1. A Peninsula Unique Unto Itself
Delmarva is an East Coast peninsula portmanteau made up of parts of Delaware (Del), Maryland (mar) and Virginia (va). The land, people, language, culture and food are distinctive to their area, and is very different from the attached areas of their respective states, giving the locals more of an island mentality that of a regional disassociation.
2. They Even Fancy Themselves Their Own State
That island mentality is noticeable as soon as you arrive here. Delmarvians are very independent and proud of their area. They refer to anyone from their states outside of Delmarva as “mainlanders” and Marylanders in Delmarva who fall along the Eastern Shore drive around with bumper stickers to remind everyone, “I Don’t Give A Damn For The Whole State Of Maryland, I’m From The Eastern Shore.”
3. The People Have Tried To Secede To No Avail
Residents have proposed the secession of Delmarva from their respective states a few times throughout history, given either special status or separate statehood. If they were to ever become successful in their attempts, the combined Delmarva population would be approximately 1,400,000, which is just about the population of Hawaii.
4. Even Though The Mainlanders Are All For It
The independence and pride of Delmarvians doesn’t go unnoticed by the mainlanders by any means. Mainlanders prefer that the people in Delmarva keep their attitudes to themselves and have on more than one occasion suggested that not only would they be okay with Delmarva becoming its own state, but perhaps it wouldn’t be the end of the world if it just broke off into the ocean and floated away.
Delmarvians could care less about this opinion, of course. Hence, the bumper stickers.
5. Delmarva Is Sort Of In Geographical Purgatory
Delmarva is perpetually stuck between the north and south. The Transpeninsular Line and the north-south part of the Mason-Dixon Line run between Maryland and Delaware. Locals know immediately if someone is from southern, middle, or northern Delmarva as soon as they open their mouth, as the dialect and attitudes take on the influence of the north and south depending on which end you’re in.
6. But Most Relate To Southerners More...
Other than Rehoboth, you were to ask a Delmarvian which region they better relate to, the answer would be overwhelmingly southern. The people in Delaware are definitely more northern than those in Virginia, but they’re nowhere near as northern as the residents in the top half of Delaware where Wilmington residents might as well be Philadelphians. Delmarvians say “y’all” and are much more conservative than the rest of their respective states.
7. … Although You Should Never Say That To Southerners
Virginia often takes heat for being called part of the South. People in the Deep South believe you’re not part of the true South until you fall below South Of The Border. But they take even more issue with Maryland and Delaware calling themselves southern.
8. They Have Their Own Opinions On Everyone Else
Just as people from the outside have opinions on them, Delmarvians have opinions on the locals around them, too. It’s a common understanding in the area that the people in New Jersey can’t drive and that the proper term for someone from Baltimore is a “Baltimoron.”
9. The Accent Is Real
The southern twang begins to pick up as soon as you cross into Delmarva from the north and the “y’alls” grow increasingly more prevalent the more southern you get. The syntax is notably different, too. Whereas someone in mainland Maryland might say “Look how clear the water is,” an someone in Delmarva might say, “Look at the water, how clear it is.”
10. Delmarva Is Mostly Rural
Delmarva is mainly a rural area but you can find more urban sections around. You’ve got Dover in Delaware, which is far from a big city, but much more urban than other spots. Salisbury in Maryland offers the feel of a real city next to Ocean City, MD – but only during the summer months, as everything pretty much closes up after Labor Day in OC.
11. Home To The Slowest Drivers In The Nation
While most areas complain that their local commuter drive too fast, Delmarvians are notorious for driving way too slow. Locals know that the speed limit is nothing more than a suggestion because, really, who would ever drive that fast? Speeding to them is going two miles over the limit and turn signals are a sign of weakness.
12. Life Revolves Entirely Around The Beach
Whether you’re on the bay or the shore or in between, life in Delmarva revolves entirely around getting to the beach, of which there are no shortage, and getting on the water somehow, options for which are neverending. Rehoboth alone is known as "the Nation's Summer Capital" and has a sixteen percent increase in population from winter to summer.
13. But Tourists Are The Worst
Summers are golden in Delmarva, but the huge downside is the onslaught of tourists. They jam up the beaches, pack all the best restaurants, and the traffic goes from an average annoyance to mind-crushing frustration overnight. And after Labor Day, just like that, they’re gone again.
14. You’re Gonna Get Crabs
Crabs are a staple to the Delmarva area, especially blue crabs. When you live here, you know how to catch, cook, and pick crabs like a pro. You’ll own a crab pot and know the difference between the males and the females. You know the perfect recipe for crab cakes off the top of your head. Speaking of cooking...
15. Don’t Get Fancy With Your Food
The seafood in Delmarva is so fresh and delicious, locals know there’s no need to fancy it up with a ton of spices and sauce. Simplicity is the key to their cooking, with just butter, lemon, salt, and pepper kept in the kitchen, letting the food speak for itself.
16. Rehoboth Is The Rainbow
In a slew of a rather conservative region, Rehoboth Beach is the super-liberal, LGBT friendly beach that has been called the San Francisco beach of the East Coast filled with gay bars and lots of tolerance.
17. Prepare Yourself For The Coolest Yet Most Terrifying Bridge-Tunnel In Existence
If you’re the kind of superstitious person that needs to hold their breath while crossing a bridge or going through a tunnel, stay as far away from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as possible because you’re not going to make it.
It really is a magnificent drive into Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach though, that leaves you in white-knuckled awe for all 20 miles of it.
18. The Gulf Streams Is Like The Fountain Of Life
Delmarva doesn’t know extreme droughts and because of the Gulf Stream, the water and land are both brimming with life. Fishing is big business here because of the crabs, trout, oysters, clams, bluefish and flounder population.
And on land, the forests grow lush and the farmers markets are overflowing with the most delicious local tomatoes, potatoes, corn, beans, and grains around found in farmers markets all throughout the region.
19. You'll End Up At Assateague And Chincoteague Island
Assateague and Chincoteague Islands are the hidden gems of the East Coast. These sister coastal islands of Maryland and Virginia offer pristine beaches and nature for camping and recreation with feral ponies running free and is the pride of everyone in the area.
20. Keep Beach City Weird
The show Steven Universe on Cartoon Network takes place somewhere in Delmarva, as noted by fans. In the show, Delmarva is listed in an entry of the in-universe based blog “Keep Beach City Weird.”
21. Escape To Virginia Beach
You might find yourself crossing the Bay Bridge-Tunnel to spend some time in popular Virginia Beach if you can stand the tourists. The beaches area combed and cleaned daily, making it a popular family destination.
But watch your mouth – cursing is prohibited. Just wait until the deafening sound of fighter jet fill the air to unleash your potty mouth; no one will hear you.
22. Two Words: Shorebirds Baseball
Would you believe Delmarva has its own baseball team? The minor league Delmarva Shorebirds play home games at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. They’re one of three single-A Baltimore Orioles affiliates included in the South Atlantic League.
23. Find Your Favorite Festival
Flickr user Victoria Pickering
No matter what time of year, there’s always something going on in the Delmarva region for all different tastes. There’s the Tall Ships Festival at Cape Charles, Wine In The Park in Ocean City, The Bay Music Festival, the Bluegrass Festival, Art’s Alive, the OC Air Show, and the Chincoteague Carnival to name a few.
But among the favorites are the Sea Witch festival in Rehoboth and the Delmarva Chicken Festival featuring the world’s largest frying pan.
What you love about living on the Delmarva Peninsula? Tell us in the comments below!
