Brief History of Where We Came From
Delaware's history includes the arrival of the first European settlers, waves of settlers in the 19th and 20th centuries, and more recent residents:
17th Century:
The first European settlers in Delaware were Dutch and Swedish, who traveled up the Delaware River to New Castle. The Dutch established the furst European settlement in 1931 at Lewes, while the Swedes established a settlement in 1638 at Fort Christina (now Wilmington).
18th Century:
Larger groups of English, Scots Irish, and other settlers arrived in Delaware. By 1787, the area was mostly English speaking.
19th and 20th Centuries:
Delaware saw waves of immigration from Ireland, Germany, and Italy as the state's industries grew. Delaware was a key player in the American Industrial Revolution, producing gunpowder, shipbuilding materials, and more.
2023:
In 2023, 11.2% of Delaware's population was foreign-born, with the top countries of origin being Mexico, India, Guatemala, and China. Immigrants in Delaware work in a variety of jobs, including construction, finance, health care, and STEM. They contribute significantly to the state's economy and tax base, paying about $1 billion in taxes annually.
Resources on Native American
Culture & History
The Lenape, also known as the Delaware or Lenni-Lenape, were indigenous people who lived in the Delaware Valley and are considered the "First People of the First State":
Finding Home in Delaware
Find it in the Catalog
Creating Community : Hispanic Migration to Rural Delaware
by
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
by
