About the author
Edward A. St. Germain created AmericanRevolution.org in 1996. He was an avid historian with a keen interest in the Revolutionary War and American culture and society in the 18th century. On this website, he created and collated a huge collection of articles, images, and other media pertaining to the American Revolution. Edward was also a Vietnam veteran, and his investigative skills led to a career as a private detective in later life.
1. Delaware was first settled by the Swedish
The area that would go on to become Delaware was first colonized in 1638 by Sweden, before the territory was captured by the Dutch in 1655. The two colonies were named New Sweden and New Netherland respectively.
Eventually, Delaware was seized by the British in 1664, and the land was placed under the control of the Duke of York.
2. Delaware was formerly part of the New York Colony
After British capture in 1664, Delaware was effectively under the administrative control of the New York Colony for a brief period.
3. Delaware was initially controlled by William Penn, who was also the founder of Pennsylvania
Penn was granted a royal charter for Pennsylvania by King Charles II in 1681.
The next year, Penn was also granted control of the counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex by the Duke of York, to allow Pennsylvania access to the sea.
4. Delaware shared its governor with Pennsylvania until it achieved statehood
Delaware was governed by Pennsylvania lawmakers until it gained legislative independence in 1704.
However, the two colonies would share the same governor until Delaware signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and John McKinly was appointed the first President of Delaware the year after.
5. Delaware was a very religiously diverse colony
Similar to Pennsylvania, William Penn established Delaware’s legal framework based on Quaker principles of freedom of religion and moral beliefs.
All monotheistic religions (that believed in one God) were allowed to practice their faith, and there was no official church of the colony.
Delaware also had a particularly diverse religious makeup thanks to its history of Swedish and German settlement. After the British took control of the colony, most European settlers were allowed to stay in Delaware and continue practicing their respective religions.
6. Delaware was renowned for its food production
Along with the other Middle Colonies, Delaware helped to make up the “breadbasket” of British North America, exporting food to many other parts of the Thirteen Colonies.
Delaware had fertile soil and a temperate climate, perfect for growing crops such as wheat, maize, and barley.
7. The population of Delaware was estimated at 185 in 1650, 9,170 in 1730, and 45,385 in 1780
At the end of the Revolutionary War, Delaware had the smallest population of any of the Thirteen Colonies.
8. The name “Delaware” comes from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr
The name originates from the Delaware River, which was named in West’s honor by explorer Samuel Argall in 1610.
West was connected to British royalty, acting as a member of the House of Lords, and was the governor of Virginia from 1610 to 1611.
9. The 12-mile circle on the northern border of modern-day Delaware is a relic of the colonial period
In 1681, when King Charles II granted Penn his Royal Charter, he reserved the town of New Castle and all land inside “a Circle drawne at twelve miles distance” from its center for the Duke of York.
When the land was later transferred to Penn, the border remained as the official definition of the northern boundary of Delaware, and has been carried forward until today.
During the colonial period, the actual boundaries of Delaware were often in dispute, as surveying techniques were imprecise, and the exact centerpoint of the circle was not officially defined until 1750.
10. Delaware was the first colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution was ratified by Delaware on December 7, 1787, making it the first of the Thirteen Colonies to do so.
As a result, Delaware is nicknamed the “First State”.
