The most significant class of Bethel craft were the Chesapeake sailing rams, which originated from this Broad Creek port.

The site was originally part of five hundred acres granted by the province of Maryland to James Caldwell in 1728.

In 1795, Kendal Major Lewis, the founder of Bethel, acquired much of James Caldwell's original grant as well as a smaller tract on Broad Creek, known as Mitchell's Harbor.

The extensive forests along the Nanticoke provided abundant supplies of virgin pine, oak and cypress.

In 1869, Jonathan Moore of Lewisville established the most important marine railway on the peninsula south of Wilmington.

John M. C. Moore, superintendent of Lewisville's Marine Railway Company, originated the well-known Chesapeake sailing ram.

This class of sailing vessel was designed as an economical, flatbottom, three masted schooner; its operation required only a small crew.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all land.

The closest state highway is Delaware Route 24, which is linked to Bethel by Shell Bridge Road.