Dover Homes Guide

Dover Real Estate

Dover, Delaware, capital city in America’s First State

The Delaware River as seen from New Jersey's Worthington State Forest near the Delaware Water Gap

Dover, Delaware is a city of surprises and contrasts where visitors may see Amish buggies on the city streets while on their way to the city’s famous NASCAR track. The City of Dover is not only the Capital of America’s First State but also the hometown to many of Delaware's historical landmarks and modern government facilities. Dover enjoys a thriving local economy in contrast to many cities and towns along the Eastern seaboard today. And family life is thriving too with Dover’s commitment to good schools, cultural and recreational venues.

Being founded in 1683, it's quite easy to understand the long history of culture and events in Dover. Every year numerous events are held around the city ranging from fireworks on July 4th, Art Festivals, and Christmas Caroling on the Green to ethnic parades such as St. Patrick’s Day and the African American Festival.

Residing in one of the many historical buildings in downtown Dover is the Schwarz Center for the Arts which was reopened in October, 2001, after an extensive modernization and expansion from its roots as the Dover Opera House. The Schwartz Center offers a variety of shows such as comedy acts, weekend "Family Films and Classics" and the Dover Symphony among other performances.

Dover’s most popular attraction of recent years are the NASCAR races held at Dover International Speedway. Every year during NASCAR season, the population of Dover expands from 30,000 to 200,000+ with tourists from across the United States. MBNA, a locally founded Fortune 500 company, sponsors the MBNA 400. With premium hotels available and recreational vehicles abounding, Dover is truly an icon for NASCAR fans every summer.

Dover is one of the fastest-growing areas in the state of Delaware, due in large part to its relatively low cost of living and high quality of life. As a consequence, the Kent County government is a major employer in the area as well. Apart from the state and county governments, Dover's significant employers include Dover Air Force Base, located just outside the city. The base houses several airlift wings as well as the military's only mortuary located in the continental United States, which accepts and processes the remains of soldiers killed in battle. In addition, the Playtex corporation has a manufacturing facility in Dover. ILC Dover, in nearby Frederica, is the producer of fabrics for military and aerospace uses, along with being the primary contractor for production of the Apollo and Skylab spacesuits, as well as the spacesuit assembly for the Space Shuttle's Extravehicular Mobility Unit.

Dover is approximately 90 miles south of Philadelphia, PA, and 90 miles east of Washington, DC. While its population is significantly less than that of Wilmington, Delaware, Dover encompasses a larger area than any other city on the Delmarva Peninsula. Dover is easily accessible, too, being served by the Philadelphia International Airport and local transportation via Amtrak, Greyhound Bus Lines and the Delaware Transit Corporation public transportation. The average commute time for Dover workers is 19 minutes, compared with 26 minutes nationwide.