Ocean View, Delaware, is a coastal town in Sussex County with a year-round population of about 3,000 residents. The town was incorporated on April 13, 1889, though its history reaches back to the colonial era. The land was originally part of a 500-acre tract known as Middlesex, granted under the authority of Lord Baltimore and later passed through several families. In the early 1800s, W.S. Hall opened a general store on his farm near White’s Creek, and the settlement that formed around it became known as Hall’s Store. After the War Between the States, the name Ocean View was adopted as nearby beaches gained attention for recreation, and late nineteenth-century accounts note that the Atlantic Ocean could be seen from second-story homes. In 1923, Cecile Long Steele raised the first commercial flock of broiler chickens here, marking the birthplace of Delaware’s largest agricultural industry.

Historic preservation remains visible through several maintained sites. The Historic Village in Ocean View includes the 1860 Tunnell-West House, the original 1889 Post Office, a replica of Cecile Steele’s 1923 chicken house, and the Coastal Towns Museum. These buildings display donated artifacts, photographs, and exhibits documenting agriculture, maritime trade, and everyday life across generations. Hall’s Store, reconstructed as a visitor and education center, houses rotating exhibits and meeting space, keeping the town’s earliest identity tied to a physical location still used today.

Food in town centers on the comforts of home. Ocean View Restaurant has long served as a local fixture, offering breakfast and lunch plates such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, and classic comfort dishes that keep tables full throughout the week. Good Earth Market & Restaurant combines a grocery market with a café, stocking fresh ingredients alongside prepared foods, soups, salads, and hot meals that make it a frequent stop. 

Local businesses support recreation. Ocean View Marina provides boat slips and access to the Assawoman Canal, supporting fishing and recreational boating tied to inland waterways. The marina is used seasonally by residents who keep boats in the water and by visitors navigating canal routes rather than open-ocean travel. Yesterday’s Fun & Toys operates as a specialty toy store carrying board games, puzzles, hands-on toys, and activity-based items. 



Public outdoor spaces see steady use. John West Park includes walking paths, playground equipment, open lawn areas, picnic tables, and shaded seating used daily for exercise, children’s play, and town activities. James Farm Ecological Preserve offers miles of trails through meadows, maritime forest, and shoreline, along with observation points overlooking coastal habitats and waterways. 

Arts and learning remain accessible within town limits. Gallery One features rotating exhibitions from regional artists, providing a consistent visual arts presence. South Coastal Library functions as both a lending library and community space, hosting readings, workshops, and programs that keep the building active beyond standard library hours.

Recreation extends beyond quiet settings. Bear Trap Dunes, located just outside town limits, includes multiple golf courses, maintained walking paths, and open space integrated into surrounding residential areas. The property is used regularly by golfers and walkers who take advantage of the layout throughout much of the year. Captain’s Quarters Arcade and Go Karts combines indoor arcade games with outdoor go-kart tracks, drawing families and groups for longer visits that include multiple attractions in one location.

Homes here are occupied year-round, and at Delwood Construction, we build custom sunrooms, porches, and decks for homeowners in Ocean View. Our work focuses on solid construction and layouts that integrate cleanly with existing homes. If you’re planning to add or improve an outdoor living space, don't hesitate to contact us today for more information or to schedule service.