HISTORIC VIEW OF DELAWARE
1631 - Dutch establish first settlement at Lewes.
1638 - Swedish establish first settlement in New Castle County.
1682 - Estimated Mid-Atlantic Native American population 8,000.
1683 - William Penn plans layout of Dover.
1697 - First Kent County Court House established.
1722 - Kent County's second Court House built.
1740 - John Dickinson Mansion built.
1776 - American Revolution; Delaware separates from Pennsylvania; adopts first State Constitution.
1777 - Capital of Delaware moved from New Castle to Dover.
1787 - Delaware is first state to ratify the Federal Constitution.
1790 - Population of Delaware 59,096 (free Blacks 3,899 - slaves 8,887)
1791 - Sussex County Court House built in Georgetown.
1792 - State House in Dover completed; Second state Constitution adopted.
1812 - 1814 - War of 1812
1820 - Population of Delaware 72,749 (free Blacks 12,958 - slaves 4,509)
1831 - Third state Constitution adopted.
1860 - Civil War; Population of Delaware 112,216 (free Blacks 19,829 - slaves 1,798)
1861 - Delaware votes not to secede from the Union.
1865 - Slavery abolished nationally.
1873 - New Kent County Court House constructed in Dover.
1881 - New Castle County Seat moved to Wilmington.
1897 - Fourth state Constitution adopted.
1911 - Construction of US 13 through Delaware begins.
1917 - 1918 - United States in WWI
1920 - Population in Delaware 223,003
1931 - Construction of Legislative Hall authorized.
1941 - 1945 - US Air Base established in Dover; United States in WWII
1949 - Delaware State Museums
established.
