Lewes calls itself "The First Town in The First State," and it earns that title — Dutch settlers founded the city on Delaware Bay back in 1631, making it the oldest European settlement in Delaware. That deep history is still visible today in the well-preserved downtown storefronts and brick-lined streets that give this small coastal city its distinctive character. Sitting alongside neighboring Rehoboth Beach, Lewes anchors Delaware's Cape Region and draws residents who want access to the shore without the intensity of a resort town.
The city spans just six square miles, so most of daily life stays close and walkable. Cape Henlopen State Park sits right at the eastern edge, offering trails and beaches that residents enjoy well beyond the summer season. Delaware's no-sales-tax policy adds a practical incentive for those doing regular shopping in the area.
