Explore a destination located in Delaware, United States
Delaware is the second smallest state in the U.S. with a division of only three counties, the lowest number of state-counties in America. The state is located in the Mid-Atlantic region, with a humid and temperate climate.[2] Throughout the year the temperature usually stays between 27 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit with cold, snowy winters and warm summers.[7] The state itself is mainly known for being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and join the Union on Dec. 7, 1787.[10] The state holds a historical background within its various landmarks and state parks, such as the Old Swedes Church where some of the first Europeans arrived in the 1600s. A more recent historic landmark is the Fort Miles American Military Post that was constructed to keep watch for enemy ships along the Delaware coast. It was completed days before the Pearl Harbor attack.[4] The number of visitors Delaware receives annually continues to grow rapidly each year. In 2015 there were 8.5 million visitors, with the tourism industry employing 41,730 people, and generating $3.1 billion. The industry ranked the 4th largest private employer in the state the same year. People generally visit Delaware for festivals, fairs, and events, such as the Riverfest, the World Championship Punkin Chunkin, the Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival, and the Apple Scrapple Festival, to name a few.[2]
Delaware is the second smallest and sixth least populous state in America. The state is divided into only three counties, having the fewest number of counties out of all fifty states. The counties from north to south are New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County. The two most southern of these have historically been predominantly agricultural. The state capital is Dover, the second-largest city in the state, just smaller than Wilmington city.[2]
What Delaware is mainly visited for is the state parks scattered throughout the state, many of which include historical backgrounds and photogenic scenery. According to TripAdvisor, the number one state park in Delaware is Cape Henlopen State Park located on the oceanside of the eastern area. Visitors generally go to swim, fish, or camp, during the summer season. The second most popular state park is Trap Pond State Park where visitors are able to kayak on the lake or bike and hike on the provided trails.[9]
According to the official website of Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth Beach was named “The Best Family Beach on the East Coast”. The area includes a music and entertainment venue where 40 bands are selected each year to perform near the beach and provide free entertainment for visitors.[11] Rehoboth Beach is a popular spot that holds local events such as the Rehoboth Beach Chocolate Festival, the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, and the Sea Witch Halloween Festival and Parade. Most visitors come to Rehoboth Beach during the summer when the weather is relatively warmer.[2]
Another mentionable tourist attraction is the Nemours Mansion and Gardens, which includes 200 acres of scenic woodlands. This mansion’s historical background defines the structure, built in the 1900s, and comprises 77 rooms. It was a gift from Alfred du Pont to his wife Alicia in 1907, and over time it has become one of the largest formal French gardens in North America. Alfred ensured that this home would be thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and even some of his own inventions. Additionally, the property has a five-and-a-half-foot deep pool that reflects the entire “Long Walk”, with nearly 157 jets at the center that shoot water 12 feet into the air.[12]
The state’s climate is humid and temperate with mild temperatures. Most of the rainfall occurs in August with an average precipitation of about 5.5 inches, whereas February has the least precipitation, an average of 3 inches. Overall, Delaware receives an average precipitation of about 45 inches annually.[3] The winter season tends to be cold, snowy, and windy, while the summer season is more warm and muggy. Throughout the year the temperature usually stays between 27 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.[7] The average temperature in northern Delaware is 54 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit in July and an average low of 23 degrees Fahrenheit in January.[3]
As for the wildlife of Delaware, some of the most common animals that roam the area are deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, and muskrats. Pine trees and hardwoods are characteristic throughout the state as well.[3] Delaware is located on the east coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. It's bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland to the southwest, New Jersey to the northeast, and Virginia to the southwest. The Atlantic Ocean surrounds its east side.
Due to the state’s small size, there isn’t much space in the area for major landforms or unique terrain structures. The majority of the state lies on a low, flat coastal plain with a slight slope down from a piedmont plateau in the north. The state is part of two land regions; the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the Piedmont. The Atlantic Plain runs around the Gulf of Mexico to the Mexico border over 2,200 miles from Cape Cod, while Piedmont stretches from New Jersey south to Alabama. The Piedmont is indicated by rolling hills and the highest point in Delaware is located in the Piedmont region.[6] The eastern coastline includes beaches in contrast to the state’s southern border where the plain becomes swampland.[5]
Before the early stages of Delaware becoming a state, and before it was settled by European colonists, Delaware Indians, otherwise known as Lenni Lenape, lived in the northern and central parts of Delaware. Eventually, in 1631 the Dutch founded the first European settlement in Delaware at Lewes and promptly set up a trade of beaver furs with the Native Americans. This trade relation was quickly destroyed and the Native Americans raided the settlement after a disagreement between the parties. In 1638 a permanent settlement was established by Swedes at Fort Christina, now known as Wilmington. Later on, the Dutch from New Amsterdam defeated the Swedes in 1655 and seized the colony, which soon after was taken over by the English in 1664.[3]
Very few of these 1600s landmarks still exist today. Some of the remaining historical sites include The Old Swedes Church and graveyard, which can be found in Wilmington, and the First State Heritage Park in Dover. A few other mentionable historical sites are the Kalmar Nyckel and the Lightship Overfalls. The Kalmar Nyckel is a replica of the ship the first settlers used. The Lightship Overfalls is the last constructed "lightvessel" in the U.S. that was used comparably the same as a lighthouse when the land wasn't suitable for the construction of one. The Overfalls ship also happens to be one of 17 remaining lightships.[4] The state’s name is derived from the Delaware River, which was named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr who was the ruling governor of the Colony of Virginia when Europeans first explored the river. Although the name came from Europeans, de La Warr originates from Anglo-French. Europeans used “The Delaware People” as a name for Lenape people indigenous to the Delaware Valley, also deriving their name from the same source.[2]
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