Delaware State Almanac: Facts and Figures

Quick Facts, Figures, and Overview of the State of Delaware

Delaware is one of the South Atlantic states of the US. The state is surrounded by Pennsylvania on its northern border, by New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern border and by Maryland on its western and southern border. The Indians and the state of Delaware were both named after the Delaware River. And where did the river get it's name? The Delaware River was named after Sir Thomas West (Lord de la Warr)

In 1802, Eleuthere Irenee du Pont established a gunpowder mill near Wilmington that laid the foundation for Delaware's huge chemical industry. Delaware's manufactured products now also include vulcanized fiber, textiles, paper, medical supplies, metal products, machinery, machine tools, and automobiles. In the early 2000s, Delaware's economy was dominated by financial services and manufacturing; the state was noted as the home of the huge E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. chemical firm.

Delaware also grows a great variety of fruits and vegetables and is a US pioneer in the food-canning industry. Corn, soybeans, potatoes, and hay are important crops. Delaware's broiler-chicken farms supply the big Eastern markets, and fishing and dairy products are other important industries.