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Delaware

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Delaware is a small but very important state in the United States. It sits in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions.

National-atlas-delaware
National-atlas-delaware

You can find it on the Delmarva Peninsula. To the east, it meets the Atlantic Ocean. It shares borders with Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The state is named after the Delaware Bay. This bay was named for Thomas West, a nobleman from England.

MV Delaware DEE1
MV Delaware DEE1

Delaware is the second-smallest state in the country. Even though it is small, it is quite crowded with people.

Delaware population density 2020
Delaware population density 2020

The state is divided into three different counties. These are New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.

Delaware population pyramid
Delaware population pyramid

New Castle County is in the north and is very urban. This means it has many cities and towns. It is part of the big Philadelphia area. The other two counties are in the south. Kent and Sussex have histories of farming and growing crops.

Peach delaware
Peach delaware

The capital city is Dover. The largest city in the state is Wilmington.

Wilmington Station from parking garage, July 2014
Wilmington Station from parking garage, July 2014

Long before Europeans arrived, Native American tribes lived on this land. The Lenape people lived in the northern part.

MiddleRunArea Field LenapeTrail
MiddleRunArea Field LenapeTrail

The Nanticoke people lived in the south. They had settled societies that hunted and farmed. Later, Dutch traders arrived in 1631. They set up a trading post at Zwaanendael.

Fort Delaware LOC 384066pu
Fort Delaware LOC 384066pu

A Swedish colony was also started in 1638 at Fort Christina. Over many years, different groups like the Dutch and English took control.

Delaware played a huge role in the American Revolution. It was one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

During the war, the "Delaware Blues" fought in the Continental Army. One famous story is about Caesar Rodney. He rode a horse through the night to help vote for independence.

1969 Delaware license plate 000000 sample
1969 Delaware license plate 000000 sample

On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution. This is why people call it "The First State."

Today, Delaware is a very busy place for business. Many large companies choose to incorporate there.

Delaware State Capitol
Delaware State Capitol

More than half of the companies on the New York Stock Exchange are from Delaware. This is because the state has special laws for businesses. You can see many different sides of the state today. You might visit a beach like Rehoboth or see a sunset in Woodbrook.

Rehoboth Beach looking north at Delaware Avenue August 2021
Rehoboth Beach looking north at Delaware Avenue August 2021
Woodbrook test
Woodbrook test

The state remains a unique mix of many different regions.

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🖼️ Images & Media (21)
File:Recto Delaware 2 shillings 6 pence 1777 urn-3 HBS.Baker.AC 1085935.jpeg
Recto Delaware 2 shillings 6 pence 1777...
File:Twelve-mile-circle.gif
Twelve-mile-circle.gif
File:National-atlas-delaware.png
National-atlas-delaware.png
File:Woodbrook test.jpg
Woodbrook test.jpg
File:Blackbird pond.jpg
Blackbird pond.jpg
File:MiddleRunArea Field LenapeTrail.jpg
MiddleRunArea Field LenapeTrail.jpg
File:Köppen Climate Types Delaware.png
Köppen Climate Types Delaware.png
File:Delaware population density 2020.png
Delaware population density 2020.png
File:Ethnic Origins in Delaware.png
Ethnic Origins in Delaware.png
Delaware population pyramid.webp
File:Peach delaware.jpg
Peach delaware.jpg
File:Rehoboth Beach looking north at Delaware Avenue August 2021.jpeg
Rehoboth Beach looking north at Delaware...

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