Did you know: Delaware is the first state. Also, it exists.

Everyone knows Delaware is the "first state." 

Well, everyone in Delaware knows it. In the rest of the country, many people don't seem to be aware that Delaware IS a state. 

Dec. 7 is known in these parts as Delaware Day. It's in honor of the 30 representatives who, on Dec. 7, 1787, gathered at the Golden Fleece Tavern in Dover and ratified the new U.S. Constitution. 

In the process, Delaware ruined the plans of the state that gave it birth, Pennsylvania. 

"Delaware's speediness thwarted Pennsylvania's attempt to be the first to ratify in the hope of securing the seat of the National Government in Pennsylvania," an account from the National Archives says. Instead, the nation's capital is located in a strategic swamp between Maryland and Virginia. 

Delaware thus secured its "first state" bona fides and has been bragging about it ever since. The other tiny state in the Union, Rhode Island, was the last to ratify, and thus has some standing to claim the title "Last State," or perhaps, the "Don't Blame Us for the Constitution State." 

On Delaware Day, a very Delaware salute to the state in pop culture

While Delaware tries to use its ratification speed as a claim to fame, it's not working very well. Many Delawareans are familiar with having to explain to people they meet on their travels that Delaware is, in fact, part of the United States, or that no, it's not in New England. 

So, for anyone from out of state who's reading this, let's just put to rest a couple of issues: 

Delaware is one of the 50 states, not just a city in central Ohio. We even have our own Wikipedia page. 

We're nobody's county, thank you very much. 

Delaware is not in New England. Culturally, it's a blend of South and North. 

We're small, but we're not the smallest. Or the slowest. (Cough, Rhode Island.) 

Did we mention tax-free shopping?

Incidentally, you can celebrate the anniversary of Delaware's speedy signers at the Golden Fleece in Dover. It's not the original — that was demolished in 1830, according to the tavern's website — but it's not far away. The tavern says it's "proudly serving Dover's own local Fordham Beer just as it did in 1733 (or so legend says)." 

According to the state of Delaware's website, Delaware Day was established as a celebration in 1933. 

Email Andrew Sharp at asharp@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @buckeye_201. 

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