Angola lies along Delaware Route 24, where that road crosses Herring Creek. Angola is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Hollyville and 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Long Neck.
Angola took its name from the slaves from Angola who were imported to the community ("the First Africans in Virginia"). The nearby peninsular area has been called "Angola Neck" since the 1600s, as Gullahs were used for plantation labor, both before and after slavery was abolished.[2]
In 1800, Methodists in Angola began meeting at the Angola Schoolhouse. In 1838, a site on Robinsonville Road was selected, and this became Connelly's Methodist Episcopal Church, now known as Conley's United Methodist Church.[3]
In 1836, the Angola post office began operations.[2] Circa the 1850s, a dam was built on Herring Creek, creating Burton's Millpond. There was once a grist mill on this dam.[2]
In February 1876, a new church in Angola was blown off its foundations due to extreme winds.[4]
Circa 1890, Angola's population was just 12 residents.[5]
Angola's population had grown to 18 residents by 1900.[6] Around this time, the community was the site of the Angola Grange,[7] a social organization intended to promote the economic well-being of the community.
By 1925, Angola's population had grown to 95 residents.[8] In the early 20th century, the Angola Telephone Company operated a telephone exchange in the area, following a Sussex County decision allowing telephone companies to place telephone poles and lines along roadways.[9]
The community had a post office until 1937.[10] The population was 50 in 1940.[11]
By 1955, Angola was said to consist of "a store and several houses". The store was the Burton store, an old country mercantile.[2]
