Long before it was known for ferries and fiber production, the land now called Seaford, Delaware developed around the Nanticoke River’s slow, winding path. Its location made it a natural gathering point—first for Native communities, then for colonial traders who recognized the waterway’s potential. By the early 1800s, Seaford had grown into a working river town, shaped by sawmills, small ports, and steady agriculture. Later, the DuPont Company brought national attention with the invention of nylon and the construction of a major plant that would redefine the area’s economy. Seaford was then crowned Nylon Capital of the World. With a current population of just over 8,700, the city continues to evolve, though pieces of its layered past remain visible in everything from its restored train station to the art that lines the riverwalk.

Recreation here leans toward the kind that lets you take your time. The Nanticoke Riverwalk traces the water’s edge with stretches of shaded trail, benches, and occasional interpretive signs. Along the path, visitors pass public art projects and remnants of old wharves, quietly absorbed into the shoreline. Not far from there, Hooper’s Landing Golf Course draws local golfers with its 18-hole layout that cuts across ponds, pines, and a few well-placed sand traps. At Soroptimist Park, families and visitors walk trails that wind through pollinator gardens and into pockets of green that attract butterflies and migrating birds.

What you’ll also find here is a local business scene that reflects personality over polish. Gallery 107 brings together artists from across western Sussex County and beyond, filling a former downtown storefront with rotating exhibits, small-batch craft shows, and hands-on art classes for kids and adults. Daily Deals offers an ever-changing mix of discounted household goods, tools, toys, and electronics in a fast-paced, treasure-hunt atmosphere. Inventory is restocked frequently, with prices dropping throughout the week. Shoppers line up early for new arrivals, making it a favorite among bargain hunters looking for major markdowns on brand-name products without the retail markup.

Seaford’s food scene isn’t sprawling, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in character. Bon Appetit has served escargot, filet au poivre, and chocolate mousse from its white tablecloth dining room for decades. The staff still handwrites the daily specials, and the bread comes out warm with real butter. Inside the Dutch Market, Smith’s Café continues to draw a regular crowd with its stick-to-your-ribs breakfasts and homestyle lunches. Their scrapple, though polarizing, is a point of pride. 

Community events carry a strong local signature here. The Seaford Riverfest pulls people downtown with canoe races on the Nanticoke, live music, and a classic car show that takes over Market Street. It’s part street festival, part family reunion. Just outside town, the Nanticoke Indian Powwow draws dancers and drummers from across the region for a two-day event that highlights the heritage of one of Delaware’s oldest tribal communities.

For a deeper look into Seaford’s past, the Governor Ross Mansion offers a walk-through of a preserved Italianate estate complete with outbuildings and exhibits about Civil War-era life. The Seaford Museum, housed in the old post office, offers a different angle—one focused on industry, railroads, and nylon. Among its most unique pieces is a large-scale replica of the DuPont plant, where generations of residents worked in shifts around the clock. The nearby Seaford Train Station has been restored with care and now serves as a venue for rotating exhibits and small events. It's one of the few remaining stations of its kind still standing in the state.

Seaford’s mix of historic properties and riverfront neighborhoods makes outdoor living space a practical extension of the home. In older sections of town, porches with aging railings and sagging floorboards often need more than cosmetic upgrades. 

That’s where Delwood Construction can help. Whether it’s enclosing an existing porch or designing a custom deck from the ground up, our team builds with purpose, craftsmanship, and a clear understanding of what Seaford homes need to last. Contact us to start building your space the right way—blending comfort, quality, and outdoor living that’s made to fit.