If you’ve ever called Delaware home, you know it’s more than just “The First State.” It’s the little things—quirks and comforts woven quietly into everyday life—that make hearts ache with homesickness once you’re away. Here are 10 small things about Delaware that might bring back a flood of nostalgia when you least expect it:
1. No Sales Tax
Nothing says “home” to a Delawarean like seeing a price tag and knowing that’s exactly what you’ll pay at the register. The shock of encountering sales tax elsewhere can leave you longing for Delaware’s famously simple shopping trips.
2. The Smell of the Beach Air
From Rehoboth to Bethany, the salty tang and gentle breeze of the Delaware shore is unmatched. Summer days spent digging your toes in the sand, boardwalk fries in hand, are impossible to replicate anywhere else.
3. Old Bay on Just About Everything
Whether it’s fries, popcorn, or a fresh catch from the bay, that sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning is a Delaware love language. When you move away, you’ll struggle to find it—and suddenly crave it all the time.
4. Having Just Three Counties
Only New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Ask Delawareans where they’re from, and you won’t just get a city name—you’ll get a county, too. No other state can relate to that tiny, communal pride.
5. The Blue Hen State Pride
Blue Hen everything—from ball teams to yard art. The legendary fighting blue hen’s legacy is a source of statewide pride, and spotting those blue-and-gold flags and license plates is an instant reminder of home.
6. Seeing More Chickens Than People
Delaware has more chickens than residents, and you’re reminded every time you see a chicken truck on Route 1. Out-of-staters don’t know the comfort of this feathery familiarity (and how it scents the air at harvest time).
7. Punkin’ Chunkin’
No autumn is complete without Delaware’s legendary Punkin’ Chunkin’—watching pumpkins soar across open fields with friends and family, hot cider in hand, is a fall memory that sticks with you.
8. Classic Local Eats
Grotto Pizza, Dolly’s saltwater taffy, Fisher’s caramel corn, and Thrasher’s fries—these aren’t just snacks, they’re rites of passage for any true Delawarean. No chain restaurant anywhere can truly measure up.
9. The “Small Wonder” Community
Bumping into someone you know—everywhere you go. Delaware is the ultimate small town, and you’ll miss the warmth of familiar faces in grocery stores, parks, and festivals.
10. The Four Real Seasons
Delaware delivers a real spring, summer, fall, and winter. The sight of blossoming dogwoods, beach days, fiery autumn leaves, and the rare but magical coastal snowstorm will tug at your memory, no matter where you’ve landed.
Beneath its modest size, Delaware’s magic lies in these simple, sometimes overlooked details. They’re the quiet joys you don’t know you’ll miss—until they’re gone, and you find yourself homesick for a place that still fits you just right.
Sources
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/Delaware/comments/9u0y94/things_about_delaware_that_probably_seem_weird_to/
[2] https://theincorporators.com/blogs/news/fun-facts-about-delaware
[3] https://www.movoto.com/guide/de/delaware-stereotypes/
[4] https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2019-09-13/10-things-to-know-about-delaware
[5] https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/59022/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-delaware
