The US state of Delaware is found in the Mid-Atlantic region of the nation on the Atlantic Shore. The state of Delaware shares its borders with Maryland to the west and south, New Jersey to the east, and the state of Pennsylvania to the north. The state takes its name from the 3rd Baron De La Warr, Thomas West, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor, after whom what is presently called Cape Henlopen was initially named.
Delaware is situated within the northeastern region of the Delmarva Peninsula and is the second smallest state in the region, after the state of Rhode Island. Estimates during 2007 rank the population of Delaware as 45th in the United States, but 6th in population density, with more than 60 percent of the population in New Castle County. Delaware is divided into three counties. From north to south, these three counties are Kent, Sussex, and New Castle. While the two southern counties have before been predominantly agricultural, New Castle County has been more industrialized.
As a percentage of the workforce, the state ranks 2nd in scientists and engineers, while also ranking second in the number of patents per 1,000 workers issued to companies or individuals. The history of the state's economic and industrial development is closely tied to the impact of the Du Pont family, scions and founders of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, among the largest chemical companies in the world.
Before its coastline was first explored by Europeans during the 16th century, the state of Delaware was occupied by several groups of Native Americans, comprising the Lenape within the north and Nanticoke in the south. It was initially colonized by Dutch traders at Zwaanendael, situated near the present town of Lewes, during the year 1631. The state of Delaware was amongst the 13 colonies participating in the American Revolution and on December 7, 1787, became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby becoming referred to as The First State.
Agriculture production within Delaware includes poultry, nursery stock, dairy products, corn and soybeans. Major industrial production comprises chemical products, automobiles, paper products, processed foods, and rubber and plastic products. The economy of the state of Delaware generally outperforms the national average of the US.
As of the month of January the year 2011, the state's unemployment rate was 8.5%. Delaware's largest employers are: government education, banking, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, Hercules, Syngenta and AstraZeneca, healthcare, automotive manufacturing, and farming.
The Dover Air Force Base, located next to the state capital of Dover, is one of the biggest Air Force bases within the US and is a key employer within the state of Delaware. In addition to its other responsibilities in the USAF Air Mobility Command, this particular air base serves as the entry point and mortuary for American military workers, and some U.S. government civilians, who die abroad.