The town of Frederica, is located only six miles from the Delaware Bayshore, on Delaware State Route 1.  You’ll find it situated around multiple inland water bodies, including the Murderkill River and its branches Spring Creek, Browns Branch and Ash Gut.  Due to its geographic location among wetlands and the frogs that were drawn to them, Frederica earned the nickname, “Frogtown” years ago, which remains to this day.

A walk through the town will guide your learning of it’s history that began in 1681, when William Penn granted this land to Boneny Bishop.  Europeans first permanently settled Frederica at the turn of the eighteenth century as a port on a bend in the Murderkill River.

This port community was first known as Indian Point, and subsequently as Johnny Cake Landing and Goforth’s Landing.  Settlers chose the location because it was far enough inland to offer firm ground for building, while still at a point where the Murderkill River was navigable by boats.  The area around the port was surveyed and plotted in 1772, and the port became known as Frederica Landing around the turn of the nineteenth century. 

Today as you explore the town, you’ll see many historic buildings dating back to the 1700’s and 1800’s, including the Hathorn Betts House and Trinty Methodist Church.  One of those buildings, Barratt’s Chapel, is the oldest surviving Methodist church in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Open to the public, you have to include a tour of it to your Frederica visit.

Living in the 21st century as well, this water-oriented town was awarded a resiliency grant through DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Program in 2018. The grant pays for the survey of the town, to aid in the planning and development of a more walkable community through upgrading and constructing sidewalks.

Getting Here:
Frederica is located in Kent County Delaware.
Get Directions from Google