Mark on the Shore

Georgetown, DE

Mark’s Score 8.2

Up until a few years ago, I had never even heard of Georgetown, Delaware. I became aware of it when I drove through it on my way to Lewes. In my first encounter I did notice, and appreciate, the beauty of “The Circle.” At one point there was a lovely old hotel in the Circle with a nice restaurant, but that has since closed. As for the rest of the town, it didn’t seem to have much going for it, and I never gave it a second thought as I passed through it many times on the way to the beaches. But my blog is about discovery and investigation. So, I decided to spend a little time learning about and exploring Georgetown.

Georgetown was settled relatively late, for this region. In fact, it is one of the earliest planned towns of the Federalist Era. Up until 1791, the seat of Sussex County was Lewes. But Lewes was inconvenient for people living in western Sussex Country so the Delaware General Assembly, in 1791, voted to create a new town on land donated by George Mitchell. The new town was laid out around a circular public square that was simply called “The Circle.” However, it would be another 78 years before the town was officially incorporated in 1869.

As the designated county seat, the county administrative offices, the Superior Court of Delaware, and the Court of Chancery were all built around The Circle in an impressive display of neo-classical and Federalist architectural styles. Delaware is unique in the United States in that its constitution retained a Court of Chancery, separate from the Superior Court system. The Chancery Court system replicates the Chancery Courts of England, which were developed in the Middle Ages. Chancery Courts serve a different purpose than the law courts. Law courts enforce the law. Chancery Courts are courts of equity, focusing on restitution. They do not have juries. Cases are decided by chancellors who specialize in equity law. Consequently, Delaware’s Courts of Chancery are at the center of the U.S. corporate legal system.

Now that I have spent some time exploring Georgetown, I think I can truthfully say that beyond The Circle, there isn’t very much to attract a tourist. There is a craft brewer, there are a couple of museums, and the typical list of fast-food restaurants out on the highway, in short, a typical American small town.

However, due to the federalist and neo-classical gems surrounding it, the Circle is still worth a stop. There is plenty of parking around the Circle, so it is convenient to stop and spend a few minutes walking around the square. The Circle itself is beautifully manicured and contains a lovely fountain. But its real charm are the impressive historic law courts and civic buildings that surround the square. And just off the Circle on S Bedford Street you will find the old County Courthouse built in 1793 in the Georgian style.

Georgetown would not be on anyone’s list of top tourist destinations. But that does not mean it is not worth at least a quick visit. Georgetown is one of the American Republic’s first planned towns, making it historically significant, and the impressive collection of public buildings around The Circle warrant taking at least a few minutes to explore.

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