Shortly after the boundary dispute between the heirs of William Penn and Lord Baltimore was settled in 1775, and Sussex County was expanded to its present borders, two petitions signed by 979 inhabitants of Sussex County were presented to the General Assembly praying that the county seat would be removed from Lewes and be more centrally located.

On January 29, 1791, an act was passed authorizing the removal of the county seat from Lewes to a new site at "James Pettyjohn's old field," near the center of the county. The same act named George Mitchell, Robert Houston, William Moore, John Collins, Nathaniel Young, William Perry, Rhoads Shankland, Woodman Stockley, Daniel Polk, and Thomas Batson as commissioners and charged them to purchase up to 100 acres of land and construct a new courthouse and jail.

On May 9, 1791, the commissioners met at the house of Abraham Harris and negotiated the purchase of 50 acres from him, buying also 25 acres from Rowland Bevins and one acre from Joshua Pepper. Commissioner Rhoads Shankland began to suvey the town the same day.

On October 26, 1791, the General Assembly officially removed the Seat of Justice to the new County Seat and named it Georgetown in honor of Commissioner George Mitchell, who was active in the movement to centralize the County Seat.

The town's center, "The Circle," is listed in the National Historic Record and is dominated by the red brick Greek revival courthouse built in 1839. The towns' original Courthouse, located on The Circle, is home to an original whipping post.

Georgetown is the home of the Return Day celebration. Every two years, The Circle is the center of Return Day activities, an event celebrated on the Thursday after the General Election in November. Return Day is highlighted by a parade, the reading of election results from the Courthouse tower, and the "burying of the hatchet."

Georgetown’s growing business climate and outstanding quality of life have generated an increase in demand for homes. Life in the area has always revolved around The Circle, and strong population growth in recent decades has lead to annexation, which has added hundreds of developed and developable areas.

A variety of home styles with a wide range of prices are available in established and growing sections of town. Georgetown offers both new housing opportunities and recently renovated historic homes.

The small-town appeal, affordable real estate and amenities of Georgetown will continue to make it an ideal community to call home.

Sussex County has also become a popular choice for retirees, and Georgetown is ideal for seniors. Georgetown offers numerous activities and services for seniors, including the Adult Plus+ Program (through Delaware Technical & Community College) and a senior center. The CHEER Community Center is an expansive facility in Georgetown that also serves active adults over 50.

Georgetown has three distinct business districts - one downtown near The Circle; the business district on U.S. 113; and Sussex County Industrial Airpark. While most businesses serve county workers or process local agricultural products, recent growth has spurred an expansion of businesses that provide a wider variety of goods and services. Georgetown has set forth initiatives to accommodate the continuing population growth and need for new and expanding business.

The Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce’s economic development committee, the town, the county, and the state are working together to create and coordinate enticements (such as new business parks) to attract outside employers.

Georgetown’s location and access to the state’s modern highway system opens the entire mid-Atlantic region to local businesses. A direct rail link to Norfolk Southern Railroad and the adjacent Sussex County Airport further enhances Georgetown’s logistic viability.

There are four industrial parks in Sussex County: Ross Business Park (zoned light industrial/commercial), Sussex County Industrial Park (zoned light industrial), Selbyville Industrial Park (zoned light industrial/service industry) and Seaford Industrial Park (zoned light industrial). Sussex County has also established tax incentives for businesses. The county and state do not levy taxes on sales or inventory, and have one of the lowest personal income and real estate tax rates in the nation.

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