In this article, we’ll share with you some quick information about Delaware State, the 7th state on the list of US states in alphabetical order.
Delaware was discovered in 1609 by Henry Hudson, who was sailing under the Dutch flag. Capt. Samuel Argall of Virginia called it Delaware after his colony’s governor, Thomas West, Baron De La Warr, the following year.
In 1631, an effort at a Dutch settlement failed. In 1638, Swedish colonization began at Fort Christina (now Wilmington), but in 1655, Dutch forces commanded by New Netherlands ruler Peter Stuyvesant defeated New Sweden.
The area was taken over by England in 1664, and in 1682, it was handed to William Penn as the lower Three Counties.
After becoming semi-autonomous in 1704, Delaware state participated in the American Revolution as a distinct state and was the first state to ratify the Constitution in 1787.
Delaware State Map |
State Location |
Delaware State Geography & Demographics
State Abbreviation | DE |
State Capital | Dover |
State Size | Total (Land + Water): 2,489 sq miles; Land Only: 1,954 sq miles |
Number of Counties | 3 |
Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone |
Bordering States | Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania |
Highest Point | Near the Ebright Azimuth, 447 feet |
National Parks | None |
State Population (2020) | 989,948 |
State Population Density | 506.6 people / square mile |
Area Codes | 302 |
Top 5 Cities (2020 population) | Wilmington (70,376) Dover (38,199) Newark (33,849) Middletown (23,765) Milford (12,278) |
Related: Florida State profile – All you need to know
Delaware’s Official Flag

Related: List of all USA presidents and their years in office
State Symbols
State Beverage | Milk |
State Bird | Blue hen chicken |
State Bug | Ladybug |
State Butterfly | Tiger swallowtail |
State Dessert | Peach pie |
State Fish | Weakfish |
State Flower | Peach blossom |
State Fruit | Strawberry |
State Herb | Sweet goldenrod |
State Macroinvertebrate | Stonefly |
State Marine Animal | Horseshoe crab |
State Motto | Liberty and Independence |
State Nickname | Diamond State; First State |
State Star | Delaware Diamond |
State Tree | American holly |
State Wildlife Animal | Grey Fox |
Related: All US State Nicknames
State Seal

Sports Teams
Major Sports Teams | None |
NCAA Division I Schools | University of Delaware (Colonial Athletic Association) Delaware State University (Mid-Eastern Athletic) |
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Bellevue State Park: a state park in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Bethany Beach: Beach town in Delaware.
- Brandywine Zoo: Zoo in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Cape Henlopen State Park: A state park in Lewes, Delaware.
- Cape May-Lewes Ferry: Ferry system that connects Lewes, Delaware, with North Cape May, New Jersey.
- Christiana Mall: A shopping mall in Newark, Delaware.
- The Delaware Art Museum: An Art museum in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Delaware Museum of Natural History: A museum in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Delaware Seashore State Park is a state park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
- Dewey Beach: A beach town in Delaware.
- Dover International Speedway: A car racing track in Dover, Delaware.
- Fort Delaware State Park: Harbor defense facility in Delaware City, Delaware.
- Lewes Beach: A Beach in Lewes, Delaware.
- Nemours Mansion and Gardens: A museum and garden in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Rehoboth Beach: A beach town in Delaware.
- Winterthur Museum: A museum in Wilmington, Delaware.
Related: 25 Best vacation spots in the United States
Popular Iconic Delaware Foods
Delaware is famous for the following foods:
- Scrapple
- Slippery Dumplings
- The Bobbie
- Thrashers French Fries
- Blue Claw Crabs
- Nic-o-boli
- Summer Peaches
Famous People Born In Delaware
Nobel Prize Winners
- Daniel Nathans (Physiology or Medicine, 1978)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Aubrey Plaza
- Teri Polo
- Elisabeth Shue
Related: 50 Interesting facts about Delaware
A Summary of Delaware State
Delaware, a small Mid-Atlantic US state, is situated on a peninsula surrounding the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware River, and Delaware Bay and is surrounded by dune-backed beaches.
With an average elevation of only 60 feet, Delaware is the lowest state in the United States. Isn’t that cool to know?
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