20 Undeniable Reasons Everyone Should Love Delaware

Dela-where? Yep. It’s the question that all native Delawareans are used to answering. No, we don’t mean a county in Pennsylvania or a town in Ohio. This is Delaware: the second smallest state, the center of the East Coast, and a place that many are proud to call home. We love living in Delaware, and we think the First State has so much going for it that anybody could find reasons to love Delaware. Here are 20 undeniable things to love about Delaware:

1. Because it's good being first!

First in the nation, that is. While all the other states were trying to figure out this whole Constitution thing, Delaware said, "Sign us up," and we became the first state to ratify.

2. Two degrees of separation

Forget seven degrees of separation; in Delaware, it’s more like two. We’re like one big "Cheers" bar — you know, where everyone knows your name. It’s no big deal to run into the Governor at the State Fair, see your mayor at the local bar, or have an elected official as your kid’s soccer coach. If you don’t know someone, someone you know does. The close-knit nature of the folks in our state is just an aspect of life in Delaware that we've all come to love.

3. Our good friend Joe

And speaking of knowing somebody, Former President Joe Biden is from Delaware! Whether his gaffes make you cringe or chuckle, to us, he’s "Just Joe," and he’s ours.

4. Our five-star beaches

Delaware is home to some of the cleanest beaches in the world. Whether your perfect beach spot is along a shop-lined boardwalk, in a party town, or on a quiet stretch of state park land, we have 28 miles of oceanfront for you!

5. Craft beer

Home to famous Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales, tiny Delaware ranks 14th in the nation for craft breweries per capita. Hit the Delaware Wine and Ale Trail and find them all.

6. Tax-free shopping

It makes holiday shopping a little less stressful at the Christina Mall or Tanger Outlets.

7. Low property taxes

Even though Delaware is surrounded by states with sky-high property taxes, we benefit from taxes paid by companies that incorporate here, which shoulder most of that burden.

8. Proximity

We love our state, but if we want to take a day trip, we’re within just a few hours of New York City, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

9. Highs and lows

We can be climbing the rocky outcrops at Alapocas State Park in northern Delaware in the morning, and biking the Breakwater Trail along the Atlantic Coast in the afternoon.

10. Festivals

Lots of them. Most involving fantastic food. Greek. Polish. Italian. German. Apple-Scrapple (yes, you read that right). And much more.

11. Farm families and farmers' markets

All year round, at roadside stands, garden centers, Christmas tree farms, farmers' markets, and family-run stores, you can get great Delaware produce and meet the people who grow it!

12. The seasons

We have four of them, and everyone has their own favorite. Our springs are mild. Fall is perfect football weather. Summer is full of sunshine, and we still get some snow in the winter.

13. We're a state of givers

Maybe it comes from the part about knowing everyone, but Delaware has a huge volunteer base, helping with everything from fighting fires to giving food and shelter to those in need.

14. Music

While we Delawareans know that music has been an undeniable reason to love our state for decades. The Firefly Music Festival, held annually in Dover, draws flocks of fans from all corners of the U.S. for its chill vibe and sweet sounds.

15. Historic towns with charming Main Streets

Every corner of Delaware has a small town with historic charm, taverns, quaint boutiques, a sense of pride and community, and a parade for every major holiday.

16. Blue crabs

Forget what people tell you about crabs from the Chesapeake Bay or Louisiana. We get ours from the Delaware Bay. Steam them up at home, or pick up a dozen at a local seafood place.

17. Nature

Lots of it. From numerous state parks to two National Wildlife Refuges, eco-explorers find places to hike, bird watch, hunt, fish, and just be one with the outdoors.

18. The University of Delaware

In a state as small as Delaware, we only have one major university, and man, is it a pretty one, with a quintessential college vibe. Many Delawareans are proud alumni, including… You guessed it… #3 from above!

19. Chickens, in more ways than one

Sussex County, one of our three (yes, only three) counties, produces more chickens for meat consumption than any other county in the U.S. And the Fightin’ Blue Hen is the University of Delaware’s mascot, selected for its ‘cocky’ attitude during the Revolutionary War.

20. Because there's a little something for everyone

Whether you are a city mouse or a country mouse, or somewhere in between, there’s something for you, and you can drive there in under 2 hours.

So the real answer when someone asks "Dela-where?" is "Dela-right here baby!" And we have at least 20 things to love about living in Delaware that make our state undeniably awesome. In case you couldn't tell, one more aspect of life in the First State is that we folks from Delaware are proud of where we come from.