Delaware’s Dark Underbelly: A Tale of Woe and Toil

In the sweltering summer of 1931, Delaware’s workforce was a microcosm of the Great Depression’s devastating effects. A staggering 98104 workers toiled in the state, with a disproportionate number struggling to make ends meet. The statistics were stark: 6.4 percent of the workforce consisted of single individuals, while 30.4 percent were married and 15.1 percent were widowed or divorced. The proportion of married women in gainful employment had increased to 12.1 percent in 1930, a far cry from the 9.3 percent in 1920.