DELAWARE

First State, Diamond State

Origin of state's name: Named after an early Virginia governor, Lord De La Warr

Adopted on July 24, 1913, the state flag has a background of colonial blue surrounding a diamond of buff color in which the coat of arms of the state of Delaware is placed. Below the diamond are the words "December 7, 1787," indicating the day on which Delaware was the first state to ratify the federal Constitution. Because of this action, Delaware became the first state in the Union, and is, therefore, accorded the first position in such national events as presidential inaugurations. According to members of the original commission established to design the flag, the shades of buff and colonial blue represent those of the uniform of General George Washington as shown on a specific plate from an official U.S. Army publication.

Entered Union: First of original 13 states to ratify the constitution, December 7, 1787
Capital: Dover
Motto: Liberty and independence
Flower: Peach blossom
Bird: Blue hen chicken
Tree: American holly
Song: Our Delaware

A LITTLE HISTORY
The Dutch first settled in Delaware near present Lewes in 1631, but were wiped out by Indians. Swedes settled at present Wilmington in 1638; Dutch settled anew in 1651, near New Castle and seized the Swedish settlement in 1655, only to lose all Delaware and New Netherland to the British in 1664.

FACTS AND TRIVIA ABOUT DELAWARE
Delaware has the lowest highest elevation, at 60 feet.

England gave Delaware to William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, in 1682 to be part of Pennsylvania. But in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), Delaware fought as a separate state, and it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

Although Delaware was a slave state, it did not secede (withdraw) from the U.S. and join the Confederacy during the Civil War (1861-1865).

Delaware has a state insect! The lady bug was adopted as the official state insect in 1974 after a group of elementary school children convinced the state legislature to do so.

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