Zwaanendael Colony Ghost Town
Sussex County, Delaware38.7750, -75.1394
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 0.3 miLewes, DE
- Mild months
- Mar–Nov9 of 12
- Next ghost town
- 14 miNew Market
Zwaanendael Colony is a former settlement in Sussex County, Delaware, listed among the ghost towns of Delaware. Records put its founding in 1631 and its end in 1632.
On the map
- Land trust
- Private or unlisted
Star: Zwaanendael Colony. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Lewes, DE, about 0.3 miles northwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Vineland, NJ, 48 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- New Market14 mi west
- South Cape May15 mi northeast
- Banning20 mi west
- Owens Station21 mi west
- Saint Johnstown24 mi west
- North Laurel27 mi southwest
- Woodland30 mi southwest
- Sinepuxent32 mi south
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Otis H. Smith City Dock, Mary E. Vessels Memorial Park. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run March to November, judging by NOAA normals from Lewes. July brings 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from December to March.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Lewes station (USC00075320), 1.2 miles away. About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Sussex County, Delaware |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38.77500, -75.13940 |
| Founded | 1631 |
| Abandoned | 1632 |
| Also known as | Zwaanendael, Swaanendael |
| Sources | Wikidata Q2615307 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Zwaanendael Colony ghost town?
In Sussex County, Delaware, at 38.7750, -75.1394. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Lewes, DE, about 0.3 miles northwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Vineland, NJ, 48 miles away.
Can you visit Zwaanendael Colony?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road. Another parcel starts within a quarter mile: Otis H. Smith City Dock, Mary E. Vessels Memorial Park. Ruins often spread across more than one owner.
When is the best time to visit Zwaanendael Colony?
Mild months here run March to November, judging by NOAA normals from Lewes. July brings 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from December to March.
Are there other ghost towns near Zwaanendael Colony?
Yes. New Market (14 mi), South Cape May (15 mi), Banning (20 mi), Owens Station (21 mi).
