Places · States
Delaware
One of the original Thirteen Colonies — the First State
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Settled by Swedish, Dutch, and then English colonists beginning in 1638, the small colony on the Delaware River spent its early years governed from Pennsylvania before gaining its own assembly in 1704.
Delaware earned its nickname, the First State, on December 7, 1787, when it became the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution — moving unanimously and ahead of every larger neighbor.
Colonial America · Revolutionary Era
Key Facts
| Settled | 1638 — New Sweden |
| Capital | Dover |
| Ratified Constitution | December 7, 1787 (1st state) |
At a Glance
| Years | 1638 |
| Location | Delaware |
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