Delaware Facts

59 Delaware Facts

1. Delaware is one of the 50 states of the United States of America.
2. Delaware was the 1st state to join the United States on December 7, 1787.
3. Delaware is in the southern region of the United States.
4. Delaware is the 49th largest U.S. state, covering a total of 2,488.72 square miles or 0.07% of the total area of the United States.
5. Delaware's 2,488.72 square miles is 78.29% land and 21.71% surface water.
6. Delaware is ranked 49th with the most land area in the United States, with 1,948.54 square miles of land area.
7. Delaware is ranked 40th with the most water area in the United States, with 540.18 square miles of water area.
8. Delaware is the 45th most populated U.S. state with a population of 989,948 or 0.30% of the total population of the United States.
9. The state capital of Delaware is the city of Dover.
10. Delaware is divided into 3 counties statewide.
11. New Castle County is the most populated county in Delaware
12. The most populated city in Delaware is Wilmington with an estimated 70,635 residents.
13. The five most populated city in Delaware are Wilmington, Dover, Newark, Middletown and Smyrna.
14. A native or resident Delaware is called a Delawarean.
15. Delaware's average elevation statewide is 60 feet.
16. Delaware's highest elevation point is Near the Ebright Azimuth at 447 feet.
17. Delaware's lowest elevation point is the Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet.
18. Delaware is all in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
19. The two letter abbreviation for Delaware is DE.
20. The ISO 3166 code for Delaware is US-DE.
21. Delaware is called the First State and the Diamond State.
22. The estimated median household income in Delaware is $70,176.
23. Delaware is the 22nd most expensive U.S. state to buy a home with an estimated median home price of $254,108.
24. Delaware is ranked 15th on the cost of living index out of all 50 U.S. states.
25. Delaware has the 6th oldest population in the United States with a median age of 41.4.
26. Delaware's average temperature is 54.48°F making it the 21st warmest state in the United States.
27. Delaware on average has 45.82 inches of precipitation per year, making it the 16th wettest U.S. state.
28. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Delaware was 110 °F on Monday, July 21, 1930, in Millsboro, DE.
29. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Delaware was -17 °F on Monday, Tuesday, January 17, 1893, in Millsboro, DE.
30. The U.S. State of Delaware was named after the Delaware River.
31. Delaware was one of the original 13 colonies and was the 9th established.
32. Delaware Day is celebrated annually on December 7th. It’s used to celebrate the fact that Delaware was the first U.S. state to ratify the Federal Constitution (United States Constitution).
33. Delaware became the first U.S. state to ratify
34. Delaware as the few counties of any U.S. State with only three, Kent County, New Castle County and Sussex County.
35. Delaware may be one of the smallest of the 50 U.S. states, but it ranks sixth for the most densely populated state with an average of 469 people per square mile.
36. In 1609, English explorer and navigator Henry Hudson discovered the Delaware Bay during an expedition commissioned by the Dutch East India Company.
37. In 1639, Black Anthony became the first African to become a permanent settler of what is now modern day Delaware.
38. In 1777, the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge was fought in Newark, Delaware. This was the only major battle fought in Delaware during the American Revolutionary War.
39. In 1787, Delaware becomes the first state to join the United States of America.
40. In 1795, the Bank of Delaware was founded in Wilmington and became the state’s first bank.
41. In 1869, the first women’s rights convention is held in Wilmington, Delaware.
42. In 1883, the novel “The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood” is published by Delaware native Howard Pyle.
43. In 1899, Delaware state lawmakers pass the Delaware Corporation Law.
44. In 1905, Delaware becomes the last U.S. state to outlaw the use of the pillory for punishment.
45. In 1934, the U.S. Supreme Court affirms Delaware’s control of the Delaware River in New Jersey v. Delaware, 291 U.S. 361 (1934).
46. In 1978, Delaware native and microbiologist Daniel Nathans wins the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with his discovery of restriction enzymes and their application in restriction mapping.
47. In 1981, Delaware state lawmakers pass the Financial Center Development Act. Which encourages banks that aren’t based in-state to relocate their headquarters to the state.
48. In 2000, Ruth Ann M. defeats John M. Burris to become the first elected woman governor of Delaware.
49. In 2009, Delaware designates peach pie the official state dessert.
50. In 2018, Delaware becomes the first U.S. state to ban marriage for anyone under the age of 18.
51. Author and illustrator Howard Pyle was born Wilmington, Delaware on March 5th, 1853. He is famous for writing the novel “The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire”.
52. Astronomer Annie Cannon was born in Dover, Delaware on December 11th, 1863. She is famous for her work in the development of contemporary star classification.
53. Microbiologist Daniel Nathans was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 30th, 1928. He is famous for winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1978.
54. Politician and businesswomen Ruth Ann Minner was born in Milford, Delaware on January 17th, 1935. She is famous for being the first woman elected to be the governor of the state of Delaware.
55. U.S. Army officer and a NASA astronaut Nancy Currie-Gregg was born in Wilmington, Delaware on December 29th, 1958. She is known for being a member of four Space Shuttle Missions and spending 41+ days in space.
56. Delaware's official state motto is "Liberty and independence" .
57. Delaware's official state bird is the Delaware Blue Hen (Gallus gallus).
58. Delaware's official state tree is the American Holly (Ilex opaca).
59. Delaware's official state flower is the Peach blossom (Prunus persica).

Pictures of Delaware, USA

The state of Delaware and its regional area on a Map of the United States of America.

The official state flag of Delaware waving in the wind on a flag pole.

The official state seal of Delaware that is used by the state's government.

Dover the capital city of Delaware.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America.

Fishing Pier At Dewey Beach