Delaware was first founded in 1796. Delaware was the objective of an American raid into Upper Canada in 1814 during the War of 1812, which resulted in the Battle of Longwoods, on March 4, 1814, just about 24 km outside of Delaware. The area around Delaware had long been a fishing and hunting grounds for the Huron and Mississauga people. The present village of Delaware was established in 1832 when Henry Pawlings built the first house, which housed a tavern known as the Western Hotel. The Delaware Speedway is a half-mile paved race track that is the oldest in Canada. It hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer.
