Census Data for Dewey Beach
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Dewey Beach a population of 401 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Dewey Beach a population of 341 people.
The town of Dewey Beach is located in Sussex County. The 2010 Census gave Sussex County; a population of 197,145 people. This means that Dewey Beach had 0.17% of the county's total population, making it Sussex's 22nd most populous community.
At the same time, Delaware had a population of 897,934 people, meaning that Dewey Beach had 0.04% of the total population of Delaware - making it the state's 43rd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Dewey Beach has a total area of 0.33 square miles [0.8 km²].
Sussex County has a land area of 936 square miles [2,424.4 km²]. At 0.33 square miles [0.8 km²], Dewey Beach has 0.04% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a town like Dewey Beach, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the town.
- Things like population, area and housing for Dewey Beach reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Dewey Beach might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 38° 41' 44" (or 38.7°)
- Lon: -75° 4' 30" (or -75.08°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Sussex County ...
The community of Dewey Beach is located in Sussex County<3>.
The county had a population of 197,145 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 341 people, Dewey Beach represented 0.17% of the county's total.
In addition, where the town of Dewey Beach has a population density of 1,039 people per square mile [401.4 people/km²], Sussex County averages 210.6 people per square mile [81.3 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Sussex County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Dewey Beach, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Dewey Beach. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Dewey Beach or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Dewey Beach, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Dewey Beach.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 38.695786° (or 38°41'44" N)
- Lon: -75.075198° (or -75°4'30" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 38.696075° (or 38°41'45" N)
- Lon: -75.076519° (or -75°4'35" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 390.4 feet to the east<4> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2390147) to Dewey Beach. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Dewey Beach. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 38.695815° (or 38°41'44" N)
- Lon: -75.075161° (or -75°4'30" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 14.92 feet to the southwest<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Dewey Beach. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Dewey Beach.
Miscellaneous Information for Dewey Beach ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Sussex County or the town of Dewey Beach:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 10 (Delaware)
- County Code: 005 (Sussex County)
- Place Code: 20900 (Dewey Beach)
- State & County Code: 10/005 (Delaware / Sussex County)
- State & Place Code: 10/20900 (Delaware / Dewey Beach)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Dewey Beach is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #5 (the South Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Dewey Beach.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Dewey Beach: www.townofdeweybeach.com/
The official website for Sussex County: www.sussexcounty.net/
The official website for State of Delaware: https://delaware.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | If you're interested in how the shape of Delaware's counties, including Sussex, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <4> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 254 degrees and a distance of 390.4 feet. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 135 degrees and a distance of 14.92 feet. |