Fans of subversion, satire, and the written word can sit pretty knowing that beloved icon cartoonist, writer, and musician Robert Crumb, better known as R. Crumb, lived in the city for several years.
Located just minutes from the Delaware Bay, Milford is a typical Delaware town boasting lush exteriors, a quaint and historical downtown and charming housing
Fans of subversion, satire, and the written word can sit pretty knowing that beloved icon cartoonist, writer, and musician Robert Crumb, better known as R. Crumb, lived in the city for several years.
Located just minutes from the Delaware Bay, Milford is a typical Delaware town boasting lush exteriors, a quaint and historical downtown and charming housing. What makes it special is its unique persona as River Town, an area known for its shipbuilding heritage and the river bisecting the city, separating it into two distinct counties. Folks here love life, and it shows. They support the arts, welcome new business and celebrate the little things, like the Bug and Bud to Eat Festival, which has to be experienced to be believed. It may be a small town in a small state, but Milford offers oversized enjoyment for its residents, and it won't take much convincing to get you here.
Getting ready for the big move east to "The First State" will come with all the usual stresses and hassles of uprooting, packing and transporting your belongings to a new location, but hopefully some of these tips will help make the move easier. Delaware is a no sales tax state, so enjoy scooping up new clothes, groceries and tchotchkes of all shapes and sizes for sticker price and no more. There are also lots of new buildings going up, mostly housing, since this prime piece of real estate is attracting renewed interest. The options range from one-bedroom apartments to single-family homes with big backyards. Premier apartments or cozy beach bungalows, whatever you want is here. It is worth noting, however, that owners outstrip renters by a seriously sizable margin, so if you're hunting for a good deal on a townhouse rental, you should give yourself plenty of time to find it. And while you're at it, pack up your ID, credit history and pay stubs for your future landlord to check out. Most places for rent in Milford will also require a security deposit, so have a cashier's check at the ready.
The population hovers just under 10,000 people, so make sure to be friendly and meet your neighbors, as you'll likely see them often. This is a welcoming, happy-go-lucky area, so you should have no trouble blending in. Other good news: floor plans tend to be pretty sizable, with spacious bedrooms and plenty of outdoor space. And many places showcase the latest in amenities, from stainless steel and granite countertops to pools and clubhouses. One caveat: You should invest in renter's insurance. It never hurts to have your favorite stuff covered.
Milford doesn't have traditional neighborhoods like you find in Philly or NYC, but it does have distinctive areas that you should ponder carefully to find your perfect fit. Here are some differences to get you started.
North: The northern portion of Milford has easy access to Highway 1 (Bay Road) and 113 (Dupont Boulevard), as well as access to ponds, parks, and Airport Plaza, which has oodles of shops. Milford Crossing Apartments is also located here, along with a variety of detached homes.
South: Further south there are fewer apartment rentals and more houses for rent, but Mispillion Apartments is a great place to start the hunt for a new place. Marshalls Pond Park and several sports fields pepper the bottom portion of the city, and Highway 113 is also close by.
Downtown Milford: The center of the city is bustling and fun, with plenty for active folks to do, especially by foot. Besides a plethora of apartment buildings, including Academy Apartments, Parson Thorne Apartments and Valley Run Apartments, there is also access to lots of shops, restaurants and events, as well as proximity to Goat Island Nature Area, Milford Museum and Silver Lake.
For those who missed the entirety of US history courses in school, Delaware was the first state and the original capital of this fine nation, and Milford takes that legacy very seriously. Known originally as Saw Mill Range, Milford began with sawmills, obviously, a dam and a few roads before people started settling in earnest, incorporating in 1807. It quickly became an ideal shipbuilding location, helping produce some of the many vessels that sailed in WWI and WWII before the shipyards went out of business in the '20s.
Besides the historic downtown in the center of town, with its stunning architecture and charming shops, The Mispillion Greenway is the best and prettiest way to learn about the country's, the state's and Milford's history, as it's a trail following along the Mispillion River. It doesn't hurt that it connects to parks and shopping centers along the way, making it a routine walking spot for residents and visitors alike. Other must-see sites include the Delaware History Trail (a requirement for history buffs), the Amstel House, and the De Vries Monument.
Outdoor Excursions
Being close to the water ensures that fans of rugged adventures always have something thrilling to do. Birding, hiking, fishing, biking and lazily soaking up the sun on the sand are just a few of the options, but there are plenty of trails that are closer inland and offer other benefits to hikers as well, like wine and beer tasting on the Delaware Wine and Ale Trail. The Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is just north of Milford, and it offers stunning views of the bay as well as wildlife, like beavers, deer and red foxes (perhaps you can discover what the fox says). Don't want to wander more than 10 miles from home? A closer option is the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, so you're never at a loss for opportunities to meet cute with Mother Nature.
Community Events
If you're more of a people person than a wolf pack of one, you'll have plenty to pencil into your social calendar in Milford. There are so many festivals, concerts, holiday celebrations and get-togethers you may actually be forced to turn down an invite or two, though you shouldn't second-guess your ability to rock out year round. Popular events include Punkin Chunkin, Firefly Music Festival and Milford's own Bug and Bud Festival, which celebrates the beginning of spring. One of the greatest things about living in Delaware, besides the tax-free shopping, is that everything is close by. Delaware is 96 miles long and no more than 35 miles in width, so everything that happens within the state is very accessible. Milford also hosts a St. Patrick's Day parade, farmers markets, and a town pub crawl, for when you're feeling thirsty.
Culture Vultures
History is marvelous, sure, but there are a lot more intellectually stimulating options to explore well beyond the stuff you find in textbooks. Milford is flush with cultural goodies, from museums to theaters and back again. There's a dance academy, several art galleries and even a stained glass studio that offers classes. And these are all in Milford; the wider Delaware area has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to educational entertainment. The Delaware National Museum has dinosaurs; the Delaware Theatre Company is located on the riverfront and has popular musicals; and the Air Mobility Command Museum has fancy flying machines. The reality is, you'll never be bored here, and if you find you are just go for a drive. You're bound to run into something cool.
Getting Around Town
Many towns in America expect you to furnish your own transportation and feature sprawling areas that require a car to do even the most basic things, but not in Milford. With a walk score of 85, you can bet you can throw on some hushpuppies and saunter over to your local coffee shop before hitting the dry cleaners and then picking up some lunch at your favorite deli. Skip the car and walk to the evening's entertainment, dinner and a show, without worrying about gas money. Sure, a car definitely helps and may be required depending on where you work, but a lot can be done on foot or bike, and Milford boasts a decent public transit service as well. Bus stops are common at all the popular shopping and park areas, so you can feel green while picnicking on the green any sunny day of the week.
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