States from A-Z: Delaware & Florida

DELAWARE

Delaware's nickname is "The First State," because it was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution of the United States on December 7, 1787. The state is named after the Delaware River and the Delaware Bay, which, in turn, were both named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, the first colonial governor of Virginia. The most important cities include Dover (the state's capital), Wilmington, Newark, Milford and Elsmere. Delaware's beautiful beaches are one of the main tourist attractions, with their perfect conditions for all kinds of outdoor sports at the sea such as swimming, sailing and fishing. The most popular beaches include Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island.

The Spanish and the Portuguese already arrived at the present day Delaware coast in the 16th century. But also later explorers - such as Henry Hudson in 1609, who went up to the Delaware River - reached the Delaware coastlines, even if there are no records of them actually landing there.

The first European settlers arrived only in 1631 with a trading company under the leadership of Captain David Pietersen de Vries and set up a trading post at Zwaanendael, the present day Lewes.

In March of 1638 a Swedish expedition under the leadership of Captain Peter Minuit reached the coast of present day Delaware. Their Fort Christiana was not only the first permanent settlement in Delaware, but in the whole of North America.

On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the US Constitution at a ceremony in Dover.

MOST SUCCESSFUL STATE IN THE US

For several years now, Delaware has been the economically most successful state in the US. Real GDP per capita was $59,288 in 2006 (national average of all 50 states: $37,714), making it number one in the national ranking. One reason for Delaware's economic power are the state's favorable tax laws for holding companies. Because of this, almost all large US companies are incorporated in Delaware. As a result of the Delaware-effect, the state is known as the seat of 62,000 letter-box companies, among them several big groups. Delaware is a tax haven: apart from low taxes, it is also possible in the state, similar to Liechtenstein, to set up a company anonymously. No minimum capital is required to set up a company and one director is enough. Another advantage is that meetings can be held anywhere and the state has no disclosure requirements.

Delaware's agricultural products are mainly poultry, soy beans, dairy products, corn, potatoes, mushrooms, peas, barley, cucumbers, and wheat.

Find more information about Delaware here:
http://delaware.gov

FLORIDA

Florida, "the Sunshine State," is located on a large peninsula at the southern tip of the United States' East Coast, approximately 1,650 km (1,025 miles) south of New York. The flat and sandy peninsula is approx. 165 km (102 miles) wide and 660 km (410 miles) long. The name of "Florida" is derived from the Spanish and means "filled with flowers." The capital of the popular holiday destination is Tallahassee. A typical attribute of Florida is the fascinating tropical quality of life: the azure Atlantic on the one side of the peninsula and the turquoise Gulf of Mexico on the other, and the sun that never seems to stop shining in the sky. And then, of course, the sugar-white beaches with their tall palm trees, but also enchanted bayous and mangroves and bubbling, crystal-clear springs. With some careful planning, you can even swim with the manatees. And then the smell of saltwater and seaweed on the Keys, and that of candied almonds and cotton candy in the parks of Orlando. The restaurants and clubs in the lively cities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami offer refreshing cocktails and fresh sea food. An insider's tip are the inland villages and towns, overgrown with Spanish moss, where history has preserved as in a time capsule. Archeological findings seem to lead to the conclusion that Florida had been inhabited thousands of years before it was discovered by European explorers. In 1513, Florida was discovered by Juan Ponce de Leon and claimed as Spanish territory. In 1763 the Spanish had to cede their claim to the British after seven years of war. During the American War of Independence that Spain fought on the side of the French against the British, it regained control over West Florida in 1781. In the Peace of Paris 1783, all of Florida was given to Spain again. 16 years later, Spain ceded Florida to the US, and on March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States of America. Today, it is one of the best-known states of the US.

DISNEY WORLD AND MIAMI OFFER MANY ATTRACTIONS AND A LOT OF FUN

Florida is the favorite refuge for millions of people from the cold Northern States and Canada's provinces. It is also a popular holiday destination for people from other countries. Many families come to Florida during summer vacation, defying the tropical heat to visit Disney World. Early spring is a good time to visit the subtropical state, when it is still warm, but not intolerably hot. Experienced tourists try to avoid Florida during the late summer months and early fall, since that is the time for storms and hurricanes, which can quickly spoil any well-planned vacation time.

Florida's biggest attraction is the wide range of family activities the state has to offer, mostly around Disney World near Orlando. The second biggest attraction are the sandy beaches and the warm sea at the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Also the Latin-American atmosphere of Miami attracts many tourists. The high number of Hispanics have created a South American and Caribbean subculture in the US. The Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the East Coast aren't far from Orlando. A little further north is the historic city of Saint Augustine, one of the oldest colonies in America.

For more information click: http://www.visitflorida.com