Delaware
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Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) |
Template:State25 Delaware is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the nearby Delaware River, in turn named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor.
Delaware occupies the northeastern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula and some islands and territory within the Delaware River. It is the second-smallest and sixth-least populous state, but also the sixth-most densely populated. Delaware's largest city is Wilmington, while the state capital is Dover, the second-largest city in the state. The state is divided into three counties, having the lowest number of counties of any state; from north to south, they are New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County. While the southern two counties have historically been predominantly agricultural, New Castle is more urbanized, being part of the Delaware Valley Metropolitan Statistical Area centered on Philadelphia. Delaware's geography, culture, and history combine elements of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the country.
Before its coastline was explored by Europeans in the 16th century, Delaware was inhabited by several groups of Native Americans, including the Lenape in the north and Nanticoke in the south. It was initially colonized by Dutch traders at Zwaanendael, near the present town of Lewes, in 1631. Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies that took part in the American Revolution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and has since been known as The First State. Since the turn of the 20th century, Delaware is also a de facto onshore corporate haven. By its corporate laws, the state is the domicile of over half of all NYSE-listed business and over three-fifths of the Fortune 500.
Dover Air Force Base, one of the largest in the country, is home to the 436th Airlift Wing and the 512th Airlift Wing. In addition to its other responsibilities in the Air Mobility Command, it serves as the entry point and mortuary for U.S. military personnel (and some civilians) who die overseas.
Etymology
The state takes its name from the nearby Delaware River, in turn named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor.
Sexual orientation
A 2012 Gallup poll found that Delaware's proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults stood at 3.4 percent of the population. This constitutes an estimated total LGBT adult population of 23,698 people. The number of same-sex couple households in 2010 stood at 2,646. This grew by 41.65% from a decade earlier. On July 1, 2013, same-sex marriage was legalized, and all civil unions would be converted into marriages.
- Wikipedia article: Delaware
History of the Delaware Flag
The Delaware State Flag features a blue background. The central element of the flag is a buff-colored diamond with Delaware's Coat of Arms emblazoned in the center. The Coat of Arms includes a shield adorned with horizontal blue, white, and green stripes, containing a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and an ox. Supporting the shield on the left side is a farmer and on the right side stands a soldier. At the top of the shield is a ship, and below it is a banner displaying the state motto, "Liberty and Independence." Beneath the diamond, the date December 7th, 1787, is emblazoned in white; this marks the day when Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution, a significant point of pride for the state.
The blue and buff colors used in this flag's design pay homage to the colors of the uniform worn by George Washington during his time as a General in the United States Army. The ship at the top of the shield represents Delaware's shipbuilding industry. The corn, wheat, ox, and farmer signify the importance of the agricultural industry to Delaware's economy. The wheat sheaf and ear of corn also pay tribute to the crests of Sussex County and Kent County at the time the flag was originally designed. The soldier symbolizes the military's role in the Revolutionary War. The diamond shape in the center of the flag refers to Thomas Jefferson's nickname for the state, "The Diamond State." Jefferson described Delaware as a "jewel among the states" due to its ideal location. The current Delaware Coat of Arms was adopted on January 17th, 1777, while the current Delaware State Flag was adopted on July 24th, 1913.
Delaware is the second smallest state in the nation and is located in the Northeastern region of the United States. It shares borders with New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city is Dover. Delaware was named after the Delaware River, which was named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman. Delaware is divided into three counties: New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County.
The earliest inhabitants of the area now known as Delaware were Native American tribes including the Lenape and Nanticoke. In 1631, the area was first colonized by Dutch traders until 1638, when New Sweden established a colony at Fort Christina, remaining a colony of Sweden for 17 years. In 1651, the Dutch established a fort; following their victory in 1655 against Sweden, Delaware became part of "Dutch New Netherland." In 1664, the English drove the Dutch out of Delaware, and it became an English colony. Between 1664 and 1682, control of Delaware shifted between the Dutch and the English until it became a colony of Pennsylvania. In 1777, following the Revolutionary War, Delaware became an independent state.
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Delaware ]
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