|
Delaware
Capital:
Dover
State abbreviation/Postal code:
Del./DE
Nickname:
Diamond State / Small Wonder
Origin of name:
Named after an early Virginia governor,
Lord De La Warr
Briefs on Delaware:
Though regarded as the second smallest state in
the United States, spreading over just 6,452 square kilometers, yet it
has much to offer its every visitor. Delaware is known for its
peaceful ambience, lovely beaches, beautiful sightseeing, hospitality
of its people, wonderful small cities and towns, museums and
activities such as kayaking, boating, bicycle riding etc.
Delaware is a Mid-Atlantic state in the United
States of America. It was one of the original 13 states and is known
as the First State because it was the first sate to ratify the United
States Constitution.
 On the northern side of Delaware lies the state
of Pennsylvania, on the east are the Delaware River and the Atlantic
Ocean and the west and south are bordered by Maryland. The capital of
Delaware is Dover. Out of the total population of 783,600, Dover
nestles around 32,135 people while Wilmington, the largest city of the
region has an approximate population of 71,988 people. Wilmington is
the anchor city for the Delaware Valley Metropolitan area.
Delaware has a vast history to its name. Prior to
the European settlement in the region, the Eastern Algonquian tribes
inhabited the area. These tribes that were also known as Unami Lenape
or Delaware settled throughout the Delaware valley and the Nanticoke
along the rivers that finally merged into the Chesapeake Bay. The
Unami Lenape in the Delaware were closely related to the Munsee Lenape
tribes along the Hudson River. In the years that followed the
tribesmen lost their lands on the Delaware River. This was followed by
the destruction of the Minqua by the Iroquois of the Five Nations in
1670. As a result in the middle of 18th century the
remnants of the Lenape left the region and moved over the Alleghany
Mountains.
Around 1631 the Dutch were the first Europeans to
settle in the region. They also established a trading post at
Zwaanendael. However all the Dutch settlers were killed by the Native
Americans. In 1638 a Swedish trading post and colony was established
here. In 1651 the Dutch under the leadership of Peter Stuyvesant
established a new fort which is present day’s New Castle. In 1655 the
Dutch seized the entire Swedish colony and included it into Dutch New
Netherlands.
In 1664 the British overpowered the Dutch regime.
The ownership of the state came under James, the Duke of York. Penn
led to the establishment of the representative government in the
region.
The middle colonies and the lower counties of
Delaware were under the British rule till people started realizing
that it was important to have territory’s individual existence as a
separate entity and this depended greatly upon keeping step with its
powerful neighbors especially Pennsylvania.
After the American Revolution that ended two
centuries of rule of the Thirteen Colonies by the British Empire,
statesmen from Delaware were among the leading proponents of a strong
central United States government with equal representation for each
state. As soon as the Connecticut Compromise was reached that created
the US Senate and US House of Representatives, on 7th
December 1787 the leaders in Delaware managed to secure the
ratification of the US Constitution, making Delaware the foremost
state to do so.
More links about Delaware |
