Little Hell, Delaware

Little Hell is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Delaware. Its elevation is 26 ft (7.9 m) and its position 39°02′30″N 75°27′24″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]

Little Hell
Unincorporated community
Little Hell
Location within the state of Delaware
Little Hell
Little Hell (the United States)
Coordinates: 39°02′30″N 75°27′24″W
CountryUnited States
StateDelaware
CountyKent
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)302

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
  1. "Kent, Sussex Study Reveals More Oddly Named Spots". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). October 30, 1935.
  2. "Your Delaware and Mine". The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). November 14, 1942.
  3. "A story about people who live between Heaven and Hell". The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). June 17, 1982.
  4. "Little Heaven not in sticks; it's on Styx". The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware). January 13, 1984.
  5. "Towns To Give Up Profane Titles". The Evening Journal (Wilmington, Delaware). July 13, 1914.
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