Delaware
DE · Data from 2022–2023 government sources
Delaware, the First State, earned its name by being the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Despite being the second-smallest state by area, Delaware wields outsized influence in American business — more than half of all publicly traded U.S. companies and 68% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated here. The state offers Atlantic beaches, Colonial history, and tax-free shopping.
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Delaware's history stretches back to the Lenape people who lived along the Delaware River for thousands of years. The Dutch established the first European settlement in 1631, followed by Swedish colonists who built Fort Christina (now Wilmington) in 1638 — the first permanent settlement in the Delaware Valley. The English took control in 1664. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, doing so unanimously, and has proudly held the 'First State' title ever since.
Economy
Delaware's economy is dominated by financial services and corporate law. The state's Court of Chancery, a specialized business court, and its business-friendly incorporation laws attract companies from around the world. Banking giants like JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and Bank of America maintain major operations in Wilmington. The chemical industry also has deep roots here — DuPont was founded in Wilmington in 1802. Delaware has no sales tax, making it a shopping destination for residents of neighboring states.
Geography & Landmarks
Delaware covers just 1,954 square miles on the Delmarva Peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. The state is remarkably flat, with its highest point (Ebright Azimuth in New Castle County) reaching only 448 feet. The northern portion is part of the Piedmont region with gently rolling hills, while the southern two-thirds lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach are popular summer destinations along the 28-mile Atlantic coastline. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge along the Delaware Bay coast protects 10,000 acres of salt marsh, forest, and grassland, serving as a critical stopover for migratory shorebirds, including horseshoe crab-dependent red knots.
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail — NPS Photo / Middleton Evans
Source: NPS API
Culture & Traditions
Delaware's cultural life reflects its unique position as a small state with outsized historical significance. The Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, the former estate of Henry Francis du Pont, houses the premier collection of American decorative arts spanning 1640 to 1860 across 175 period rooms. The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington holds a renowned collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, the largest in the United States outside of Britain. Punkin Chunkin, a competition to launch pumpkins the farthest distance using mechanical devices, originated in Delaware in 1986 and grew into a nationally televised event. Rehoboth Beach is known as the Nation's Summer Capital due to its popularity with Washington, D.C. visitors, and the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk features Dolles saltwater taffy, a Delaware tradition since 1926. Scrapple, a pork and cornmeal breakfast dish with roots in German colonial cooking, remains a beloved Delaware and mid-Atlantic staple.
Notable Cities
Dover
CapitalThe state capital, home to the Dover Air Force Base (the primary port for returning fallen service members), the Dover International Speedway, and a well-preserved Colonial-era Green.
38,879
Population
$54,438
Median income
$222,800
Home value
$1,165
Median rent
34.7
Median age
8.3%
Unemployment
48.3%
Homeownership
3,531
Bachelor's+
Wilmington
Delaware's largest city and a global financial center. Home to the DuPont company's headquarters, the Riverfront development, and the historic Brandywine Valley.
Newark
A college town centered on the University of Delaware. Located in the northern part of the state near the Pennsylvania and Maryland borders.
Rehoboth Beach
Known as the Nation's Summer Capital because of its popularity with Washington, D.C. residents. A lively boardwalk town with a vibrant LGBTQ+ community.
Lewes
Delaware's first town, founded by the Dutch in 1631. A charming coastal community at the mouth of Delaware Bay, connected to Cape May, NJ by ferry.
Capital city data: Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022)
Intel File · Fun Facts
More than 1.8 million business entities are legally incorporated in Delaware — more than the state's population of about 1 million people.
Delaware is the only state without any national park units managed by the National Park Service.
The state has no sales tax, making it a popular shopping destination — especially the Christiana Mall and Tanger Outlets.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, doing so unanimously on December 7, 1787.
The DuPont chemical company, founded in Wilmington in 1802 as a gunpowder mill, grew to become one of the largest chemical companies in the world.
Data & Statistics
Demographics
- Population
- 993,635
- Median income
- $79,325
- Median age
- 41.4
- Median home value
- $305,200
- Below poverty line
- 107,790
- Bachelor's degree+
- 139,213
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022)
Agriculture
- Total farms
- 2,158
- Cropland
- 425,973 acres
- Market value
- $2,096M
Source: USDA NASS, Census of Agriculture (2022)
Public Health
- Obesity rate
- 35.7%
- Diabetes rate
- 13.3%
- Smoking rate
- 11.4%
- High blood pressure
- 37.8%
- Uninsured
- 6.3%
Source: CDC BRFSS Prevalence Data (2023, 2022 fallback)
National Parks & Sites
- National parks
- 0
- Total NPS sites
- 4
- Sites
- Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, First State National Historical Park, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
Source: National Park Service API
Climate
- Avg temperature
- 55.5°F
- Avg high
- 65.7°F
- Avg low
- 45.6°F
- Annual precipitation
- 46.1 in
- Annual snowfall
- 13.2 in
Source: NOAA Climate Normals (2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Delaware?▾
Dover is the capital of Delaware. It is the state's second-largest city and is located in the central part of the state on the St. Jones River.
Why do so many companies incorporate in Delaware?▾
Companies incorporate in Delaware because of its business-friendly Court of Chancery (which handles corporate disputes without juries), well-established body of corporate case law, flexible incorporation statutes, and privacy protections for company officers. You don't need to be physically located in Delaware to incorporate there.
Why is Delaware called the First State?▾
Delaware was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution, doing so unanimously on December 7, 1787 — five days before Pennsylvania, the second state to ratify.
Does Delaware have beaches?▾
Yes, Delaware has 28 miles of Atlantic coastline with popular beach towns including Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, and Fenwick Island. Rehoboth Beach is nicknamed the 'Nation's Summer Capital' due to its proximity to Washington, D.C.
Data sources
U.S. Census Bureau · USDA NASS · CDC BRFSS · National Park Service · NOAA CDO
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the NASS API but is not endorsed or certified by NASS.
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