Little Hell, Delaware | |
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  Little Hell, Delaware Location within the state of Delaware  Little Hell, Delaware Little Hell, Delaware (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 39°02′30″N 75°27′24″W / 39.04167°N 75.45667°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Delaware |
| County | Kent |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 302 |
Little Hell is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Delaware, United States. Its elevation is 26 ft (7.9 m) and its position 39°02′30″N 75°27′24″W / 39.04167°N 75.45667°W. It is west of Bowers Beach at the intersection of Delaware Route 1 and Bowers Beach Road, and borders the unincorporated community of Little Heaven.[1]
History[edit]
While Little Heaven was built for the Irish workers of Jehu Reed, Little Hell was built for the African-American workers at the fruit plantation of Jonathan Willis.[2] The two plantations shared the same meadow, separated by a brook, a branch of Murderkill Neck, that was nicknamed "The River Styx" in reference to Styx from Greek mythology.[3][4] Newspaper reports said the area got its name when a group of 19th Century excursionists were attacked while traveling along the road from Dover to Bowers Beach.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Kent, Sussex Study Reveals More Oddly Named Spots". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). October 30, 1935.
- ^ "Your Delaware and Mine". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). November 14, 1942.
- ^ "A story about people who live between Heaven and Hell". The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). June 17, 1982.
- ^ "Little Heaven not in sticks; it's on Styx". The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). January 13, 1984.
- ^ "Towns To Give Up Profane Titles". The Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). July 13, 1914.
Municipalities and communities of Kent County, Delaware, United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |