The capital city is Asaba, located at the northern end of the state, with an estimated area of 762 square kilometres (294 sq mi), while Ogwashi-Uku has the biggest land space for any industry, Warri is the economic nerve center of the state and also the most populated located in the southern end of the state. The state has a total land area of 16,842 square kilometres (6,503 sq mi).

Geography

The State presently covers a landmass of about 18,050 Km2 of which more than 60% is land. The State lies approximately between Longitude 5°00 and 6°.45' East and Latitude 5°00 and 6°.30' North. It is bounded in the North and West by Edo State, the East by Anambra, Imo, and Rivers States, South-East by Bayelsa State, and on the Southern flank is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160kilometres of the State's coastline. Delta State is generally low-lying without remarkable hills. The State has a wide coastal belt inter-lace with rivulets and streams, which form part of the Niger-Delta.

History

Delta State was carved out of the former Bendel State on August 27, 1991 . The state was created following agitations for the creation of separate distinct states by the Urhobos and Anioma regions. The then Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd) created the state using the name "Delta" advanced by Niger Delta region and "Asaba" another name advanced by the people of Anioma for the capital of the proposed "Anioma state." Delta state was once integrated in the Mid Western state from 1963 to 1976 and later Bendel state, from 1976 to 1991. The name "Bendel" (Ben-Del) coined from the old Benin and Delta Provinces of Western Region-Delta to reflect the integration of Benin and Delta provinces.


Demographics

Delta State is ethnically diverse with peoples and seven (7) major languages are spoken in the state. The State is divided into 2 main groups based on historical relations, culture and language.

The first group comprises the Ukwuani, Enuani-Igbos, and Ika. All these ethnic Nations belong to the Delta North Senatorial district;and for administrative purpose, they are collectively referred to as Anioma people. Most of this group have some historical affiliation with the Igbos of Eastern Nigeria most especially the Enuanis, although some parts of it are more Igbo than others.

The second group comprises Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri, and Ezon ethnic groups. These ethnic groups occupy the Central and South Senatorial districts of the state. The Urhobo and Isoko speak very similar languages unlike the Ezon and Itsekiri people but have a loosely related culture as they traded and intermarried for centuries before colonization.

Most inhabitants of the state practice Christianity and very few traditional faiths. Although, the Ukwuanis also have some cultural affiliation with these group most especially in their cosmic outlook.


Administration

Dr. Solomon Okowa, a member of the People's Democratic Party, was elected Governor and chief executive of Delta State in April 2015 and will be sworn in on Mya 29th 2015.

Local Government Areas

Delta State consists of twenty-five (25) Local Government Areas (shown with 2006 population figures):
Delta Central Senatorial District     1,575,738       

Delta North Senatorial District     1,293,074         

Delta South Senatorial District     1,229,282
Ethiope East     200,792       

Aniocha North     104,711       

Bomadi     86,644
Ethiope West     203,592       

Aniocha South     140,604       

Burutu     209,666
Okpe     130,029       

Ika North East     183,657         

Isoko North     144,155
Sapele     171,888       

Ika South     162,594         

Isoko South     227,712
Udu     143,361         

Ndokwa East     103,171         

Patani     67,707
Ughelli North     321,028       

 Ndokwa West     149,325       

 Warri North     137,300
Ughelli South     213,576         

Oshimili North     115,316         

Warri South     303,417
Uvwie     191,472       

Oshimili South     149,306       

Warri South West     116,681
Ukwuani     120,390   

         
Natural resources

There are various solid mineral deposits within state - industrial clay, silica, lignite, kaolin, tar sand, decorative rocks, limestone, etc. These are raw materials for industries such as brick making, ceramics, bottle manufacturing, glass manufacturing, chemical/insulators production, chalk manufacturing and sanitary wares, decorative stone cutting and quarrying.
Higher education

Delta state has one of the highest numbers of tertiary institutions in any Nigerian state. This is a product of the people's thirst for knowledge and academic work. Some of these institutions are:

    Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
    Delta State University (Abraka Campus,Oleh Campus,Asaba Campus)
    Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.
    Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe Oghara.
    Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro.
    College of Education, Agbor
    College of Education, Warri
    Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba
    College of Physical Education, Mosogar
    School of Health Technology, Ughelli
    Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun
    Western Delta University, Oghara
    Novena University, Ogume-Amai
    Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu
    Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri
    Conarina School of Maritime & Transport Technology, Oria-Abraka
    University of Information and Communication Technology, Agbor
    State School of Midwifery, Asaba
    School of Nursing, Agbor

 

Sports

Delta State is known to have produced several sportsmen and women of great stature, many of whom have captained the national football teams of the nation at different times notably Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma,Duke udi, Efetobore Sodje, Jonathan Akpoborie,Nduka Ugbade, Peter Nnalue etc. Team Delta are the current winners of the National Sports Festival tagged "KADA 2009" held in Kaduna State, Nigeria with 108 Gold and a number of Silver and Bronze medals.