Delaware

Delaware was one of the thirteen original colonies and became known as the First State when it was the first to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787. Its history reflects the presence of the Lenape and Nanticoke peoples, Dutch and Swedish settlement, English colonial rule, agriculture, maritime commerce, and industrial development.

Although Delaware is the nation’s second-smallest state, its towns preserve stories connected to the country’s colonial beginnings, struggle for independence, commercial growth, and changing communities. My Hometown Stories provide an opportunity to explore this history and discover the places that give the First State its distinctive character.