What makes Delaware stand out? (Dover, Wyoming: real estate, chapel, credit card)

[mackinac81]

Hi! I have a question, and please don't take this the wrong way.

I'm wondering what is unique about Delaware. I mean, Other states are known for things (Maine-lobster, Colorado-Rockies, Iowa-Crops). Aside from being the first state and the headquarters of DuPont, I don't know what makes Delaware stand out.

Could you shed some light on this for me?

Mackinac

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Hi! I have a question, and please don't take this the wrong way.

I'm wondering what is unique about Delaware. I mean, Other states are known for things (Maine-lobster, Colorado-Rockies, Iowa-Crops). Aside from being the first state and the headquarters of DuPont, I don't know what makes Delaware stand out.

Could you shed some light on this for me?

Mackinac

I can't speak for anyone else but for a retiree, Delaware seemed to be a smart move. Cheaper homes, taxes and seasonal climate.

[Gone-2-Beach]

Miles of natural perserves and coastal beaches --- tax free shopping --- Blue Rocks Baseball --- Dover Downs and the Monster Mile --- the historic buildings of Dover --- great museums all over the state --- The Dover Air Force Base and Museum --- within a few hours of Norfolk VA, Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, and New York City --- three slots casinos --- and small enough that from Dover you can travel to just about anywhere in the state within an hour (or so).

[rdlr]

With Delaware having only 3 counties, and being less than 100 miles long, it is the 2nd smallest in the Nation.

Distance to rural areas is between 5 minutes and 15 minutes, from any incorporated area. Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge is a haven for naturalists, and there are numerous parks and recreation areas. Since Delaware is a penninsula (shared with Maryland and Virginia) the lower easterly part of Delaware is bordered by water on both sides, allowing much water recreation along the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

The main attraction to newcomers and retirees is tax free shopping and low real estate taxes. That is taken for granted by local natives, and we relish the general ruralness of the area, and have maintained a welcoming attitude towards those seeking retirement.

The Monster Mile (it could be called a miracle, and thanks for correcting that, Charley) brings thousands into the area twice/year, while also raising monies for charity. While racing may not be for everybody, the cause is recognized by most.
So as to not drone on and on, here's the visitors' site:
Visit Delaware

[rockky]

Well, to try to be specific to your question mackinac, Delaware used be known for its crop of peaches. Yep! DE was the peach state until that sneaky Georgia grabbed them.

It may also be known for beginning the broiler chicken industry. A woman in Ocean View received more pullets than she had expected. Well, she had to something with them!! This is not, however, why DE is known as The Blue Hen State.

Check your credit cards. Many of them are based in Delaware.

Methodism began in DE. Look up Barratt's Chapel online.

Historically, DE was linked with PA for most of its early years, and it was considered the southern counties of PA. A mini war was fought to separate.

When you really try to identify the "known makers" of DE, I think you need to just consider the entire Eastern Shore area of DE, MD, and VA. Then you have identifiers that include history, social aspects, and geography. They are all linked since the early population didn't have easy access to the main land until the mid 20th century....other than those folks who lived in very northern DE.

Now, what can you tell me about Newaygo, Michigan?

[elizamary]

Ah yes.......posts to follow mine added so much more!!

Even though De is much more that lower taxes and cheaper housing...........that was all we knew at the time and that was the attraction for us.
No one from PA as saying "Oh I would love to live in DE". In fact, quite the opposite.
Our Friends would say......."Delaware?" Why??
Our neck of the woods in PA didnt' know much about De and I had never visited. We always went to the Jersey shore for beach and casinos. Jersey seemed more popular than DE but so much more expensive too.

Traveling south on 95, we would skim the nothern tip of DE right into MD.
After living here for a year and a half, I have to say DE is much more than I previously thought.

We came to see for ourselves and fell in love with the community we live in. That was all we needed to know at the time. The rest was pure gravy

[mackinac81]

Peaches? Really! I would never have thought that about Delaware...or Methodism for that matter.

These are cool, interesting responses. It just goes to show how little people know about other states. Keep em coming!

PS. Rokky, there's not too much to know about Newaygo

[rockky]

Glad you found this stuff from us interesting, mack. There's more, but historically...long back....DE was sort of PA's bastard cousin.

I found some very, very old land charters online a while back. They were petitions to William Penn for land in Sussex County. The folks raved about the wonderful tillable land. The names of the families are still the same names you see down there now. Daisy, Tingle, Hudson, etc. But that's changing fast. The old families are gettin' outta town.

Check out John Dickinson. He was a major player in politics and education in his time. He divided his time between DE and PA. He was a born Delawarean and owned much of the land between the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays just south of Dover, DE. He also founded Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Caesar Rodney was another interesting fellow. Many people in DE claim to be his descendant. I need to learn more about him, because everything I've found said he never married.

Yes, I'm a history nut. It's really about people...not dates and events...it starts with people.

Yeah, I've heard that about Newaygo, but I grew up listening to stories about a young boy spending time fishing on the Muskegon River. The woods, the lakes...it sounded like a paradise to me. And, oh, the stories about the interesting people who lived there. It would make a half hour sitcom.....if they did sitcoms about the early 20th century.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Peaches? Really! I would never have thought that about Delaware...or Methodism for that matter.

Welcome to the Town of Wyoming (Delaware) Annual Peach Festival, the First Saturday in August. Peaches were transported by rail car, from the Town of Wyoming, to maybe yours!
Town of Wyoming Home

Backstory extras: Get peachy with it | delawareonline | The News Journal

[Honeycrisp]

Very interesting tidbits, everyone (who knew?! <G>), interesting topic. Thx for all the good info.