State of Delaware
Nicknames: The First State, The Small Wonder, The Blue Hen State
Motto(s): Liberty and Independence
Date of Statehood: December 7, 1787 (1st state)
State Song: “Our Delaware” by George B. Hynson and Donn Devine
Delaware Flag History
The flag of Delaware, officially adopted on July 24, 1913, carries significant historical importance and symbolism. It features a buff-colored diamond on a colonial blue background, within which the state’s coat of arms is displayed. The coat of arms includes a farmer and a soldier supporting a shield with a wheatsheaf, an ear of corn, and an ox standing on grass, representing Delaware’s agriculture, industry, and history in husbandry and cultivation.
Above the shield is a sailing ship, symbolizing the state’s maritime commerce and coastal economy. The date on the bottom of the diamond, December 7, 1787, signifies Delaware’s distinction as the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, earning it the nickname “The First State.
The colors of the flag, colonial blue, and buff, are also historically significant. They were the colors of the uniform of General George Washington, reflecting Delaware’s rich history in the American Revolution and its early role in the formation of the United States. The flag’s design is a tribute to the state’s past, its economic foundations, and its enduring spirit of independence and liberty.
Delaware Quick Facts
Capital City: Dover
Abbreviation: DE
Population: Approximately 973,000
Region: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic
Origin of State Name: Named after the Delaware River and Bay, which were in turn named after Sir Thomas West, Lord De La Warr, the governor of the Colony of Virginia in 1610
Sports Teams: No major professional sports teams, significant presence in college sports
Bordering States: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Area Codes: 302
Highest Point: Near the Ebright Azimuth at 447.85 feet (136.50 meters)
Lowest Point: Sea level at the Atlantic Ocean
Geography of Delaware
Area: 2,489 square miles (6,446 square kilometers), 49th largest
Land: 1,949 square miles (5,047 square kilometers), 49th largest
Water: 540 square miles (1,399 square kilometers), 21st largest
Coastline: 28 miles (45 kilometers)
Shoreline: 381 miles (613 kilometers), including estuaries and bays
Largest Cities:
- Wilmington
- Dover
- Newark
- Middletown
- Smyrna
- Milford
- Seaford
- Georgetown
- Elsmere
- New Castle
- Millsboro
- Laurel
- Harrington
- Camden
- Clayton
National Parks:
- First State National Historical Park
Delaware State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Delaware Blue Hen
State Animal: Grey Fox
State Amphibian: None
State Butterfly: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
State Fish: Weakfish
State Flower: Peach Blossom
State Horse Breed: None
State Insect: Ladybug
State Mammal: Grey Fox
State Reptile: None
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: Strawberry
State Gemstone: None
State Soil: Greenwich
State Tree: American Holly
State Quarter: Issued in 1999 featuring Caesar Rodney on horseback
State Beverage: Milk
State Colors: Colonial Blue and Buff
State Dance: None
State Food: None
State Fossil: Belemnite
State Mineral: Sillimanite
State Rock: None