Slaughter Beach, Delaware History - City Information

Founded in 1681, nestled close by Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, filled with beautiful homes and beaches, is the small town of Slaughter Beach, Delaware. Incorporated in 1931, this tiny town has some interesting stories as to how it came to be "Slaughter Beach". One story told is that the town was named after William Slaughter, a local postmaster in the mid 1800's. The second story is that it's unique name came from the horseshoe crabs that wash up on the shore and die each year. The crabs come near to the shore, laying their eggs in the shallow waters. As the tide becomes low, the crabs are stranded and soon die, thus comes the name "Slaughter Beach". With this tale in mind, it is no wonder that the towns official symbol is none other than the horseshoe crab. This beach town was home to The Mispillion Lighthouse, the only wooden frame lighthouse still standing in Delaware. The lighthouse, established in 1831, with a 65 foot high tower, overlooked the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek. This renown monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the year of 2002, it was partially destroyed during a thunder storm when lightning struck it's rustic structure. Later on, the lighthouse was purchased by a private party and transported to a residence in the seafaring city of romantic Lewes. Slaughter Beach is also home to Milford Neck Wildlife Area. For all connoisseurs of bird watching, this is the place to go! It is estimated that 425,000 to 1,000,000 migrating shore birds come to the bay to feed and rebuild their energy reserves prior to their northward migration.. This beach is officially designated as a horseshoe crab sanctuary.

Nearby to Slaughter Beach is the renown Primehook National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was established in 1963 as a sanctuary for migrating birds and in the year 2000, the refuge expanded to 10,000 acres on the shore of Delaware Bay. The freshwater marshlands form a design of habitats for migratory birds of the Atlantic Flyway. An abundance of snow geese and ducks visit in the winter season and thousands of shore birds use the wetlands during the Spring and Summer.

For a more cultured community, Slaughter Beach is graced to have the lovely and historic city of Milford right next door for it's guests and residents alike. This quaint, amorous city beckons each visitor to come back time and time again, with it's small town coziness, festooned homes, inviting downtown with alluring coffee pubs, bakery, popular eateries, book store, excellent library, River Walk, Farmer's Market, Mispillion River and beautiful historic churches. On a warm summer day, one cannot resist to wile away the hours on the renown River Walk or browse upon all the bounty vendors bring in at the Farmer's Market. For a scrumptious pastry, hot cappuccino or steaming latte, Dolce Bakery and coffee shop is the place to go. For homemade cuisine that will warm your soul and pamper your palate, The Georgia House is a wonderful eatery to visit. Specializing in meals that will evoke memories of home cooked meals that your grandmother spoiled you with, their tantalizing country fried steak,mashed potatoes and gravy, delicious burgers, spicy pasta's, fresh seafood, homemade soups and plenteous bread basket are sure to wow every guest. If it is dining in a grandiose manner one desires, The Executive will give each guest a pampering and elegant dining experience. This eatery hosts a cozy bar, dance floor as well as live entertainment . The cuisine is superb with fresh seafood dishes, delectable Prime Rib, choice beefs, tantalizing chicken, home made soups, fresh salads and tempting desserts. For those who love to explore history, there are three historical places to visit. The Parson Thorne Mansion, Lydia Ann B. Cannon Museum and Milford Museum. Some of the historical treasures these places display are exhibits of early shipbuilding tools, model ships showing Milford's rich maritime past, silver collections of spoons, coins and many novelties. For those who love the outdoors, there is Abbott's Mill Nature Center where there is ample canoe trails, hiking and a lovely, serene 23 acre pond. Within less that 8 miles, there is the infamous Killen's Pond and Water Park. This lovely park hosts a 66 acre pond with boating and fishing, along with lush campgrounds, cozy cabins, and resort entertainment in a natural, serene setting.

Slaughter Beach is also near to the exquisite beach resort cities of Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. These two cities combined offer every nicety one can imagine to both Slaughter Beach residents and their guests. The shopping is bountiful with Tanger Outlets, (over 130 name brand shops with all purchases being tax free), boutiques in the downtown area and plenty of novelty shops located around the entire beach area. The resort cities offer an abundance of 5 star restaurants, excellent public Libraries, fantastic school districts, fitness centers, fish markets, cozy coffee pubs, elite golf courses, water park, award winning winery, museums, old lighthouses and of course all the wonders that beach life has to offer.

Whether one is looking for a place to visit for a summer vacation, a place to go fishing on a Sunday afternoon or a small town beach community to relocate to, Slaughter Beach has much to offer for people of every age.