Delaware is a relatively flat
state with gentle rolling hills in the north, wetlands along the eastern outskirts,
and 25 miles of Atlantic coastline. Just 96 miles long and varying in width
from 9 to 35 miles, it is the second-smallest state in the nation. Dover
is the capital and Wilmington is
the largest city.
The Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay
border Delaware, as do New
Jersey, Pennsylvania,
and Maryland. Delaware
shares a peninsula with the eastern edge of Maryland
and Virginia--hence the regional
name Delmarva Peninsula. The Mason-Dixon Line
forms the state's southern and western borders, making it the only state to lie
both north and east of the line.
Delaware has three major
regions--northern, central, and southern--and only three counties statewide.
New
Castle County in
northern Delaware is the largest
and most densely populated. It is home to lush foliage and rolling hills,
world-class museums, several theater troupes, concert halls, parks, and a
minor-league baseball team. Kent
County
in central Delaware is known for
its fertile farmlands. Today Kent
is home to the Delaware state capital, Dover Airforce Base, and several Fortune 500
corporations. Sussex County
in southern Delaware is the most
diverse area laying claim to resort, industrial, and agricultural communities.
Thousands of visitors from other nearby Mid-Atlantic States
flock to the county's beautiful beaches like
Rehoboth Beach every summer.
More than 80 percent of Delaware
residents live in metropolitan areas. The state's location affords easy access
to major urban centers in the northeast. Washington,
DC, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore are all within a
two-hour drive.
With its historic sites, beach resorts, and cultural attractions, Delaware
truly offers something for everyone.
