's painting,
The Treaty of Penn with the Indians (1771–1772), depicts the 1683
Treaty of Shackamaxon between
William Penn and
Tamanend, the chief of the
Lenape's Turtle Clan.
Voltaire referred to it as "the only treaty never sworn to and never broken." At the time of the arrival of the
Europeans in the early 17th century, the area near the Delaware River was inhabited by the Native American
Lenape people, who called the Delaware River
Lënapei Sipu, meaning "Lenape river", or
Lenape Wihittuck, which means "the rapid stream of the Lenape". The Delaware River played a key factor in the economic and social development of the Mid-Atlantic region. In the 17th century, the river provided the conduit for colonial settlement by the
Dutch (
New Netherland) and the
Swedish (
New Sweden). Beginning in 1664, the region became an
English possession as settlement by Quakers established the colonies of
Pennsylvania (including present-day
Delaware) and
West Jersey. In the eighteenth century, cities like
Philadelphia,
Camden (then Cooper's Ferry),
Trenton,
Wilmington and
New Castle were established upon the Delaware and their continued commercial success into the present day has been dependent on access to the river for trade and power. The river provided the path for the settlement of northeastern Pennsylvania's
Lehigh Valley, and northwestern New Jersey by
German Palatine immigrants—a population that became key in the agricultural development of the region.
Swedish Colonization (1638–1655) In 1638, Swedish settlers, led by Peter Menuet, established
New Sweden along the Delaware River. This settlement marked one of the earliest European establishments in the region, with Fort Christina (located near modern-day Wilmington, Delaware) becoming a key trading post and symbol of Swedish colonial ambition. The Swedes engaged in peaceful land negotiations with the local Lenape people and developed a thriving colony. New Sweden became a center for trade and cultural exchange between the Swedish settlers, Native Americans, and neighboring Dutch colonies. Although the Dutch would later assert dominance over the region in 1655, New Sweden laid the groundwork for European settlement along the Delaware River. The fort and surrounding settlements played a crucial role in the early European rivalry for control of North America's resources and territory. This era of Swedish colonization is an important part of the Delaware River's history, adding to its diverse cultural legacy.
American Revolutionary War '' by
Emanuel Leutze, 1851, now displayed at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in
New York City now on display at
Brooklyn Museum The strategic Delaware River was the scene of several important campaigns during the
American Revolutionary War. Perhaps the most famous event was
George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River with the
Continental Army on the night of December 25–26, 1776, leading to a successful
surprise attack and victory against the
Hessian troops occupying
Trenton, New Jersey, on the morning of December 26. During the
Philadelphia Campaign control of the Delaware River was urgently needed by the British, allowing their naval fleet to supply troops occupying Philadelphia. To this end, the
Battle of Red Bank and the
Siege of Fort Mifflin were fought on and along the shores of the Delaware by the American and British navies, commanded by
Commodore John Hazelwood and
Admiral Francis Reynolds respectively. See
historical map of that campaign.
Canals The magnitude of the commerce of
Philadelphia has made the improvements of the river below that port of great importance. Small improvements were attempted by
Pennsylvania as early as 1771. Commerce was once important on the upper river, primarily prior to railway competition of 1857. • The
Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, running parallel with the river from Easton to Bristol, opened in 1830. • The
Delaware and Raritan Canal, which runs along the New Jersey side of the Delaware River from Bulls Island, New Jersey to
Trenton, unites the waters of the Delaware and
Raritan rivers as it empties the waters of the Delaware River via the canal outlet in
New Brunswick. This canal water conduit is still used as a water supply source by the State of
New Jersey. • The
Morris Canal (now abandoned and almost completely filled in) and the
Delaware and Hudson Canal connected the Delaware and
Hudson rivers. • The
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal joins the waters of the Delaware with those of the
Chesapeake Bay.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area The
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area came about as a result of the failure of a controversial plan to build a dam on the Delaware River at
Tocks Island, just north of the
Delaware Water Gap to control water levels for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. The dam would have created a lake in the center of present park for use as a reservoir. Starting in 1960, the present-day area of the Recreation Area was acquired for the
Army Corps of Engineers through
eminent domain. Between 3,000 and 5,000 dwellings were demolished, including historical sites, and about 15,000 people were displaced by the project. Because of massive environmental opposition, dwindling funds, and an unacceptable geological assessment of the dam's safety, the government transferred the property to the
National Park Service in 1978. The National Park Service found itself as the caretaker of the previously endangered territory, and with the help of the federal government and surrounding communities, developed recreational facilities and worked to preserve the remaining historical structures. The nearby
Shawnee Inn, was identified in the 1990s as the only resort along the banks of the Delaware River.
American Rivers, an environmental advocacy group, named the Delaware River as the
River of the Year for 2020, citing 75 years of progress in reducing pollution and restoring wildlife. ==Commerce==