Lewes, Delaware
Lewes is a city of 3,505 people in Sussex County, Delaware, founded in June 3, 1631.
Why visit Lewes
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 23 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cape Henlopen Beacon, Cape Henlopen Light, Col. David Hall House and Coleman House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 30°F.
Weather in Lewes
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lewes
Lewes is an incorporated city on the Delaware Bay in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 3,303. Along with neighboring Rehoboth Beach, Lewes is one of the principal cities of Delaware's rapidly growing Cape Region. The city lies within the Salisbury, Maryland–Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Lewes, Delaware (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Cape Henlopen Beacon
Lighthouse · 3.5 mi
Lighthouse in Delaware, United States
Cape Henlopen Light
Lighthouse · 3.2 mi
Lighthouse in Delaware, United States
Delaware Breakwater East End Light
Lighthouse · 2.7 mi
Lighthouse in Delaware, United States
Delaware Breakwater Range Front Light
Lighthouse · 1.2 mi
Lighthouse in Delaware, United States
Delaware Breakwater Range Rear Light
Lighthouse · 1.6 mi
Lighthouse in Delaware, United States
Harbor of Refuge Light
Lighthouse · 3.7 mi
Lighthouse in Delaware, United States
Museums and landmarks25
Col. David Hall House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Lewes, Delaware, NRHP-listed
Coleman House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
NRHP-listed in Sussex County
Delaware Breakwater
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Breakwater in Sussex County, United States of America
Fisher Homestead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic house in Delaware, United States
Fisher's Paradise
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Delaware, United States
Fort Miles
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
US Army fort near Lewes, Delaware (1942–1991)
Lewes Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Delaware, United States
National Harbor of Refuge and Delaware Breakwater Harbor Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic district in Delaware, United States
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Norwood House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic house in Delaware, United States
Pagan Creek Dike
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Delaware causeway
Thomas Maull House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Lewes, Delaware, USA
13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes23
The Pig and the Publican
Diner · American · 0.4 mi
Last seating 45 min. before close
516 East Savannah Road, Lewes
Mo,Su off; Tu-Sa 12:00-21:00
Big Oyster Brewery
Restaurant · 1.3 mi
Brewery restaurant
1007 Kings Highway, Lewes
Mo-Th 11:30-21:00; Fr 11:30-21:30; Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:00-21:30
Touch of Italy
Restaurant · Italian · 0.4 mi
101 Second Street, Lewes
Mo-Th,Su 10:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-22:00
11 more on the map.
History
Lewes was the site of the first European settlement in Delaware, a whaling and trading post that Dutch settlers founded on June 3, 1631, and named Zwaanendael (Swan Valley). The colony had a short existence, as a local tribe of Lenape Indians killed all 32 settlers in 1632.
The area remained rather neglected by the Dutch until, under the threat of annexation from the Colony of Maryland, the city of Amsterdam made a grant of land at the Hoernkills (the area around Cape Henlopen, near the current town of Lewes) to a group of Mennonites for settlement in 1662. A total of 35 men were to be included in the settlement, led by a Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy of Zierikzee and funded by a sizable loan from the city to get them established. 41 persons came with Plockhoy from the Netherlands to the Hoernkill on board the Dutch ship the Sint Jacob, one of whom was Otto Wolgast from the town of Wolgast, Pomerania. The settlement was established in 1663, and lasted until the very next year; in 1664, the English captured New Netherland from the Dutch, and they ordered the settlement razed with reports indicating that "not even a nail" was left there.
From the History section of Lewes, Delaware on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Churches and places of worship2
Lewes Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Shopping11
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries9
University of Delaware - College of Earth, Ocean and Environment
School · 1.1 mi
700 Pilottown Road, Lewes
Healthcare1
Map of Lewes
96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 30°F | 3.4 in | 2.0 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 32°F | 3.2 in | 6.5 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 38°F | 4.2 in | 1.0 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 46°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 75°F | 56°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 66°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 71°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 69°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 64°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 52°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 42°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 35°F | 4.2 in | 1.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lewes (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Sussex County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-05-29: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-03-16: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2012-11-16: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Delaware Coastal Airport (GED) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 13 miles away.
- Georgetown 15 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
- Dagsboro 17 mi south, about 27 min by car
- Milford 18 mi northwest, about 28 min by car
- Frankford 18 mi south, about 30 min by car
- Greenwood 24 mi west, about 39 min by car
- Frederica 24 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Harrington 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Bridgeville 25 mi west, about 40 min by car
- Ocean Pines 27 mi south, about 44 min by car
- Laurel 27 mi southwest, about 44 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lewes Delaware, Tim Kiser ( w:User:Malepheasant ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Lewes Outer Harbor, Smallbones, Public domain
- Lewes Inner Harbor, Smallbones, Public domain
- Lewes Presbyterian Church Lewes DE Oct 11, Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Thomas Maull House, 542 Pilot Town Road, Lewes (Sussex County, Delaware), Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard, Photographer, Public domain
- 624 Pilotown Rd Lewes DE, Smallbones, CC0
- St Peters Episc Lewes DE, Smallbones, CC0
- Colonel David Hall House, 107 Kings Highway, Lewes (Sussex County, Delaware), Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard, Photographer, Public domain
- Lightship Overfalls DE1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Norwood House Front View from Road, Linda Roy Walls, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 410 Pilot Town Rd Lewes DE, Smallbones, CC0
- Coleman House, 422 Kings Highway, Lewes (Sussex County, Delaware), W. Gould White, Photographer, Public domain
- Zwaanendael Club Lewes DE 1898, Smallbones, CC0
- Harbor of Refuge lighthouse USACE 2011-12-14, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified, Public domain
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