Dover is the capital of the state of Delaware. The city gets its name from the English city of the same name. Dover is located on the St. Jones River, in the east-central part of the state.

Places of interest

One of Dover's many buildings from the colonial period is the State House, which was built between 1787 and 1792. It served as the capitol until 1933. The home of John Dickinson, who was a participant in the American Revolution, was built in 1740. The Hall of Records contains Delaware's historical public records. Dover also has many museums, state parks, and colleges.

Economy

Dover is a farm trade center. Crops are brought to the city from nearby farms and are shipped out from there. There is some manufacturing as well, but the government is the largest employer in the city.

History

In 1683, William Penn, a religious leader, ordered the establishment of a town at the present site of Dover. The settlement was not actually laid out until 1717. It replaced the city of New Castle as the capital of Delaware in 1777. Dover was incorporated as a town in 1829 and as a city in 1929. Population (2000 census), 32,135.