Wilmington, the largest city in Delaware, is known as the "chemical capital of the world," because of the Du Pont family's long association with the area. Eleuthere du Pont built his first powder mill on Brandywine Creek in 1802, providing an expertise in chemistry and gunpowder production at a time when American-made gunpowder was of poor quality. His company, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company grew into one of the largest and most successful corporations in the U.S.

The Wilmington area was first settled by a Swedish expedition in 1638. Peter Minuit, leader of the expedition, purchased the land from the Lenni-Lenape natives and established a settlement named New Sweden. The colony endured until 1656, when it was overtaken by the Dutch. The army of New Amsterdam laid siege to the Swedes, forcing their surrender. In 1664, the area came under British rule.