Delaware is small in area but big in American firsts, Atlantic history, business law, beaches, and river landscapes. This guide highlights the people, places, and surprising details behind the First State.
Quick Facts
Capital and largest city: Dover
Statehood: December 7, 1787 (1st state)
Nickname: First State
15 Essential Facts About Delaware
1. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.
On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to approve the U.S. Constitution, earning the “First State” nickname.
2. Dover is the capital and Wilmington is the largest city.
Dover is in central Delaware, while Wilmington sits near the Pennsylvania border on the Christina River.
3. Delaware has only three counties.
New Castle, Kent, and Sussex are its three counties—the fewest of any state.
4. The Delaware River is a major eastern boundary.
The river and its estuary connect the state to Philadelphia, New Jersey, maritime commerce, and the Atlantic.
5. The Delaware Bay is a wildlife hotspot.
Each spring, horseshoe crabs gather along bay beaches, providing a crucial food source for migratory shorebirds.
6. Delaware has no statewide sales tax.
The absence of a general sales tax is one reason the state is well known for tax-free shopping.
7. Corporate law is a major part of the state’s economy.
Many U.S. companies choose to incorporate in Delaware because of its established corporate statutes and Court of Chancery.
8. The DuPont legacy is visible across the state.
The DuPont family and company helped shape Delaware’s industrial, scientific, cultural, and philanthropic history.
9. Rehoboth Beach is a classic summer destination.
Boardwalk attractions, Atlantic beaches, restaurants, and seasonal events make Rehoboth one of Delaware’s best-known resort towns.
10. Cape Henlopen marks the meeting of bay and ocean.
The state park offers beaches, dunes, trails, and a view of maritime defenses built during World War II.
11. Fort Delaware sits on an island in the Delaware River.
The Civil War-era fortress on Pea Patch Island is preserved as a historic site reached by ferry.
12. Nanticoke and Lenape history belongs at the center of the story.
Native peoples lived in the region long before European colonization, and the Nanticoke Indian Association remains an important Delaware community.
13. Delaware’s flag uses colonial-inspired colors.
Its colonial blue and buff colors recall the uniform of General George Washington.
14. The state was an early center of U.S. industrial innovation.
Water-powered mills along the Brandywine and later chemical manufacturing helped create Delaware’s industrial economy.
15. Delaware makes an easy coast-to-city road trip.
Within a compact state, visitors can explore historic New Castle, Wilmington museums, farmland, wildlife refuges, and Atlantic beaches.
Sources and Further Reading
- Delaware state government
- Delaware Public Archives
- National Park Service: First State
- Delaware State Parks
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts