is one of the fast-growing areas in the state of Delaware, due in
large part to the relatively low cost of living. As a consequence, the Kent
County government is a major employer in the area as well. Apart from the state
and county governments, Dover's significant employers include Dover Air Force
Base, located within the southeast corporate limits of the city. The base
houses two airlift wings as well as the U.S. military's only mortuary in the
continental United States, which accepts and processes the remains of soldiers
killed in battle. In addition, Kraft Foods and Procter & Gamble have
manufacturing facilities in Dover. ILC Dover, in nearby Frederica, is the
producer of fabrics for military and aerospace uses, along with being the
primary contractor for production of the Apollo and Skylab spacesuits, as well
as the spacesuit assembly for the Space Shuttle's Extravehicular Mobility Unit
(EMU).
Two weekends a year, NASCAR races are held at Dover International Speedway,
attracting close to 100,000 spectators and visitors and temporarily making
Dover the state's largest city. These races, and in recent years adjacent slot
machine gambling at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, contribute millions of
dollars to Dover's economy.
Dover is the only state capital in the
United States with a volunteer fire department
