Little Hell, Delaware

Unincorporated community in Delaware, United States

39°02′30″N 75°27′24″W / 39.04167°N 75.45667°W / 39.04167; -75.45667CountryUnited StatesStateDelawareCountyKentElevation

26 ft (8 m)Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)Area code302

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 / 39.04167; -75.45667. 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

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

^ "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.