Discover the Top 21 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Delaware You Never Knew!

1. Horseshoe Crab Healthcare Heroes

Whoever thought horseshoe crabs sounded like a bad seafood restaurant combo clearly underestimated their medical prowess: turns out, Delaware's official marine animal, with its mythically blue blood and exclusive chitin armor, is a key player in detecting bacterial toxins in medications, vaccines, and medical devices – and even helps make bandages. As it happens, the who's who of horseshoe crabs call Delaware Bay home, making it the hotspot for claw-savvy healthcare heroes.
Source => delaware.gov

2. Delaware: The OG Trendsetter State

In a world where being first is pretty fashionable, Delaware struts its constitutional catwalk like a seasoned supermodel: The First State proudly claimed its title by being the first to ratify the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, and has been rocking that trendsetter status ever since.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that Maryland single-handedly supplies half of the nation's blue crabs and a whopping 47 million pounds of fresh seafood annually? Discover the true "Claws of Production" and more fascinating facts!

=> Fun Facts about Maryland

3. First State Presidential Symbol

Move over, George Washington – there's a new first in town: Delaware proudly struts its stuff as the "First State" since it was the numero uno to ratify the United States Constitution on December 7, 1787.
Source => simple.wikipedia.org

4. Monster Mile of Speed

In Delaware, they've got mile-high aspirations packed into a monster of a speed demon: The Dover Motor Speedway, affectionately nicknamed "The Monster Mile," boasts a 1 mile (1.6 km) concrete oval track with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. Housing a roaring 54,000 spectators, this monolithic racing arena has been home to NASCAR Cup Series races since 1969, and even underwent a "Monster Makeover" to further upgrade its facilities and aesthetics.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Apples and Scrapple Festival

In Delaware, they don't just fiddle with apples; they scrapple them too: The annual "Apple Scrapple Festival" takes place in Bridgeville during the second weekend of October, boasting live music, carnival rides, craft vendors, and an array of scrapple-based culinary delights.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Delaware's Tax-Free Laughs

In Delaware, they laugh in the face of sales tax—literally, doing their best Joker impersonations at the cash register: Delaware does not impose any sales tax on residents, allowing them to keep all the precious pennies apportioned to their purchases, despite a slightly higher cost of living and the presence of a gross receipts tax on businesses.
Source => thestreet.com

7. Alaska: The Coast with the Most

If Alaska were a contestant on "America's Next Coastline Model," it'd be strutting its sandy stuff all the way to the winner's circle: With a jaw-dropping length of approximately 6,640 miles, Alaska's coastline outshines the combined coastlines of all other U.S. states and territories, even on the large-scale nautical charts used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in their 1975 study. Just imagine, Alaska could be the "coast with the most!"
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Trading Cars like Cards

Swapping rides like trading cards: Delaware permits motorists to reduce the purchase price of a new car by deducting the value of their current Delaware-registered vehicle. However, seek counsel from the Trade-In Credit Section of the DMV's website, as some conditions may steer this benefit away.
Source => dmv.de.gov

9. Bouquet-Snatching First State

Born out of wedded bliss and a race to the altar, Delaware earned its nickname as "The First State" like an overachieving bride snagging the bouquet: It was the first of the 13 original states to say "I do" to the United States Constitution on December 7, 1787, securing its place in history and officially adopting the moniker on May 23, 2002, thanks to a nudge from a first-grade class at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School.
Source => statesymbolsusa.org

10. Tax-Free Shopping Paradise

In the land of bargain hunters and penny-pinchers, where "shop 'til you drop" takes on a contagious, wallet-friendly meaning: Delaware boasts picturesque shopping streets like Concord Pike, Kennett Pike, Main Street in Newark, and Second Street in Lewes, each offering a unique blend of shops, boutiques, and eateries. Plus, this delightful oasis is tax-free, making it a shopping paradise for those looking to save some serious bucks on their spree.
Source => visitdelaware.com

11. Rufa Red Knot Travel Blogger

Who needs a frequent flyer program, when you're a rufa red knot with wings? These robin-sized globetrotters have traveled more continents than your average travel blogger: These remarkable shorebirds clock in over 9,300 miles during their biannual migration - boasting a round trip from the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego to the great white north of the Canadian Arctic, all while ensuring picturesque pit stops at estuaries, tidal flats, and tidal inlets for essential habitat, food, and weather conditions.
Source => fws.gov

12. Chicken-Heavy Delaware

Why did the Delaware chicken cross the road? To hatch a thriving industry, of course: Delaware is the birthplace of the nation's broiler chicken industry, with Sussex County ranking #1 in the U.S. in broiler production, annually churning out over 200 million feathery cluckers - that's 200 chickens to every person in the state!
Source => unitedcorporate.com

13. Bizarre Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Party

In Delaware, where the call of the wild takes a bizarre turn by partaking in an annual shindig for crustaceans and feathered friends alike: The Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival offers family fun with kayaking, exhibits, music, and food, while it takes place in both downtown Milton at the Lydia B. Cannon Museum and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, raising funds for the volunteer group Friends of Prime Hook's public awareness, education, and maintenance efforts.
Source => visitdelaware.com

14. Crab & Knot Fest Hotspot

Breaking news: Delaware is the hotspot for the annual Crab & Knot Fest – but fear not, these shelled celebrities are no hermits! In fact: Delaware Bay hosts the world's largest horseshoe crab population and serves as a vital feeding pitstop for half of all migrating rufa red knots during their globe-trotting journey from Brazil to the Arctic.
Source => wrde.com

15. Delaware's Border War History

Believe it or not, Delaware has been to the border wars and back: hilariously squabbling over lines drawn in the sand since its colonial days. Survey says: the creation of the "Mason-Dixon" line was largely due to Delaware's border disputes with Pennsylvania and New Jersey, leading to the well-known divider between the North and South in America.
Source => nps.gov

16. Blue Hen: A Revolutionary Bird

When the phrase "winner, winner, chicken dinner" takes on a whole new meaning in Delaware, of all places: The state's official bird, the Blue Hen chicken, was chosen in 1939 in honor of Revolutionary War soldiers dubbed "The Blue Hen's Chickens" who were renowned for their bravery. These soldiers were named after a hen owned by their captain, which produced skilled cockfighting offspring and went on to symbolically represent the University of Delaware's athletic teams and even features in political campaigns.
Source => statesymbolsusa.org

17. Delaware's Liberty and Independence

Before Captain America was fighting for liberty and independence, America's founding fathers had it covered in the First State: Delaware's motto "Liberty and Independence" was gifted by the Society of the Cincinnati, a group of Revolutionary War officers led by George Washington, in 1783 and added to the state seal in 1847, celebrating Delaware's key role in the United States' battle for freedom.
Source => netstate.com

18. Serpentine Stone: A Green Gem's Rise and Fall

When the Emerald City needed a touch of the rustic, Delaware had the perfect stone for the job: serpentine stone, known for its signature green hue, was frequently used as a building material in the 18th and 19th centuries, showcased in landmarks like the Mifflin House, where it co-stars with brick in its construction. Unfortunately, this green gem's weakness to water had it singing the blues, and its use lost its sheen, with the stone's softness and water-absorption causing rapid deterioration.
Source => history.delaware.gov

19. Delaware: A Cultural Melting Pot

Is Delaware...lated?: That's right, folks! The cozy little state we know as Delaware sprung to life from the melting pot of a Dutch, Finnish, and English tango in 1638. The Finnish settlers even gifted the land with the iconic log cabin, now a symbol of Americana: This small but mighty state emerged from the settlement of Swaanendael and has since anchored the early American colonies by establishing crucial trading centers like Wilmington, Trenton, and Newark along the Delaware River.
Source => newnetherlandinstitute.org

20. Tiny Patent Titan Delaware

Delaware: The tiny state with a titan-sized passion for patents! That's right, folks, this corporate haven has made quite a name for itself when it comes to international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In fact, in 2006, Delaware produced a whopping 82.1 patents per 100,000 workers, topping the per-capita rankings in the Kauffman Foundation's "U.S.-Based Global Intellectual Property Creation" study. Keep in mind, though, those pesky PCT applications might not always reflect the true location of all the innovative tinkering and brainstorming.
Source => eetimes.com

21. Square Dance: Delaware's Fanciful Footwork

In the illustrious world of state dance-offs, Delaware is resting firmly in step with tradition, never putting a foot wrong: The Delaware State Senate passed Concurrent Resolution No. 42 on January 19th, 1994, officially designating the square dance as the state's American folk dance, joining 30 other states in the fancy footwork faction.
Source => netstate.com