Wikijunior:North America/United States/Delaware

The Location of Delaware

Delaware is a state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Delaware was one of the 13 original states participating in the American Revolution and on December 7, 1787, became the first to ratify the Constitution of the United States. Delaware is located in the eastern section of the Delmarva Peninsula, between Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay, and is the second smallest state after Rhode Island. The capital of Delaware is Dover and its largest city is Wilmington.

The Flag of Delaware

History

The Dutch first established the Zwaneenendael Colony in 1631, although it was soon wiped out by local Native American tribes. The Swedes and Finns later established New Sweden, which survived until 1655 when the Dutch returned to conquer the region. Delaware Colony was established in 1664 after the English seized New Amsterdam (now New York City) from the Dutch. Delaware Colony was originally governed by New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, until Pennsylvania allowed the colony to govern itself in 1704. Delaware was one of the 13 colonies participating in the American Revolution, and on December 7, 1878, became the first state to ratify the Constitution, making it the first colony to officially become a state.

Geography

Delaware has a total area of 1,954 square miles (5,060 km²). It is the second-smallest state after Rhode Island. It is bordered to the north by Pennsylvania, to the east by the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west and south by Maryland. The state of Delaware, along with the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland and two counties of Virginia, form the Delmarva Peninsula.

People

In 2020, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Delaware was 989,948. English is the most-spoken language (91%), followed by (in order) Spanish (5%), French (0.7%), and Chinese and German (0.5%).

In 2010, 68.9% of people in Delaware were White/Caucasian, 21.4% were Black, 3.2% were Asian, and 0.5% were Native American.

State Symbols

• The state's official nickname is The First State. Other unofficial nicknames include The Diamond State, The Blue Hen State, and Small Wonder
• The state motto is "Liberty and Independence"
• The state colors are colonial blue and buff
• The state fruit is the strawberry
• The state dessert is peach pie
• The state song is "Our Delaware"
• The state bird is the Delaware Blue Hen
• The state tree is the American holly
• The state flower is the peach blossom
• The state bug is the lady bug
• The state mineral is sillimanite
• The state fish is the weakfish
• The state beverage is milk
• The state herb is sweet goldenrod
• The state fossil is belenmite
• The state butterfly is the eastern tiger swallowtail
• The state soil is Greenwich loam
• The state star is the Delaware Diamond
• The state animals are the grey fox and horseshoe crab
• The state macro invertebrate is the stonefly
• The state tall ship is the Kalmar Nyckel