Cemeteries in Delaware (State)

Delaware, the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787, was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples such as the Lenape.

The area saw Swedish settlers establish New Sweden in 1638, followed by Dutch and later English control. The colony was previously known as the "Three Lower Counties on the Delaware" and was administered under Pennsylvania from 1682 until it gained full autonomy during the American Revolution. Delaware's population historically included English, Swedish, Dutch, and later Irish and German immigrants, with Quakers and Methodists among the early religious groups. It remained a border state during the Civil War, permitting slavery despite its Union loyalty. Over time, Delaware developed a strong industrial and chemical sector, notably around Wilmington. Administratively, it is divided into three counties: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Cemeteries such as the Old Swedes Churchyard in Wilmington have served its communities since colonial times.