The Delaware Valley is a great place to live, work, visit and play. We also realize that life isn’t all just fun and games, so we’ve tried to include as much useful information as we could find about schools, neighborhoods, statistics and the like. If you don’t see your favorite site listed, send us an e-mail and we’ll do what we can to get it added to our lists.
Please
visit the Delaware Department of Education Home Page at www.doe.state.de.us.
For information on school choice and charter schools in Delaware, please visit www.focuskids.org.
Delaware became a state in 1776, just two months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The capital was moved from New Castle to Dover in 1777. Delaware’s present constitution was adopted in 1797 and is the third one the state has had. It has been modernized with many new amendments since then. Today, Delaware has a cabinet form of government
The General Assembly, Delaware’s lawmaking body, is comprised of a House of Representatives, whose 41 members are elected for two-year terms, and a Senate whose 21 members are elected for four-year terms. Half of the Senate seats are contested in each general election.
The State Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices. All members are appointed by the governor, with confirmation by the Senate, for a term of 12 years.
Delaware has two U.S. Senators elected for six-year terms. Current Senators are William V. (Bill) Roth and Joseph R. (Joe) Biden, Jr. The state has one U.S. Representative who serves a two-year term. Our current representative is Michael N. (Mike) Castle.
Governor Tom Carper became Delaware’s 71st Chief Executive on January 19, 1993, after serving five terms as Delaware’s Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives and six years as state Treasurer.
We encourage
you to visit the government page of the First State’s official site
for more information.
www.state.de.us/agindex.htm
Information coming soon.
- Driver’s License
- Vehicle Registration and Inspection
- Hunting and Fishing Licenses
- Voting Registration
Delaware residents must apply in person at one of the offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles in Wilmington, New Castle, Dover, or Georgetown. Applications are available at each office. Residents who have never had a driver’s license must pass a driver’s examination, pay a $12.50 fee for a five-year license and complete the application truthfully.
New residents must obtain a driver’s license within 60 days after establishing residency. For general information on obtaining a driver’s license, call (302) 739-2500.
When applying for a license, the following items are required:
- Social Security Identification
- Valid License from another state (if transferring a license)
- Vehicle Registration Card
- Proof of Vehicle Insurance
- Proof of Residency (2) such as a lease, deed, utility bill, bank forms, etc.
- Proof of Birth Date (Birth Certificate or certified copy)
A vision test must be passed in order to obtain a license as well. The $12.50 fee for a driver’s license can be paid by cash or check and is valid for 5 years.
Vehicle Registration and Inspection
New residents of Delaware must obtain a new vehicle registration within 60 days of establishing residency. Inspection is necessary prior to registration and a vehicle’s original title is required to begin the registration process. A registration certificate and proof of liability insurance must be presented. For individuals who finance a car, the Motor Vehicle Division will provide the appropriate form for ordering the title. Registration can be completed for a $20 fee and two-year registrations are available. It is important to note the state of Delaware imposes a 2.75% tax on the fair market value of out-of-state vehicles. Credit is not granted for taxes paid in other states.
Licenses are required in the State of Delaware for fishing in non-tidal waters as well as for hunting and trapping. Fees vary depending upon the type of hunting desired, duration of license, age and residency status.
Residents born after January 1, 1967 who wish to obtain a license must complete a ten-hour safety course before receiving a hunting license. Fishing licenses are available at the same offices and outlets as the hunting permit; the cost varies with the license duration and residency status. For more specific information and guidelines on hunting and fishing in Delaware, contact the State Fish and Wildlife Department at (302) 739-3440.
New Castle County Board of Directors:
(302) 577-3464You may register to vote at the courthouse of the county in which you reside. Bring proof of age (driver’s license or birth certificate) and proof of residency (rental agreement or home sales agreement).
Delaware is a small state, divided almost evenly into three counties–New Castle, Kent and Sussex. Nearly 80% of residents live in New Castle, the state’s northernmost county. You can find out more about specific areas by visiting the following sites:
Area
Overview
A quick
tour of the area. Neighborhoods are defined by ZIP code. In reality, there
are many different neigborhoods, of varied home-style and price within
each ZIP code. The page does provides a good, general overview.
www.state.de.us/dedo/publications/databook/quality.htm
The
State of Delaware 1998 Statistical Overview. Includes lots of useful information
including cost-of-living comparisons, profiles of towns and cities, and
much, much more.
www.state.de.us/dedo/Facts/income/income.htm
Income
information from the Delaware Economic Development Office. This page also
includes links to a host of relocation and community resources.
www.realtor.com/FindNeig/default.asp
General
information about most neighborhoods. The "Find a Neighborhood"
is cumbersome and a bit slow. We found it useful to get some information
about the neighborhoods we knew. It helps if you know the zip code or
can pinpoint the area on a map. If you’re not familiar with an area,
it may be more confusing than helpful.
Know the Neighborhood™
Using "Know the Neighborhood™" software, we can tell you things you never knew about your own neighborhood–or about any place in the country you’re thinking about making your next home. We can show you recent home sales information, objective school system ratings, climate and crime statistics, community demographics and much more. We can also provide side-by-side comparisons with your present community.
If you’re planning a move and you’d like more detailed information, please send an e-mail to request a personalized Know the Neighborhood™ analysis.
"We hath found the climate of said country very temperate." —Captain Cornelius Hendricksen from a report of his visit. Hendricksen is regarded by many to be the first "civilized man" to set foot in what is now Delaware.
Delaware’s climate is moderate year round. Average monthly temperatures range from 75.8 to 32 degrees. Average temperature for summer months is 74.3 degrees. About 57% of the days are sunny. Annual precipitation is approximately 45 inches. Temperatures along the Atlantic Coast are about 10 degrees warmer in the winter and 10 degrees cooler in the summer.
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