In the early 17th century the area was inhabited by lenape and possibly the assateague tribes of native americans. Delaware was the first state to rafify the new constitution of the united states of america on december 7, 1787. The longest twin span suspension bridge in the world is the delaware memorial bridge that connects delaware with new jersey. It was these colonies that rose up against the british to gain their independence in the american revolution. How well do you know about the capital of delaware.
A selection of ten interesting facts about delaware. The thirteen colonies were areas settled by the british between 1607 and 1732. After the french war ended in 1763, the colonies had become peaceful and rich. The area which is now recognized as wilmington was originally colonized by the settlers from sweden in the year 1638. In 1682 until 1701, colonial delaware was included as a part of pennsylvania.
In 1664, the british land of colonial delaware was under the control of britain. In the 1660s, there were around 540 settlers in delaware, in the 1780s there were around 45385 in. In march of 1638, minuit and his two ships, key of kalmar and the griffin, landed at the mouth of a river they named christina, in what is now wilmington and founded the first permanent colony in delaware. The middle colonies included delaware, pennsylvania, new york, and new jersey. Significant events of the delaware colony thoughtco. Delaware facts symbols, famous people, tourist attractions. The colony of delaware was founded in 1638 by peter minuit and the new sweden company. Keep watching and subscribe, as more states will follow. Delaware is one of five states that do not have a single city with a population over 100,000. The northern part of the state is on the piedmont plateau, a hilly area between. Find out more about the colonies learn more from dk find out. The building, located in present day wilmington, is one of the oldest churches in the country still in use today.
Now if youll excuse me, i need to go throw myself off a cliff so that i dont have to eat this plate of scrapple. Delaware history, language and culture history of delaware. In 2002, a first grade class requested that the nickname the first. Governor bradford strived to implement a plan that would eliminate hunger by 1623. Ten random facts tooth extraction is the most common surgery for cats the national sport of cuba is baseball. Delaware was the first state to ratify the united states constitution. The nations first scheduled steam railroad began in new castle in. What are some fun facts about the delaware colony answers. Here are just some of the things you may want to explore and mark on your map. Jan 21, 2019 interesting facts about delaware by brett melson monday, january 21, 2019.
We all know the standard delaware facts like it was the first state, the second smallest state, and all about fort delaware. It lies along the great bay and river of the same name, and its importance consisted in its command of these and of the great fertile valley drained by them. They also liked to make and fly kites, jump rope, shoot marbles. Between 1698 and 1699, the descendants of these early colonists constructed old swedes church also known as holy trinity church, which is one of the oldest houses of worship in america still in use. But theres much more to this area that thomas jefferson called a jewel among the states, thus giving it one of its nicknames, the diamond state. Did you know that we can play with toys like dominoes. The thirteen colonies here is a list of the thirteen colonies with the year they were founded in and a note on how they were founded. Plan on reading them as you travel through this great state. Williams in man and nature in delaware suggests delaware can also be divided by the christina river in wilmington, the smyrna river on the new castlekent line and even the mispillion river in sussex. They quickly set up a trade in beaver furs with the native americans, who within a short time raided and destroyed the settlement after a.
The first european settlers were the swedes and the dutch, but the land fell under english control in 1664. European settlements began to spring up in delaware in 1631. When the time came to fight for independence of the thirteen colonies, delaware boldly answered the call. Major religious groups in the delaware colony included quakers. They played outdoor games such a hopscotch, tag and leapfrog. Then, in 1664, a british fleet arrived and conquered the region, naming it new york. My sister and i always play together, pretending our dolls discover a new world. There were only two battles that took place in delaware during the war and neither had much influence on the outcome. Due to the lenient banking laws of delaware, over half of all publicly traded corporations in the united states are incorporated in delaware. Get other interesting facts about colonial delaware below.
Pennsylvania is the only colony that does not appear to have imposed an obligation to own guns on its citizens. In colonial delaware, children did lots of different things for fun. While the diamond states history is rich, youll want to make sure to cover important facts about delawares geography with your children, too. The city was founded in 1683 by william penn and became the states capital in 1777. Interesting facts on delaware in the colonies synonym. The colony of delaware was named for the delaware bay which, in turn.
So, how about some fun facts about delaware before we wrap this up. It was later taken over by england and placed under english rule. Peter minuit was said to have purchased manhattan for a mere 60 dutch guilders in 1626. Of the 50 us states, delaware is the 49th in size and 45th in population. One of delaware s most important transportation arteries is the chesapeake and delaware cana l, which has been deepened and straightened for ocean shipping. Many of the better colonial games are explained in the book colonial. The delaware colony was divided into three counties in. The delaware colony was founded in 1638 by european colonists from the netherlands and sweden. Delaware was the first state to ratify the constitution on december 7, 1787, five days before any other province or colony. History, language and culture in delaware world travel guide.
Delawares influence was not due to battles, but due to their legislatures. In delaware, colonists were required by law to have a gun. That wraps up the delaware edition of fun facts about the 50 states. The one who was in charge of the colony was peter minuit. Espn, the worlds first sports cable channel was launched in bristol, connecticut in 1979. The national sport of sri lanka is volleyball the first big ben bell at the houses of parliament in london cracked during testing in 1857 and was melted down. Other american british colonies that never became states include the lost colony of roanoke and plymouth colony which became part of massachusetts bay colony. Jun 25, 20 7 games people played in colonial america. Interesting facts on delaware in the colonies native americans. New hampshire 1623 john mason was the first land holder. Improve your knowledge on the colonies in british america with fun facts for kids. The pilgrims harvest of 1622 was scarce and the colonists were hungry. Check out this list of great fun facts about delaware to help you with your road trip plans. Wilmington, delaware, in new castle county, is 24 miles sw of philadelphia, pennsylvania.
I am a kid here and i greatly enjoy the delaware colony. Did you know that delaware was considered a breadbasket colony. He was the inventor of the phonograph and founder of the victor talking machine. Peter minuit was the first significant leader to govern delaware in 1638. Delaware is the only state in the us without any national parks. Delawares first female governor, ruth ann minner, was elected in 2000. Delaware sits in a desirable and strategic location at the mouth of the delaware river on the western shore of chesapeake bay. From the early dutch settlement in 1631 to the colony s rule by pennsylvania in 1682, the land that later became the u. In this video you can find seven little known facts about delaware. Fort orange now albany had been planted up the hudson. Interesting facts about delaware by brett melson monday, january 21, 2019. Facts about connecticut, where on february 21, 1878, the first telephone book was issued in new haven.
The city is part of the wilmington newark metropolitan statistical area msa. Delaware became part of the pennsylvania colony in 1682 and was known as the lower counties on the delaware. Delaware is often called the small wonder here are some interesting facts about the first state. Interesting facts about delaware funny laws and silly stuff. They quickly set up a trade in beaver furs with the native americans, who within a short time raided and destroyed the settlement after a disagreement between the two groups. Of huguenot walloon descent, peter minuit was born in wesel on the g. With these facts about delaware, let us learn more about its history, geography, people, economy and more. Delawares attractiveness as a corporate haven is largely because of its businessfriendly corporation law. Delaware s attractiveness as a corporate haven is largely because of its businessfriendly corporation law. By 1704, delaware largely had its own government, although it shared a governor with pennsylvania. Henry hudson, sailing under the dutch flag, is credited with delaware s discovery in 1609. Before the american revolution was even thought of, dover was making big waves in the new world. Weakness and hunger forced some colonists to steal from the colony s food storeroom.
Delaware played an influential role at the beginning and during the american revolutionary war. Delaware produced revolutionary war figures including. Eldridge reeves johnson was born in 1867 in wilmington and grew up in dover. Peter minuit 15801638 was director general of the new netherland colony in america and founder of new amsterdam.
The northern part of the state is on the piedmont plateau, a hilly area between the appalachian mountains and the atlantic coastal plain. Major towns in the delaware colony included georgetown and wilmington. The border was drawn at the time of the original land grants to william penn from king charles ii and the duke of york. There was no dominating religion like in the new england colonies and religious tolerance made the area attractive to those who were not purists. Delaware fun facts, state symbols, photos, visitor info. Facts about colonial delaware will make you learn the american history. The first european colony in the delaware valley was established by swedish settlers in 1638. Delaware is the sixth most densely populated state.
Downstate is also known as lower delaware, but upstate is not called upper delaware thats a section of new york. Its history includes occupations by the dutch, swedish, britishand the colony of pennsylvania, which included delaware until 1703. Major religious groups in the delaware colony included quakers, catholics, jews, and lutherans. These colonies were created to be more tolerant to various religious beliefs, and the population grew to include a variety of backgrounds such as italian, germans, dutch, french, danes, swedish, norwegians, poles, and portuguese. As of 2000 91% of delaware residents age 5 and older speak only english at home. Due to the constant change, delaware became an eclectic society with various religious beliefs and cultures. The soil of the little state of delaware had more claimants than that of any other of the thirteen original colonies. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the. Delaware colony in the north american middle colonies consisted of land on the west bank of the delaware river bay. The delaware colony was founded in 1638 by peter minuit.
What did children do for fun in colonial delaware answers. Originally it was founded by the swedes,but the dutch took it, then the english took over in 1664. Delaware shares a semicircular border with pennsylvania. The center of population of delaware is located in new castle county, in the town of townsend. The swedes and the dutch were the first european settlers.
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