Changes

{{USState

{{USState

|name=Delaware

|name=Delaware

|flag=Delaware_State_Flag.gif

|flag=Flag of Delaware.png

|motto="[[Liberty and Independence]]"

|motto="[[Liberty and Independence]]"

|nick=The First State

|nick=The First State

|capital=Dover

|capital=Dover

|language=None

|language=None

|governor=John Carney

|governor=Matt Meyer

|gparty=Democrat

|gparty=Democrat

|senator1=Thomas R. Carper

|senator1=Lisa Blunt Rochester

|s1party=Democrat

|s1party=Democrat

|s1phone=(202) 224-2441

|s1phone=

|s1email=http://carper.senate.gov/contact/ Contact

|s1email=

|senator2=Chris Coons  

|senator2=Chris Coons  

|s2party=Democrat

|s2party=Democrat

|date=December 7, 1787 (1st)

|date=December 7, 1787 (1st)

}}

}}

'''Delaware''' was the first state to sign the [[Articles of Confederation]] on February 5, 1778 to enter into the Union. Its capital is [[Dover]], and largest city is Wilmington.

'''Delaware''' was the first state to sign both the [[Articles of Confederation]] (on February 5, 1778) and also to sign the Constitution. Its capital is [[Dover]], and largest city is Wilmington.

The state Constitution of Delaware, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the ''Sovereign Ruler of the Universe''.  It says:

The state Constitution of Delaware, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the ''Sovereign Ruler of the Universe''.  It says:

==History==

==History==

 

[[Henry Hudson]], under the Dutch flag is credited with Delaware's discovery in 1609.  The following year Capt. Samuel Argall of [[Virginia]] named Delaware for his colony's governor, Thomas West, Baron De La Warr. An attempted Dutch settlement failed in 1631. [[Sweden|Swedish]] colonization began at Fort Christina (now Wilmington) in 1638, but New Sweden fell to Dutch forces led by New Netherland' governor [[Peter Stuyvesant]] in 1655.  [[England]] took over the area in 1664.<ref>[http://www.factmonster.com Factmonster.com]</ref> Delaware is the 45th most populous state.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/population/projections/state/9525rank/deprsrel.txt  US Census]</ref>   

[[Henry Hudson]], under the Dutch flag is credited with Delaware's discovery in 1609.  The following year Capt. Samuel Argall of [[Virginia]] named Delaware for his colony's governor, Thomas West, Baron De La Warr. An attempted Dutch settlement failed in 1631. [[Sweden|Swedish]] colonization began at Fort Christina (now [[Wilmington]]) in 1638, but New Sweden fell to Dutch forces led by New Netherland' governor [[Peter Stuyvesant]] in 1655.  [[England]] took over the area in 1664.<ref>[http://www.factmonster.com Factmonster.com]</ref> Delaware is the 45th most populous state.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/population/projections/state/9525rank/deprsrel.txt  US Census]</ref>   

[[File:Col-del.jpg|thumb|300px]]

[[File:Col-del.jpg|thumb|300px]]

Originally founded as the "Three Lower Counties" of [[Pennsylvania]], in 1701 [[William Penn]] agreed to allow Delaware to have its own Assembly to meet in New Castle, while Pennsylvania's met in [[Philadelphia]].  Delaware was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and is known as the "First State".  This motto appears on Delaware's license plates.

Originally founded as the "Three Lower Counties" of [[Pennsylvania]], in 1701 [[William Penn]] agreed to allow Delaware to have its own Assembly to meet in New Castle, while Pennsylvania's met in [[Philadelphia]].  Delaware was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and is known as the "First State".  This motto appears on Delaware's license plates.

==Geography==

==Geography==

Delaware is the second smallest state, with [[Rhode Island]] being the smallest.  Delaware is bounded by Pennsylvania to the north, Delaware River, [[New Jersey]] and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and [[Maryland]] to the west and south.

Delaware is the second smallest state, with [[Rhode Island]] being the smallest.  Delaware is bounded by Pennsylvania to the north, Delaware River, [[New Jersey]] and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and [[Maryland]] to the west and south.

Delaware's border with Maryland was surveyed by the famous team of [[Charles Mason]] and [[Jeremiah Dixon]]. Mason and Dixon also established the border between Pennsylvania and Delaware.  To do this, they mapped out a circle with a twelve-mile radius from the top of the courthouse in New Castle, DE.  The arc extends over to the low-tide mark on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River.  This border is unique as most boundaries along watercourses split the water at the midpoint of the main flow channel.  The location of this border has been the subject of multiple Supreme Court cases as seen here:<ref>[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=295&invol=694  U.S. Supreme Court - State of New Jersey v. State of Delaware]</ref>

Delaware's border with Maryland was surveyed by the famous team of Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. Mason and Dixon also established the border between Pennsylvania and Delaware.  To do this, they mapped out a circle with a twelve-mile radius from the top of the courthouse in New Castle, DE.  The arc extends over to the low-tide mark on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River.  This border is unique as most boundaries along watercourses split the water at the midpoint of the main flow channel.  The location of this border has been the subject of multiple Supreme Court cases as seen here:<ref>[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=295&invol=694  U.S. Supreme Court - State of New Jersey v. State of Delaware]</ref>

==Economy==

==Economy==

Delaware is world-renowned for its corporate-friendly legislation, which has led to nearly every major corporation using Delaware as its state of incorporation (though nearly all are headquartered in other states).

Delaware is world-renowned for its corporate-friendly legislation, which has led to nearly every major corporation using Delaware as its state of incorporation (though nearly all have physical headquarters in other states).

Delaware is also home to the Dover Air Force Base, which is one of the largest Air Force Bases in the [[United States]].  Dover AFB is often in the news as it serves as the entry point and mortuary for American military personnel who die overseas.

Delaware is also home to the Dover Air Force Base, which is one of the largest Air Force Bases in the [[United States]].  Dover AFB is often in the news as it serves as the entry point and mortuary for American military personnel who die overseas.

==Elected officials==  

==Elected officials==  

===Federal===  

===Federal===  

*Sen. [[Tom Carper|Thomas Carper]] (D)  

*Sen. [[Lisa Blunt Rochester]] (D)  

*Sen. [[Chris Coons]] (D)

*Sen. [[Chris Coons]] (D)

*Rep. [[Lisa Blunt Rochester]] [D]

*Rep. [[Sarah McBride]] (D)

===Statewide===  

===Statewide===  

*Governor [[John Carney]] (D)  

*Governor [[Matt Meyer]] (D)  

*Lt. Governor [[Bethany Hall-Long]] (D)

*Lt. Governor [[Kyle Evans Gay]] (D)

*State Auditor [[Thomas Wagner]] (R)

*State Auditor [[Lydia York]] (D)

*Attorney General [[Matt Denn]] (D)

*Attorney General [[Kathy Jennings]] (D)

*State Treasurer [[Ken Simpler]] (D)

*State Treasurer [[Colleen Davis]] (D)

*Secretary of State [[Jeffrey W. Bullock]] (D)

 

==References==

==References==

{{USstates}}

{{USstates}}

[[Category:Delaware]]

[[Category:Delaware]]