List of Delaware state symbols

In the state of Delaware, numerous symbols have been approved by the Delaware General Assembly and added to the Delaware Code.

Location of the state of Delaware in the United States of America

Insignia

Further information: List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Flag	The flag of Delaware	Consists of a buff-colored diamond on a field of colonial blue, with the coat of arms of the state of Delaware inside the diamond. Below the diamond, the date December 7, 1787, declares the day on which Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. The colors of the flag reflect the colors of the uniform of General George Washington.	1913		^[1]
Seal	The great seal of the state of Delaware	First adopted in 1777, with the current version being adopted in 2004. It contains the state coat of arms surrounded by the inscription "Great Seal of the State of Delaware" and the dates 1704, 1776 and 1787.	1777		^[2]
Motto	"Liberty and Independence"	Derived from the Order of Cincinnati	1847	—
Nicknames	The First State	Adopted to commemorate Delaware becoming the first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.	2002	—	^[3]
	The Diamond State	This nickname comes from the legend that Thomas Jefferson described Delaware as a jewel among states due to its strategic location on the Eastern Seaboard.		—
	Blue Hen State	This nickname comes from the fighting Blue Hen cocks that were carried with soldiers for entertainment during the Revolutionary War.		—
	Small Wonder	This nickname comes from substantial contributions Delaware has made as compared to its relatively small size.		—
	The Last State	Some residents of states that were also formerly part of the 13 original colonies have given this name to Delaware as a parody or insult to its classic nickname "The First State". Adopted to commemorate Delaware becoming among the last of the 13 original states to ratify the Articles of Confederation.		—

Species

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Fruit	Strawberry		2010		^[4]
Bird	Delaware Blue Hen	The Blue Hen has been used as many political campaigns and publications.	1939		^[5]
Insect	Lady bug	Officially adopted at the suggestion of Mollie Brown-Rust's second grade class at the Lulu M. Ross Elementary School in Milford, Delaware.	1974		^[6]
Tree	American holly Ilex opaca	Regarded as one of Delaware's most important forest trees	1939		^[6]
Flower	Peach blossom	Officially adopted in recognition of peach tree orchards yielding thousands of dollars worth of crop worth at that time.	1895		^[6]
Fish	Weakfish Cynoscion	Officially adopted in recognition of its values as a game and food fish.	1981		^[6]
Herb	Sweet goldenrod Solidago odora	Officially adopted indigenous to the state, commonly found in coastal areas and along the edges of marshes and thickets	1996		^[7]
Butterfly	Eastern tiger swallowtail Pterourus glaucus	Officially adopted as indigenous to Delaware and commonly found in deciduous woods, along streams, rivers, and wooded swamps, and in towns and cities throughout Delaware. They were chosen based on a statewide vote of public and parochial students, out of suggestions from students of the Richardson Park Learning Center.	1999		^[8]
Marine animal	Horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus	Officially adopted in recognition of its importance and value in the medical field and as the principal food source for more than a million shore birds.	2002		^[6]
Macroinvertebrate	Stonefly (order Plecoptera)	Officially adopted in recognition of the importance of excellent water quality and the vital role played by healthy aquatic ecosystems. It was supported by Gunning-Bedford Middle School, Salesianum High School, Delcastle Technical High School, Dickinson High School Environmental Club, The Independence School, Springer Middle School, St. Andrews School, and The Charter School of Wilmington.	2005		^[6]
Wildlife animal	Grey fox^[a] Urocyon cinereoargenteus		2010		^[6]

Geology

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Mineral	Sillimanite	Recognized by geologists in Delaware prior to 1830, is widespread throughout the schists of the Delaware Piedmont, and occurs as large masses and stream-rounded boulders at the Brandywine Springs State Park			^[6]
Fossil	Belemnite	Officially adopted at the suggestion of Kathy Tidball's third grade Quest students at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware. The fossil, an extinct squid with a conical shell, is commonly found along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.	1996		^[9]
Soil	Greenwich loam	Commonly found in all counties in Delaware and enhancing water quality, agriculture, wildlife habitat, and natural landscape beauty	2000		^[6]

Culture

Type	Symbol	Description	Year	Image	Source
Song	"Our Delaware" by George Beswick Hynson	The song comprises three verses, each honoring one of Delaware's three counties, with the fourth verse added by Donn Devine commemorating the American Revolution Bicentennial in 1976.^[10] The musical score was composed by Will M. S. Brown specifically for the poem.	1925	—	^[11]^[12]
Colors	Colonial blue and buff
Dessert	Peach pie		2009		^[13]
Beverage	Milk		1983		^[14]
Star	TYC 3429-697-1	The star in the Ursa Major constellation was officially adopted after it was nicknamed "The Delaware Diamond". Despite being the official state star, its name is not recognized by astronomical community, because it was named by the private company International Star Registry.	2000		^[15]
Tall ship	Kalmar Nyckel	Serves "as Delaware's seagoing ambassador both at home and at many ports of call, raising awareness of the First State for thousands who see her and come on board".	2016		^[16]

Other

•  
  License plate for Delaware
•  
  State quarter for Delaware

See also

• List of Delaware-related topics
• Lists of United States state insignia
• State of Delaware

Notes

1. Delaware state code specifies the British spelling "grey".

References

1. Delaware Code Title 29 § 306
2. Delaware Code Title 29 § 301
3. Delaware Code Title 29 § 318
4. Delaware Code Title 29 § 322
5. Delaware Code Title 29 § 304
6. . delcode.delaware.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
7. Delaware Code Title 29 § 313
8. Delaware Code Title 29 § 315
9. Delaware Code Title 29 § 314
10. Bies, Jessica (May 14, 2019). "Donn Devine, lawyer, civil rights marcher, city planner, co-writer of state song, dies at 90". The News Journal. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
11. Delaware Code Title 29 § 303
12. Moose, Katie (2004). Uniquely Delaware. Capstone Classroom pp. 14-15. ISBN 978-1-4034-4713-5.
13. Delaware Code Title 29 § 321
14. Delaware Code Title 29 § 312
15. Bittle, Mark (December 24, 2017). . Delaware State News. Archived from the original on 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
16. "Delaware Online: Kalmar Nyckel becomes official Tall Ship of Delaware". September 9, 2016. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2016-09-09.

External links

• Delaware Facts and Symbols