Geography and Climate of Delaware
Delaware, the second smallest state after Rhode Island, borders by Pennsylvania in the north, Maryland to the south and west and New Jersey, the Delaware River, Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. There are a few portions of Delaware on the eastern side of the Delaware River estuary, sharing a boundary with New Jersey. The state, along with Maryland and two Virginia counties make up the Delmarva Peninsula.
At 96 miles long and nine to 35 miles across, Delaware is extremely small and narrow, with a total of 1,954 square miles. Twelve-Mile Circle, a 12-mile arc that serves as the Delaware and Pennsylvania boundary, is the only real arc boundary in the U.S. It extends eastward to the New Jersey shore and along the shoreline until the middle of the Delaware River estuary.
The Wedge, on the other hand, lies between the northwest of the arc and Maryland’s border. It was originally a point of contention until 1921 between Pennsylvania and Delaware.
The northern region of the state is closely to the rolling hills of the Appalachian Piedmont. The rest of Delaware sits on the Atlantic Coastal Plain and is flat, with sandy and swampy ground as the Delaware River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, the highest elevation at Ebright Azimuth does not even rise 450 feet above sea level. Since the state is so small, it only has three counties: Kent County, Sussex and New Castle.
Delaware’s climate is a mixture of humid subtropical and continental climate and the ocean moderates much of it. The southern half of the state has milder winters in comparison to the north, with less snowfall. However, the entire state gets humid and hot during the summer, with a fair amount of precipitation in the spring.
History of Delaware
Algonquin and Nanticoke Native American tribes lived throughout the Delaware valley before Dutch explorers settled in 1631 and established a trading post. The colony took the name of its governor, Thomas West, Baron De La Warr.
Various groups of Swedes, Finns and Dutch created new forts, including Fort Christina, which is now Wilmington. The Dutch eventually incorporated the area into Dutch New Netherland. However, in 1664, the British forcibly removed them. The land was given to William Penn, who leased the “Lower Counties on the Delaware,” so that Pennsylvania could have access to the ocean.
Once the colonies broke ties with the British, Delaware played an important role in the American Revolutionary War. The British army trampled through Delaware toward the Battle of Brandywine. They captured Philadelphia, thereby occupying Wilmington and the rest of the state.
The British remained in control of Delaware and its river throughout most of the rest of the war. However, after defeating the British, Delaware was the first to ratify the new U.S. Constitution and become an official state.
The late 18th century and early 19th century saw the establishment of gristmills along the Brandywine and Christina rivers, producing paper and flour. Eleuthere Irenee du Pont, a descendant of a prominent French family, started a gunpowder mill nearby Wilmington. Delaware’s economy then shifted toward manufacturing, particularly textiles and chemicals. These industrial factories helped Delaware’s economy thrive.
Colonial settlers moved from Maryland and Virginia, engaging in mixed farming and hence decreasing the need for indentured servitude or slave labor. Most slaves were freed due to encouragement from Quakers and sympathy for abolitionist groups.
There were still a few plantations using slaves on the eve of the Civil War. However, no Confederate militia groups organized and Delaware voted against secession. Until 1901, Delaware refused to ratify the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. This divided the state’s Democrats and allowed the Republican Party to adopt political leadership.
Immigrants from Europe continued to settle in Delaware, looking for work in factories or on farms. As transportation improved, the state’s economy continued to grow. Du Pont’s mill grew into a massive chemical industry. A new state constitution reflected how Delaware farmers kept political strength within rural areas as opposed to major cities.
During the 1950s and 1960s, integration in public schools and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., resulted in rioting throughout Wilmington. In the 1980s, Gov. Du Pont fought to create thousands of jobs for New York subsidiary banks by loosening interest rate laws.
Demographics of Delaware
As of 2006, the estimated population for Delaware is 853,476. While Wilmington is the most populous city, Dover is the state capital.
Since Delaware was a slave state, the African-American population is the highest of any state north of Maryland, making up 19 percent. Irish, German, English and Italian are the next largest ancestry groups.
Methodists and Baptists comprise nearly 40 percent of Delaware’s religious makeup, while 17 percent of the population has no religious affiliation, along with other Christian groups. Established in Wilmington, the A.M.U.P. is the oldest African-American church and still has a large following. As new immigrants enter, the Muslim and Hindu populations grow. There is also a rising Jewish population.
Economy of Delaware
In 2003, Delaware’s gross state product was $49 billion, with a per capita personal income of $34,199.
Chemical products from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. and Syngenta are Delaware’s chief economic contributors. Other industries include food processing, metal products, medical supplies, textiles, rubber, plastics, machinery and paper products.
Despite its heavy manufacturing, Delaware produces poultry, dairy products, soybeans and corn as part of agricultural outputs. Finance is also growing, with branches of New York banks, along with education. Dover Air Force Base provides numerous government jobs, as one of the largest air force bases in the country.
Delaware Law and Government
There are 41 House of Representatives members and 21 Senate members in the Delaware government. Democrat Ruth Ann Minner serves as the state’s governor. Joseph R. Bide, Jr. and Thomas R. Carper, both Democrats, currently serve Delaware in the U.S. Senate. Delaware has just one congressional representative, Republican Michael N. Castle.
In the past, the Republican Party has widely influenced the Delaware vote, as the wealthy du Pont family controlled the state’s politics. Since the early 1900s, the du Pont influence has decreased, along with the Republican Party in Delaware.
Nowadays, Delaware is a bellwether state, voting for both Democrat and Republican candidates in presidential elections. Democrat strength comes more from New Castle County, while Kent and Sussex Counties tend to support Republicans.
Delaware Transportation
I-95 cuts across New Castle County by going southwest to northeast. Route 1 connects Wilmington to the coastline, while U.S. Route 40 links Maryland and Delaware beaches. U.S. Routes 9, 12, 40, 113, 202 and 301 also serve various parts of Delaware.
Delaware has close to 1,450 bridges, all under the care of Delaware’s transportation agency, DelDOT. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry goes from Delaware Bay to New Jersey. The Woodland Ferry crosses the Nanticoke River and the Three Forts Ferry connects Fort Delaware to Delaware City. Newark and Wilmington both have railway stations serviced by Amtrak.
Delaware has a great public transportation system, with subsidized taxi and passenger rail, as well as statewide bus service that goes door-to-door for the elderly and disabled.
The nearest airport is in New Castle, which provides some air service from commercial airlines, as well as a few regional airports. Otherwise, Delaware is the only state that does not have regular commercial airline service.
Major Cities and Towns of Delaware
Wilmington is the state’s largest city, located centrally between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Brandywine Park and Zoo are located in the neighborhood of the same name. Culturally, the Delaware Art Museum, Theatre Company, the DuPont Playhouse and Grand Opera House are all within the city. In addition, Delaware has a number of historic sites, such as the Old Swedes Church and the Nemours Mansion and Gardens.
Delaware Educational System
The University of Delaware in Newark is the state’s largest university. Several other state universities and liberal colleges make up the rest of Delaware’s postsecondary institutions.
Delaware, unlike many other states, has a centralized educational system. Find out more at the Delaware Department of Education.
Delaware Sports Teams and Recreational Activities
Due to its close proximity to larger cities, Delawareans follow sports teams in Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well as the University of Delaware’s football team. Despite not having any major sports team in the state, Delaware is home to several minor league teams, such as the Wilmington Blue Rocks in baseball and the Delaware Griffins in the women’s professional football league. It is also the home of the Monster Mile, or the Dover International Speedway.
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