1. In 1776, Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a renowned Delawarean politician, cast the deciding vote that led to the state's approval of a resolution supporting independence from British rule.

2. On January 16, 1865, the Delaware constitutional convention abolished slavery, making it the last state to do so. The state's constitution officially banned slavery and involuntary servitude.

3. In 1902, Wilmington native and inventor Oliver Evans received a patent for his "Automatic Flour Mill," which revolutionized the milling industry by using a series of machines to eliminate the need for manual labor.

4. On this day in 1920, Delaware became the first state to officially ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote.

5. In 1982, the New Castle County courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, constructed in 1913 in the Beaux-Arts style, served as the headquarters for the county's court system until the 1990s.