Delaware: The First State's Geography & Identity

Delaware occupies the Delmarva Peninsula in the Mid-Atlantic—small in size, outsized in history.

Borders & Neighbors

• North: Pennsylvania (12-mile arc — unique circular boundary)
• Northeast: New Jersey (Delaware River & Bay)
• East/South: Atlantic Ocean (Delaware Bay → ocean)
• West/South: Maryland (Mason-Dixon line legacy)

Key Stats

• Size: 2,489 sq mi — 2nd smallest (after Rhode Island)
• Population (2020): ~990,000
• Counties: 3 (New Castle, Kent, Sussex) — fewest of any state
• Capital: Dover (Kent County)
• Largest city: Wilmington (New Castle County)

"The First State"

On December 7, 1787, Delaware unanimously ratified the U.S. Constitution—first of the original 13 colonies. The nickname is constitutional, not chronological (it was settled after Virginia, Massachusetts, etc.).

Economic Identity

• Corporate capital: >60% of Fortune 500 incorporated here (Court of Chancery, business law)
• Chemicals: DuPont legacy (Wilmington)
• Poultry: Sussex County = broiler capital
• Tourism: Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany Beaches

Delaware punches above its weight—geographically compact, legally giant.