By the early 1950's the inevitable development of the area now known as Long Neck had begun. Travel trailers and the beginning of mobile home living in Sussex County were introduced. Several influential and forward thinking families – The Burtons, The Showells and The Tunnells – introduced and developed the land now known as Long Neck to accommodate this new way of living. Along with home developm
ent came business development to suit the needs of these early inhabitants. A migration trend was established with the influx of many people from Delaware's surrounding states. Word seemed to have traveled to upstate Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. The area welcomed these visitors turned home owners with the promise of beautiful waterways and a beach (without the crowds) lifestyle. The area promised family friendly living and still does not fail to deliver this valuable commodity. As the land along Long Neck Road was developed into home sites the development of a local business community was quick to follow. Long Neck's first shopping center to open in the 1960's was the Palmer Center. In 1969, the Palmers, who lived in Lewes, opened Long Neck Dispensary, the area's first package store. The Palmer Center today is home to 13 businesses. It was the beginning of commerce in Long Neck. Anyone who settled in the area around this time remembers driving to Rt. 1 for a grocery store, a pharmacy, building supplies, personal products, medical care, places of worship, restaurants, etc. It was just a matter of time and initiative before the Long Neck area would blossom. Intuitive and industrious business people were quick to discern the needs of the locals. The small business owner would and still does dominate this area of Sussex County. Most of these first business owners were also residents of Long Neck. A business community of friends and familiar faces soon established itself. To this day “word of mouth” is the most valuable and the most reliable advertising in Long Neck. The true and reliable fact about small communities is that the “everyone knows everyone” theory is quite true.
