THE NICKNAMES:
The First State: (Official) Delaware was the first state
to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787. There is only one First State and Delaware is it.
The Diamond State: This nickname for Delaware is echoed in the State Flag. The buff colored
diamond serves as a frame for the state Coat of Arms. This nickname originated with Thomas Jefferson who
compared Delaware to a diamond; small but very valuable. According to the Delaware
Government Information Center,
Thomas Jefferson described Delaware as "...a 'jewel' among states due to its strategic location on
the Eastern Seaboard."
The Blue Hen State: This historical nickname, sometimes Blue Hen Chicken State, originated
during the Revolutionary War. According to W.A. Powell's History of Delaware, 1928, the story
traces back to a Captain Caldwell from Kent County who carried with him a pair of fighting game
cocks. These chickens, descendents of a famous Blue Hen, were well known in Kent County for their
superior fighting qualities. It is said that upon seeing these game cocks fight, one soldier cried
"We're sons of the Old Blue Hen and we're game to the end" comparing the fighting prowess of the chickens
to the fighting prowess of the Delaware soldiers. These regiments from Kent County became
known as "Blue Hen's Chickens." This name was soon applied state wide. In 1939, the Blue Hen Chicken was adopted as Delaware's official State Bird.
The Peach State: In the 1500s, the Spanish brought peaches to Delaware. By the 1600s, peaches were
so plentiful in the state that farmers used them to feed their pigs. Supported by the Delaware Railroad
in the early nineteenth century, Delaware became the leading producer of peaches in the United States. Almost
6,000,000 baskets of peaches were shipped to market in 1875, Delaware's peak production year. Many problems
beset peach farmers throughout the latter part of the century. The peach blight, called the "yellows" forced
the collapse of the industry and, in the early 1900s, many peach farmers faced bankruptcy.
New Sweden: Refers to the first permanent settlement in Delaware in the present day Wilmington. Delaware
was under Swedish rule from 1638 to 1655. The first Swedish settlement was at "The Rocks," on the Christina River,
near the foot of Seventh Street. The Christina River was named after the young queen of Sweden as was the fort
that was built.
Uncle Sam's Pocket Handkerchief: This obscure nickname probably refers to the small size of Delaware.
Corporate Capital: Delaware has been called the "Corporate Capital" because so many corporations
have incorporated in the state because of its business-friendly law. According to the Delaware Division
of Corporations (2002), more than 308,000 companies are incorporated in Delaware. This includes 60% of the Fortune
500 and 50% of the companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Small Wonder: A new nickname developed to promote the state's contributions to the nation and its natural
beauty.
Delaware has also been called "The Chemical Capital" and the "Home of Tax Free Shopping."
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint)
