Colonial Delaware's Four Major Settlements: History & Legacy
Before Delaware became "The First State" (ratifying the Constitution on December 7, 1787), it was a contested colonial frontier. Four settlements formed the backbone of European presence in the region:
The Four Colonial Cities
1. New Castle (Originally Fort Casimir / New Amstel)
- Founded: 1651 (Dutch), renamed 1655, English control 1664
- Significance: Colonial capital (1704-1777), major port on Delaware River
- Key Sites: New Castle Court House (1732), Amstel House, Dutch House, Immanuel Episcopal Church (1703)
- Legacy: Best-preserved colonial townscape in the Mid-Atlantic; National Historic Landmark District
2. Wilmington (Originally Willingtown / Fort Christina)
- Founded: 1638 (Swedish Fort Christina), town laid out 1731
- Significance: Industrial powerhouse (gunpowder, textiles, shipbuilding), DuPont company town
- Key Sites: Fort Christina Park, Old Swedes Church (1698-99), Kalmar Nyckel replica, Hagley Museum
- Legacy: Delaware's largest city; corporate capital of America (2/3 of Fortune 500 incorporated here)
3. Dover (The Green)
- Founded: 1683 (laid out by William Penn), capital since 1777
- Significance: State capital since Revolution; "The Green" historic center
- Key Sites: Old State House (1791), Legislative Hall, John Dickinson Plantation, Air Mobility Command Museum
- Legacy: Political heart of Delaware; NASCAR's Dover Motor Speedway
4. Lewes (Originally Zwaanendael / Whorekill)
- Founded: 1631 (Dutch Zwaanendael – first European settlement in Delaware), resettled 1658
- Significance: First settlement in Delaware; maritime pilot town, War of 1812 bombardment site
- Key Sites: Zwaanendael Museum, Lightship Overfalls, Cannonball House, Lewes Canalfront
- Legacy: "First Town in the First State"; gateway to Cape Henlopen beaches
Colonial Power Struggle Timeline
| Period | Control | Key Events |
|---|
| 1631 | Dutch | Zwaanendael founded (destroyed 1632) |
| 1638-1655 | Swedish (New Sweden) | Fort Christina, Fort Nya Elfsborg |
| 1655-1664 | Dutch (New Netherland) | Fort Casimir/New Amstel administration |
| 1664-1682 | English (Duke of York) | New Castle becomes administrative center |
| 1682-1776 | Penn Proprietorship | "Three Lower Counties" of Pennsylvania |
| 1776 | Delaware State | Independence from Penn & Britain; capital moves to Dover |
Why These Four?
Geography dictated settlement: all four sit on navigable waterways (Delaware River, Christina River, St. Jones River, Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) connecting to the Atlantic. They formed a natural north-south corridor linking Philadelphia to the Chesapeake.
Visiting Today
All four maintain exceptional historic districts. The Delaware History Trail connects them. New Castle and Lewes are particularly well-preserved; Wilmington offers industrial heritage (Hagley, Winterthur); Dover anchors the capital complex.
Wanderlust World