Statehood The 1st state Dec. 7, 1787 Captial Dover State Motto Liberty and Independence Origin of State Name The name is derived from the name of Thomas West, Third Baron De La Warr, Virginia's first colonial governor. State Nickname The First State Delaware's nickname commemorates the state's early ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Interesting Facts Delaware has relatively lenient corporate tax laws, attracting many businesses to incorporate in the state even though virtually all their activities are carried out elsewhere. Among Delaware's many historic churches is Old Swedes Church and Hendrickson House Museum, in Wilmington, which has been in use since its completion in 1698. Eleuthère Irénée du Pont, a French immigrant, built the state's first gunpowder mill on Brandywine Creek near Wilmington in 1802. The Du Pont Company would eventually become the largest chemical company in the United States.