Felton was laid out in 1856 when the Delaware Railroad reached this area. Located between Berrytown to the west and Johnny Cake Landing (Frederica) to the east, it became a whistle stop on the new railroad line. Owing its existence to the railroad, Felton was named in honor of Samuel M. Felton, president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad and a major force in bringing railroad service to central and southern Delaware. Incorporated on February 2, 1861, its boundaries formed a one-half mile square with the railroad line running north-south through the middle of town. Passenger rail service to Felton ended in the early 1950’s.