32 Fun Facts About Delaware – This Border Is Unique!

by Petr Novák, ? This article’s information was last verified on this date. If you notice any errors, let us know in the comments. Thank you! :-) Updated 01/08/2024 Delaware, Trivia About the US states

Delaware is a small state on the east coast of the USA. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in interesting facts. For example, it was the first to ratify the USA Constitution. In addition, along with Pennsylvania, it shares a globally unique border shape.

32 Interesting Facts About the State of Delaware

1. In 1910, a battleship named Delaware was commissioned by Americans.
2. The state of Delaware received its name from the first governor of Virginia, Lord de la Warr.
3. During World War II, 12 concrete watchtowers were constructed along the state’s coastline. They were designed to protect the coastline from attacks by German U-boats.
4. Delaware was the first American state to ratify the USA Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787.
5. The first permanent settlement in Delaware Territory, called New Sweden, was established in 1638.
6. Every May, the entire Delaware coast is overrun with crabs. These creatures can tolerate high temperatures and high salinity well, and they can survive an entire year without eating.
7. The state’s lowest point is the sea-level coastline. Conversely, the highest point, at 443 ft, is Ebright Road in New Castle District.
8. A replica of the Kalmar Nyckel, which reached the shores of the Christina River in 1639, was recently constructed in Delaware. The ship is as tall as a ten-story building and measures 138 ft long.
9. As a coastal state, you will find several lighthouses. The Fenwick Island Lighthouse, standing at 87 ft tall, was entirely painted in 1880 at a cost of only $5.
10. The state’s first railroad was introduced in the town of New Castle in 1831.
11. Delaware shares a globally unique, semicircular border with the state of Pennsylvania. This border is commonly referred to as the 12-Mile Circle.
12. In 1812, the largest port in Delaware was Port Penn.
13. For the 1950 Delmarva Chicken Festival, a record-sized frying pan was crafted. It measured over 10 ft wide, held 680 liters of oil, and could fry 800 chicken quarters at once.
14. The renowned Hagley Museum in Wilmington initially functioned as a gunpowder factory.
15. The Delaware Breakwater at Cape Henlopen State Park was the first structure of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
16. The city of Delmar straddles the border of Delaware and Maryland. This small city, it is said, was too large for one state, so it stretches across two.
17. The arrival of the English Pilgrims in Delaware and the establishment of the first white settlement were separated by exactly 11 years.
18. At only 3,188 mi, Delaware is the second smallest state. It measures 96 mi long and ranges from 9 mi to 35 mi wide. Only Rhode Island is smaller.
19. The Du Pont laboratories in Seaford were the first in the world to develop a fiber known as nylon. This widely used material earned Seaford the title of “Nylon Capital of the World”.
20. In 1785, Oliver Evans of Newport invented the first fully automated flour mill, revolutionizing the industry.
21. The Delaware Indians were known in their time as some of the most progressive tribes on the East Coast.
22. The town of Milton was named after the British poet John Milton in 1807.
23. Fisher’s Caramel Popcorn, a popular treat on the Delaware coast, is ordered by customers in Vietnam and Indonesia.
24. The historic city of Odessa is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of late 18th and early 19th century architecture. As such, the entire city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
25. Delaware is the only USA state that does not have a national park, historic site, famous battlefield, monument, or nationally significant memorial.
26. The largest port city in Delaware, Rehoboth Beach, was established by religious Methodists who originally purchased the land to create a center for their religious meetings.
27. About 500 descendants of the original Nanticoke Indians still reside in Delaware. Each September, they commemorate their heritage during the Nanticoke Indian Pow Wow.
28. The tradition of burying locals in cabins dates back to the 17th century when Finnish immigrants arrived in Delaware. They started building cabins across the state, which eventually became a symbol of American settlement.
29. The state’s largest sand dune is the 79 ft high Great Dune at Cape Henlopen State Park.
30. American activist Thomas Garret lost his entire fortune fighting against slavery. He was sued by a Maryland slave owner for aiding his family, resulting in a heavy fine. According to surviving records, Thomas Garret rescued over 2,000 people from slavery through the Underground Railroad.
31. Of the three counties in Delaware, New Castle has both the largest population and the smallest land area.
32. The designer of the American Flag, Betsy Ross, first flew the stars and stripes flag at the location known as the Battle of Cooch Bridge. You can visit this historic site off Route 4 in Newark.