Dover is the capital of Delaware; William Penn founded the town in 1683, and it has served as the state capital since 1777.
The settlement was laid out around a central green known today as The Green. Dover’s location in the middle of Delaware helped make it a practical meeting place for the state’s government, especially during the American Revolutionary period.
The Delaware General Assembly moved the capital from New Castle to Dover in 1777 because Dover was farther from the Delaware River and considered safer from possible British attacks. Wilmington is Delaware’s largest city, while Dover is the political center. The city also contains Legislative Hall, where the state legislature and governor’s offices are located.