Much of Wilmington's economy is based on its status as the most populous and
readily accessible city in Delaware, a state that made itself attractive to
corporations with business-friendly financial laws and a longstanding
reputation for a fair and effective judicial system. Contributing to the
economic health of the downtown and Wilmington Riverfront regions has been the
presence of Wilmington Station, through which 665,000 people passed in 2009.
Wilmington has become a national financial center for the credit card
industry, largely due to regulations enacted by former Governor Pierre S. du
Pont, IV in 1981
