Bill and I have lived and worked in Delaware for a long time so there are a lot of wonderful things that weve gotten used to. So every once in a while I like to take stock of the history, attractions and sound financial reasons to move here.
You dont have to take my word for all of this again and again our state has been ranked and recognized as a great place to be by national media outlets that include Money Magazine, Kiplingers, the Wall Street Journal, and others. Our very low taxes are one consistent reason, and our beautiful towns and natural resources are another.
Whether youve already made the move or are thinking about it, here are some interesting facts:
Delaware was a real guy. The state was named after Lord de La Warr, the first governor of Virginia, who was born in 1576 and only lived until 1618. He was a businessman who brought provisions from England to Jamestown, one of Americas first English colonies, right about the time the first settlers were ready to abandon the place because of starvation. Dont be swayed by his blue-blood heritage. He was a bad dude who murdered a lot of Powhatan Indians in ongoing battles to determine who would rule the area. He died during another ocean voyage but was well-regarded enough in those Colonial times to be the namesake for the First State in America.
The Dutch warship that was so crucial to the settling of Delaware is still around sort of. The Kalmar Nyckel played a major role in the settling of our state. You cant miss the replica during its frequent visits to Lewes. The original was built in Amsterdam in 1627, and one of many small warships built at the time. She was bought by the Swedish Ship Company and travelled across the ocean many times as a colonial ship that was instrumental in the settling of the first European settlement in Delaware now known as Wilmington. The replica was built in the 1980s and is well-loved by many who enjoy cruising on it today. Visit the Web site to learn more.
Those concrete cylinder towers along the beach have a fascinating history. Delaware played a crucial role in Americas national security during World War II because the Delaware Bay provided access to the seaports and industrial sites northward up to Philadelphia. Military personnel stationed at Fort Miles were constantly looking out for German U Boats from the concrete observation towers that still line the coast. You can visit one of them at Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park and see amazing vistas of the park, the town of Lewes, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Youll never run out of scenic vistas and places to explore. Our states Coastal Heritage Greenway is a corridor of open space encompassing 90 miles of coastline and spanning the area between Fox Point State Park and Fenwick Island. Thousand Acre Marsh in Middletown is a vast natural resource and the largest freshwater tidal wetland in northern Delaware. Locals also love the Great Marsh Preserve and the Great Marsh National Wildlife Refuge bordering the Broadkill River and the Delaware Bay east of Milton. Another place for spectacular vistas is the 80-foot tall Great Dune, located at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.
It's super easy to find fresh produce, meats and seafood from May through November. While there are many new neighborhoods being built in Sussex County, Delaware continues to be a vibrant agricultural state, with more than 2,000 farms. Soybeans, corn, barley and wheat are the biggest crops, but these farms also offer a vast supply of amazing fruits, vegetables, dairy products, chicken, beef and even bison through our Farmers Markets. Ill do a post about these markets and what theyre offering in 2023 pretty soon, but you can learn more in the meantime by visiting the Web sites for the markets in historic Lewes, Rehoboth, Milton, Milford, the many markets in Kent County, and New Castle County.