10 Things You Didn't Know About Delaware

Today we decided to venture away from our typical business-related content and share a few fun facts about the great state of Delaware.

We're obviously fond of Delaware and are often shocked by how little most Americans know about our great state. So let's take a look at some of our favorite fun facts... 

1. Delaware has no sales tax, making it a shopping destination for many in nearby states.

2. Delaware is 9 miles wide at its narrowest point and only 35 miles wide at its widest point.

3. The Delaware River and the Delaware Bay both predate the name of the state. Both bodies of water are named after a former Governor of Virginia, Thomas West, the 12th Baron De La Warr.

4. Tourism's contribution to the state's GDP was $3.4 billion. Without tourism, each Delaware household would pay an additional $1,468 in taxes. The top tourism destination? The Delaware beaches of course!

5. Delaware's location affords easy access to the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast. Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore are all within a 2-hour drive.

6. Thomas Jefferson gave Delaware the nickname "the Diamond state", according to legend, because he described Delaware as a "jewel" among the states due to its strategic location on the Eastern Seaboard.

7. Delaware has the lowest mean elevation of any state - just 450 feet.

8. Delaware Bay is home to the largest population of horseshoe crabs in the world. Horseshoe crabs are one of the oldest sea creatures and are over 450 million years old. 

9. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the new constitution of the United States of America making it "the first state". 

10. Delaware is home to over 1.3 million legal entities. The number of entities exceeds the population of the state!

We hope you've had fun learning a little more about Delaware.