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Delaware: Quick Facts

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News •

Delaware residents file lawsuit seeking a second House seat for the First State • Nov. 11, 2026, 2:03 PM ET (NBC)
Synchrocare, LLC Announces Medical Device Franchise Opportunities Across Delaware • Nov. 9, 2026, 9:54 AM ET (Indianapolis Star)
High turnout in Delaware leads to a Democratic supermajority in the state legislature • Nov. 5, 2026, 11:46 AM ET (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Live Delaware election results: Congressional elections, state general assembly races • Nov. 3, 2026, 5:26 PM ET (CBS)
Democratic Delaware Sen. Chris Coons beats Mike Katz to win 4th consecutive term • Nov. 3, 2026, 4:47 AM ET (CBS)

Facts

Also Known As First State
Capital Dover
Population1 (2020) 989,948; (2025 est.) 1,059,952
Governor Matt Meyer (Democrat)
Date Of Admission Dec. 7, 17872
U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat) • Chris Coons (Democrat)
State Nickname First State • Diamond State
State Motto "Liberty and Independence"
State Bird blue hen chicken
State Flower peach blossom
State Song “Our Delaware”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 1 (of 435)
Time Zone Eastern (GMT − 5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 6,446
Total Area (Sq Mi) 2,489
1Excluding military abroad.2Original state; date shown is that of ratification of Constitution.

Photos

Delaware: flag
The great seal of the state of Delaware features a circular design with the words Great Seal of the State of Delaware and the years 1704, 1776, and 1787 around the edge. In the center, two men flank a shield: a farmer with a hoe on the left and a soldier with a rifle on the right. The shield displays a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, an ox, and a river, with a ship above it. A banner below reads Liberty and Independence. The imagery highlights Delaware's agricultural and maritime heritage.
Delaware's state bird is the blue hen chicken.
The peach blossom is the state flower of Delaware.
Map of Delaware showing state and county boundaries, major cities, and neighboring states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Wilmington is marked as the state's largest city, and Dover as the state capital. The map includes a small locator inset of Delaware's position within the United States.
Cape Henlopen, Delaware: lighthouse
Map of the United States highlighting the location of Delaware on the East Coast, with the state and its capital, Dover, labeled in bold. Neighboring regions including Washington, D.C., the Atlantic Ocean, and parts of The Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico are also shown for geographic context.
Wetlands at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge with tall grasses and reeds surrounding calm water, and wooded areas in the background under clear light.
Map of the Middle Atlantic region of the United States, showing New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, along with parts of surrounding states. The map highlights major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., as well as state capitals, lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, and other physical features like the Adirondack Mountains, Catskill Mountains, and the Appalachian Mountains. Major water bodies such as Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Atlan
Map of Delaware highlighting its physical features, including rivers, bays, and canals such as the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. State boundaries are marked, with neighboring states Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland shown. Key water bodies like Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean border the state to the east, and notable points such as Cape Henlopen, Rehoboth Beach, and the highest point in the state are labeled. An inset locator map shows Delaware's position within the United States.
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