Chester County, Pennsylvania
Chester County, Pennsylvania | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| County of Pennsylvania | |||
| County of Chester | |||
 Chester County Courthouse | |||
| |||
 Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania | |||
 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. | |||
| Founded | November 1682 | ||
| Named for | Chester, England | ||
| Seat | West Chester | ||
| Largest city | Coatesville | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 759 sq mi (1,966 km2) | ||
| • Land | 751 sq mi (1,945 km2) | ||
| • Water | 8.7 sq mi (23 km2), 1.1% | ||
| Population (est.) | |||
| • (2017) | 519,293 | ||
| • Density | 691.5/sq mi (267.0/km2) | ||
| Congressional district | 6th | ||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC−5/−4 | ||
| Website | www.chesco.org | ||
Footnotes: | |||
Pennsylvania Historical Marker | |||
| Designated | October 26, 1982[1] | ||
Chester County (Chesco) is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 498,886, increasing by 4.1% to a census-estimated 519,293 residents as of 2017[update].[2] The county seat is West Chester.[3] Chester County was one of the three original Pennsylvania counties created by William Penn in 1682. It was named for Chester, England.
Chester County is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area. Eastern Chester County is home to many communities that comprise part of the Main Line western suburbs of Philadelphia, while part of its southernmost portion is considered suburban Wilmington, along with southwest Delaware County.
Contents
1 History
2 Geography
2.1 Adjacent counties
2.2 National protected area
2.3 State protected areas
2.4 Major highways
3 Demographics
3.1 Religion
4 Politics
5 Government
5.1 Commissioners
5.2 County Row Officers
5.3 United States House of Representatives
5.4 United States Senate
5.5 State House of Representatives
5.6 State Senate
6 Education
6.1 Colleges and universities
6.2 Public school districts
6.3 Charter schools
6.4 Independent schools
6.5 Libraries
7 Communities
7.1 City
7.2 Boroughs
7.3 Townships
7.4 Unincorporated communities
7.5 Census-designated places
7.6 Historic community
7.7 Population ranking
8 Notable people
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
History
Chester County, Pennsylvania sign
Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester were the three Pennsylvania counties initially created by William Penn on August 24, 1682.[4][5] At that time, Chester County's borders were Philadelphia County to the north, the ill-defined western edge of the colony (approximately the Susquehanna River) to the west, the Delaware River to the east, and Delaware and Maryland to the south. Chester County replaced the Pennsylvania portion of New Netherland/New York’s "Upland", which was officially eliminated when Pennsylvania was chartered on March 4, 1681, but did not cease to exist until June of that year.[6][7] Much of the Welsh Tract was in eastern Chester County, and Welsh place names, given by early settlers, continue to predominate there.
The fourth county in the state, Lancaster County, was formed from Chester County on May 10, 1729. On March 11, 1752, Berks County was formed from the northern section of Chester County, as well as parts of Lancaster and Philadelphia counties.
The original Chester County seat was the City of Chester, a center of naval shipbuilding, at the eastern edge of the county. In an effort to accommodate the increased population of the western part of the county, the county seat was moved to a more central location in 1788; in order to mollify the eastern portion of the county, the village, known as Turk's Head, was renamed West Chester. In response to the new location of the county seat, the eastern portion of the county separated and formed the new Delaware County in 1789 with the City of Chester as its county seat.[8]
Much of the history of Chester County arises from its location between Philadelphia and the Susquehanna River. The first road to "the West" (meaning Lancaster County) passed through the central part of Chester County, following the Great Valley westward; with some re-alignments, it became the Lincoln Highway and later U.S. Route 30. This road is still named Lancaster Avenue in most of the Chester County towns it runs through. The first railroad (which became the Pennsylvania Railroad) followed much the same route, and the Reading Railroad progressed up the Schuylkill River to Reading. Industry tended to concentrate along the rail lines. Easy transportation allowed workers to commute to urban jobs, and the rise of the suburbs followed. To this day, the developed areas form "fingers" extending along major lines of transportation.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brandywine was fought at what is now the southeastern fringe of the county. The Valley Forge encampment was at the northeastern edge.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 759 square miles (1,970 km2), of which 751 square miles (1,950 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km2) (1.1%) is water.[9] The topography consists of rolling hills and valleys and it is part of the region known as the Piedmont.
Watersheds that serve Chester County include the Octoraro, the Brandywine, and Chester creeks, and the Schuylkill River. Many of the soils are fertile, rich loam as much as twenty-four inches thick; together with the temperate climate, this was long a major agricultural area.[citation needed] Because of its proximity to Philadelphia, Chester County has seen large waves of development over the past half-century due to suburbanization. Although development in Chester County has increased, agriculture is still a major part of the county's economy, and the number of horse farms is increasing in the county.[citation needed] Mushroom growing is a specialty in the southern portion of the county.
Elevations (in feet):
High point—1020 Welsh Mt., Honeybrook Twp. Other high points—960 Thomas Hill, Warwick Twp; 960 Barren Hill, West Caln Twp. Low point—66 Schuylkill River, Chester-Montgomery county line. Cities and boroughs: Coatesville 314; Downingtown 255; Kennett Square 300; Oxford 535; Parkesburg 542; Phoenixville 127; Spring City 114; West Chester 459.[10]
Chester County has four distinct seasons and has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) except for some far southern lowlands which have a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). The hardiness zones are 6b and 7a.
Adjacent counties
Berks County (north)
Montgomery County (northeast)
Delaware County (east)
New Castle County, Delaware (southeast)
Cecil County, Maryland (south)
Lancaster County (west)
National protected area
Valley Forge National Historical Park (part)
State protected areas
- French Creek State Park
- Marsh Creek State Park
- White Clay Creek Preserve
Major highways
I-76 / Penna Turnpike
US 1
US 30
US 30 Bus.
US 202
US 322
US 322 Bus.
US 322 Truck
US 422
PA 3
PA 10
PA 23
PA 29
PA 41
PA 52
PA 82
PA 100
PA 113
PA 162
PA 252
PA 272
PA 282
PA 340
PA 345
PA 352
PA 372
PA 401
PA 472
PA 724
PA 796
PA 841
PA 842
PA 896
PA 926
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 27,829 | — | |
| 1800 | 32,093 | 15.3% | |
| 1810 | 39,596 | 23.4% | |
| 1820 | 44,451 | 12.3% | |
| 1830 | 50,910 | 14.5% | |
| 1840 | 57,515 | 13.0% | |
| 1850 | 66,438 | 15.5% | |
| 1860 | 74,578 | 12.3% | |
| 1870 | 77,805 | 4.3% | |
| 1880 | 83,481 | 7.3% | |
| 1890 | 89,377 | 7.1% | |
| 1900 | 95,695 | 7.1% | |
| 1910 | 109,213 | 14.1% | |
| 1920 | 115,120 | 5.4% | |
| 1930 | 126,629 | 10.0% | |
| 1940 | 135,626 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 159,141 | 17.3% | |
| 1960 | 210,608 | 32.3% | |
| 1970 | 278,311 | 32.1% | |
| 1980 | 316,660 | 13.8% | |
| 1990 | 376,396 | 18.9% | |
| 2000 | 433,501 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 498,886 | 15.1% | |
| Est. 2017 | 519,293 | [2] | 4.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2017[2] | |||
As of the 2010 census, the county was 82.1% White Non-Hispanic, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were some other race. 6.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 433,501 people, 157,905 households, and 113,375 families residing in the county. The population density was 573 people per square mile (221/km²). There were 163,773 housing units at an average density of 217 per square mile (84/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.21% White, 6.24% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.95% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 3.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of Irish, 17.3% German, 13.1% Italian, 10.1% English and 5.6% American ancestry. 91.4% spoke English and 3.7% Spanish as their first language.
There were 157,905 households out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $65,295, and the median income for a family was $76,916 (these figures had risen to $80,818 and $97,894 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $51,223 versus $34,854 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,627. About 3.10% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.10% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.
The region was originally occupied by the Lenni Lenape people, who greeted European settlers in the seventeenth century with amity and kindness. British settlers were mostly English, Scotch-Irish and Welsh in ethnicity. From the late 19th to early 20th century, the industrial areas of the region, such as Coatesville, attracted immigrants and job seekers from Germany and Ireland, Eastern Europe, Italy, and the American rural South, with both black and white migrants coming north. Later Hispanic immigrants have included Puerto Ricans and, most recently, Mexicans.
Long a primarily rural area, Chester County is now the fastest-growing county in the Delaware Valley; it is one of the fastest growing in the entire Northeastern section of the United States.
Religion
Uwchlan Meetinghouse
In keeping with its colonial history, Chester County is home to a number of historic Quaker buildings, including Birmingham, Birmingham Orthodox, Bradford, Caln, Old Kennett, Parkersville, Westtown, and Uwchlan meeting houses. Other historic religious buildings include St. Malachi Church, southeastern Pennsylvania's oldest active Catholic mission church, and the Episcopal St. Mary's, St. Paul's, and St. Peter's churches, and Washington Memorial Chapel. Also located in the county are the First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, Coventryville United Methodist Church, which is part of the Coventryville Historic District, and Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County, a Conservative synagogue in Coatesville, a site of Eastern European immigration in the 20th century.
Politics
- Election results
2012 US presidential election in Chester County
Obama—80-90%
Obama—70-80%
Obama—60-70%
Obama—50-60%
Obama—<50%
Romney—<50%
Romney—50-60%
Romney—60-70%
As of 31 December 2016[update], there are 354,316 registered voters in Chester County.[16]
Republican: 155,439 (43.87%)
Democratic: 136,893 (38.64%)- Other Political parties and no affiliation: 61,984 (17.49%)
Chester County has historically been reliably Republican at the county level; traditionally, it was the most conservative county near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. In recent elections, however, it has been trending Democratic, though not as overwhelmingly as the rest of the Philadelphia suburbs. In 2000 Al Gore lost it by almost 10 percent but in 2004 George W. Bush defeated John Kerry by a much smaller margin of only 4.5 percent. Bob Casey, Jr. carried it by 10% when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum in 2006. In 2008, Chester County sided with the rest of Pennsylvania and voted for Barack Obama by a much larger margin of 9%, making him the first Democrat to carry it in a Presidential election since 1964. But, in 2009, with a smaller turnout, Republican candidates swept all county-row offices, winning with an average margin of 20%. In 2012 the county voted for Republican candidate Mitt Romney, by a very small margin of about 500 votes.[17]
In 2016, despite Pennsylvania voting for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1988, Chester County voted more Democratic than in 2012, with Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump by over 25,000 votes or 9.4 percentage points; a 4.8 percentage point swing from 2012. The only two statewide winners in 2016 to carry Chester County were U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) and Pennsylvania State Treasurer Joe Torsella (D). Republican candidates John Brown and John Rafferty carried Chester County, though both lost their races for Auditor General and Attorney General, respectively (Rafferty, a State Senator whose district includes northern Chester County, carried the county by a slim margin of 50 votes[18])
Democrats have made gains in Chester County state legislative seats in recent elections. Democrat Andy Dinniman picked up the 19th Senate District in May 2006 in the special election to replace the late Robert Thompson. Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith picked up the open 156th House district in November 2006, winning by 28 votes and tipping the State-House majority to the Democrats. This was the first time that a Democrat had served part of Chester County as State Representative since Jim Gerlach (who represented much of Chester County for 12 years in Congress) unseated Sam Morris in 1990. In 2008, two more open House seats in the county went Democratic—to Tom Houghton in the 13th and Paul Drucker in the 157th. In 2010, however, Chester County swung back to the GOP, with Republicans Dan Truitt (who defeated McIlvaine Smith), Warren Kampf (who defeated Drucker), and John Lawrence (who defeated Houghton) all elected to the State House.[citation needed] On November 8, 2017, Democrats made historic inroads in Chester County by winning their first County Row Office seats since 1799, picking up 4 row office seats.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 42.5% 116,114 | 51.9% 141,682 | 5.6% 15,202 |
2012 | 49.4% 124,840 | 49.2% 124,311 | 1.4% 3,425 |
2008 | 44.8% 114,421 | 54.0% 137,833 | 1.2% 2,998 |
2004 | 52.0% 120,036 | 47.5% 109,708 | 0.5% 1,079 |
2000 | 53.3% 100,080 | 43.7% 82,047 | 3.0% 5,549 |
1996 | 48.6% 77,029 | 40.9% 64,783 | 10.5% 16,554 |
1992 | 43.7% 74,002 | 35.3% 59,643 | 21.0% 35,563 |
1988 | 67.0% 93,522 | 32.1% 44,853 | 0.9% 1,210 |
1984 | 70.1% 92,221 | 29.6% 38,870 | 0.3% 440 |
1980 | 60.9% 73,046 | 28.6% 34,307 | 10.5% 12,543 |
1976 | 60.4% 67,686 | 38.1% 42,712 | 1.5% 1,628 |
1972 | 68.4% 72,726 | 29.3% 31,118 | 2.3% 2,415 |
1968 | 57.2% 56,073 | 33.3% 32,606 | 9.6% 9,372 |
1964 | 45.5% 40,280 | 54.1% 47,940 | 0.4% 390 |
1960 | 63.6% 53,059 | 36.2% 30,167 | 0.2% 147 |
1956 | 70.2% 47,225 | 29.7% 19,957 | 0.1% 50 |
1952 | 64.9% 39,961 | 34.9% 21,490 | 0.3% 164 |
1948 | 65.8% 29,258 | 33.0% 14,670 | 1.2% 550 |
1944 | 58.7% 26,655 | 40.8% 18,548 | 0.5% 208 |
1940 | 55.5% 28,222 | 44.2% 22,473 | 0.4% 183 |
1936 | 51.8% 29,340 | 47.1% 26,676 | 1.1% 613 |
1932 | 69.2% 29,425 | 28.3% 12,040 | 2.5% 1,052 |
1928 | 82.3% 36,659 | 17.3% 7,689 | 0.5% 210 |
1924 | 75.8% 22,333 | 20.2% 5,946 | 4.1% 1,201 |
1920 | 69.6% 18,129 | 26.9% 7,004 | 3.6% 927 |
1916 | 56.8% 11,845 | 40.8% 8,514 | 2.4% 505 |
1912 | 28.9% 5,708 | 34.9% 6,901 | 36.3% 7,177[21] |
1908 | 64.1% 13,118 | 32.0% 6,555 | 3.9% 803 |
1904 | 73.9% 14,200 | 22.6% 4,342 | 3.5% 673 |
1900 | 66.2% 13,809 | 29.8% 6,214 | 4.0% 835 |
1896 | 67.8% 14,232 | 28.9% 6,058 | 3.3% 700 |
1892 | 55.6% 10,982 | 39.7% 7,850 | 4.7% 932 |
1888 | 58.5% 11,578 | 38.1% 7,541 | 3.4% 669 |
| Year | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Libertarian Party | Green Party | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 48.2% 75,097 | 51.8% 80,701 | |||
2010 | 56.0% 97,112 | 44.0% 76,440 | |||
2006 | 34.9% 60,437 | 65.2% 112,960 | |||
2002 | 41.1% 58,669 | 57.4% 81,996 | 0.8% 1,159 | 0.7% 990 | |
1998 | 67.6% 68,572 | 21.0% 21,337 | 11.3% 11,500 | ||
1994 | 53.1% 61,890 | 29.7% 34,652 | 17.2% 20,019 | ||
1990 | 47.5% 44,262 | 52.5% 48,935 |
Government
Commissioners
Chester County is administered by a three-person Board of Commissioners, who serve four-year terms. Elections occur in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. Presidential elections, with the next election falling in 2019. The Commissioners have selective policy-making authority to provide certain local services and facilities on a county-wide basis. Accordingly, the commissioners are responsible for the management of the fiscal and administrative functions of the county.
| Official | Party | Term ends |
|---|---|---|
| Michelle Kichline | Republican | 2019 |
| Terence Farrell | Republican | 2019 |
| Kathi Cozzone | Democratic | 2019 |
County Row Officers
As of the November 2017 election:[19]
| Office | Official | Party | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | Yolanda Van de Krol | Democratic | 2021 |
| Controller | Margaret Reif | Democratic | 2021 |
| Coroner | Christina VandePol, M.D. | Democratic | 2021 |
| Treasurer | Patricia Maisano | Democratic | 2021 |
| District Attorney | Tom Hogan, Esq. | Republican | 2019 |
| Prothonotary | Matt Holliday | Republican | 2019 |
| Recorder of Deeds | Rick Loughery | Republican | 2019 |
| Register of Wills | Terri Clark | Republican | 2019 |
| Sheriff | Carolyn Bunny Welsh | Republican | 2019 |
United States House of Representatives
The 2018 congressional map ordered by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania places Chester County completely within the 6th congressional district.
| District | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Chrissy Houlahan | Democratic |
United States Senate
| Senator | Party |
|---|---|
| Bob Casey | Democratic |
| Pat Toomey | Republican |
State House of Representatives
State House districts in Chester County
As of the November 2018 election.[22]
| District | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | John Lawrence | Republican |
| 26 | Tim Hennessey | Republican |
| 74 | Dan Williams | Democratic |
| 155 | Danielle Friel Otten | Democratic |
| 156 | Carolyn Comitta | Democratic |
| 157 | Melissa Shusterman | Democratic |
| 158 | Christina Sappey | Democratic |
| 160 | Stephen Barrar | Republican |
| 167 | Kristine Howard | Democratic |
State Senate
State Senate districts in Chester County
As of the November 2018 election.[23]
| District | Senator | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Tom Killion | Republican |
| 19 | Andy Dinniman | Democratic |
| 26 | Tim Kearney | Democratic |
| 44 | Katie Muth | Democratic |
Education
Colleges and universities
Philips Hall at West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (partially in Delaware County)
Delaware County Community College (locations in Exton, Downingtown, Phoenixville and West Grove)- Immaculata University
- Lincoln University
- Penn State Great Valley
- University of Valley Forge
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Public school districts
Map of Chester County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts
- Avon Grove School District
- Coatesville Area School District
- Downingtown Area School District
- Great Valley School District
- Kennett Consolidated School District
- Octorara Area School District
- Owen J. Roberts School District
- Oxford Area School District
- Phoenixville Area School District
- Spring-Ford Area School District
- Tredyffrin-Easttown School District
- Twin Valley School District
- Unionville-Chadds Ford School District
- West Chester Area School District
Charter schools
- Achievement House Charter School grades 9-12, Exton
- Avon Grove Charter School grades K-12, West Grove
- Chester County Family Academy Charter School grades K-2, West Chester
Collegium Charter School grades K-12, Exton- Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School K-12, West Chester
- Renaissance Academy Charter School grades K-12, Phoenixville
- Sankofa Academy Charter School grades 5-8, West Chester
- 21st Century Cyber Charter School grades 6-12. Downingtown.
There are 11 public cyber charter schools and 144 bricks and mortar charter schools in Pennsylvania that are available for free statewide, to children K-12. See: Education in Pennsylvania.[24]
Independent schools
Bishop Shanahan High School (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)- Center for Arts and Technology (Administered by Chester County Intermediate Unit)[25]
Church Farm School (now called CFS the School at Church Farm)- Delaware Valley Friends School[26]
- Devon Preparatory School
- Goshen Friends School[27] (West Chester, Pennsylvania)
- Kimberton Waldorf School[28] (Kimberton, Pennsylvania)
- London Grove Friends Kindergarten (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania)
- Malvern Preparatory School
- The Concept School - 6th through 12th Grade[29]
Upattinas School and Resource Center (Glenmoore, Pennsylvania)- Upland Country Day School (UCDS) - Pre-K through 9th Grade[30]
- Villa Maria Academy (Malvern, Pennsylvania)
West Chester Friends School[31]
- West Fallowfield Christian School
- Westtown School
- Windsor Christian Academy - K through 6th Grade[32]
- Windsor Christian Preschool[33]
- Regina Luminis Academy[34]
Libraries
The Chester County Library System in southeastern Pennsylvania was organized in 1965. It is a federated system composed of a District Center Library in Exton and sixteen member libraries. The system provides materials and information for life, work and pleasure.
Communities
Map of Chester County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The post office uses community names and boundaries that usually do not correspond to the townships, and usually only have the same names as the municipalities for the cities and boroughs. The names used by the post office are generally used by residents to describe where they live. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Chester County:
City
- Coatesville
Boroughs
- Atglen
- Avondale
- Downingtown
- Elverson
- Honey Brook
- Kennett Square
- Malvern
- Modena
- Oxford
- Parkesburg
- Phoenixville
- South Coatesville
- Spring City
West Chester (county seat)- West Grove
Townships
- Birmingham
- Caln
- Charlestown
- East Bradford
- East Brandywine
- East Caln
- East Coventry
- East Fallowfield
- East Goshen
- East Marlborough
- East Nantmeal
- East Nottingham
- East Pikeland
- East Vincent
- East Whiteland
- Easttown
- Elk
- Franklin
- Highland
- Honey Brook
- Kennett
- London Britain
- London Grove
- Londonderry
- Lower Oxford
- New Garden
- New London
- Newlin
- North Coventry
- Penn
- Pennsbury
- Pocopson
- Sadsbury
- Schuylkill
- South Coventry
- Thornbury
- Tredyffrin
- Upper Oxford
- Upper Uwchlan
- Uwchlan
- Valley
- Wallace
- Warwick
- West Bradford
- West Brandywine
- West Caln
- West Fallowfield
- West Goshen
- West Marlborough
- West Nantmeal
- West Nottingham
- West Pikeland
- West Sadsbury
- West Vincent
- West Whiteland
- Westtown
- Willistown
Unincorporated communities
- Birchrunville
- Brandamore
- Bucktown
- Cedar Knoll
- Chester Springs
- Compass
- Coventry
- Coventryville
- Daylesford
- Devault
- Doe Run
- Dowlin Forge
- Embreeville
- Fisherville
- Frazer
- Glenmoore
- Hayti
- Hephzibah
- Humphreyville
- Ironsides
- Kimberton
- Knauertown
- Landenberg
- Lenape
- Longwood
- Ludwigs Corner
- Lyndell
- Marchwood
- Marshallton
- Mortonville
- Nantmeal Village
- Newlinville
- Parker Ford
- Phillipsville
- Pine Swamp
- Pocopson
- Pomeroy Heights
- Pughtown
- Romansville
- Sadsburyville
- Schades Corner
- Strafford
- Suplee
- Unionville
- Warwick
- Weatherstone
- Wilsons Corner
- Valley Forge
Census-designated places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
- Berwyn
- Caln
- Chesterbrook
- Cheyney University
- Cochranville
- Devon
- Eagleview
- Exton
- Kenilworth
- Lincoln University
- Lionville
- Paoli
- Pomeroy
- South Pottstown
- Thorndale
- Toughkenamon
- Westwood
Historic community
- Barnestown
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Chester County.[35]
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † West Chester | Borough | 18,461 |
| 2 | Phoenixville | Borough | 16,440 |
| 3 | Coatesville | City | 13,100 |
| 4 | Downingtown | Borough | 7,891 |
| 5 | Lionville | CDP | 6,189 |
| 6 | Kennett Square | Borough | 6,072 |
| 7 | Paoli | CDP | 5,575 |
| 8 | Oxford | Borough | 5,077 |
| 9 | Exton | CDP | 4,842 |
| 10 | Chesterbrook | CDP | 4,589 |
| 11 | Berwyn | CDP | 3,631 |
| 12 | Parkesburg | Borough | 3,593 |
| 13 | Thorndale | CDP | 3,407 |
| 14 | Spring City | Borough | 3,323 |
| 15 | Malvern | Borough | 2,998 |
| 16 | West Grove | Borough | 2,854 |
| 17 | South Pottstown | CDP | 2,081 |
| 18 | Kenilworth | CDP | 1,907 |
| 19 | Lincoln University | CDP | 1,726 |
| 20 | Honey Brook | Borough | 1,713 |
| 21 | Eagleview | CDP | 1,644 |
| 22 | Caln | CDP | 1,519 |
| 23 | Devon | CDP | 1,515 |
| 24 | Toughkenamon | CDP | 1,492 |
| 25 | Atglen | Borough | 1,406 |
| 26 | South Coatesville | Borough | 1,303 |
| 27 | Avondale | Borough | 1,265 |
| 28 | Elverson | Borough | 1,225 |
| 29 | Cheyney University (partially in Delaware County) | CDP | 988 |
| 30 | Westwood | CDP | 950 |
| 31 | Cochranville | CDP | 668 |
| 32 | Modena | Borough | 535 |
| 33 | Pomeroy | CDP | 401 |
Notable people
Jesse B. Aikin (1808-1900), first to produce a song book with a seven-shape note system
Mifflin E. Bell (1847-1904), architect who served from 1883 to 1886 as Supervising Architect of the US Treasury Department
Scott Brunner (born 1957), NFL quarterback during the 1980s
Thomas Buchanan Read (1822-1872), American poet and portrait painter
Robert Grace (1709–1766) was the first manufacturer of the Franklin stove.
Isaac Israel Hayes (1832-1881), Arctic explorer and physician
Mifflin Kenedy (1818-1895), South Texas rancher and steamboat operator; partner in King Ranch, born in Chester County
Rebecca Webb Lukens (1794-1854) first female owner and manager of the company that became the Lukens Steel Mill
Franklin MacVeagh (1837-1934), banker and Secretary of the US Treasury
Bam Margera (born 1979), professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, and daredevil
Ryan Dunn (1977-2011), actor, television personality, and daredevil. Died in a car crash in West Goshen, Pennsylvania.
Jon Matlack (born 1950), baseball pitcher for the New York Mets and Texas Rangers (1971–83), All Star and N.L. Champion
Charles Follen McKim (1847-1909), one of the most prominent American Beaux-Arts architects of the late nineteenth century
Herb Pennock (1894–1948), Hall of Fame baseball pitcher also known as the Squire of Kennett Square.
Thomas Buchanan Read (1822-1872), poet and portrait painter
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), American civil rights leader posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
John Wallace Scott (1832-1903), Medal of Honor recipient during the American Civil War
M. Night Shyamalan (born 1970), film director
William Thomas Smedley (1858-1920), artist; member of the National Academy of Design
James Smith (1719-1806), signer to the United States Declaration of Independence
Richard Troxell, international opera star, aka America's Tenor. Resides in Chester County.
George Alexis Weymouth (born 1936), artist (painter); "whip" stager; founder of The Brandywine Conservancy and The Brandywine River Museum
Thomas Wharton Jr. (1735-1778), served as the first President of Pennsylvania (an office akin to Governor) following the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain
William (Amos) Wilson (1762-1821), famous folklore figure known as "The Pennsylvania Hermit"
Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009), artist, son of N.C. Wyeth
Jamie Wyeth (born 1946), artist, son of Andrew Wyeth
N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945), artist
Matt Ryan (born 1985), American Football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, born in Exton.
Kyle Gallner (Born 1986) Actor
Kerr Smith (Born 1972) Actor
Smedley Butler (1881–1940) Twice recipient of the Medal of Honor, thwarted the Business Plot, advocate for veterans, author.
See also
- Duffy's Cut
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, Pennsylvania
References
^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 25, 2014..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ abc "QuickFacts Chester County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1852–1935). Pennsylvania Archives. 9 Series, 109 Volumes. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. pp. Series 2, Volume 5: 739–744.
^ Futhey, John and Cope, Gilbert (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts.
^ Armstrong, Edward; Editor (1860). Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania, 1676 to 1681. Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Volume 7. p. 196.CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
^ Swindler, William F., Editor (1973–1979). Sources and Documents of United States Constitutions. 10 Volumes. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications. pp. Vol. 8: 243.CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
^ Ashmead, Henry Gordon (1884). A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. pp. 77–83. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
^ Elevations in Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, Information Circular 4, Fourth Series
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State. "2016 Pennsylvania Voter Registration" (PDF).
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
^ "Pennsylvania Attorney General Results: Josh Shapiro Wins". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
^ ab "Election results 2017: Democrats take the lead - Chester County Press". www.chestercounty.com.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 6,596 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 314 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 263 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 4 votes.
^ "Who won? Here are the latest 2018 midterm election results". Daily Local News. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
^ "Who won? Here are the latest 2018 midterm election results". Daily Local News.
^ Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Charter Schools in Pennsylvania". Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^ "Chester County Intermediate Unit / Overview". www.cciu.org.
^ "Private School for Children with LD & Dyslexia in Philadelphia - DVFS". www.dvfs.org.
^ "Goshen Friends School - Home". www.goshenfriends.org.
^ "Kimberton Waldorf School - The Art of Education". kimberton.org.
^ "Welcome to TCS! - The Concept School". www.theconceptschool.org.
^ "Upland Country Day School Best Private Schools in Chester County". www.uplandcds.org.
^ "westchesterfriends". westchesterfriends.
^ "Windsor Christian Academy – Classical Christian Education in Upper Uwchlan, PA". www.windsorca.org.
^ "Windsor Christian Preschool - Offering Morning or Afternoon Preschool Classes for 2-1/2, 3, 4, or 5 Year Olds". www.windsorcp.org.
^ "Regina Luminis Academy - Catholic Classical Education". Regina Luminis Academy - Catholic Classical Education.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chester County, Pennsylvania. |
 | Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chester County, Pennsylvania. |
- Chester County Home Page
- Chester County Government Meeting Minutes and local news at TownWatcher
- Chester County Press Newspapers & Magazines
- Chester County Fire and EMS
- Chester County Police Departments
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Chester County, Pennsylvania
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Coordinates: 39°58′N 75°45′W / 39.97°N 75.75°W / 39.97; -75.75
