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Chester County
; Chester County, Pennsylvania;
	County of Pennsylvania
	County of Chester
	; Chester County Courthouse;
; ; Flag;	; ; Seal;
	; ; Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania;
	; ; Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.;
Founded	August 24, 1682
Named for	; Chester, England;
Government; • County commission;	; ; ; Michelle Kichline (R); ; Kathi Cozzone (D); ; Terence Farrell (R); ; ;
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;
;
	;

County in Pennsylvania, United States

Interactive map of Chester County, Pennsylvania

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.

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)

Gloucester County, New Jersey (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]

Presidential elections results

**Presidential elections results**^[20]
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

**Gubernatorial elections results in Chester County**
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.

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}

^ ^a^b^c "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.

^ ^a^b "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

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

Coordinates: 39°58′N 75°45′W / 39.97°N 75.75°W / 39.97; -75.75

[PAHMDB-1] "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}

[QF-2] "QuickFacts Chester County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

[GR6-3] "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

[4] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1852–1935). Pennsylvania Archives. 9 Series, 109 Volumes. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. pp. Series 2, Volume 5: 739–744.

[5] Futhey, John and Cope, Gilbert (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts.

[6] 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)

[7] 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)

[8] Ashmead, Henry Gordon (1884). A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. pp. 77–83. Retrieved May 24, 2017.

[GR1-9] "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.

[10] Elevations in Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, Information Circular 4, Fourth Series

[11] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.

[12] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 6, 2015.

[13] Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.

[14] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 6, 2015.

[GR2-15] "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[Voter_Registration-16] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State. "2016 Pennsylvania Voter Registration" (PDF).

[17] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

[18] "Pennsylvania Attorney General Results: Josh Shapiro Wins". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2017.

[chestercounty.com-19] "Election results 2017: Democrats take the lead - Chester County Press". www.chestercounty.com.

[20] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

[21] 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.

[22] "Who won? Here are the latest 2018 midterm election results". Daily Local News. Retrieved November 22, 2018.

[23] "Who won? Here are the latest 2018 midterm election results". Daily Local News.

[24] Pennsylvania Department of Education. "Charter Schools in Pennsylvania". Retrieved February 9, 2011.

[25] "Chester County Intermediate Unit / Overview". www.cciu.org.

[26] "Private School for Children with LD & Dyslexia in Philadelphia - DVFS". www.dvfs.org.

[27] "Goshen Friends School - Home". www.goshenfriends.org.

[28] "Kimberton Waldorf School - The Art of Education". kimberton.org.

[29] "Welcome to TCS! - The Concept School". www.theconceptschool.org.

[30] "Upland Country Day School Best Private Schools in Chester County". www.uplandcds.org.

[31] "westchesterfriends". westchesterfriends.

[32] "Windsor Christian Academy – Classical Christian Education in Upper Uwchlan, PA". www.windsorca.org.

[33] "Windsor Christian Preschool - Offering Morning or Afternoon Preschool Classes for 2-1/2, 3, 4, or 5 Year Olds". www.windsorcp.org.

[34] "Regina Luminis Academy - Catholic Classical Education". Regina Luminis Academy - Catholic Classical Education.

[35] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

v t e Municipalities and communities of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
County seat: West Chester
City	Coatesville
Boroughs	Atglen Avondale Downingtown Elverson Honey Brook Kennett Square Malvern Modena Oxford Parkesburg Phoenixville South Coatesville Spring City West Chester 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
CDPs	Berwyn Caln Chesterbrook Cheyney University‡ Cochranville Devon Eagleview Exton Kenilworth Lincoln University Lionville Paoli Pomeroy South Pottstown Thorndale Toughkenamon Westwood
Unincorporated communities	Birchrunville Black Horse Brandamore Bucktown Byers Station Chatham Chester Springs Chesterville Compass Coventryville Cromby Daylesford Devault Doe Run Dorlan Eagle Embreeville Ercildoun Faggs Manor Frazer Glenloch Glenmoore Goshenville Hallman Harmony Hill Harmonyville Hayesville Hayti Hephzibah Hershey Mill Hickory Hill Hiestand Homeville Hopewell Howellville Humphreyville Icedale Ironsides Isabella Jennersville Kaolin Kelton Kemblesville Kimberton Knauertown Landenberg Lenape Lewisville Longwood Lower Hopewell Ludwigs Corner Lyndell Marshallton Mendenhall Milford Mills Mortonville Morstein Nantmeal Village Nottingham Parker Ford Pocopson Pughtown Russellville Sadsburyville St. Peters Siousca Springdell Steelville Strafford‡ Strickersville Sugartown Suplee Unionville Valley Forge Wagontown Warwick Wayne‡ West Goshen Whitford Willowdale Yellow Springs
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Portal

v t e Delaware Valley
Counties	Atlantic Berks Bucks Burlington Camden Cape May Cecil Chester Cumberland Delaware Gloucester Kent Mercer Montgomery New Castle Ocean Philadelphia Salem
Major cities	Philadelphia
Cities and towns 50k-99k	Abington Bensalem Brandywine Hundred Bristol Camden Cherry Hill Gloucester Township Hamilton Lower Merion New Castle Hundred Pennsauken Reading Toms River Trenton Upper Darby Vineland Wilmington
Cities and towns 30k-50k	Atlantic City Cheltenham Chester Deptford Dover Egg Harbor Evesham Ewing Falls Galloway Haverford Lawrence Lower Makefield Middletown Millville Monroe Mount Laurel Newark Norristown Northampton Radnor Ridley Warminster Washington Willingboro Winslow

v t e Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg (capital)
Topics	Index Delegations Government History Geography Geology Law Pennsylvanians State parks Symbols Tourist attractions
Society	Agriculture Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Gambling Politics Sports
Metro areas	Altoona Baltimore-Washington Erie Harrisburg–Carlisle Johnstown Lancaster Lebanon Lehigh Valley New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh Reading Scranton‑Wilkes-Barre State College Williamsport York-Hanover
Largest cities	Allentown Altoona Bethlehem Butler Chester DuBois Easton Erie Greensburg Harrisburg Hazleton Johnstown Lancaster Lebanon McKeesport New Castle Philadelphia Pittsburgh Pottsville Reading Scranton Sunbury Wilkes-Barre Williamsport York
Largest municipalities	Abington Bensalem Bethel Park Bristol Cheltenham Cranberry Darby Falls Hampden Haverford Hempfield Lower Macungie Lower Makefield Lower Merion Lower Paxton Manheim McCandless Middletown Millcreek Township Monroeville Mount Lebanon Norristown Northampton North Huntingdon Penn Hills Radnor Ridley Ross Shaler Spring State College Tredyffrin Upper Darby Upper Merion Warminster West Chester Whitehall York Township
Regions	Allegheny Mountains Allegheny National Forest Allegheny Plateau Atlantic Coastal Plain Bald Eagle Valley Blue Ridge Coal Region Cumberland Valley Delaware Valley Dutch Country Eastern Endless Mountains Great Valley Mahoning Valley Happy Valley Laurel Highlands Lehigh Valley Main Line Moshannon Valley Nittany Valley Northeastern Northern Tier Northwestern North Central North Penn Valley Ohio Valley Oil Region Oley Valley Pennsylvania Highlands Penns Valley Philicon Valley Piedmont Pocono Mountains Ridge and Valley Saucon Valley South Central Southeastern Southern Southwestern Susquehanna Valley Western Wyoming Valley
Counties	Adams Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Bedford Berks Blair Bradford Bucks Butler Cambria Cameron Carbon Centre Chester Clarion Clearfield Clinton Columbia Crawford Cumberland Dauphin Delaware Elk Erie Fayette Forest Franklin Fulton Greene Huntingdon Indiana Jefferson Juniata Lackawanna Lancaster Lawrence Lebanon Lehigh Luzerne Lycoming McKean Mercer Mifflin Monroe Montgomery Montour Northampton Northumberland Perry Philadelphia Pike Potter Schuylkill Snyder Somerset Sullivan Susquehanna Tioga Union Venango Warren Washington Wayne Westmoreland Wyoming York

Chester County, Pennsylvania

Contents