Delaware Atlas

Delaware facts and history plus travel and tourism information.

Capital: Dover
Abbreviations: DE (postal), Del.
Area: 2,396 square miles
State Bird: Blue Hen Chicken
State Tree: American Holly
State Flower: Peach Blossom
State Motto: Liberty and Independence
Nicknames: The Diamond State, The First State

Dune Grass - Bethany Beach, Delaware

The Lenni-Lenape people lived on Delaware's land before Europeans settled in the region. In 1609, Henry Hudson discovered Delaware Bay, and in 1638, some Swedish immigrants settled in the Wilmington area. Eventually, Delaware became an English colony and later, the first state of the United States.

This second-smallest state attracts corporations due to its benign corporate tax structure tax and proximity to nearby cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. Easy access to waterways, including Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal also boosts the state's economic activity.

Tourism is not a major industry in Delaware, but Delaware Seashore State Park offers typical oceanside activities, including surfing, windsurfing, and boating. Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach are popular summer vacation destinations, and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry carries passengers and vehicles across Delaware Bay to New Jersey. Wilmington has some historical attractions, including the Kalmar Nyckel, a replica of the Swedish ship that carried the first settlers to the area in 1638.

Delaware Map

Delaware Links

1. Delaware Government - official Delaware state website.
2. Visit Delaware - Delaware travel and tourism.
3. National Parks in Delaware
4. Delaware QuickFacts - from the US Census Bureau.
5. 50States.com - Delaware

Delaware Resources

• Delaware Real Estate - real estate information about Delaware.
• Delaware Colleges and Universities - higher education institutions in Delaware.
• Delaware Libraries - list of libraries in Delaware.

Delaware History and Geography