From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Delaware is located in the northeastern portion of the
Delmarva Peninsula and is the second smallest state in area (after
Rhode Island). Estimates in 2007 rank the population of Delaware as 45th in the nation, but 6th in population density, with more than 60% of the population in
New Castle County.
[7] Delaware is divided into three counties. From north to south, these three counties are New Castle,
Kent, and
Sussex.
.^ New Castle County .
The state ranks second in civilian scientists and engineers as a percentage of the workforce and number of patents issued to companies or individuals per 1,000 workers.
[8] The history of the state's economic and industrial development is closely tied to the impact of the
Du Pont family, founders and scions of
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, one of the world’s largest chemical companies.
[9]Geography
Diagram of the Twelve-Mile Circle, the Mason-Dixon Line and "
The Wedge." All blue and white areas are inside Delaware.
Delaware is 96 miles (154 km) long and ranges from 9 miles (14 km) to 35 miles (56 km) across, totaling 1,954 square miles (5,060 km
2), making it the second-smallest state in the United States after
Rhode Island. Delaware is bounded to the north by
Pennsylvania; to the east by the
Delaware River,
Delaware Bay,
New Jersey and the
Atlantic Ocean; and to the west and south by
Maryland. Small portions of Delaware are also situated on the eastern side of the Delaware River sharing land boundaries with New Jersey. The state of Delaware, together with the
Eastern Shore counties of Maryland and two counties of
Virginia, form the Delmarva Peninsula, which stretches down the Mid-Atlantic Coast.
The definition of the northern boundary of the state is highly unusual. Most of the boundary between Delaware and Pennsylvania was originally defined by an arc extending 12 miles (19.3 km) from the
cupola of the courthouse in
New Castle. This boundary is often referred to as the
Twelve-Mile Circle.
[11] This is the only nominally circular state boundary in the United States. This border extends all the way east to the low-tide mark on the New Jersey shore, then continues south along the shoreline until it again reaches the twelve-mile arc in the south; then the boundary continues in a more conventional way in the middle of the main channel (
thalweg) of the Delaware River. To the west, a portion of the arc extends past the easternmost edge of Maryland. The remaining western border runs slightly east of due south from its intersection with the arc.
The Wedge of land between the northwest part of the arc and the Maryland border was claimed by both Delaware and Pennsylvania until 1921, when Delaware's claim was confirmed.
- Main articles: Twelve-Mile Circle, The Wedge, Mason-Dixon line, Transpeninsular Line
Topography
Delaware is on a level plain, with the lowest mean elevation of any state in the nation. Its highest elevation, located at
Ebright Azimuth, near
Concord High School, does not rise fully 450 feet (140 m) above sea level. The northernmost part of the state is part of the Appalachian Piedmont with hills and rolling surfaces. The
fall line approximately follows the
Robert Kirkwood Highway between
Newark and
Wilmington; south of this road is the
Atlantic Coastal Plain with flat, sandy, and, in some parts, swampy ground. A ridge about 75 to 80 feet (23 to 24 m) in elevation extends along the western boundary of the state and separates between the
watersheds that feed Delaware River and Bay to the east and the
Chesapeake Bay to the west.
Climate
Since almost all of Delaware is a part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the effects of the ocean moderate its climate. The state is somewhat of a transitional zone between a
humid subtropical climate and a
continental climate. Despite its small size (roughly 100 miles (160 km) from its northernmost to southernmost points), there is significant variation in mean temperature and amount of snowfall between
Sussex County and
New Castle County. The southern portion of the state has a somewhat milder climate and a longer growing season than the northern portion of the state. The transitional climate of Delaware supports a wide variety of
vegetation. At
Trap Pond State Park in Sussex County,
bald cypress grow in what is thought to be the northernmost stand of such trees.
.^ Local Rules and Other Documents All Indiana counties are required to have local court rules, some of which must be approved by the Indiana Supreme Court (See Indiana Trial Rule 81 for more information).- Delaware County Courts - Indiana 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.in.gov [Source type: General]
^ The New Castle County Courthouse is located in Wilmington, where the court is housed in a modern recently built courthouse.- First State Judiciary - Superior Court of Delaware--Official Web Site 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC courts.state.de.us [Source type: News]
^ In microfilm, the Historical Society library has First Papers 1832-1906 and Final Papers 1798-1906 for New Castle County (Microfilm Del.-6).- Historical Society of Delaware - Delaware Genealogy 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.hsd.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
All of Delaware has relatively hot, humid summers.
.^ County Ordinances Kent County <2> New Castle County <3> Sussex County <2> Click on the button keyed to the name of the county.- Delaware -- Sources [ ALSO! -- U.S. Law ] 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.lawsource.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Delaware Weather: The state of Delaware transitions from a humid subtropical climate to a continental climate, with its climate being moderated by the effects of the ocean.- Delaware Private Golf Course Gated Communities and Luxury Homes at PrivateCommunities.com 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.privatecommunities.com [Source type: General]
^ The New Castle County Courthouse is located in Wilmington, where the court is housed in a modern recently built courthouse.- First State Judiciary - Superior Court of Delaware--Official Web Site 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC courts.state.de.us [Source type: News]
[citation needed]History
Native Americans
Before Delaware was settled by European colonists, the area was home to the Eastern
Algonquian tribes known as the
Unami Lenape or Delaware throughout the Delaware valley, and the
Nanticoke along the rivers leading into the
Chesapeake Bay. The Unami Lenape in the Delaware Valley were closely related to
Munsee Lenape tribes along the
Hudson River. They had a settled hunting and agricultural society, and they rapidly became middlemen in an increasingly frantic fur trade with their ancient enemy, the Minqua or
Susquehannock. With the loss of their lands on the Delaware River and the destruction of the Minqua by the
Iroquois of the Five Nations in the 1670s, the remnants of the Lenape left the region and moved over the
Alleghany Mountains by the mid-18th century.
Colonial Delaware
Penn established representative government and briefly combined his two possessions under one General Assembly in 1682. However, by 1704 the Province of Pennsylvania had grown so large that their representatives wanted to make decisions without the assent of the Lower Counties and the two groups of representatives began meeting on their own, one at
Philadelphia, and the other at New Castle. Penn and his heirs remained proprietors of both and always appointed the same person Governor for their Province of Pennsylvania and their territory of the Lower Counties. The fact that Delaware and Pennsylvania shared the same governor was not unique. During much of the colonial period, New York and New Jersey shared a governor, as did
Massachusetts and
New Hampshire.
[citation needed]Dependent in early years on indentured labor, Delaware imported more slaves as the number of English immigrants decreased with better economic conditions in England. The colony became a slave society and cultivated tobacco as a cash crop. Before the Revolution, it had begun to shift to mixed agriculture.[citation needed]
American Revolution
Like the other middle colonies, the Lower Counties on the Delaware initially showed little enthusiasm for a break with
Britain.
.^ The Council on Foundations is a membership organization of more than 2,000 grantmaking foundations and giving programsworldwide.We provide leadership expertise, legal services and networking opportunities-among other services to our membersand to the general public.- Delaware Division of the Arts - Resources for Organizations 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.artsdel.org [Source type: News]
^ Where you live: Urban areas have more claims than rural areas and some areas have more frequent accidents than others.- Karen Weldin Stewart, CIR-ML, Delaware's Insurance Commissioner 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.delawareinsurance.gov [Source type: General]
^ In instances where more than l4 days will be necessary to complete the age-appropriate immunization schedule, an extension may be allowed in order to obtain the required immunizations.- Delaware State Vaccine Requirements - National Vaccine Information Center 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.nvic.org [Source type: Original source]
Merchants at the port of Wilmington had trading ties with the British. Nevertheless, there was strong objection to the seemingly arbitrary measures of
Parliament, and leaders understood that the territory's existence as a separate entity depended upon its keeping step with its powerful neighbors, especially Pennsylvania.
[citation needed]So it was that New Castle lawyer
Thomas McKean denounced the
Stamp Act in the strongest terms, and Kent County native
John Dickinson became the "Penman of the Revolution." Anticipating the Declaration of Independence,
Patriot leaders Thomas McKean and
Caesar Rodney convinced the Colonial Assembly to declare itself separated from British and Pennsylvania rule on June 15, 1776. The person best representing Delaware's majority,
George Read, could not bring himself to vote for a Declaration of Independence. Only the dramatic overnight ride of Caesar Rodney gave the delegation the votes needed to cast Delaware's vote for independence. Once the Declaration was adopted, however, Read signed the document.
[citation needed]Following the Battle of Brandywine, Wilmington was occupied by the British, and
State President John McKinly was taken prisoner. The British remained in control of the Delaware River for much of the rest of the war, disrupting commerce and providing encouragement to an active
Loyalist portion of the population, particularly in Sussex County. Because the British promised slaves of rebels freedom for fighting with them, escaped slaves flocked north to join their lines.
[12] Only the repeated military actions of State President Caesar Rodney were able to harass the British.
[citation needed]Following the
American Revolution, statesmen from Delaware were among the leading proponents of a strong central United States with equal representation for each state. Once the
Connecticut Compromise was reached—creating a
U.S. Senate and
U.S. House of Representatives—the leaders in Delaware were able to easily secure ratification of the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787, making Delaware the first state to do so.
[citation needed]Slavery and race
Many colonial settlers came to Delaware from Maryland and Virginia, which had been experiencing a population boom. The economies of these colonies were chiefly based on tobacco culture and were increasingly dependent on slave labor for its intensive cultivation. Most of the English colonists arrived as
indentured servants, hiring themselves out as laborers for a fixed period to pay for their passage. In the early years the line between indentured servants and African
slaves or laborers was fluid. Most of the free African-American families in Delaware before the Revolution had migrated from Maryland to find more affordable land. They were descendants chiefly of relationships or marriages between servant women and enslaved, servant or free African or African-American men.
[13] As the flow of indentured laborers to the colony decreased with improving economic conditions in England, more slaves were imported for labor.
At the end of the colonial period, the number of enslaved people in Delaware began to decline. Shifts in the agriculture economy from tobacco to mixed farming created less need for slaves' labor. Local
Methodists and
Quakers encouraged slaveholders to free their slaves following the American Revolution, and many did so in a surge of individual manumissions for idealistic reasons. By 1810 three-quarters of all blacks in Delaware were free. When John Dickinson freed his slaves in 1777, he was Delaware's largest slave owner with 37 slaves. By 1860 the largest slaveholder owned only 16 slaves.
[14]Although attempts to abolish slavery failed by narrow margins in the legislature, in practical terms, the state had mostly ended the practice. By the
1860 census on the verge of the
Civil War, 91.7 percent of the black population, or nearly 20,000 people, were free.
[15][16]At the onset of the
Civil War, Delaware was only nominally a slave state, and it remained in the Union. Delaware voted against secession on January 3, 1861. As the governor said, Delaware had been the first state to embrace the Union by ratifying the Constitution and would be the last to leave it.
.^ At the outbreak of the War of 1812 (1812-14), most Delaware, Shawnee and Wyandot remained neutral or supported the Americans.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
^ Prior to the Civil War, Delaware was classed with the Southern, or slave-holding, States.- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.newadvent.org [Source type: Original source]
^ For the most part, the Lenape in the Delaware Valley had not participated in the Esopus war, not because they had no sympathy for the Munsee, but because they had their hands full helping the Susquehannock in their war with the Iroquois.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
Delaware is notable for being the only slave state from which no Confederate regiments or militia groups were assembled. It did not free its slaves until forced to by the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in December 1865.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1790 |
59,096 |
|
—
|
| 1800 |
64,273 |
|
8.8% |
| 1810 |
72,674 |
|
13.1% |
| 1820 |
72,749 |
|
0.1% |
| 1830 |
76,748 |
|
5.5% |
| 1840 |
78,085 |
|
1.7% |
| 1850 |
91,532 |
|
17.2% |
| 1860 |
112,216 |
|
22.6% |
| 1870 |
125,015 |
|
11.4% |
| 1880 |
146,608 |
|
17.3% |
| 1890 |
168,493 |
|
14.9% |
| 1900 |
184,735 |
|
9.6% |
| 1910 |
202,322 |
|
9.5% |
| 1920 |
223,003 |
|
10.2% |
| 1930 |
238,380 |
|
6.9% |
| 1940 |
266,505 |
|
11.8% |
| 1950 |
318,085 |
|
19.4% |
| 1960 |
446,292 |
|
40.3% |
| 1970 |
548,104 |
|
22.8% |
| 1980 |
594,338 |
|
8.4% |
| 1990 |
666,168 |
|
12.1% |
| 2000 |
783,600 |
|
17.6% |
| Est. 2009 |
885,122 |
[1] |
13.0% |
Delaware Population Density Map
| Demographics of Delaware (csv) |
| By race |
White |
Black |
AIAN* |
Asian |
NHPI* |
| 2000 (total population) |
77.65% |
20.28% |
0.79% |
2.43% |
0.09% |
| 2000 (Hispanic only) |
4.10% |
0.59% |
0.12% |
0.04% |
0.02% |
| 2005 (total population) |
76.01% |
21.51% |
0.79% |
3.01% |
0.09% |
| 2005 (Hispanic only) |
5.39% |
0.58% |
0.14% |
0.04% |
0.02% |
| Growth 2000–05 (total population) |
5.37% |
14.20% |
7.91% |
33.58% |
12.73% |
| Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only) |
3.36% |
14.46% |
4.94% |
34.00% |
15.17% |
| Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only) |
41.33% |
5.47% |
24.81% |
8.81% |
2.86% |
| * AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
The five largest ancestries in Delaware are:
African American (19.2%),
Irish (16.6%),
German (14.3%),
English (12.1%),
Italian (9.3%). Delaware has the highest proportion of African-American residents of any state north of Maryland, and had the largest percentage of
free blacks (17% of the state's total population) prior to the Civil War.
Delaware is the sixth most densely populated state, with a population density of 442.6 people per square mile, 356.4 per square mile more than the national average, and ranking 45th in population. Only the states of Delaware, West Virginia, Vermont, Maine, and Wyoming do not have a single city with a population over 100,000 as of the 2007 census.
[7] The
center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of
Townsend.
[18]Languages
As of 2000, 90.5% of Delaware residents age 5 and older speak only English at home; 4.7% speak Spanish. French is the third most spoken language at 0.7%, followed by Chinese at 0.5% and German at 0.5%.
Legislation had been proposed in both the House and the Senate in Delaware to designate English as the
official language.
[19][20] Neither bill was passed the legislature.
Religion
The religious affiliations of the people of Delaware are:
Delaware's population includes approximately 20,000
Jewish Americans, who are served by the
Jewish Community Center in Brandywine (near Wilmington) and by a number of educational, social and cultural agencies supported by the
Jewish Federation of Delaware. Synagogues include Congregation Beth Emeth (Reform) in Wilmington, Congregation Beth El (Reconstructionist) in Newark, Congregation Beth Shalom (Conservative) in Wilmington, Congregation Beth Sholom (Conservative) in Dover, and Adas Kodesh Shel Emeth (Traditional) in Wilmington. Seaside Jewish Community in Rehoboth Beach (unaffiliated) There is also a
Lubavitcher community center and synagogue in
Brandywine Hundred.
Economy
The
gross state product of Delaware in 2003 was $49 billion. The per capita personal income was $34,199, ranking 9th in the nation. In 2005, the average weekly wage was $937, ranking 7th in the nation.
[21]Delaware's agricultural output consists of poultry, nursery stock,
soybeans, dairy products and
corn. Its industrial outputs include chemical products, automobiles,
processed foods, paper products, and rubber and plastic products.
.^ Delaware, one of the original thirteen of the United States of America .- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.newadvent.org [Source type: Original source]
^ State Adoption Contact in Delaware can be a valuable source of information about adoption in general and more specifically about the state's child adoption program.- Delaware Child Adoption Agencies, Laws, Types, Assistance Programs and More 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.adoptionservices.org [Source type: General]
^ Although the Osage had ceded the land to the United States in 1808, they continued to use it for hunting and when they encountered Delaware, they regarded them as intruders.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
The state's largest employers are:
- government (State of Delaware, New Castle County)
- education (University of Delaware)
- banking (Bank of America, Wilmington Trust, First USA / Bank One / JPMorgan Chase, AIG, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Barclays plc)
- chemical and pharmaceutical companies (E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.,[22][23] Syngenta, AstraZeneca, and Hercules, Inc.)
- healthcare (Christiana Care Health System, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children)
- automotive manufacturing (Fisker Automotive)
- farming, specifically chicken farming in Sussex County (Perdue Farms, Mountaire Farms, Allen Family Foods)
The
Dover Air Force Base, located next to the state capital of
Dover, is one of the largest Air Force bases in the country and is a major employer in Delaware. In addition to its other responsibilities in the
USAF Air Mobility Command, this air base serves as the entry point and
mortuary for American military personnel, and some U.S. government civilians, who die overseas.
Delaware has six different
income tax brackets, ranging from 2.2% to 5.95%. The state does not assess
sales tax on consumers. The state does, however, impose a tax on the gross receipts of most businesses. Business and occupational license tax rates range from 0.096% to 1.92%, depending on the category of business activity.
Delaware does not assess a state-level tax on real or personal property.
Real estate is subject to county
property taxes, school district property taxes, vocational school district taxes, and, if located within an incorporated area, municipal property taxes.
Over 50% of US publicly traded corporations and 60% of the
Fortune 500 companies are
incorporated in Delaware;
[24] the state's attractiveness as a
corporate haven is largely because of its business-friendly
corporation law.
Franchise taxes on Delaware corporations supply about one-fifth of its state revenue.
[25] Although Delaware is ranked first tax haven in the world by
Tax Justice Network[26], it is not listed on the OECD's 2009 "Black List", despite objections of Luxembourg's and Switzerland's authorities.
[27][citation needed]Title 4, chapter 7 of the Delaware Code stipulates that alcoholic liquor only be sold in specifically licensed establishments, and only between 9:00 AM and 1:00 AM.
[28]Transportation
The current
state license plate design was introduced in 1959, making it the longest-running license plate design in United States history.
[29]
The transportation system in Delaware is under the governance and supervision of the
Delaware Department of Transportation, also known as "DelDOT".
[30][31] DelDOT manages programs such as a Delaware
Adopt-a-Highway program, major road route snow removal, traffic control infrastructure (signs and signals), toll road management, Delaware
Division of Motor Vehicles, the Delaware Transit Corporation (branded as "DART First State", the state government public transportation organization), among others.
.^ The National Endowment for the Arts is the federal grantmaking agency created by Congress in 1965 to foster the excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts, and to broaden public access to the arts in the United States.- Delaware Division of the Arts - Resources for Organizations 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.artsdel.org [Source type: News]
^ Although under the supervision of the Oneida and Cayuga, most of the Munsee were allowed to remain on their original lands, now claimed by the Iroquois.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
Roads
One major branch of the U.S.
Interstate Highway System,
Interstate 95, crosses Delaware southwest-to-northeast across New Castle County. In addition to I-95, there are six
U.S. highways that serve Delaware:
U.S. Route 9,
U.S. Route 13,
U.S. Route 40,
U.S. Route 113,
U.S. Route 202, and
U.S. Route 301. There are also several state highways that cross the state of Delaware; a few of them include
Delaware Route 1,
Delaware Route 9, and
Delaware Route 404. U.S. 13 and DE Rt
.^ The 11-mile tollway stretched between Maryland's Northeast Expressway eastward to the Delaware Memorial Bridge freeway (U.S. 40).- Interstate 95 Delaware @ AARoads 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.aaroads.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Delaware Reference Numbers: 56 - Maryland state line to Interstate 295 59 - Interstate 295 to Pennsylvania state line .- Interstate 95 Delaware @ AARoads 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.aaroads.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ Between 1630 and 1635, the Susquehannock attacked Lenape villages in southeast Pennsylvania and drove them across the Delaware River into New Jersey or south into northern Delaware.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
DE Rt. 9 is a north-south highway connecting Dover and Wilmington via a scenic route along the
Delaware Bay.
.^ Between the Maryland line and the Interstate 295 split, Interstate 95 continues the east-west orientation that it attains east of Baltimore, Maryland.- Interstate 95 Delaware @ AARoads 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.aaroads.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ The Raritan retreated west into New Jersey, and Kieft's generous offer netted him only one head.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
DE Rt. 404 is another primary east-west highway connecting the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland with the Delaware beaches. The state also operates two toll highways, the
Delaware Turnpike, which is Interstate 95, between Maryland and New Castle and the
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, which is DE Rt. 1, between Wilmington and Dover.
A bicycle route,
Delaware Bicycle Route 1, spans the north-south length of the state from the Maryland border in
Fenwick Island to the Pennsylvania border north of
Montchanin.
.^ Meanwhile, General Thomas Gage had rejected Bradstreet's treaty with the Delaware, Shawnee, and Mingo because it had been signed without first consulting William Johnson.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
[32]Ferries
There are three ferries that operate in the state of Delaware:
Rail and bus
The public transportation system,
DART First State, was named "Most Outstanding Public Transportation System" in 2003 by the
American Public Transportation Association.
.^ New Castle County Council contended that the renumbering would further encourage through traffic to use the eastern bypass of Wilmington.- Interstate 95 Delaware @ AARoads 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.aaroads.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ FOR DELAWARE: New Castle County: On Dec 14, four SANDHILL CRANES were spotted flying toward Hockessin from the Mount Cuba Center.
^ On Jan 3-6, a NORTHERN SHRIKE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK were spotted seen from Janes Lane near its intersection with Kings Highway in the extreme southern corner of the county, near East Greenville.
The system includes bus, subsidized passenger rail operated by Philadelphia transit agency SEPTA, and subsidized taxi and paratransit modes, the latter consisting of a state-wide door-to-door bus service for the elderly and disabled.
Air
Law and government
Delaware's fourth and current constitution, adopted in 1897, provides for executive, judicial and legislative branches.
Legislative branch
The
Delaware General Assembly consists of a
House of Representatives with 41 members and a
Senate with 21 members. It sits in Dover, the state capital. Representatives are elected to two-year terms, while senators are elected to four-year terms. The Senate confirms judicial and other nominees appointed by the governor.
Judicial branch
The Delaware Constitution establishes a number of courts:
Significantly, Delaware has one of the few remaining Courts of
Chancery in the nation, which has jurisdiction over
equity cases, the vast majority of which are corporate disputes, many relating to
mergers and acquisitions. The
Court of Chancery and the Supreme Court have developed a worldwide reputation for rendering concise opinions concerning
corporate law which generally (but not always) grant broad discretion to corporate boards of directors and officers. In addition, the
Delaware General Corporation Law, which forms the basis of the Courts' opinions, is widely regarded as giving great flexibility to corporations to manage their affairs. For these reasons, Delaware is considered to have the most business-friendly legal system in the United States; therefore a great number of companies are
incorporated in Delaware, including 60% of the companies listed on the
New York Stock Exchange.
[34]Executive branch
Counties
Delaware has three counties: Kent County, New Castle County, and Sussex County.
.^ New Castle County Council contended that the renumbering would further encourage through traffic to use the eastern bypass of Wilmington.- Interstate 95 Delaware @ AARoads 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.aaroads.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
^ FOR DELAWARE: New Castle County: On Dec 14, four SANDHILL CRANES were spotted flying toward Hockessin from the Mount Cuba Center.
^ Specializing in residential listings and sales in New Castle & Kent County De, Cecil...- Delaware, Delaware (DE) - Sperling's BestPlaces 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.bestplaces.net [Source type: General]
.^ With a new war threatening, the Delaware decided their old villages in east-central Ohio were vulnerable and relocated most of them to northwestern Ohio and southern Indiana.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
^ Other Delaware groups without federal or state recognition include: the Brotherton Indians (Wisconsin) and the Eastern Lenapi Nation (Pennsylvania).- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
^ Minimum wage laws by state Job services in Delaware Libraries .- Delaware, Delaware (DE) - Sperling's BestPlaces 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.bestplaces.net [Source type: General]
The counties were historically divided into
hundreds, which were used as tax reporting and voting districts until the 1960s, but now serve no administrative role, their only current official legal use being in real-estate title descriptions.
[37]Politics
Presidential elections results
| Year |
Republican |
Democratic |
| 2008 |
37.37% 152,356 |
62.63% 255,394 |
| 2004 |
45.75% 171,660 |
53.35% 200,152 |
| 2000 |
41.90% 137,288 |
54.96% 180,068 |
| 1996 |
36.58% 99,062 |
51.82% 140,955 |
| 1992 |
35.33% 102,313 |
43.52% 126,054 |
| 1988 |
55.88% 139,639 |
43.48% 108,647 |
| 1984 |
59.78% 152,190 |
39.93% 101,656 |
| 1980 |
47.21% 111,252 |
44.87% 105,754 |
| 1976 |
46.57% 109,831 |
51.98% 122,596 |
| 1972 |
59.60% 140,357 |
39.18% 92,283 |
| 1968 |
45.12% 96,714 |
41.61% 89,194 |
| 1964 |
38.78% 78,078 |
60.95% 122,704 |
| 1960 |
49.00% 96,373 |
50.63% 99,590 |
Historically, the Republican Party had an immense influence on Delaware politics, due in large part to the wealthy
du Pont family.
Ralph Nader assembled a
working group to investigate ties between Delaware's politicians and industrialists, resulting in a book published in 1968 entitled
The Company State.
.^ The Delaware formed a war party and burned the main Pawnee village on the Republican River.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
Democrats have won the past four gubernatorial elections and currently hold seven of the nine statewide elected offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General, and two U.S. Senators), while the Republicans hold the remaining two (the state's at-large House seat and the office of Auditor).
The Democratic Party gains most of its votes from developed New Castle County, whereas the less populated Kent and Sussex Counties generally vote Republican.[citation needed]
Municipalities
Wilmington is the state's largest city and its economic hub. It is located within commuting distance of both Philadelphia and Baltimore. All regions of Delaware are enjoying phenomenal growth, with Dover and the beach resorts expanding at a rapid rate.
Top 10 richest places in Delaware
- Greenville: $83,223
- Henlopen Acres: $82,091
- South Bethany: $53,624
- Dewey Beach: $51,958
- Fenwick Island: $44,415
- Bethany Beach: $41,306
- Hockessin: $40,516
- North Star: $39,677
- Rehoboth Beach: $38,494
- Ardentown: $35,577
Education
Unlike many states, Delaware's educational system is centralized in a state Superintendent of Education, with local school boards retaining control over taxation and some curriculum decisions.
A "three-tiered diploma" system fostered by Governor
Ruth Ann Minner, which awarded "basic," "standard," and "distinguished" high-school diplomas based on a student's performance in the Delaware Student Testing Program, was discontinued by the General Assembly after many Delawareans questioned its fairness.
[citation needed]Colleges and universities
Miscellaneous topics
Media
There are no network broadcast-television stations operating solely in Delaware. A local
PBS station from Philadelphia (but licensed to Wilmington),
WHYY-TV, maintains a studio and broadcasting facility in Wilmington and Dover, while
ION Television affiliate
WPPX is licensed to Wilmington, but for all intents and purposes, maintains their offices in Philadelphia and their digital transmitter outside of that city and an analog tower in New Jersey. Philadelphia's
ABC affiliate,
WPVI-TV, maintains a news bureau in downtown Wilmington. The northern part of the state is served by network stations in Philadelphia and the southern part by network stations in
Baltimore and
Salisbury, Maryland. Salisbury's
CBS affiliate,
WBOC-TV, maintains bureaus in Dover and Milton.
Tourism
While Delaware has no places designated as national parks, national seashores, national battlefields, national memorials, or national monuments, it does have several
museums,
wildlife refuges,
parks,
houses,
lighthouses, and other
historic places. Delaware is home to the second longest
twin span suspension bridge in the world, the
Delaware Memorial Bridge.
Rehoboth Beach, together with the towns of
Lewes,
Dewey Beach,
Bethany Beach,
South Bethany, and
Fenwick Island, comprise Delaware's beach resorts. Rehoboth Beach often bills itself as "The Nation's Summer Capital" because it is a frequent summer vacation destination for Washington, D.C., residents as well as visitors from Maryland, Virginia, and in lesser numbers, Pennsylvania. Vacationers are drawn for many reasons, including the town's charm, artistic appeal, nightlife, and tax free shopping.
Delaware is home to several festivals, fairs, and events. Some of the more notable festivals are the Riverfest held in
Seaford, the World Championship Punkin Chunkin held at various locations throughout the county since 1986, the Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival, the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral to mark the end of summer, the Apple Scrapple Festival held in
Bridgeville, the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, the Sea Witch Halloween Festival and Parade in Rehoboth Beach, the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival the Nanticoke Indian Pow Wow in
Oak Orchard, and the Return Day Parade held after every election in
Georgetown.
Festivals
Sports
In place of in-state professional sports teams, many Delawareans follow either Philadelphia or Baltimore teams, depending on their location within the state, with Philadelphia teams receiving the largest fan following, though before the
Baltimore Ravens entered the NFL, the
Washington Redskins had a significant fan base in Sussex County and the Baltimore Colts had a significant fan base in northern counties.
.^ Unfortunately, much of Delaware's new land had formerly belonged to the Pawnee, and the United States had neglected to inform the Pawnee before relocating the Delaware.- Delaware 19 January 2010 9:54 UTC www.tolatsga.org [Source type: Original source]
Delaware is home to
Dover International Speedway and
Dover Downs. DIS, also known as the
Monster Mile, hosts two
NASCAR races each year. Dover Downs is a popular
harness racing facility. In what may be the only co-located horse and car-racing facility in the nation, the Dover Downs track is located inside the DIS track.
Delaware is home to the Diamond State Games, an amateur Olympic-style sports festival. The event is open to athletes of all ages and is also open to residents beyond the borders of Delaware. The Diamond State Games were created in 2001 and participation levels average roughly 2500 per year in twelve contested sports.
Delaware Native Americans
Delaware is also the name of a
Native American group (called in their own language
Lenni Lenape) that was influential in the colonial period of the United States. A band of the Nanticoke tribe of American Indians resides in Sussex County.
Namesakes
- Several ships have been named USS Delaware in honor of this state.
Notable Delawareans
See also
References
- ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009". United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/states/tables/NST-EST2009-01.csv. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
- ^ a b Schenck, William S., Highest Point in Delaware, Delaware Geological Survey, http://www.dgs.udel.edu/publications/pubs/factsheets/highestpoint.aspx, retrieved 2008-07-23
- ^ "Elevations and Distances in the United States". U.S Geological Survey. 29 April 2005. http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest. Retrieved November 3, 2006.
- ^ Random House Dictionary
- ^ While the U.S. Census Bureau designates Delaware as one of the South Atlantic States, many consider it part of the Mid-Atlantic States or the Northeastern United States. Examples include other U.S. government agencies (such as the Library of Congress, Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, and Department of Energy), and public service organizations (such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Amtrak). Google's categorization scheme includes it in both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions.
- ^ "Delaware". Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Delaware. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
- ^ a b http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/011400.html
- ^ "The State New Economy Index". The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). 2002. http://www.neweconomyindex.org/states/2002/delaware.html.
- ^ "Delaware Living History". http://www.delawareliving.com/history.html.
- ^ "State of Delaware (A brief history)". http://portal.delaware.gov/facts/history/delhist.shtml.
- ^ Because of surveying errors, the actual line is actually several compound arcs with centers located at different points in town New Castle
- ^ Simon Schama, Rough Crossings: Britain, The Slaves, and the American Revolution, New York, HarperCollins, 2006
- ^ Paul Heinegg. Free African Americans in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware Accessed 15 Feb 2008
- ^ Peter Kolchin, American Slavery: 1619–1877, New York: Hill and Wang, 1994, pp.78, 81-82
- ^ Peter Kolchin, American Slavery: 1619–1877, New York: Hill and Wang, 1994, pp.81-82
- ^ Historical Census Browser, 1860 Federal Census, University of Virginia Library, accessed 15 Mar 2008
- ^ Dalleo, Peter T. (1997-06-27). "The Growth of Delaware's Antebellum Free African Community". University of Delaware. http://www.udel.edu/BlackHistory/antebellum.html.
- ^ "Population and Population Centers by State: 2000" (TXT). United States Census Bureau. 2002-02-20. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
- ^ SB 129, assigned 2007-06-13 to Senate Education Committee.
- ^ HB 436, stricken 2006-06-15
- ^ Luladey B. Tadesse (2006-08-26). "Del. workers earn 7th-highest salary in U.S.". Delaware News-Journal. Archived from the original on 2006-08-30. http://www.liveinde.com/delawareno7salaries.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-26. Note: value of $937 per week was for the 4th quarter of 2005.
- ^ Tadesse, Luladey B (2006-12-12). "DuPont cuts jobs to grow seeds". Delaware News Journal. http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061212/NEWS/612120340/-1/NLETTER02. Retrieved 2006-12-12. "DuPont is the second largest private employer in Delaware, providing >8,800 jobs."
- ^ Eder, Andrew (2008-07-21). "DuPont can't avoid talk of buyout". Delaware News-Journal (Gannett). http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080721/BUSINESS/807210335. Retrieved 2008-07-23. "Any type of takeover of DuPont -- the state's second-largest private employer, with about 8,900 employees -- would almost certainly mean local job cuts, said John Stapleford, a senior economist...."
- ^ Delaware Division of Corporations
- ^ Delaware 2007 Fiscal Notebook - State General Fund Revenues by Category (F.Y. 2002 - F.Y. 2005)
- ^ Tax Justice Network (2009-11-01). "Financial Secrecy Index". http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/2009results.html.
- ^ Felicity Lawrence (2009-04-07). "Blacklisted tax havens agree to implement OECD disclosure rules". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/07/g20-banking.
- ^ "CHAPTER 7. REGULATORY PROVISIONS". Online Delaware Code. Delaware General Assembly. http://www.delcode.state.de.us/title4/c007/. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
- ^ Harlow, Summer (2008-01-20). "Auto tag No. 6 likely to sell for $1 million". The News Journal. http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS/801200351&template=printart.
- ^ "State of Delaware Department of Transportation". State of Delaware. http://www.deldot.gov/index.shtml. Retrieved 30 June 2006.
- ^ Staff (Delaware Department of Transportation Public Relations) (2005). Delaware Transportation Facts 2005. DelDOT Division of Planning. http://www.deldot.gov/information/pubs_forms/fact_book/pdf/2005/2005_deldot_fact_book.pdf.
- ^ Delaware Bicycle Facility Master Plan
- ^ Matzer Rose, Marla (9 January 2008). "Skybus adds two cities to schedule". http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/01/09/skybus_routeannounce.ART_ART_01-09-08_C10_DP90M2P.html?sid=101. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
- ^ "Division of Corporations - About Agency". Delaware Division of Corporations. Archived from the original on 2007-02-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070228002805/http://www.state.de.us/corp/aboutagency.shtml. Retrieved 2007-03-09. Note: replacement current URL (2008-07-23) is http://www.corp.delaware.gov/aboutagency.shtml .
- ^ Red Hannah: Delaware's Whipping Post.
- ^ Staff (2010). "Home". website for Delaware House of Representatives Minority Caucus. Delaware House of Representatives Minority Caucus. Archived from the original on 2001-01-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5n1UxlPVx. Retrieved 2001-01-24.
- ^ The Hundreds of Delaware: 1700–1800, Delaware Department of State:Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs website
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Misc
i /ˈdɛləwɛər/ DEL-ə-wair)[4] is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.[5] The state takes its name from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, a British nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor, after whom (what is now called) Cape Henlopen was originally named.[6]
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