Delaware is a state in the Northeastern United States. Delaware's economy shifted to a manufacturing base in the late 19th century, led by the transformation of the DuPont Company. [1] Modern growth in the financial workforce has overtaken the manufacturing sector in the state's economy. The Delaware General Corporation Law provides a flexible and stable framework for national incorporation. [2] While they are seldom headquartered in the state, the management-friendly and mature legal system attracts many corporations; over 66% of the Fortune 500 are incorporated in Delaware. [3]
This list shows firms in the Fortune 500, which ranks firms by total revenues reported before January 31, 2018. [4] Only the top five firms (if available) are included as a sample.
Rank | Name | Revenues (USD $M) | Employees | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
451 | Chemours | 6,183 | 7,000 | Wilmington-based commodity chemical manufacturer, spun off from DuPont in 2015. The firm produces Titanium dioxide, Fluoropolymers, and other reactive chemicals. |
515 | Navient | 5,179 | 6,700 | Financial services corporation providing asset management and financial administration support, specifically in the student loan sector. |
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the state. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
21st Century Insurance | Financials | Property & casualty insurance | Wilmington | 1958 | Auto insurance, part of Farmers Insurance Group |
Aurora Bank | Financials | Banks | Wilmington | 1921 | Bank |
Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine | Financials | Banks | Wilmington | 1810 | Bank |
Chemours | Basic materials | Commodity chemicals | Wilmington | 2015 | Chemicals, spun off from DuPont |
Delaware Intercorp | Industrials | Business support services | Newark | 1996 | Registry services |
Del-One Federal Credit Union | Financials | Banks | Dover | 1960 | Credit union |
Dogfish Head Brewery | Consumer goods | Brewers | Milton | 1995 | Brewery |
DuPont | Basic materials | Commodity chemicals | Wilmington | 1802 | Chemical conglomerate |
Du Pont Motors | Consumer goods | Automobiles | Wilmington | 1919 | Automobile manufacturer, defunct 1931 |
EDiS Company | Industrials | Heavy construction | Wilmington | 1908 | Construction management |
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company | Consumer goods | Brewers | Dover | 2007 | Brewery |
Grant & Eisenhofer | Industrials | Business support services | Wilmington | 1997 | Law firm |
Happy Harry's | Consumer services | Broadline retailers | Wilmington | 1962 | Drugstores, merged into Walgreens |
Harlan and Hollingsworth | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Wilmington | 1837 | Ships and rail, defunct 1904 |
Hercules Inc. | Basic materials | Commodity chemicals | Wilmington | 1912 | Gunpowder |
House Industries | Industrials | Business support services | Yorklyn | 1990 | Design studio |
ILC Dover | Industrials | Aerospace | Frederica | 1932 | Aerospace engineering |
Incyte | Health care | Pharmaceuticals | Wilmington | 1991 | Pharmaceuticals |
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant | Consumer goods | Brewers | Newark | 1996 | Brewery |
Jackson and Sharp Company | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Wilmington | 1863 | Ships and rail |
Jade Tree | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Wilmington | 1990 | Record label |
Nassau Valley Vineyards | Consumer goods | Distillers & vintners | Lewes | 1993 | Winery |
National Bank of Delaware | Financials | Banks | Wilmington | 1795 | Bank, defunct 1929 |
National Vulcanized Fiber | Industrials | Building materials & fixtures | Yorklyn | 1923 | Material manufacturing |
Navient | Financials | Consumer finance | Wilmington | 2014 | Student loan services |
P&L Transportation | Industrials | Railroads | Wilmington | 1995 | Railway holdings |
Pusey and Jones | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Wilmington | 1848 | Shipbuilder, defunct 1959 |
Sallie Mae | Financials | Banks | Newark | 1972 | Offers private student loans. |
TMI Group of Companies | Industrials | Industrial machinery | New Castle | 1931 | Testing equipment |
Tritek | Technology | Software | Wilmington | 1984 | Mailing software |
Twin Lakes Brewing Company | Consumer goods | Brewers | Newport | 2006 | Brewery |
Union Bank of Delaware | Financials | Banks | Wilmington | 1839 | Bank, acquired by Wilmington Trust in 1943 |
Victorine & Samuel Homsey | Industrials | Business support services | Wilmington | 1935 | Architects, defunct 1979 |
W. L. Gore & Associates | Basic materials | Commodity chemicals | Newark | 1958 | Fluoropolymers |
Wilmington Trust | Financials | Asset managers | Wilmington | 1903 | Financial services |
Wingspan Bank | Financials | Banks | Wilmington | 1999 | Online bank, defunct 2001 |
WSFS Bank | Financials | Banks | Wilmington | 1832 | Bank and financial services |
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor | Industrials | Business support services | Wilmington | 1959 | Law firm |
Wilmington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. It lies at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. Wilmington was named by Proprietor Thomas Penn after his friend Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, who was prime minister during the reign of George II of Great Britain.
Pierre Samuel "Pete" du Pont IV was an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 68th governor of Delaware from 1977 to 1985. A member of the Republican Party, he was the United States representative for Delaware's at-large congressional district from 1971 to 1977.
Du Pont Motors was founded by E. Paul du Pont to produce marine engines for the Allied nations during World War I. After the war, Du Pont Motors produced extremely high-end automobiles. The cars were manufactured in Wilmington, Delaware.
The du Pont family or Du Pont family is a prominent American family descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739–1817). It has been one of the richest families in the United States since the mid-19th century, when it founded its fortune in the gunpowder business. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it expanded its wealth through the chemical industry and the automotive industry, with substantial interests in the DuPont company, General Motors, and various other corporations.
Pierre Samuel du Pont was an American entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and member of the prominent du Pont family.
Alfred Irénée du Pont was an American industrialist, financier, philanthropist and a member of the influential Du Pont family.
Wilmington Trust is one of the top 10 largest American institutions by fiduciary assets. Wilmington Trust is currently a provider of international corporate and institutional services, investment management, and private banking. The firm was founded on July 8, 1903, as a banking, trust, and safe deposit company by DuPont president T. Coleman du Pont. In 2010, it became a subsidiary of M&T Bank.
The DuPont Building, occupying the entire block bound by 10th, 11th, Orange and Market streets, was one of the first high-rises in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. It looks out over Rodney Square. The building was built in phases, with the original building constructed in 1908 fronting Rodney Square. At the time, the building housed the offices of DuPont. In 1913, the building was expanded into a "U" by adding wings along 10th and 11th streets, the DuPont Playhouse was added, and a portion of the original 1908 section was converted into the Hotel du Pont. The final addition to the building occurred in 1923 when the Orange Street addition was added along with an additional two floors, bringing the floor count to 13 and the height to 124 feet (38 m).
This article is intended to give an overview of the economy of Delaware.
DuPont de Nemours, Inc., commonly shortened to DuPont, is an American multinational chemical company first formed in 1802 by French-American chemist and industrialist Éleuthère Irénée du Pont de Nemours. The company played a major role in the development of Delaware and first arose as a major supplier of gunpowder. DuPont developed many polymers such as Vespel, neoprene, nylon, Corian, Teflon, Mylar, Kapton, Kevlar, Zemdrain, M5 fiber, Nomex, Tyvek, Sorona, Corfam and Lycra in the 20th century, and its scientists developed many chemicals, most notably Freon (chlorofluorocarbons), for the refrigerant industry. It also developed synthetic pigments and paints including ChromaFlair.