Question 1

Is Blades a town, a city or a census-designated place?

Accepted Answer

Blades is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Blades town, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.

Question 2

What was the population of Blades in the 2020 Census?

Accepted Answer

The 2020 Census counted 1,179 residents in Blades (U.S. Census Bureau).

Question 3

Who issues building permits in Blades?

Accepted Answer

Sussex County issues building permits countywide, including inside municipalities, per the county building permits page. Check with the town as well for any town requirements.

Question 4

When was Blades incorporated?

Accepted Answer

The community was chartered as a Delaware town under the name Bladesville in 1910, with Henry Riggin as first mayor. It was incorporated as the Town of Blades in 1915.

Question 5

How did Blades get its name?

Accepted Answer

The town was first called Bladesville after the Blades family, who owned the land. The town history says James Blades, a railroad employee, bought a tract around 1850.

Question 6

What was the toll bridge between Seaford and Blades?

Accepted Answer

In 1832 the legislature authorized a toll bridge from Seaford to the south bank of the Nanticoke River, which failed at first. Capt. Hugh Martin bought it in 1843 and it became profitable, and it became public property shortly after the Civil War.

Question 7

Who was Blades' first woman mayor?

Accepted Answer

The town history says Margaret Hastings, elected in 1947, was Delaware's first woman mayor.

Question 8

What industries shaped Blades?

Accepted Answer

A strawberry capping plant opened on the Nanticoke in 1919, later becoming an oyster shucking plant. A concrete burial vault plant opened in the late 1920s and ran about 50 years, and several small sewing factories also operated.

Question 9

What notable events are in Blades' history?

Accepted Answer

The Blades Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1934, the Blades School was built in 1952 for $200,000, and voters approved a central water supply and Seaford sewer connection completed in February 1982.

Question 10

Does Blades hold town events?

Accepted Answer

The Town of Blades site listed a clean-up day on October 10, 2026, food bank giveaways, and a 100th anniversary homecoming without a date. It also has a marina events page.

Question 11

Who handles planning and zoning in Blades?

Accepted Answer

The Planning and Zoning Commission, five members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Town Council with staggered five-year terms. It reviews amendments, conditional uses, site plans, annexations and subdivisions.

Question 12

Does Blades have its own zoning code?

Accepted Answer

Blades has its own Zoning Map (PDF on the town site) and ordinances page. The Planning and Zoning page does not cite a code chapter, so confirm the text with Town Hall.

Question 13

When do Blades Town Council and the Planning Commission meet?

Accepted Answer

The town site does not state a regular meeting schedule on its home or Planning and Zoning pages. Agendas and minutes are posted under Government on the town site.

Question 14

Who provides water in Blades?

Accepted Answer

The town does. The site says: "The Town of Blades provides all residents and businesses within the corporate limits with drinking water." The page does not name a sewer or trash provider.

Question 15

What did the Blades town government post about the water system in 2026?

Accepted Answer

On May 18, 2026 the town lifted a water boil advisory with an all-clear notice; the original notices went out May 16, 2026.

Question 16

What else has Blades posted recently?

Accepted Answer

On September 22, 2026 the town announced a clean-up day for October 10, 2026, and a food giveaway with the Food Bank of Delaware. A July 7, 2026 post carried an EPA community update letter on Blades.

Question 17

Is Blades in a flood zone?

Accepted Answer

Part of Blades may sit in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, and the answer depends on the address, so we do not give a town-wide yes or no. The USGS elevation at the town's Census center point is about 22 feet. Look up a specific property in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the DNREC Delaware Flood Planning Tool.

Question 18

Is Blades in a hurricane evacuation zone?

Accepted Answer

Delaware labels hurricane evacuation zones A, B, C and D, and describes them as low-lying areas susceptible to flooding and storm surge. The state page does not list communities by zone, so we cannot say which zone Blades or a given address falls in. Use the Know Your Zone lookup tool or interactive map to check an address.

Question 19

What body of water is Blades on?

Accepted Answer

Blades sits on the Nanticoke River, across the river from Seaford, according to the Delaware Public Archives. The Census Gazetteer lists 0 square miles of water area within town limits.

Question 20

How big is Blades and how high above sea level is it?

Accepted Answer

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Blades at 0.556 square miles of land and 0 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 22 feet above sea level (USGS 3DEP), and ground height varies across town.

Question 21

Which National Weather Service forecast zone covers Blades?

Accepted Answer

The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Blades in forecast zone DEZ003, Inland Sussex, Delaware. This was read from the NWS point forecast page for the town's Census center point.

Question 22

What ZIP code covers Blades?

Accepted Answer

Blades uses ZIP code 19973.

Question 23

What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Blades?

Accepted Answer

Seaford, next door, has Gateway Park, Riverwalk, Kiwanis Park and Williams Pond Park.

Blades civic guide

October 12, 2026

Town Council Meeting

Newest posted minutes

October 26, 2026

Town of Blades Workshop

Quoted from minutes

Questions about this town

Town basics