Did you know that July 13 is National Delaware Day? It’s a commemoration of how Delaware was the first of the 13 colonies to officially declare independence from the British Crown back in 1776.
While meager in size, Delaware more than makes up for what it lacks in physical size by way of a grand array of notable contributions. From famed firsts to unique claims to originality, in honor of the day, here are some fun facts all Delaware.
The First State?
It may be true that Jamestown was established in Virginia on May 14, 1607, as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Delaware, however, was the first state to formally ratify the United States Constitution of the newly formed nation on December 7, 1787.
The Deciding Vote
In addition to being the “first state” to join the newly formed union, it was Delaware Delegate Caesar Rodney who initially cast the deciding vote in the Continental Congress to pursue independence from Great Britain. As the story goes, he rode 80 miles through harsh, stormy conditions, making his way over to Philadelphia to do so.
What’s in a Name?
Delaware derived its name from the Delaware River, which in turn was named for Sir Thomas West, Lord De La Warr, who served as the first governor of Virginia in 1610. While not an odd-sounding name by any means, it is home to several peculiarly named towns, beaches, and other locations. Examples topping the notorious list include: Slaughter Beach, Broadkill Beach, Corner Ketch, Pot-Nets, Gumboro, Bacons, Long Neck, Blue Ball, Bear, Red Lion, Cooch’s Bridge, Leipsic, Kitts Hummock, Murder Kill River, Hardscrapple, Jimtown, Black Cat, Cowgills Corner, Angora, Fix’s Corner, Rabbits Ferry, Mermaid, Taylors Gut Landing, Shaft Ox Corner, Retreat, and Shortly, among many others.
Comprises Three Counties
As mentioned previously, Delaware is a tiny state as far as physical area is concerned. It is the second smallest state in all of the United States (the first honor goes to Rhode Island). Because it is so small, Delaware only has three counties—New Castle, Kent, and Sussex.
City Stats
Lewes is officially known for being the first town in the first state. It was settled by the Dutch back in 1631. Dover happens to be Delaware’s capital city, although Wilmington is its most populous.
Site of the First Log Cabin
In continuation of the first state’s notable firsts, Delaware also happens to be home to the first log cabin in all of North America. It was constructed in 1638 near the mouth of the Delaware River.
Home to the Heimlich Maneuver
Interestingly enough, Delaware was the birthplace of the now world-renowned Heimlich Maneuver. Used most commonly to prevent deaths by choking, it was Delawarean Henry Heimlich who invented the technique in 1975.
Birthplace of the Inventor of the First Auto
Did you know that the very first automobile in America was invented by a Delaware resident in 1805? The man was Oliver Evans, born in 1755.
A Corporate Capital!
Delaware has many claims to fame. But did you know that it’s also considered the “Corporate Capital of the World”? More than 50 percent of publicly traded companies are located in the state alone.
No Sales Tax
Delaware is one of a handful of states in the nation that do not have sales tax. The others are Alaska, Oregon, Montana, and New Hampshire.
Chicken Symbolism
Interestingly, one of Delaware’s more unique claims to fame is linked to chickens. It was back in 1939 that the blue hen was adopted as the state symbol. It is also the official state bird.
It’s worth mentioning how more broiler chickens are raised in Sussex County alone than in any other U.S. County. The chicken population in the state outweighs the human population at a ratio of 200 to one. Furthermore, it is the poultry and egg industry that accounts for 75 percent of the state’s entire agricultural production.
Busy Bees Live Here Too!
On an alternate agricultural note, the contributions of bees in Delaware cannot be overlooked. Over 7,200 bee colonies can be found here, contributing to the honey harvesting industry with a worth of around $2.5 million. Their contributions total around $30 million to the overall agricultural industry.
Haven to Horseshoe Crabs
Delaware is the undisputed horseshoe crab haven in the world, too. Delaware Bay alone is home to the largest population of these creatures on the entire planet.
And Endangered Species…
Delaware also provides a natural, thriving habitat for around 86 different endangered species. From birds like the Red Knot to Leatherback sea turtles, U.S. laws are in place to allow such creatures to be protected and conserved.
Other Symbolic Critters
Many states have officially designated creatures to represent the region. Delaware has quite a few unique ones in addition to those previously mentioned. The Ladybug has been the state bug since 1974. Interestingly enough, Delaware also has an official state Macroinvertebrate, which in this case is the Stonefly. There’s also the Eastern Swallowtail serving as the state butterfly. The Weakfish is the official state fish, and the Grey Fox is the officially designated wildlife symbol. Oddly enough, Delaware does not have a particular breed of dog or cat serving as the state’s official representative. The Golden Retriever was designated as such on August 3, 2016, but that was only for a one-year duration. As of 2019, the “rescue dog” of any breed was officially declared Delaware’s state dog.
A Long Suspension Bridge
Did you know that the famed Delaware Memorial Bridge, of such great renown, is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world? It connects Delaware to New Jersey and was constructed in two phases. The eastbound section opened in 1951, with the westbound following in 1968.
The First Nylon Plant
Seaford, Delaware, is home to the very first nylon plant in the world. This largely depended upon fiber was invented onsite by none other than DuPont chemist Wallace Hume Carothers in 1937.
Birthplace of Study Abroad
The very first study-abroad program for college students was officially launched at the University of Delaware in 1923.
New to the National Park Scene
Up until the 21st century, Delaware was known as the only state in America that did not have a National Park. Since then, the First State National Historical Park was established in 2013, comprising 1,100 acres of land and historic sites.
These are just a few fun factoids surrounding the long and enduring legacy of the State of Delaware. In conclusion, the saying rings true that great things come in small packages.