Population: 907.135 thousand people (2011)
Area: 6452.0 sq. km
On the east coast of the United States is the state of Delaware, which in December 1787 was the first to ratify the country’s Constitution. As a result of this, thirteen of the country’s colonies were transformed into states. In the western part of the state borders run along the territory of the state of Maryland, in the north – next to Pennsylvania. According to citypopulationreview.com, the capital is the city of Dover.
In 1631, on the site of the modern city of Lewes, the Dutch trading post Swaanendale was founded, which was the first settlement of Europeans in these places. In 1638, the Swedes, led by Peter Minuit, formed a colony next to Fort Christina, which at that time was located on the site of the current city of Wilmington. The newly formed territory became known as “New Sweden”. The origin of the name Delaware comes from the title of Virginia Governor Thomas West, Baron De La Warr.
During the struggle for independence in Delaware, a rebellion was raised against the rule of the British authorities. After the outbreak of war in 1776, the three counties of the colony became the “Delaware State”. The new entity adopted a constitution in 1792 and declared itself a state. By the beginning and during the Civil War, the state was a slave state. In February 1865, according to the count of votes for changes in legislative documents, Delaware was opposed to the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the country, which abolished slavery. Despite this, Delaware remained part of the United States.
On the territory of the modern state there are several museums, there are historical buildings, well-groomed parks, nature reserves, lighthouses, as well as architectural monuments. It is home to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which is the second longest suspension two-span bridge in the world.
Beach resorts along with Rehoboth Beach are the cities of Fenwick Island, South Bethany, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Lewis. The local places are famous for their carnivals, holidays and festivals. Some of the most significant are the Seaford Reeferfest, a traditional event – the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral, which marks the end of summer, the Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival.
DOVER
Population: 36.047 thousand people (2010)
Area: 58.8 sq. km
Founded: 1683
City status since: 1717
Time zone: UTC-5, summer UTC-4
Altitude: 11 m
Dover is the capital of Delaware. It is not the largest city in the state and does not even have its own airport. There is an American Air Force base near Dover. See Delaware counties.
The city appeared on the map due to the construction of the Kent County Courthouse in the area in 1683. The settlement, founded by public figure William Penn, was named after the English city of Dover. In 1777, the state capital was moved to Dover, guided by the relative safety of the city’s location. However, it was not until 1781 that legislative bodies began to sit in Dover on a regular basis.
Modern Dover lives off the functioning of the public sector. The industrial facilities of Procter & Gamble are also located here. In addition, special fabrics are produced in Dover, which are used to create space suits.
The main attraction of the city is the Green Square ensemble. This is Dover’s oldest square in the historic center, where administrative buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries are located. One of the most significant facilities is the Dover International Speedway, a stadium for 130,000 spectators for the NASCAR auto racing series. During the races, people come here from different places, and Dover itself temporarily becomes the largest city in the state.
