Delaware
Delaware (/ˈdɛləwɛər/ (
listen))[11] is a state in the United States. It is sometimes called the First State because it was the first colony to accept the new constitution in 1787.[12] Its capital is Dover and its biggest city is Wilmington. It is the second smallest state in the United States.
Delaware | |
|---|---|
| State of Delaware | |
| Nickname(s): The First State; The Small Wonder;[1] Blue Hen State; The Diamond State | |
| Motto: Liberty and Independence | |
| Anthem: "Our Delaware" | |
.svg) Map of the United States with Delaware highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Delaware Colony, New Netherland, New Sweden |
| Admitted to the Union | December 7, 1787 (1st) |
| Capital | Dover |
| Largest city | Wilmington |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Delaware Valley |
| Government | |
| • Governor | John Carney (D) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Bethany Hall-Long (D) |
| Legislature | General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Representatives |
| Judiciary | Delaware Supreme Court |
| U.S. senators | Tom Carper (D) Chris Coons (D) |
| U.S. House delegation | Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) (list) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,489[2] sq mi (6,450 km2) |
| • Rank | 49th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 96 mi (154 km) |
| • Width | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Elevation | 60 ft (20 m) |
| Highest elevation | 447.85 ft (136.50468 m) |
| Lowest elevation (Atlantic Ocean[3]) | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (July 1, 2021) | |
| • Total | 1,003,384[5] |
| • Rank | 45th[7] |
| • Density | 500/sq mi (190/km2) |
| • Median household income | $69,100[6] |
| • Income rank | 16th |
| Demonym | Delawarean |
| Language | |
| • Official language | None |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | DE |
| ISO 3166 code | US-DE |
| Traditional abbreviation | Del. |
| Latitude | 38° 27′ N to 39° 50′ N |
| Longitude | 75° 3′ W to 75° 47′ W |
| Website | delaware |
| Delaware state symbols | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Living insignia | |
| Bird | Delaware Blue Hen |
| Butterfly | Eastern tiger swallowtail |
| Wildlife animal | Grey fox |
| Fish | Weakfish |
| Flower | Peach blossom |
| Insect | 7-spotted ladybug |
| Tree | American holly |
| Inanimate insignia | |
| Beverage | Milk |
| Colors | Colonial blue, buff |
| Food | Strawberry, peach custard pie |
| Fossil | Belemnite |
| Mineral | Sillimanite |
| Slogan | Endless Discoveries—[10]Formerly: It's Good Being First |
| Soil | Greenwich |
| State route marker | |
 | |
| State quarter | |
 Released in 1999 | |
| Lists of United States state symbols | |
The Dutch first settled Delaware. The Swedish then took over in the mid-1600s.
Geography
Delaware is 96 miles (154 km) long and ranges from 9 miles (14 km) to 35 miles (56 km) across, totaling 1,954 square miles (5,060 km2), making it the second-smallest state in the United States after Rhode Island. Delaware is bounded 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.
Topography
Delaware is on a flat plain, with the lowest mean elevation of any state in the nation.[13] Its highest elevation, located at Ebright Azimuth, near Concord High School, is less than 450 feet (140 m) above sea level.[13]
Environment
The transitional climate of Delaware supports a wide variety of vegetation. In the northern third of the state are found Northeastern coastal forests and mixed Oak forests typical of the northeastern United States.[14] In the southern two-thirds of the state are found Middle Atlantic coastal forests.[14] Trap Pond State Park, along with areas in other parts of Sussex County, for example, support the northernmost stands of bald cypress trees in North America.
Environmental management
Delaware provides government subsidy support for the clean-up of property "lightly contaminated" by hazardous waste. The money for this cleanup comes from a tax on wholesale petroleum sales.[15]
Sister cities and states
Delaware's sister state in Japan is Miyagi Prefecture.[16]
Gallery
Lewes Outer Harbor 
Old Delaware
State House
Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware
Related pages
References
Other websites
 | Definitions from Wiktionary |
 | Media from Commons |
 | News stories from Wikinews |
 | Quotations from Wikiquote |
 | Source texts from Wikisource |
 | Textbooks from Wikibooks |
 | Travel guide from Wikivoyage |
 | Learning resources from Wikiversity |
39°00′N 75°30′W / 39°N 75.5°W
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