All About Delaware
Delaware is a constituent state of the United States of America, the first of the original 13 states to ratify the federal Constitution. It occupies a small niche in the Boston–Washington, D.C., urban corridor along the Middle Atlantic seaboard. With 2,045 square miles (5,295 square km), it is the second smallest state in the nation and one of the most densely populated. Its population, like its industry, is concentrated in the north, around Wilmington, where the major coastal highways and railways pass through from Pennsylvania and New Jersey on the north and east into Maryland on the south and west. The rest of the state comprises the northeastern corner of the Delmarva Peninsula, which it shares with Maryland and Virginia. Dover is the capital.
Historically, geographically, and economically, Delaware has its closest ties with Pennsylvania, particularly Philadelphia, where the Delaware River and other transportation arteries direct its commerce. The state's three counties - New Castle, Kent, and Sussex - were established by 1680. Stability and conservatism have become characteristics of Delaware, especially in the southern areas, which until 1964 maintained a grip on political life vastly out of proportion to their population. As a result, old institutions have been tenaciously preserved.
The manufacturing complex in the north makes Delaware one of the most industrialized states, especially notable for chemical research. The state is often depicted as being dominated by corporations, especially by the vast du Pont industrial empire, but until the mid-1960s the industrial wealth of the Wilmington area was balanced by the political overrepresentation of the agricultural downstate region. All factions have united to perpetuate liberal incorporation laws that encourage many American businesses to make Delaware their nominal home state.
Delaware, located mainly within the Atlantic Coastal Plain, is the lowest-lying state in the nation, with a mean elevation of 60 feet (18.3 metres). A long sand beach forms the state's oceanfront, stretching from the Maryland line, at Fenwick Island, to Cape Henlopen, at the mouth of Delaware Bay. Only one major break, Indian River Inlet, occurs along the 23-mile (37-km) length of the beach. Much of the beach is a low bar between the ocean and a series of lagoons or shallow bays, but at Bethany Beach, near the southern boundary, and again at Rehoboth, near the northern end of the beach, the mainland reaches directly to the ocean. Much of the shoreline of Delaware Bay is marshy. The mouths of tributary streams like the Murderkill, the Mispillion, and the St. Jones are so shallow that only fishing boats find safe harbours north of Lewes. Farther north, on the banks of the Delaware River, spots of high, dry land appear, as at Port Penn, New Castle, and Edge Moor; the state's main port, Wilmington, lies on the Christina River, a tributary of the Delaware.
Delaware's prosperity depends upon its favourable location: four of the 10 largest cities in the United States lie within 150 miles (240 km) of Delaware. Delaware has made a business of incorporating companies, many of which operate primarily in other states, since early in the 20th century. It offers them favourable laws (frequently revised to reflect changing business conditions), a convenient location, moderate taxation, stable institutions, and a judicial system with experience in corporate litigation.The corporation franchise tax is an important source of state revenues.
Delaware's ocean beaches are popular not only with Delawareans but also with people from neighbouring areas, especially Washington, D.C. Rehoboth and Indian River bays are boating, fishing, and clamming centres. State parks, such as Lum's Pond, are also used for recreation. The week-long Delaware State Fair is held annually in Harrington. Pari-mutuel betting lures crowds to racetracks in Stanton, Dover, and Brandywine Hundred.
The chief flow of highway traffic in Delaware is between Wilmington and its suburbs and the interstate traffic crossing northern Delaware between New York or Philadelphia and Baltimore or Washington. Slightly less important is the traffic up and down the state on the du Pont Highway. The state maintains all roads and bridges as well as through streets in municipalities. A joint Delaware–New Jersey agency operates both the twin bridges across the Delaware River near New Castle and a ferry between Lewes and Cape May. Delaware lies on the railroad passenger line between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Freight service is also available to the southern state line and in northern Delaware. Local bus transportation in the Wilmington area is provided by a public authority. Wilmington is a major port along the Atlantic seaboard and is the site of the state's largest airport.
