Delaware, one of the original 13 US states located on the Atlantic Ocean, has a state flag modeled after its seal, which features symbols representing the state’s contributions to the formation of the United States. The seal includes three important dates in Delaware history, and the flag recognizes each county’s importance. Adopted in 1913, the flag features a buff diamond on a field of colonial blue and is sometimes called the “Blue Hen State” or “The Diamond State”.
Delaware is an eastern US state located on the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the original 13 US states. The Delaware state flag is modeled after its state seal, which was adopted by the legislature on January 17, 1777. The seal is known as the “Great Seal of the State of Delaware” and contains many symbols representative of the state’s contributions to the formation of the United States.
The seal is inscribed with three important dates in Delaware history: 1704, 1776, and 1787. In 1704, the Delaware General Assembly was chartered. 1776 marks the date Delaware declared its independence from Great Britain. In 1778, Delaware became the first state to ratify the new US Constitution. Because of this historic action, Delaware always ranks first at national events such as presidential inaugurations.
Delaware is a small state with only three counties. As with the state seal, the Delaware state flag recognizes each county’s importance to the state. At the center of the seal are a farmer and a militiaman. The farmer is holding a hoe and represents the importance of agriculture in Delaware. The militiaman standing with his rifle signifies the citizen soldiers’ defense of American liberties.
A sailing ship symbolizes New Castle County’s famous shipyards and Delaware’s importance to coastal commerce. A sheaf of corn, borrowed from the Essex County seal, recognizes that county’s contribution to the state’s agricultural strength. The corn, taken from the Kent County seal, represents that crop’s importance to the state’s economy.
Two other seal symbols, an ox and water, also incorporated into the Delaware state flag, appear above the state motto “Liberty and Independence.” The ox signifies the importance of animal husbandry to Delaware. Flowing water is a symbol of the Delaware River, vital to commerce and transportation.
Adopted on July 24, 1913, the Delaware state flag placed the state seal in a buff diamond on a field of colonial blue. The shape of the diamond was chosen based on Thomas Jefferson’s description of Delaware as the “jewel” among the 13 states, due to its strategic location on the Atlantic for trade and defense. One of Delaware’s nicknames is “The Diamond State”. Jefferson later became America’s third president.
Delaware is also sometimes called the “Blue Hen State”. This name comes from the observations that the state’s revolutionary soldiers kept fighting blue hen roosters with them in the field for amusement. The state is also called the “Little Wonder” due to its small size but great contribution to the founding of the country. It’s also a reference to Delaware’s natural beauty.
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