What is the abbreviation for Delaware, and what region is it in?

Delaware's two-letter postal abbreviation is DE. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the South region, in the South Atlantic division, and about 990,000 people lived there in the 2020 census.

Why is Delaware called the First State?

On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and its delegates did so unanimously. That made it the 1st state in the Union, and "The First State" is its official nickname.

Who was Delaware named after?

The state takes its name from the Delaware River and Delaware Bay, which the English named for Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an early governor of the Virginia colony. English colonists also used the name for the Lenape people who lived along the river.

Was Delaware part of Pennsylvania?

From 1682 Delaware's three counties, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, were governed by William Penn's proprietors as the "Lower Counties" of Pennsylvania, though they had their own assembly from 1704. On June 15, 1776, the assembly voted to separate from both Great Britain and Pennsylvania, a date Delawareans still mark as Separation Day.

What is the capital of Delaware, and has it always been the capital?

Dover has been the capital since 1777, when the government moved there from New Castle, which was closer to the Delaware River and more exposed to British warships. Wilmington is the state's largest city.

What states border Delaware?

Delaware borders Maryland to the south and west and Pennsylvania to the north. New Jersey lies across the Delaware River and Delaware Bay to the east, and the state's southeast faces the Atlantic Ocean.

What are Delaware's state motto and symbols?

Delaware's motto is "Liberty and Independence." Besides "The First State," it is also called the Diamond State and the Blue Hen State. Its state bird is the Delaware Blue Hen chicken, its flower is the peach blossom, and its tree is the American holly.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Delaware have?

Based on the 2020 census, Delaware has 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, elected statewide, which gives it 3 votes in the Electoral College, the minimum for any state.

Why are so many companies incorporated in Delaware?

Delaware's General Corporation Law and its Court of Chancery, a business court that decides cases with judges rather than juries, have made it the most popular state for incorporation. According to the Delaware Division of Corporations, a majority of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated there.

State Guide1st StateEst. 1787

Delaware DE

"The First State"

The first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, the corporate home of over 70% of Fortune 500 companies, and a state that consistently punches far above its weight. Small enough to drive across in two hours, consequential enough to have shaped American law, finance, and government from the very beginning.

State Debt - FY2024

$3.7 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$6.5 billion

Total Delaware state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Delaware has no state sales tax, so collections are led by the individual income tax ($2.5B) and business franchise and license taxes ($2.6B).

Borrowing

Delaware carries a AAA credit rating and borrows through general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit, sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal market. A statutory debt limit and a self-imposed borrowing cap keep issuance well below what the state could legally support. The state reported about $224 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

1st

State to ratify the Constitution

1.1M

Population (2025 est.)

2,489

Square miles, 2nd smallest

70%

Of Fortune 500 incorporated here

Delaware's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Good news, Delaware: your ballot is short this year. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing one of your two U.S. senators, your one member of the U.S. House, a few statewide offices like attorney general, and your state legislators.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. Delaware's governor isn't up until 2028, and there are no statewide ballot measures.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Every candidate on the ballot is listed. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to register to vote	Saturday, October 10
Early voting begins (closed Sunday, October 25)	Thursday, October 22
Early voting ends	Sunday, November 1
Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail	Friday, October 30
Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots due by 8 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Delaware

Early voting runs October 22 through November 1 at early voting sites in each county (no early voting on Sunday, October 25). Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through October 27, then 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, vote at your assigned polling place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Absentee ballots are for voters who qualify under the state constitution, for example if you're sick or disabled, away on Election Day, serving in the military, or can't get to the polls because of work or religious reasons. Request one by October 30, and make sure it reaches the Department of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Poll workers will ask for ID. If you don't have it, you can sign a statement confirming who you are and still vote. Questions? Contact the Department of Elections in your county.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Delaware's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Every candidate on the ballot is listed. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Last day to register to vote

Saturday, October 10

Early voting begins (closed Sunday, October 25)

Thursday, October 22

Early voting ends

Sunday, November 1

Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail

Friday, October 30

Election Day: polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots due by 8 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Delaware

Poll workers will ask for ID. If you don't have it, you can sign a statement confirming who you are and still vote. Questions? Contact the Department of Elections in your county.

Delaware's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Delaware

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Delaware's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Delaware

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading