Bethany Beach

Bethany Beach is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 943.[1]

Bethany Beach, together with the towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island, comprises Delaware's beach resort area and is Sussex County's most densely-populated and fastest-growing area.

Bethany Beach and South Bethany are popularly known as "The Quiet Resorts". This is in contradistinction to the wild atmosphere of Dewey Beach and the cosmopolitan bustle of Rehoboth Beach. Assisting Bethany Beach's reputation as a "quiet" place is the presence of Delaware Seashore State Park immediately to the north of the town, a six mile-long barrier island providing a substantial buffer from Dewey Beach's noise. Serving as another buffer is a large unincorporated area of private condominiums and multi- million-dollar beach homes between the park and the town.

Despite its small size, Bethany Beach boasts the usual attractions of a summer seaside resort, including a short boardwalk, a broad, sandy beach, motels, restaurants, and vacation homes. Because Bethany Beach does not sit on a barrier island, residential areas continue some distance to the west of the town's limits.

Like its neighbors Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach to the north and Ocean City to the south, Bethany Beach was founded by Disciples of Christ evangelists as a site for summer camp meetings for the faithful. It was founded by six Pittsburgh businessmen: W. R. Errett, a lawyer, John M. Addy, a plumber, W.S. Kidd, a steel manufacturer, R.S. Latimer, a tea merchant, Dr. T. E. Cramblet and W.A. Dinker.

The town celebrated its 100th anniversary on July 4, 2001.