor's Delight and Greenland in 1711 when the government of [[Maryland]], who originally claimed this part of Delaware, set aside land for the Nanticoke Indians. Nearly all the Indian settlers left within 50 years, relocating to western [[Pennsylvania]].{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} The present town was laid out along the Broad Creek in the 1790s and was named for the laurel bushes that grew alongside the creek.<ref name=fwp>{{cite book |author=Federal Writers' Project |author-link=Federal Writers' Project |title=The ocean highway: New Brunswick, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida|url=https://archive.org/stream/oceanhighwaynewb00federich/oceanhighwaynewb00federich_djvu.txt |access-date=April 10, 2009 | year=1938 |publisher=Modern Age Books |location=New York City|series=American Guide Series|isbn=9780403022144 }}</ref>

On March 29, 1929, the town was merged with the neighboring town of [[North Laurel, Delaware|North Laurel]] which comprised most of the current town north of Broad Creek (then known as Laurel River).<ref>{{cite news|title=North Laurel Votes In Favor Of Combine|agency=''The News Journal''(Wilmington, Delaware)|date= March 30, 1929}}</ref> This merger was not properly reported to the [[United States Census Bureau]], which resulted in the North Laurel's population not being included with the population of Laurel in the [[1930 United States Census]]. As such, the US Census Bureau did not immediately make a change to the 1930 population statistics once the error was discovered, however it acknowledged in 1940 that the correct population for Laurel in 1930 was 2,542.<ref>https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

West Laurel is one of Delaware's oldest free black communities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} According to the Delaware Historical Society, West Laurel dates back to the 1790s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} At some point in the 1870s Captain Theodore Marsh settled in West Laurel, brought property, broke the property down into plots and sold them to his shipmates.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} The graveyard for New Zion United Methodist church in West Laurel, which has been around since the early 1800s is the resting place of Marsh and his shipmates.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}

==Geography==
Laurel is located on the [[Atlantic Coastal Plain]] in southwestern Delaware at {{coord|38|33|23|N|75|34|17|W|type:city}} (38.5565041, −75.5713141).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|1.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (4.07%) is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 970
|1870= 1080
|1880= 1022
|1890= 2388
|1900= 1825
|1910= 2166
|1920= 2253
|1930= 2542
|1940= 2884
|1950= 2700
|1960= 2709
|1970= 2408
|1980= 3052
|1990= 3226
|2000= 3668
|2010= 3708
|2020= 3865
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

957 families, 1,389 households, 3,668 people reside in the town. The population density was {{convert|2,215.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,561 housing units at an average density of {{convert|943.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 55.56% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 39.42% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.35% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.95% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.20% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.48% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.32% of the population.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

There were 1,389 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 26.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 33.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,321, and the median income for a family was $30,329. Males had a median income of $28,006 versus $18,550 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,594. About 18.7% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
Sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Sussex County, Delaware|National Register of Historic Places]] include:<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
{{colbegin}}
* [[Chipman Potato House]]
* [[Chipman's Mill]]
* [[Collins Potato House]]
* [[Hearn Potato House]]
* [[E. L. Hitch Potato House]]
* [[Laurel Historic District]]
* [[Moore Potato House]]
* [[Old Christ Church (Laurel, Delaware)|Old Christ Church]]
* [[Phillips Potato House]]
* [[Ralph Potato House]]
* [[Rider Potato House]]
* [[Ross Point School]]
* [[Spring Garden (Laurel, Delaware)|Spring Garden]]
* [[Stanley Potato House]]
* [[Wright Potato House]]
{{colend}}

===Library===
Laurel Public Library was established in 1909. A new library opened in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | title = History | publisher = Laurel Public Library | url = https://laurel.lib.de.us/history/ | accessdate = March 19, 2023}}</ref>

== Sports ==
The District 3 All-Stars from Laurel won the senior [[Little League Softball World Series]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110814/SPORTS11/108140368/Laurel-softball-top-world?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812020011/http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110814/SPORTS11/108140368/Laurel-softball-top-world?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Laurel Blue Hens]] were a member of the minor league [[Eastern Shore League]] in 1922 and 1923, playing at League Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1417|title=League Park in Laurel, DE minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

== Education ==
It is within the [[Laurel School District (Delaware)|Laurel School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st10_de/schooldistrict_maps/c10005_sussex/DC20SD_C10005.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sussex County, DE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 15, 2021}}</ref> [[Laurel High School (Delaware)|Laurel High School]] is the local high school.

==Media==
* ''Laurel Star'', a weekly local newspaper.
* ''Leader and State Register'', a weekly local newspaper.
* [[WBOC-TV]] (Channel 16, CBS Affiliate) has its broadcast tower in Laurel.
* [[WBOC-DT2|FOX 21]] (Channel 21, FOX Affiliate) has its broadcast tower in Laurel.
* [[WKDB]] (95.3FM known as "Studio 95.3")

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:2022-07-08 08 43 29 View north along U.S. Route 13 (Sussex Highway) just south of U.S. Route 9 (County Seat Highway) in Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware.jpg|thumb|US 13 northbound at US 9 in Laurel]]

Roads are the primary means of travel to and from Laurel. [[U.S. Route 13 in Delaware|U.S. Route 13]] (Sussex Highway) is the most significant highway serving the town, connecting northwards towards [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]] and southward to [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]]. [[U.S. Route 9 in Delaware|U.S. Route 9]] also serves Laurel, heading northeastward from its terminus at US 13 toward [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]] along County Seat Highway. [[Delaware Route 24]] is the third numbered route to serve the town, traversing the region on an east–west alignment through the center of the town. [[DART First State]] operates the Route 212 bus that connects Laurel with [[Delmar, Delaware|Delmar]] and [[Georgetown, Delaware|Georgetown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dartfirststate.com/information/routes/index.shtml|title=Routes and Schedules|publisher=DART First State|access-date=August 16, 2013}}</ref>  The [[Delmarva Central Railroad]]'s Delmarva Subdivision line passes north–south through Laurel.<ref name=dcr>{{cite web|title=Delmarva Central Railroad|date=November 8, 2016 |publisher=Carload Express|url=http://carloadexpress.com/railroads/delmarva-central-railroad/|access-date=March 27, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Lover's Lane, up the Lake, Laurel, Del. (12660276273).jpg|thumb|1907 postcard showing Laurel in the [[Miami University]] Bowden [[Postcard]] Collection]]

==Notable people==

*[[Richard H. Ellis]], General, United States Air Force
*[[Mark Briscoe]], [[Professional wrestling|Professional wrestler]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/m/mark-briscoe/|title=Mark Briscoe|publisher=Black Pants, Inc.|first1=David|last1=Buckler}}</ref>
*[[Jay Briscoe]], [[Professional wrestling|Professional wrestler]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/jay-briscoe/|title=Jay Briscoe|publisher=Black Pants, Inc.|first1=David|last1=Buckler}}</ref>
*[[Elbert N. Carvel|Bert Carvel]], former Governor of [[Delaware]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/feb/carvel020905.html|title=In Memoriam Elbert N. Carvel|website=www1.udel.edu|access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>
*[[John Collins (governor)|John Collins]], former governor of Delaware (1821–1825) 
*[[William B. Cooper (Delaware politician)|William B. Cooper]], former governor of [[Delaware]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u9StYwbI_F8C&q=william+cooper+delaware+%22april+27%2C+1849%22&pg=PA109|title = Encyclopedia of Delaware|isbn = 9780403096121|last1 = Capace|first1 = Nancy|date = January 2001}}</ref>
*[[Timothy Dukes]], Republican member of the [[Delaware House of Representatives]]
*[[Carlton Elliott]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] player<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElliCa20.htm|title=Carl Elliott Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Alex Ellis (American football)|Alex Ellis]], current [[National Football League|NFL]] player<ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Ellis, TE for the New Orleans Saints|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/alexellis/2556737/profile|website=www.nfl.com|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Dallas Marvil]], All-American football player, 1931<ref>{{cite news|title=This Dal Marvil of N. U. May Be Fat, but Look Out|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune |author=Charles Bartlett|date=October 7, 1931|page=28|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/181227817}}</ref>
*[[Joshua H. Marvil]], former governor of [[Delaware]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://classic.nga.org/cms/joshua-h-marvil|title=Joshua Hopkins Marvil|website=www.nga.org|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Nathaniel Mitchell]], former governor of [[Delaware]] (1805–1808), Member of the [[Continental Congress]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sussexcountyonline.com/towns/laurel/mitchell.html|title=Nathaniel Mitchell, Laurel &ndash; Sussex County Online, Delaware|website=www.sussexcountyonline.com|access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Ron Waller]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] player and coach<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/delawareonline/obituary.aspx?n=ron-waller&pid=191137361&fhid=7856|title=Ron Waller Obituary|date=December 17, 2018|work=Delaware Online|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references group="Town of Laurel Website http://www.townoflaurel.net/index.cfm?ref=20100" />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Laurel (Delaware)}}
*{{Official website|http://www.townoflaurel.net/}}
*[http://www.laurelchamber.com/ Laurel Chamber of Commerce]

{{Sussex County, Delaware}}
{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Laurel, Delaware| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Sussex County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Towns in Delaware]]
[[Category:Salisbury metropolitan area]]