What are the Delaware State Symbols?

State symbols have been around in the U.S. for many years and are a mainstay of the country’s culture since the very beginning. Official symbols are used to represent the cultural heritage and natural history of each state in the most fun and factual way possible.

Delaware is certainly no different from many other U.S. states and it has a plethora of fantastic symbols that are indicative to the state’s historical roots and geological history. There are also recognizable icons and emblems for each state, such as state seals and flags, nicknames and mottos, and much more which are all included in our Delaware state symbol list.

State Symbols of Delaware List

There are an incredible amount of Delaware state symbols which creates a whole host of interesting facts about the state both from the past and present. We have shortlisted the top 5 most significant Delaware state symbols below and further down the page you will find a comprehensive list with each Delaware symbol and the date they were officially created and recognized.

Delaware State Animal

The Grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is the official Delaware state animal and has been since 2010. Delaware’s animal can also be spelled “gray fox”, and the adoption of this animal pays homage to Delaware’s wildlife heritage and continuous efforts with environmental protection and species preservation.

Delaware State Flower

The beautiful peach blossom has been the official Delaware state flower since 1895 due to the state’s reputation for being the “peach state”, because, at the time, Delaware’s orchards housed over 800,000 peach trees! Funnily enough, Georgia’s state nickname is now “The Peach State”.

Delaware State Seal

The Delaware state seal was originally adopted on January 17, 1777, with the inscription reading “Great Seal of the State of Delaware”, which surrounds the coat of arms on the seal. The official great seal of the state of Delaware is extremely unique in design, especially when compared with other state seals.

While Delaware’s seal has remained the same in its original design, there have been some revisions over the years. Above the coat of arms, you can see three dates:

• 1704 – This date signifies the year of the first-ever Delaware General Assembly.
• 1776 – This is the year Delaware officially declared its independence from Great Britain.
• 1787 – In this year Delaware was ratified to the United States Constitution, which is when it became the first-ever official state!

The state’s coat of arms which is displayed in the state seal can also be found on the official state flag. Delaware’s seal is very busy, containing many significant pictures and symbols, which all represent something unique to the state.

Delaware State Insect

The ladybug has been the official state insect of Delaware since April 1974. This was due to the efforts made by Mrs. Mollie Brown-Rust and her dedicated second-grade students from the Lulu M. Ross Elementary School in Milford, Delaware!

Delaware State Tree

The American holly tree has been used to represent Delaware since 1939. There are a plethora of lush, green forests located around the state, and the American holly, also known as the Christmas Holly, is regarded as one of the most important trees of them all.

All Delaware State Symbols (Table)

Now that we have taken a look at some of the more popular and notable state symbols that are associated with the state of Delaware, it makes sense to showcase all the Delaware state symbols that are best used to represent the state’s history and more present achievements and moments. Here is the complete list of symbols and the dates they became official: