Dobbs, Kelli W. and Rebecca J. Siders. Known as the "First State," Delaware played a vital role in the founding of the United States, with its residents signing the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. [34], As manufacturing expanded, businesses became major players in state affairs and funders of politicians through families such as the Du Ponts. They established a Swedish South Company, aimed at settling the territory of New Sweden, and, following much negotiation, he led a group under the flag of Sweden to the Delaware River in 1638. [4], During the Civil War, Delaware was a slave state that remained in the Union. [100] In 2022, the Public Religion Research Institute's survey revealed 60% were Christian, followed by Jews (3%), Hindus (1%), and New Agers (1%). [42] The end result of the Brown ruling was that Delaware became fully integrated, albeit with time and much effort. The state was named in honor of Lord De La Warr, an English politician and first governor of the Virginia Colony. Delaware is centrally situated in the Northeast megalopolis region of cities along I-95. The state is divided into three counties, having the lowest number of counties of any state;[b] from north to south, they are New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County. Delaware was the one slave state from which the Confederate States of America could not recruit a full regiment.[5]. Church, the oldest African-American denomination in the nation, was founded in Wilmington. [28], An independent black denomination was chartered in 1813 by freed slave Peter Spencer as the "Union Church of Africans". [citation needed] Delaware essentially freed the few slaves who were still in bondage shortly after the Civil War[further explanation needed] but rejected the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution; the 13th Amendment was rejected on February 8, 1865, the 14th Amendment was rejected on February 8, 1867, and the 15th Amendment was rejected on March 18, 1869. During the second half of the 20th century, Delaware was a bellwether state, voting for the winner of every presidential election from 1952 through 1996. The fact that Delaware and Pennsylvania shared the same governor was not unique. [76] [77], According to the 2010 United States census, the racial composition of the state was 68.9% White American (65.3% Non-Hispanic White, 3.6% White Hispanic), 21.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian American, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 3.4% some other race, and 2.7% of multiracial origin. As the flow of indentured laborers to the colony decreased with improving economic conditions in England, more slaves were imported for labor and the caste lines hardened. A 2014 estimate by the Pew Research Center found that members of Protestant churches accounted for almost half of the population,[99] though the Roman Catholic Church was the largest single denomination in the state. "[citation needed]. [101], The Association of Religion Data Archives reported in 2010 that the three largest Christian denominational groups in Delaware by number of adherents are the Catholic Church at 182,532 adherents, the United Methodist Church with 53,656 members reported, and non-denominational evangelical Protestants, who numbered 22,973. The Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court have developed a worldwide reputation for rendering concise opinions concerning corporate law which generally (but not always) grant broad discretion to corporate boards of directors and officers. Significantly, Delaware has one of the few remaining Courts of Chancery in the nation, which has jurisdiction over equity cases, the vast majority of which are corporate disputes, many relating to mergers and acquisitions. Timeline List 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 Apr 9, 1631, Dutch founded the first European settlement in Delaware. Its first governors went by the title of "President". Flag: Adopted on July 24, 1913, the Delaware state flag has a background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff color in which the coat of arms of the state is placed. This toponymic could derive from Latin ager, from the Breton gwern or from the Late Latin varectum (fallow). After the Swedes, Dutch colonists settled Delaware, with the native people trading with European settlers for around a half-century.[1]. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Delaware's official state sport is bicycling. Three years later, in 1654, Johan Risingh, the Swedish governor, captured Fort Casimir from the Dutch. The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village is 2 miles (3 km) north of the city centre. Delaware was named after an English politician. 64-70 in part . It was initially colonized by Dutch traders at Zwaanendael, near the present town of Lewes, in 1631. William Penn was granted "Pennsylvania", in which the grant specifically excluded New Castle or any of the lands within 12 miles (19km) of it. [142][143] This was a successor to the Del-Mar-Va Express and Cavalier, which had run from Philadelphia through the state's interior, to the end of the Delmarva Peninsula until the mid-1950s. Vacationers are drawn for many reasons, including the town's charm, artistic appeal, nightlife, and tax-free shopping. The state's largest city is Wilmington; The first known inhabitants of Delaware were the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape confederation. In 1638 New Sweden, a Swedish trading post and colony, was established at Fort Christina (now in Wilmington) by Peter Minuit at the head of a group of Swedes, Finns and Dutch. The state's educational system was segregated by operation of law. Delaware (/dlwr/ (listen) DEL--wair)[11] is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States,[12] bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey to its northeast and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. Delaware is home to First State National Historical Park, a National Park Service unit composed of historic sites across the state including the New Castle Court House, Green, and Sheriff's House, Dover Green, Beaver Valley, Fort Christina, Old Swedes' Church, John Dickinson Plantation, and the Ryves Holt House. But in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Delaware fought as a separate state, and it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.; Although Delaware was a slave state, it did not secede (withdraw) from the U.S. and join the Confederacy during the Civil War (1861-1865). [140] Among these roads, Sussex (county road) 236 is among the most problematic.[140]. This included primary and secondary schools for Black people and women. The Delaware people, a name used by Europeans for Lenape people indigenous to the Delaware Valley, also derive their name from the same source. The Delmarva Central Railroad connects with the Maryland and Delaware Railroad, which serves local customers in Sussex County. Multiple short-line railroads provide freight service in Delaware. [101], According to a 2020 study by Kiplinger, Delaware had the seventeenth most millionaires per capita in the United States; altogether, there were 25,937 such individuals. In 1704, when he granted them a separate legislature, New Castle became the colonial capitol of Delaware. Prominent Delawareans include the du Pont family of politicians and businesspersons, and current United States president Joe Biden, whose family moved to Delaware during his childhood, and who later became a senator representing the state. Two daily newspapers are based in Delaware, the Delaware State News, based in Dover and covering the two southern counties, and The News Journal covering Wilmington and northern Delaware. The University of Delaware was the first to offer a Study Abroad program, in 1923. It was not long, though, before the Dutch too were forcibly removed by the English, who asserted their earlier claim. New Castle County has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 1988, and has given Democrats over 60% of its vote in every election from 2004 on. The Atlantic Seaboard fall line approximately follows the Robert Kirkwood Highway between Newark and Wilmington; south of this road is the Atlantic Coastal Plain with flat, sandy, and, in some parts, swampy ground. American casualties numbered around 30. Note: there is a glitch surrounding the display of Delaware's religious tradition data on, "The First to Ratify" would be more accurate, as the beginnings of the states themselves date back to the Declaration of Independence, celebrated July 4, 1776, when what was to become the State of Delaware was still the three lower counties of Pennsylvania with the governor in Philadelphia, and not establishing independence from that body until, Maryland and Delaware identify as Northeast, Pennsylvania Railroad local division timetable, 1965, All named trains were gone by the end of 1957, Learn how and when to remove this template message, United States Declaration of Independence, Constitutional Convention (United States), List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church and Connection, 1968 in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, several weekly, monthly and online publications, New Castle Court House, Green, and Sheriff's House, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, American Public Transportation Association, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Freedom of information in the United States State legislation, Supreme Court ruling to repeal the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, "State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates", "Elevations and Distances in the United States", "Growth in U.S. Population Shows Early Indication of Recovery Amid COVID-19 Pandemic", "State of Delaware Community Characteristics", "Delaware's new tourism brand: Endless Discoveries", "Mid-Atlantic Home: MidAtlantic Information Office: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics", "Census Regions and Divisions of the United States", "The Growth of Delaware's Antebellum Free African Community", "Historic black school remains a fond memory", "The story of how Delaware got its shape", "Enigma, Georgia: Mystery of the South's Circular Towns", "Extreme and Mean Elevations by State and Other Area", "A Summary of the Geologic History of Delaware", "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth", 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2, Historical Population Change Data (19102020), "Kent County defies slower, lower nickname", "Home: Geographic Information: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics", "Regional Climate Centers National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)", "Northeast Regional Office National Historic Landmarks Program", "Population and Population Centers by State", "The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress", "Lenape Indian Tribe looks to reclaim historic Delaware land, establish sovereignty", "Nanticoke tribe converges for 40th powwow in Millsboro", Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals By Race, 1790 to 1990, and By Hispanic Origin, 1970 to 1990, For The United States, Regions, Divisions, and States, "LGBT Percentage Highest in D.C., Lowest in North Dakota", "BREAKING: Delaware To Become 11th State With Marriage Equality", "2022 American Values Atlas: Religious Tradition", "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report", "In 'very religious' USA, Gallup sees Delaware residents as 'moderately' soby 1 percent", "Delaware housing: Home prices slide in all three counties; sales in NCCo, Kent down from year ago", "Millionaires in America 2020: All 50 States Ranked", "National Vulcanized Fibre Corp. site in Yorklyn", "AstraZeneca lays off workers at Delaware headquarters", "Delaware officials concerned about AstraZeneca, DuPont threats", "DuPont to cut 1,700 jobs in Delaware in January", "DuPont merger called 'catastrophic' for Delaware", "DuPont merger: A 'sad day' for Delaware", "DuPont-Dow merger 'catastrophic' for Delaware", "Chemours will lay off 400, including some in Delaware", "Delaware 2007 Fiscal NotebookState General Fund Revenues by Category (F.Y. The last northsouth passenger trains through the main part of Delaware was the Pennsylvania Railroad's local Wilmington-Delmar train in 1965. The only real engagement on Delaware soil was the Battle of Cooch's Bridge, fought on September 3, 1777, at Cooch's Bridge in New Castle County, although there was a minor Loyalist rebellion in 1778. [30], Delaware voted against secession on January 3, 1861, and so remained in the Union. [2] Peter Minuit was the Dutch Director-General of New Netherland during this period and probably spent some time at the Burlington Island post, thereby familiarizing himself with the region. Pirates A Town of Governors Street Names Restored Important Dates in Lewes History As the First Town in the First State and one of the oldest settlements in America, Lewes has a long and colorful history. It runs 96 miles long, 39 miles wide, has 3 counties: New Castle, Kent, Sussex. CZW has been affiliated with the annual Tournament of Death and ECWA with its annual Super8 Tournament. Image:Air Mobility Command Museum About Dover The satellite view shows Dover, capital of the State of Delawarein the United States. [141] CSX connects with the freight/heritage operation, the Wilmington and Western Railroad, based in Wilmington and the East Penn Railroad, which operates a line from Wilmington to Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Business and occupational license tax rates range from 0.096% to 1.92%, depending on the category of business activity. Democrats presently hold all the nine statewide elected offices, while the Republicans last won any statewide offices in 2014, State Auditor and State Treasurer. [156], Each of the 50 states of the United States has passed some form of freedom of information legislation, which provides a mechanism for the general public to request information of the government. Omissions? Crosswords themselves date back to the very first crossword being published December 21, 1913, which was featured in the New York World. In 2000, 91% of Delaware residents of age5 and older spoke only English at home; 5% spoke Spanish. Flickr / Wikimedia Commons. [161], In June 2018, Delaware became the first U.S. state to legalize sports betting following the Supreme Court ruling to repeal the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).[162]. To the west, a portion of the arc extends past the easternmost edge of Maryland. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Interstate 295 (I-295) is a bypass of Philadelphia which begins south of Wilmington. The final adjudication of the settlement was not completed until the eve of the American Revolution. [33] Because of Wilmington's growth, local politicians from the city and New Castle County pressured the state government to adopt a new constitution providing the north with more representation. The first automobile was designed by Delawarean Oliver Evans, in 1805. As of October2019[update], the state's unemployment rate was 3.7%. Each county had its own settlement history. [135][136] Funding for DelDOT projects is drawn, in part, from the Delaware Transportation Trust Fund, established in 1987 to help stabilize transportation funding; the availability of the Trust led to a gradual separation of DelDOT operations from other Delaware state operations. ], involving the virtual occupation[opinion] of the city for over one year by the Delaware National Guard. Yet, 24.36% of the population lives below the poverty line. argue that while the state of race relations was dramatically improving post-Brown, any progress was destroyed in the wake of the rioting that broke out in Wilmington in April 1968 in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis[citation needed]. Issac W. K. Handy, who had commented in December 1863 that the Civil War had tarnished one of the nation's most cherished symbols, the American flag. [46] Throughout the state, integration only encouraged more white flight, and poor economic conditions for the black population led to some violence during the 1960s. Delaware is home to Dover Motor Speedway and Bally's Dover. 09/25/2022 LK Capital Cities Why is Dover the Capital of Delaware? Known as the Chemical Capital of the World for its economy relying on chemical manufacturing. Below the diamond are the words "December 7, 1787," indicating the day on which Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. The citizenry had a good relationship with the Proprietary government, and generally were allowed more independence of action in their Colonial Assembly than in other colonies. The lieutenant governor is Bethany Hall-Long. Gen. J. Johnston Pettigrew. His DuPont firm (now the world's fourth largest chemical company) was the U.S. military's largest supplier of gunpowder by the beginning of the Civil War, and his descendants, the du Pont family, are now one of the richest and most successful families in the country. [107] At the 2014 Pew Research survey, 23% of the population were irreligious; the 2020 Public Religion Research Institute's survey determined 31% of the population were irreligious. The state is also served by several weekly, monthly and online publications. The University of Delaware's football team has a large following throughout the state, with the Delaware State University and Wesley College teams also enjoying a smaller degree of support. The construction of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal between 1802 and 1829 brought significant shipping interests to Delaware, expanding the state's commercial opportunities. 4 languages Read Edit View history Tools The history of Delaware as a political entity dates back to the early colonization of North America by European settlers. During the First and Second Party Systems, Delaware was a stronghold for the Federalist and Whig Parties, respectively. Birthplace of inventor of phonograph: E.R. [citation needed] Delaware's segregation was written into the state constitution, which, while providing at Article X, Section 2,[citation needed] that "no distinction shall be made on account of race or color", nonetheless required that "separate schools for white and colored children shall be maintained. "[10] A 600-bed hospital was also built, as were barracks for the Union soldiers who would be brought in to guard the increasing POW ranks. Dover Air Force Base, one of the largest in the country, is home to the 436th Airlift Wing and the 512th Airlift Wing. Significantly, Belton was the only case in which the state court found for the plaintiffs, thereby ruling that segregation is unconstitutional. Church. Rehoboth Beach often bills itself as "The Nation's Summer Capital" because it is a frequent summer vacation destination for Washington, D.C., residents as well as visitors from Maryland, Virginia, and in lesser numbers, Pennsylvania. For instance, the casino at Delaware Park Racetrack provided more than $100million to the state in 2010. The settlement of the legal battles was started by the heirs' agreeing to the survey performed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon between 1763 and 1767. In William Penn's Frame of Government of 1682, he established a combined assembly for his domain by providing for equal membership from each county and requiring legislation to have the assent of both the Lower Counties and the Upper Counties of Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks. Delaware does not assess a state-level tax on real or personal property. "[citation needed], Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the Wilmington area grew into a manufacturing center. Penn had inherited James' claims and thus began nearly 100 years of litigation between Penn and Baltimore, and their heirs, in the High Court of Chancery in London. 20022005)", "State of DelawareDivision of Corporations", "Del. Title 4, chapter 7 of the Delaware Code stipulates that alcoholic liquor be sold only in specifically licensed establishments, and only between 9:00a.m. and 1:00a.m.[125] Until 2003, Delaware was among the several states enforcing blue laws and banned the sale of liquor on Sunday.[126]. About Delaware - Delaware Weather: Find out more about Delaware before you travel there. [137] DelDOT manages programs such as a Delaware Adopt-a-Highway program, major road route snow removal, traffic control infrastructure (signs and signals), toll road management, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles, the Delaware Transit Corporation (branded as "DART First State", the state government public transportation organization), among others. The white supremacist Bryant Bowles raised $6,000 and founded the National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP) to oppose the rulings. According to SeaGrant Delaware, the Delaware beaches generate $6.9billion annually and over $711million in tax revenue.[128]. Here are five facts about Dover. When England assumed authority over the colonies in 1664, the original Dutch settlement was renamed New Castle and made the first capital of Delaware, at the time making it a vital seaport throughout the colonial era. It sits in Dover, the state capital. In a symbolic move, Delaware belatedly ratified the amendment on February 12, 1901 35 years after national ratification and 38 years after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. [60], The United States Census Bureau determined that the population of Delaware was 989,948 on April 1, 2020,[62] an increase from the 2010 census figure of 897,934. As realization dawned that more housing would be needed for the increasing number of POWs captured by Union troops, officials at the fort embarked on a construction program in 1862, building barracks for enlisted soldiers which came to be known as the "bull pen. Delaware's U.S. Map of Delaware Following the Battle of Brandywine, Wilmington was occupied by the British, and State President John McKinly was taken prisoner. One major branch of the U.S. Interstate Highway System, Interstate95 (I-95), crosses Delaware southwest-to-northeast across New Castle County. New job opportunities during and after the war in the Wilmington area coaxed Black people from the southern counties to move to the city. This centralized system, combined with the small size of the state, likely contributed to Delaware becoming the first state, after completion of a three-year, $30million program ending in 1999, to wire every K-12 classroom in the state to the Internet. This grew by 41.65% from a decade earlier. The toponyms Gara, Gare, Gaire (the sound [] often mutated in []) also appear in old texts cited by Lucien Musset, where the word ga(i)ra means gore. In 1651 the Dutch, reinvigorated by the leadership of Peter Stuyvesant, established a fort at present-day New Castle, and in 1655 they conquered the New Sweden colony, annexing it into the Dutch New Netherland. [15] Since the turn of the 20th century, Delaware is also a de facto onshore corporate haven, in which by virtue of its corporate laws, the state is the domicile of over half of all New York Stock Exchange-listed business and over three-fifths of the Fortune 500. Shifts in the agriculture economy from tobacco to mixed farming resulted in less need for slaves' labor. Delaware is home to several festivals, fairs, and events. Delaware is subdivided into three counties; from north to south they are New Castle, Kent and Sussex. After a relatively brief adherence to the Democratic Solid South following the US Civil War, Delaware became a Republican-leaning state from 1896 through 1948, voting for losing Republicans Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, Herbert Hoover in 1932, and Thomas Dewey in 1948. especially today with the potential answer to the Capital of Delaware crossword clue today. But Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, Proprietor of Maryland, claimed a competing grant to lands on the western shore of Delaware Bay, including all of the present state of Delaware. 6 likely to sell for $1 million", "State of Delaware Department of Transportation", "Projects: Delaware Bicycle Facility Master Plan", "Anything Once: On the road, taking plenty of pot shots", "The only US state without commercial airline service is getting 5 new routes to Florida next year see the full list", "Avelo Airlines on Twitter: " Hello, Delaware! The border between Pennsylvania and Delaware is formed by an arc known as the Twelve-Mile Circle laid out in the seventeenth century to clearly delineate the area within the sphere of influence of New Castle. The Delaware River was named after Sir Thomas West (Lord de la Warr), the Virginia Company's first governor. Half of the deaths were reportedly due to an outbreak of variola (smallpox) in 1863. THE STATE NICKNAMES: The Old State House, Dover The First State ( Official) Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787. [120] The state's attractiveness as a corporate haven is largely because of its business-friendly corporation law. Large parts of southern and western Delaware were thought to have been[clarification needed] in Maryland until 1767. [100] In 2022, the same study showed 33% of the population as irreligious. The transitional climate of Delaware supports a wide variety of vegetation. [citation needed], During the Reconstruction Era that followed the Civil War, Democratic Redeemer governments led by the South's Bourbon aristocracy continued to dominate the region and imposed explicitly white supremacist regimes in the former slave states. [49] Americans, including migrants from Puerto Rico, and immigrants from Latin America flocked to the state. By 1862, Fort Delaware, a harbor defense facility that was located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River and had been designed by chief engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten circa 1819, was pressed into service as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and privateer officers. Today marks Avelo's inaugural flight @FlyILG, the opening of our fourth base, and the return of commercial air service to Delaware! In 2009, DelDOT maintained 13,507 lane-miles, totaling 89 percent of the state's public roadway system, the rest being under the supervision of individual municipalities. The counties were historically divided into hundreds, which were used as tax reporting and voting districts until the 1960s, but now serve no administrative role, their only current official legal use being in real estate title descriptions.[154]. The state was named after Delaware Bay, which in turn derived its name from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (15771618), the first governor of the Colony of Virginia. At the end of the 1600's, Delaware was part of Pennsylvania until William Penn gave the colonists their own assembly. The Spanish Crown had occupied the "Kingdom of New Mexico" since 1540 and the first capital was located at San Juan Pueblo, about 25 miles north of Santa Fe. Updates? The assembly meeting place alternated between Philadelphia and New Castle. [citation needed] Although most Delaware citizens who fought in the Civil War served in regiments on the Union side, some did, in fact, serve in Delaware companies on the Confederate side in the Maryland and Virginia Regiments. Also known as the First State, Delaware became the first of the original thirteen states to ratify the US Constitution, back in December, 1787. Republican John Addicks attempted to buy a US Senate seat multiple times in a rivalry with the Du Ponts until the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment. Spencer built a church in Wilmington for the new denomination. [16][17] Bowles encouraged a boycott to protest the integration of schools after eleven black students were enrolled in the previously racially segregated school. Delaware provides government subsidy support for the clean-up of property "lightly contaminated" by hazardous waste, the proceeds for which come from a tax on wholesale petroleum sales.[59]. History Native Americans Before Delaware was settled by European colonists, the area was home to the Eastern Algonquian tribes known as the Unami Lenape, or Delaware, who lived mostly along the coast, and the Nanticoke who occupied much of the southern Delmarva Peninsula. Capital: Dover Population: 897,934 (2010) Size: 2,489 square miles Nickname (s): The First State; The Diamond State; Blue Hen State; Small Wonder Motto: Liberty and Independence Tree: American. Today they make up only 1% of the state's population. Three ferries operate in the state of Delaware: Amtrak has two stations in Delaware along the Northeast Corridor; the relatively quiet Newark Rail Station in Newark, and the busier Wilmington Rail Station in Wilmington. The state's educational system was segregated by operation of law. [18] The Kuskarawocks were most likely the Tuscarora. "Civil War Comes to Delaware. [20][21] Only nine years later, in 1664, the Dutch were conquered by a fleet of English ships by Sir Robert Carr under the direction of James, the Duke of York. But by the summer of 1863, following multiple military engagements including July's Battle of Gettysburg, "the fort's population had swollen to over 12,000 due to the influx of prisoners from the battles at Vicksburg and Gettysburg," a change in numbers which soon began to negatively impact the quality of life for POWs.[9]. However, the roughly 700 colonials were greatly outmanned and outgunned. Small portions of Delaware are also situated on the eastern side of the Delaware River sharing land boundaries with New Jersey. package stores hope to benefit from Md. No standalone television stations are based solely in Delaware. Johnson. "In its first year of operation in 1862, the population varied from 3,434 prisoners in July to only 123 later that year due to routine prisoner exchanges between the North and the South." In 2020, Delaware native (and Barack Obama's former Vice President and running mate) Joe Biden headed the Democratic ticket; he carried his home state by just shy of 19% en route to a national 4.5% win.[155]. The state has existed in the wide economic and political circle of the nearby Pennsylvanian city of Philadelphia. False, the Capital of Delaware is Dover. In addition to Interstate highways, there are six U.S. highways that serve Delaware: U.S.9, U.S.13, U.S.40, U.S.113, U.S.202, and U.S.301. In recent years, increasing development has led to the decline in the number of Amish living in the community. The Democratic Party holds a plurality of registrations in Delaware. Delaware Facts PDF Learn more about Delaware Historical Society About Us [115] The merger of E.I. 2. With the state motto of "Liberty and Independence," it's no surprise that Delaware was the first of the original 13 states of the Union; it's often called the "First" or "Diamond State." The state's name comes from the original governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord De La Warr. [18][16] Only 456 out of 1562 students attended the next day, and the movement gained traction in the nearby town of Lincoln, where 116 of the 146 pupils in the local elementary school boycotted in solidarity. Delaware is considered as the first state because it was the first to ratify the constitution. The state takes its name from the adjacent Delaware Bay, in turn named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor. Located along the St. Jones river, the historic city of Dover is the state capital of Delaware and the seat of Kent county; photos; video. Other general aviation airports in Delaware include Summit Airport near Middletown, Delaware Airpark near Cheswold, and Delaware Coastal Airport near Georgetown. [133], The transportation system in Delaware is under the governance and supervision of the Delaware Department of Transportation, also known as "DelDOT". It could also be linked with a patronymic from the Old Norse verr. Jun 1, 1638, Swedish settlement was led by Peter Minuet Mar 4, 1681, William Penn recives land grant to Pennsylvania Dec 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to become part of the union 1,018,396 Governor: John Carney (Democrat) Date Of Admission: Dec. 7, 1787 2 U.S. The median income for Delaware households as of 2020 was $64,805.[109][110]. People of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, made up 8.2% of the population. Dover commissioned a museum to celebrate the famed inventor who brought . 1824 - New Castle was devastated by the Great Fire on Water Street, now known as The Strand. Delaware is represented in rugby by the Delaware Black Foxes, a 2015 expansion club. The remaining western border runs slightly east of due south from its intersection with the arc. Read the history and traditions which influenced the selection of each fact. After the Revolution began in 1776, the three Lower Counties became "The Delaware State", and in 1776 that entity adopted its first constitution, declaring itself to be the "Delaware State". [63][64], Delaware's history as a border state has led it to exhibit characteristics of both the Northern and the Southern regions of the United States. Each county elects its own legislative body (known in New Castle and Sussex counties as County Council, and in Kent County as Levy Court), which deal primarily in zoning and development issues. Bally's Dover is a popular harness racing facility. In the northern third of the state are found Northeastern coastal forests and mixed oak forests typical of the northeastern United States. However, the Dutch thought they also had a claim based on the 1609 explorations of Henry Hudson, and under the auspices of the Dutch West India Company, were the first Europeans to actually occupy the land. Gebhart was one of the five cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 decision of the United States Supreme Court which found racial segregation in United States public schools to be unconstitutional. Representatives are elected to two-year terms, while senators are elected to four-year terms. [56] The northernmost part of the state is part of the Piedmont Plateau with hills and rolling surfaces. Delaware has been home to professional wrestling outfit Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW). The Americans harried the lead forces of the British Army. At that time, the area was considered to be part of the Virginia colony. Some of the more notable festivals are the Riverfest held in Seaford, the World Championship Punkin Chunkin formerly held at various locations throughout the state since 1986, the Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival, the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral to mark the end of summer, the Apple Scrapple Festival held in Bridgeville, the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington, the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, the Sea Witch Halloween Festival and Parade in Rehoboth Beach, the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, the Nanticoke Indian Pow Wow in Oak Orchard, Firefly Music Festival, and the Return Day Parade held after every election in Georgetown. Delaware is one of five U.S. states (Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming) that do not have a single city with a population over 100,000 as of the 2010 census. [36], Delaware benefited greatly from World War I because of the state's large gunpowder industry. While the Dutch settlement at Zwaanendael ("swan valley"), or present-day Lewes, was soon destroyed in a war with Native Americans, the Dutch never gave up their claim to the area, and in 1651 built Fort Casimir, now New Castle, under the leadership of Peter Stuyvesant. Before Delaware was settled by European colonists, the area was home to the Eastern Algonquian tribes known as the Unami Lenape, or Delaware, who lived mostly along the coast, and the Nanticoke who occupied much of the southern Delmarva Peninsula. The state does not assess sales tax on consumers. Dover has a population of 38,640 inhabitants and a population density of 642.79 people per sq. In 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2016, the Republican presidential candidate carried both Kent and Sussex but lost by double digits each time in New Castle County, which was a large enough margin to tip the state to the Democrats. On the cost of living index, Dover is rated at 93.6, whereas the state of Delaware is 102.7. [clarification needed], Before Delaware was settled by Europeans, the area was home to the Lenni Lenape (also known as the Delaware), Susquehanna, Nanticoke, and other Native American tribes. Delaware has six different income tax brackets, ranging from 2.2% to 5.95%. The capital of Delaware is Dover, situated in the center of the state. School segregation in the state would not end until 1967.[19]. The Unami Lenape in the Delaware Valley were closely related to Munsee Lenape tribes along the Hudson River. The Du Pont Company soon established Wilmington as the "Chemical Capital of the World."Thomas Gilpin built the country's first papermaking machine in 1817. Coverage of the system is broad within northern New Castle County with close association to major highways in Kent and Sussex counties. . [12][13] In addition, 109 Union soldiers and 40 civilians also died at the fort during the war. that of "The First State." The state capital was moved from New Castle to Dover during the American Revolution, amidst fears of British invasion." . [113][114], In late 2015, DuPont announced that 1,700 employees, nearly a third of its footprint in Delaware, would be laid off in early 2016. [56] Its highest elevation, located at Ebright Azimuth, near Concord High School, is less than 450 feet (140m) above sea level. Once Philadelphia began to grow, its leaders resented having to go to New Castle and gain agreement of the assemblymen from the sparsely populated Lower Counties. Legislation has been proposed in both the House and the Senate in Delaware to designate English as the official language. Delaware's all-time record high of 110F (43C) was recorded at Millsboro on July 21, 1930. [25] Under slavery law, children took the social status of their mothers, so children born to white women were free, regardless of their paternity, just as children born to enslaved women were born into slavery. State Symbols. 50 U.S. States with Maps Satellite View and Map of the City of Dover, Delaware A Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) in the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover. Delaware is 96 miles (154km) long and ranges from 9 miles (14km) to 35 miles (56km) across, with a land area of 1,982 square miles (5,130km2)[51] and a total area of 2,489 square miles (6,450km2), [52] making it the second-smallest state by either metric in the United States after Rhode Island. [68][69][70][71][72][73], Delaware is the sixth most densely populated state, with a population density of 442.6 people per square mile, 356.4 per square mile more than the national average, and ranking 45th in population. The Delaware General Assembly consists of a House of Representatives with 41 members and a Senate with 21 members. By September 3, the colonials had dropped back to Cooch's Bridge. Sussex County did not start closing or integrating its segregated schools until 1965, 11 years after the Brown ruling. Because of surveying errors, the actual line is several compound arcs with centers at different points in New Castle. Dover, city, capital (1777) of Delaware, U.S., seat of Kent county, in the east-central portion of the state on the St. Jones River. Thomas West, the third Baron De La Warr, was an English politician who lived from July 9, 1577, to June 7, 1618. The definition of the northern boundary of the state is unusual. Delaware Facts and Symbols Updated June 2011 Statehood: December 7, 1787 State Capital: Dover State Location: On the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, Delaware is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, as well as by the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. U.S.13 and DE1 are primary northsouth highways connecting Wilmington and Pennsylvania with Maryland, with DE1 serving as the main route between Wilmington and the Delaware beaches. 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