SUSSEX, the most southern county of the state of Delaware, in the United States, bounded on the N. by Kent county, Delaware; NE. by Delaware Bay; E. by the Atlantic Ocean ; S. by Worcester county, Maryland; SW. by Somerset county, Mary land; W. by Dorchester county, 'Maryland, and NW. by Carolina county, Maryland. Greatest length from the Maryland line to the northern bend of Mispillion creek, 36 miles. The utmost breadth from west to east very nearly equals the length, but the area being about 910 square miles, the mean breadth will be 26 miles. This county lies between lat. 38° 27', and 38° 58' N.; and between long. 1° 14' and i° 58' E. from W.C.
Though the surface of this county is level, and in part marshy, it is nevertheless a table land, from which flow southwardly the extreme sources of Po comoke river; southwestwardly, those of Nantikoke river; eastwardly,Indian river, and other confluents of Rehoboth bay; and Broad Hill, Cedar, Mispil lion, and some other creeks flowing northeastward ly into Delaware bay.
The surface being so nearly a plain admits of little variety. The soil, if taken generally, is of mid
dling quality. Population in 1820, 24,057.
By the post office list of 1831, beside Georgetown, the county seat, there were post offices at Bridge ville, Cannon's Ferry, Concord, Dagsborough, Lau rel, Lewis, Millsborough, Milton, and Seaford.
Georgetown, the seat of justice, is situated near the centre of the county, 40 miles a little E. of S. from Dover, the seat of government of the state of Delaware, and by post road, 122 miles a little S. of E. from Washington City. N. lat. 40', long. E. from W. C. 1° 34'.
Dagsborough is on Pepper Creek branch of Reho both bay, 14 miles SE. from Georgetown. Bridge town is situated on a small branch of Nantikoke river, and in the northwestern part of the county.
Lewistown, or Lewis, is situated on the extreme southern arch of Delaware bay, W. from Cape Henlopen. The Delaware break-water has given additional importance to Sussex county as a part of the maritime coast of the United States.