DELAWARE

The state is named after the Delaware River and Bay, which were named by explorer Samuel Argall in 1610. He named them after Thomas West, Lord De La Warr, the governor of Virginia.

Delaware is known as "The First State" because it was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on
December 7, 1787. It's also known as "The Blue Hen State" and "The Diamond State".

The state bird is the Blue Hen Chicken, a breed with blue feathers. The Blue Hen Chicken was a symbol of courage and was carried by Delaware soldiers during the American Revolution.

The state dessert is peach pie, which has been the official dessert since 2009.

The first commercially produced ice cream in the United States was made in Delaware in 1851.

The News Journal is one of the oldest newspapers in the country, established in 1785.

The Delaware Bay is home to the world's largest population of horseshoe crabs.

The capital of Delaware is Dover.