Delaware is one of the most underrated states in the Northeast, and plenty of people who visit the state never stray far from their accommodations in Wilmington, Dover, or the resort beach towns. If they do take the time to drive around and get to know the First State, chances are they’ll have some questions about one particular bay shore town.

Anyone who's traveled along the Bayshore Scenic Byway has wondered about the name of Slaughter Beach.
Flickr / Brenda Reddinger
This quaint and quiet beach town is known for being a wildlife haven and an excellent place to study marine ecosystems at play.
Flickr / tidatsrt
Why, then, does it have such a gruesome name? If you ask a bunch of Delawareans, you're sure to get several answers.
Flickr / Victoria Pickering
There are a few local legends regarding the name of the town. The most likely origin is the most boring — the town has a postmaster named William Slaughter when it was first developing.
Flickr / Victoria Pickering
Another story talks of the thousands and thousands of horseshoe crabs that wash up on the beach during the spring and summer mating seasons.
Flickr / USFWS Northeast
With so much competition for food and safety, as well as the opportunistic shorebirds hunting by day, many of the crabs don't make it through the season.
Flickr / USFWS Northeast
There's one often-repeated legend that may or may not be true, but it seems to be the most "fun" story to tell of the town. An early settler named Brabant attacked local tribes who lived near the beach, leading to a bloodbath on the beach.
Flickr / Allison Richards
Historians and locals may never agree on the origin of the name Slaughter Beach, but the town was incorporated in 1931, meaning this odd and slightly disturbing name is here to stay.

If you’re a Delaware nature lover, you’ll want to visit Slaughter Beach during the Horseshoe Crab season. Read all about this migration that’s studied all over the world, right here.

Are there any fun Delaware legends you’d like to share? Let us know what you love about your home state by clicking here.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Related Articles

Explore Delaware

Featured Addresses
Slaughter Beach, DE 19963, USA