Historical Society of Delaware

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When did Delaware become a state?

Delaware became a state on December 7, 1787 - it was the first to
ratify the U.S. Constitution - making Delaware the First State!

State Bird

The Blue Hen Chicken, a fighting game cock, was the mascot of Delaware's Revolutionary War soldiers and was named the state bird in February, 1939.

Picture on left from The Sons
of Delaware 1901 Banquet Program
(click on picture for a better view)

State Bug

Ladybug.

Adopted April 25, 1974, after school children petitioned the General Assembly.

State Capital

Dover

The first capital of Delaware was New Castle, it was moved to Dover in 1777.

State Colors

Colonial blue and buff

Counties

New Castle

Kent - center of Delaware, 11 miles south of the capital, Dover

Sussex - the largest county, measuring 950 square miles.

State Drink

Back to the Top!

Milk

State Fish

Weak fish (Cynoscion regalis) Also know as the sea trout, gray trout, yellow mouth, yellow fin trout, squeteague or tiderunner. It was adopted in 1981 in recognition of sport fishing's recreational and economic standing in Deaware.

State Flag

Delaware adopted the current state flag on July 24, 1913. The state seal is enclosed in a buff diamond on a colonial blue background. Below the diamond is printed "December 1787," the date that Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution and became the first state.

State Flower

Peach Blossom - prunus persica

Adopted May 9, 1895, after farmers and schoolchildren petitioned the General Assembly. Beginning in the early 1800s, Delaware became the leading producer of peaches until a blight called "the yellows" destroyed the orchards in the late 1800s.

State
Fossil

Belemnitella americana (ancestors of the modern squid).

George Washington in Delaware

Governor

Ruth Ann Minner

What about Delaware's government?

Delaware's government consists of the General Assembly, comprised of a Senate and a House of Representatives, the Governor, and the judiciary.

Who's in
our State Government

Governor - Ruth Ann Minner (2000-2004)
Lt.Governor - John C. Carney, Jr. (2000-2004)
Attorney General - M. Jane Brady (2002-2006)
Secretary of State - Harriet Smith Windsor (Appointed 2001)
State Treasurer - Jack A. Markell (2002-2006)
State Auditor - R. Thomas Wagner, Jr. (2002-2006)
Insurance Commissioner - Donna Lee H. Williams (2000-2004)
U.S. Senator - Thomas R. Carper (2000-2006) - D
U.S. Senator - Joseph H. Biden, Jr. (2002-2008) - D
U.S. Representative - Michael N. Castle (2002-2004)

Click here for a full listing of our State Senators and House of Representatives

State Mineral

Sillimanite - adopted on March 24, 1977.

State Motto

"Liberty and Independence"

How did Delaware get it's name?

In 1610 explorer Samuel Argall named the Delaware River and Bay for the governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord De La Warr. The state of Delaware takes its name from the river and bay.

Photo from the
A.N. Sanborn Collection

Nicknames

First State - first state to ratify the Constitution.

Diamond State - Legend has it that Thomas Jefferson called Delaware a "jewel" among the states because of it's strategic location along the East Coast.

Blue Hen State - One form of entertainment during the Revolutionary War for Delaware militia was cock fighting. It was so popular, Delaware soldiers brought their own Blue Hens along with them during their stay in the army. The Blue Hen was noted for its fighting ability, and because of their bravery, the men of Captain Jonathan Caldwell's company were soon compared to this breed.

Chemical Capital

Corporate Capital

Small Wonder

Home of Tax Free Shopping

Peach State - The first state to produce peaches commercially.

Physical
Traits

Area: 2,044 Square Miles
Length: 96 Miles
Width: 39 miles

Highest Elevation: 442 above
sea level - www.americasroof.com/de.html
Lowest Elevation: sea level

Most of Delaware is on the Atlantic coastal plain. The northern part of the state
is on the Piedmont plateau, a hilly area between the Appalachian Mountains and
the Atlantic coastal plain. The dividing line runs east-west between the cities of
Wilmington and Newark.

Signers of Declaration of Independence and
United States Constitution
from Delaware

Declaration of Independence:
Signers from Delaware:
Thomas McKean
George Read
Caesar Rodney

United States Constitution:
Signers from Delaware:
Richard Bassett
Gunning Bedford, Jr.
Jacob Broom
John Dickinson
George Read

Our State Seal

This image is from a 19th century commemorative ribbon. The three dates on Delaware's state seal - 1793, 1847, and 1907 are the years minor changes were made to the design of the seal. The current seal reflects the final changes made in 1907.

State Song

Our Delaware - Written by George B. Hynson (words) and William M.S. Brown (music), published, 1906. It became the state song in 1925 by an act of the General Assembly. The fourth verse was written by Donn Devine for the American Revolution Bicentennial in 1976.

State Tree

American Holly (Ilex opacca Aiton)
Adopted by Act of the General Assembly and Governor on May 1, 1939. During the late nineteenth century until the 1930s Sussex county became the leading producer of holly used for Christmas decorations and wreaths.

Weather

Delawareans delight in four distinct weather seasons. Click on the picture at the left to check today's weather conditions.

Who?

The first known inhabitants of Delaware were two tribes of Native Americans,
the Lenni Lenape and the Nanticoke.

We'll be adding more facts...but you can e-mail us with your suggestions at hsd@hds.org

Delaware Facts