Dover has served as Delaware’s capital since 1777.
Dover is located near the center of Delaware on the St. Jones River. The colonial legislature selected it as the state’s capital during the American Revolutionary War, when officials sought a safer and more centrally located seat of government than New Castle, the earlier capital.
The city was named Dover after Dover in England. Its central position helped it remain Delaware’s political center, even though Wilmington became the state’s largest and most commercially prominent city. The Delaware Legislative Hall and the governor’s office are located in Dover.
A common mix-up is assuming that the largest city in a state must be its capital. Wilmington is Delaware’s largest city, but Dover has been the capital for more than two centuries. Dover also contains First State Heritage Park, which links several historic government and civic sites.