Delaware’s Smallest Town Has 73 Residents And A Smelly Former Name
Delaware’s Smallest Town Has 73 Residents And A Smelly Former Name
Hartly, Delaware is the smallest town in the first state according to the 2020 census with only 73 residents.
In the 2010 census there were 74, so Hartly has remained pretty consistent and tight knit.
The town has an actual total area of 0.1 miles square miles.
So what’s in Hartly?
According to Wikipedia “Hartly is located at the intersection of Delaware Route 11 and Delaware Route 44. The town is home to approximately 31 residences, the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company, a post office, Hartly Elementary School, two daycares, Hartly Feed and Hardware, and a Family Dollar store. There are several vacant and abandoned buildings along with empty lots in Hartly.”
The town has a very unique and interesting history, although some of it is hard to find.
The town was the former dwelling of the Nanticoke tribe.
The town in Kent County used to have the amazing name of “Butterpot” and dates all the way back to 1734.
The original town nickname of “Butterpot” comes from a legend about a grandmother hiding her freshly churned butter from Native visitors.
She hid the butter below a bridge and forgot about the hiding spot. The Natives passed by and the butter was left to spoil and stunk up the entire town.
Thus the town was known as “Butterpot.”
Hartly was not always a part of Delaware however.
“We have been a part of the State of Virginia under the Virginia Company, Maryland under Cecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, Pennsylvania under the rule of William Penn, and the State of Delaware. It is great to know that we have survived and had many men and women who have served our community both in War and Peace.” (Delaware.gov)
I have been told that the quaint little town of Hartly is well known for the Christmas celebrations and looking around Google it looks like a spot totally worth checking out around the holidays.
Delaware’s Smallest Town Has 73 Residents And A Smelly Former Name
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