Delaware State Facts

Entered Union: December 7, 1787 (1st State)

Present constitution adopted: 1897

Fun Facts

State abbreviation/Postal code: Del./DE

Nicknames: Diamond State; First State; Small Wonder

Origin of name: From Delaware River and Bay; named in turn for Sir Thomas West, Baron De La Warr

Motto: "Liberty and independence"

Slogan: "Like No Place on Earth"

State symbols:

Bird: Delaware blue hen (1939)

Butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (1999)

Fish: Weakfish (1981)

Insect: Ladybug (1974)

Marine Animal: Horseshoe crab (2002)

Macroinvertebrate: Stonefly (2005)

Wildlife Animal: Gray fox (2010)

Flower: Peach blossom (1895)

Fruit: Strawberry (2010)

Herb: Sweet goldenrod (1996)

Tree: American holly (1939)

Fossil: Belemnite (1996)

Mineral: Sillimanite

Soil: Greenwich loam (2000)

Star: The Delaware Diamond (2000)

Beverage: Milk (1983)

Colors: Buff and Colonial Blue

Dessert: Peach custard pie (2009)

Sport: Rodeo (2003)

Song: "Our Delaware" (1925)

Tall Ship: The Kalmar Nyckel (2016)

Government

Capital: Dover

State Website: https://delaware.gov/

Governor: John C. Carney Jr., D (to Jan. 2021)

Lieut. Governor: Bethany Hall-Long, D (to Jan. 2021)

Secy. of State: Jeffrey W. Bullock, D (appt'd. by gov.)

Treasurer: Ken Simpler, R (to Jan. 2019)

Atty. General: Matthew Denn, D (to Jan. 2019)

U.S. Representatives: 1

Senators: Chris Coons, D (to Jan. 2023); Thomas R. Carper, D (to Jan. 2019)

See Also: Historical biographies of Delaware Congress members

Population

Residents: Delawarean

Resident population: 945,934 (45th Largest State, 2015)

10 largest cities (2014): Brandywine, 82,672; Wilmington, 71,292; Pike Creek-Central Kirkwood, 44,493; Lower Christiana, 38,118; Dover, 37,089; Central Pencader, 33,750; Newark, 32,367; Piedmont, 30,902; Upper Christiana, 25,793; Central Kent, 21,857; Middletown, 19,483

Race/Ethnicity: White (68.9%); Black (21.4%); American Indian (0.5%); Asian (3.2%); Other race (3.4%); Two or more races (2.7%); Hispanic/Latino (8.2%).

Religion: Protestant (43%); No religion/Unaffiliated (26%); Catholic (14%); Mormon (9%); Jehovah's Witness (3%); Other Christian (1%); Buddhist (1%); Other (3%).

Sex: Male (48.4%); Female (51.6%).

Age: Under 18 (21.3%); 18-64 (64.3%); 65 and over (14.4%). Median Age: 36.0

See Also: Additional Delaware Census Data

Economy

GDP: 74 billion dollars (41st in U.S., 2017)

Unemployment: 5.1% (2015)

Overview: Despite being the nation's second smallest state by area, Delaware is densely populated and affluent. Delaware is technically the incorporated home of 1 million corporations due to its tax codes. In terms of real, physical employers in the state, Delaware has a very large chemical industry. Delaware is the home of DuPont, the world's largest chemicals manufacturer. The state also houses one of the country's largest Air Force bases.

Geography

Land area: 1,954 sq mi. (5,161 km2)

Geographic center: In Kent Co., 11 mi. S of Dover

Number of counties: 3

Largest county by population and area: New Castle, 538,479 (2010); Sussex, 938 sq mi.

State forests: 3 (over 15,000 ac.)

State parks: 14 (over 20,000 ac.)

Area codes

Tourism office

See more on Delaware:

Encyclopedia: Delaware

Encyclopedia: Geography

Encyclopedia: Economy

Encyclopedia: Government

Encyclopedia: History

Monthly Temperature Extremes

Printable Outline Maps

