Chester County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 39°58′N75°45′W / 39.97°N 75.75°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
Founded | August 24, 1682 |
Named for | Chester, England |
Seat | West Chester |
Largest borough | West Chester |
Government | |
• County commission | |
Area | |
• Total | 759 sq mi (1,970 km2) |
• Land | 751 sq mi (1,950 km2) |
• Water | 8.7 sq mi (23 km2) 1.1% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 534,413 |
• Estimate (2023) | 546,638 |
• Density | 712.0/sq mi (274.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional districts | 5th, 6th |
Website | www |
Designated | October 26, 1982 [1] |
Chester County (Pennsylvania Dutch: Tscheschter Kaundi), colloquially referred to as Chesco, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the Delaware Valley region, located in the southeastern part of the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 545,823. [2] increasing by 7.1% from 498,886 in 2010. [3] The county seat is West Chester. [4] The most populous of the county's 73 municipalities, including cities, boroughs, and townships,) is Tredyffrin Township. The most populous boroughs are West Chester and Phoenixville. Coatesville is the only municipality in the county that is classified as a city.
Chester County was one of the three original Pennsylvania counties created by William Penn in 1682. It was named for Chester, England. It is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area. Along with southwest Delaware County, eastern Chester County is home to many communities that comprise part of the Philadelphia Main Line western suburbs of Philadelphia.
As of 2020, the county had the highest median household income level in Pennsylvania, and the 35th-highest in the nation.
Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester were the three counties created by William Penn on August 24, 1682, in the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. [5] [6]
At the time, Chester County's borders were Philadelphia County to the north, the ill-defined western edge of the colony, located approximately at 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's upland in New York, which was officially eliminated when Pennsylvania was chartered on March 4, 1681, and ceased existing in June of that year. [7] [8] 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 and 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. [9]
Much of the history of Chester County arises from its location between Philadelphia and the Susquehanna River. The first "road to the West," a reference to Lancaster County, passed through the central part of Chester County, following the Great Valley westward; with some realignments, 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 county's developed areas extend along major lines of transportation.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brandywine was fought in the southeastern part of the county. The Battle of the Clouds and the Battle of Paoli both took place in the northeastern part of the county, along with George Washington's encampment at Valley Forge.
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. [10] 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, 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. [11] 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.
Chester County is the only county to border both Delaware and Maryland.
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. [12]
Lanchester Landfill, located on the border of Chester and Lancaster Counties, captures methane which is sold for renewable natural gas credits, and piped to seven local businesses. This reduces the county's methane emissions, and provides an alternative to fracking for shale gas. [13] In addition, several companies have their headquarters or a major presence in the county including Bentley Systems, EBS Healthcare, Main Line Health, Lavazza North America (formerly Mars Drinks), Depuy Synthes (part of Johnson & Johnson), Metabo, QVC, Hankin Group, Axalta Coating Systems, CTDI, Pactiv, Ricoh Americas, Blinding Edge Pictures, J.G. Wentworth, The Vanguard Group, and Victory Brewing Company among others.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
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% | |
2020 | 534,413 | 7.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 1790–1960 [15] 1900–1990 [16] 1990–2000 [17] 2010–2019 [3] |
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 [18] of 2000, there were 433,501 people, 157,905 households, and 113,375 families residing in the county. The population density was 573 inhabitants per square mile (221/km2). There were 163,773 housing units at an average density of 217 units 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 [ when? ] the fastest-growing county in the Delaware Valley; it is one of the fastest growing in the entire Northeastern section of the United States.
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, Schuylkill, 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. 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, are located in the county.
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 405,476 | 75.87% |
Black or African American (NH) | 28,391 | 5.31% |
Native American (NH) | 532 | 0.1% |
Asian (NH) | 35,143 | 6.62% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 119 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 21,210 | 4% |
Hispanic or Latino | 43,542 | 8.15% |
As of November 18, 2024, there were 396,404 registered voters in Chester County. [20]
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
Democratic | 163,426 | 41.23% | |||
Republican | 157,315 | 39.69% | |||
Independent | 55,490 | 13.99% | |||
Third Parties | 20,173 | 5.09% | |||
Total | 396,404 | 100% |
Chester County has historically been reliably Republican at the county level. After voting Democratic in 1856 for Pennsylvania native James Buchanan, it only did so three more times in the next 160 years—in 1912, 1964, and 2008. In recent elections, however, the county has been trending Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly as its fellow Main Line counties of Montgomery and Delaware. It remains the most conservative of these three.
In 2000, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore in the county by almost 10%, but in 2004, John Kerry cut Bush's margin of victory by over half, to just 4.5%. In 2008, Chester County voted for Barack Obama by 9%. 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 the Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, by a very small margin of 0.2%, or about 500 votes. [21]
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 9.2 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 [22] ) Emphasizing its Democratic shift even further, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by 17.1 points in Chester County in the 2020 election; Trump's percentage of votes was the lowest for any Republican since 1912. Such a major shift in the county was a major factor in Biden's success in flipping Pennsylvania back into the Democratic column.
On November 8, 2017, Democrats made historic inroads in Chester County by winning their first county row office seats in history, picking up four row office seats. [23] On November 5, 2019, Democrats swept the county row office seat elections and took a majority on the Board of Commissioners, both firsts in the county's history. [24] In both the 2021 and 2023 elections, Democrats followed up with another sweep of the county row offices, along with retaining their majority on the Board of Commissioners. [25]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 137,299 | 42.06% | 184,281 | 56.45% | 4,849 | 1.49% |
2020 | 128,565 | 40.72% | 182,372 | 57.76% | 4,816 | 1.53% |
2016 | 116,114 | 42.53% | 141,682 | 51.90% | 15,202 | 5.57% |
2012 | 124,840 | 49.43% | 124,311 | 49.22% | 3,425 | 1.36% |
2008 | 114,421 | 44.83% | 137,833 | 54.00% | 2,998 | 1.17% |
2004 | 120,036 | 52.00% | 109,708 | 47.53% | 1,079 | 0.47% |
2000 | 100,080 | 53.33% | 82,047 | 43.72% | 5,549 | 2.96% |
1996 | 77,029 | 48.64% | 64,783 | 40.91% | 16,554 | 10.45% |
1992 | 74,002 | 43.73% | 59,643 | 35.25% | 35,563 | 21.02% |
1988 | 93,522 | 67.00% | 44,853 | 32.13% | 1,210 | 0.87% |
1984 | 92,221 | 70.11% | 38,870 | 29.55% | 440 | 0.33% |
1980 | 73,046 | 60.92% | 34,307 | 28.61% | 12,543 | 10.46% |
1976 | 67,686 | 60.42% | 42,712 | 38.13% | 1,628 | 1.45% |
1972 | 72,726 | 68.44% | 31,118 | 29.29% | 2,415 | 2.27% |
1968 | 56,073 | 57.19% | 32,606 | 33.25% | 9,372 | 9.56% |
1964 | 40,280 | 45.46% | 47,940 | 54.10% | 390 | 0.44% |
1960 | 53,059 | 63.64% | 30,167 | 36.18% | 147 | 0.18% |
1956 | 47,225 | 70.24% | 19,957 | 29.68% | 50 | 0.07% |
1952 | 39,961 | 64.86% | 21,490 | 34.88% | 164 | 0.27% |
1948 | 29,258 | 65.78% | 14,670 | 32.98% | 550 | 1.24% |
1944 | 26,655 | 58.70% | 18,548 | 40.84% | 208 | 0.46% |
1940 | 28,222 | 55.47% | 22,473 | 44.17% | 183 | 0.36% |
1936 | 29,340 | 51.81% | 26,676 | 47.11% | 613 | 1.08% |
1932 | 29,425 | 69.21% | 12,040 | 28.32% | 1,052 | 2.47% |
1928 | 36,659 | 82.27% | 7,689 | 17.26% | 210 | 0.47% |
1924 | 22,333 | 75.76% | 5,946 | 20.17% | 1,201 | 4.07% |
1920 | 18,129 | 69.57% | 7,004 | 26.88% | 927 | 3.56% |
1916 | 11,845 | 56.77% | 8,514 | 40.81% | 505 | 2.42% |
1912 | 5,708 | 28.85% | 6,901 | 34.88% | 7,177 | 36.27% |
1908 | 13,118 | 64.07% | 6,555 | 32.01% | 803 | 3.92% |
1904 | 14,200 | 73.90% | 4,342 | 22.60% | 673 | 3.50% |
1900 | 13,809 | 66.20% | 6,214 | 29.79% | 835 | 4.00% |
1896 | 14,232 | 67.80% | 6,058 | 28.86% | 700 | 3.33% |
1892 | 10,982 | 55.57% | 7,850 | 39.72% | 932 | 4.72% |
1888 | 11,578 | 58.51% | 7,541 | 38.11% | 669 | 3.38% |
1884 | 10,885 | 58.59% | 7,102 | 38.23% | 592 | 3.19% |
1880 | 11,298 | 59.25% | 7,524 | 39.46% | 246 | 1.29% |
Year | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Libertarian Party | Green Party | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 35.9% 92,585 | 62.3%160,793 | 1.1% 2,713 | ||
2018 | 37.2% 87,873 | 61.3%145,212 | 1.0% 2,448 | 0.5% 1,242 | |
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 | |||
Chester County is administered by a three-person Board of Commissioners who serve four-year terms. Elections take place in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. presidential elections, with the next election scheduled for 2027. 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. Currently, the Democrats hold a majority on the board, with Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz holding two of the three seats. County law requires the minority party to be represented with one seat, which is held by Eric Roe of the Republican Party. [28]
As of December 30,2023 [update] : [29]
Official | Party | Position |
---|---|---|
Josh Maxwell | Democratic | Chair |
Marian Moskowitz | Democratic | Vice Chair |
Eric Roe | Republican |
As of December 30,2023 [update] : [29]
Office | Official | Party | Term ends |
---|---|---|---|
Clerk of Courts | Yolanda Van de Krol | Democratic | 2025 |
Controller | Margaret Reif | Democratic | 2025 |
Coroner | Sophia Garcia-Jackson | Democratic | 2025 |
District Attorney | Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe | Democratic | 2027 |
Prothonotary | Debbie Bookman | Democratic | 2027 |
Recorder of Deeds | Diane O'Dwyer | Democratic | 2027 |
Register of Wills | Michele Vaughn | Democratic | 2027 |
Sheriff | Kevin Dykes | Democratic | 2027 |
Treasurer | Patricia Maisano | Democratic | 2025 |
As of January 3, 2023:
District | Representative | Party |
---|---|---|
5 | Mary Gay Scanlon | Democratic |
6 | Chrissy Houlahan | Democratic |
As of January 3, 2023:
Senator | Party |
---|---|
Bob Casey Jr. | Democratic |
John Fetterman | Democratic |
As of January 3, 2023:
As of January 3, 2023:
District | Senator | Party |
---|---|---|
9 | John Kane | Democratic |
19 | Carolyn Comitta | Democratic |
44 | Katie Muth | Democratic |
School districts include: [30]
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.
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:
Census-designated places are unincorporated communities designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Chester County. [43]
†county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tredyffrin | Township | 31,927 |
2 | West Goshen | Township | 23,040 |
3 | West Whiteland | Township | 19,632 |
4 | Uwchlan | Township | 19,161 |
5 | West Chester † | Borough | 18,671 |
6 | Phoenixville | Borough | 18,602 |
7 | East Goshen | Township | 18,410 |
8 | Caln | Township | 14,432 |
9 | West Bradford | Township | 14,316 |
10 | East Whiteland | Township | 13,917 |
11 | Coatesville | City | 13,350 |
12 | Upper Uwchlan | Township | 12,275 |
13 | New Garden | Township | 11,363 |
14 | Willistown | Township | 11,273 |
15 | Westtown | Township | 11,154 |
16 | Easttown | Township | 10,984 |
17 | East Bradford | Township | 10,339 |
18 | East Brandywine | Township | 9,738 |
19 | East Nottingham | Township | 8,982 |
20 | West Caln | Township | 8,910 |
21 | London Grove | Township | 8,797 |
22 | Schuylkill | Township | 8,780 |
23 | North Coventry | Township | 8,441 |
24 | Kennett | Township | 8,289 |
25 | Honey Brook | Township | 8,274 |
26 | East Pikeland | Township | 8,260 |
27 | Valley | Township | 7,985 |
28 | Downingtown | Borough | 7,892 |
29 | East Fallowfield | Township | 7,626 |
30 | East Vincent | Township | 7,433 |
31 | West Brandywine | Township | 7,331 |
32 | East Marlborough | Township | 7,306 |
33 | East Coventry | Township | 7,068 |
34 | West Vincent | Township | 6,668 |
35 | Lionville | CDP | 6,582 |
36 | Paoli | CDP | 6,002 |
37 | Charlestown | Township | 6,001 |
38 | Kennett Square | Borough | 5,936 |
39 | New London | Township | 5,810 |
40 | Oxford | Borough | 5,736 |
41 | Penn | Township | 5,644 |
42 | Exton | CDP | 5,622 |
43 | Chesterbrook | CDP | 5,610 |
44 | Lower Oxford | Township | 5,420 |
45 | East Caln | Township | 5,384 |
46 | Pocopson | Township | 4,455 |
47 | Franklin | Township | 4,433 |
48 | Sadsbury | Township | 4,125 |
49 | Birmingham | Township | 4,085 |
50 | West Pikeland | Township | 4,024 |
51 | Pennsbury | Township | 3,876 |
52 | Parkesburg | Borough | 3,862 |
53 | Berwyn | CDP | 3,775 |
54 | Wallace | Township | 3,711 |
55 | Thorndale | CDP | 3,669 |
56 | Frazer | CDP | 3,635 |
57 | Spring City | Borough | 3,494 |
58 | Malvern | Borough | 3,419 |
59 | London Britain | Township | 3,179 |
60 | Thornbury | Township | 3,177 |
61 | Hayti | CDP | 2,890 |
62 | South Coventry | Township | 2,796 |
63 | West Grove | Borough | 2,770 |
64 | West Nottingham | Township | 2,764 |
65 | Warwick | Township | 2,590 |
66 | Upper Oxford | Township | 2,560 |
67 | Londonderry | Township | 2,476 |
68 | West Fallowfield | Township | 2,459 |
69 | West Sadsbury | Township | 2,436 |
70 | West Nantmeal | Township | 2,251 |
71 | Eagleview | CDP | 2,193 |
72 | South Pottstown | CDP | 2,150 |
73 | Kenilworth | CDP | 2,148 |
74 | Honey Brook | Borough | 1,892 |
75 | East Nantmeal | Township | 1,832 |
76 | Lincoln University | CDP | 1,739 |
77 | Elk | Township | 1,698 |
78 | South Coatesville | Borough | 1,601 |
79 | Devon | CDP | 1,580 |
80 | Caln | CDP | 1,494 |
81 | Chadds Ford (partially in Delaware County) | CDP | 1,476 |
82 | Newlin | Township | 1,358 |
83 | Elverson | Borough | 1,330 |
84 | Atglen | Borough | 1,313 |
85 | Toughkenamon | CDP | 1,297 |
86 | Avondale | Borough | 1,274 |
87 | Nottingham | CDP | 1,260 |
88 | Highland | Township | 1,259 |
89 | Dilworthtown (partially in Delaware County) | CDP | 1,150 |
90 | Pomeroy | CDP | 1,085 |
91 | Westwood | CDP | 1,003 |
92 | Sadsburyville | CDP | 1,001 |
93 | Glenmoore | CDP | 872 |
94 | Pughtown | CDP | 849 |
95 | West Marlborough | Township | 819 |
96 | Cochranville | CDP | 631 |
97 | Unionville | CDP | 577 |
98 | Kimberton | CDP | 568 |
99 | Cheyney University (partially in Delaware County) | CDP | 565 |
100 | Modena | Borough | 541 |
101 | Marshallton | CDP | 500 |
102 | Eagle | CDP | 498 |
103 | Hamorton | CDP | 179 |
Chester County has four distinct seasons and has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) except for some far southern lowlands and areas along the Schuylkill River which have a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). The hardiness zone 7a except for 7b near the Brandywine Creek in Birmingham Township.
Climate data for Honey Brook Twp (Elevation: 728 ft (222 m)) 1981–2010 Averages | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.6 (3.1) | 40.4 (4.7) | 49.5 (9.7) | 60.1 (15.6) | 70.8 (21.6) | 78.9 (26.1) | 82.9 (28.3) | 82.3 (27.9) | 75.3 (24.1) | 64.1 (17.8) | 52.3 (11.3) | 41.4 (5.2) | 61.4 (16.3) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.1 (−1.6) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 39.2 (4.0) | 49.3 (9.6) | 59.6 (15.3) | 68.1 (20.1) | 72.6 (22.6) | 71.8 (22.1) | 64.7 (18.2) | 53.6 (12.0) | 43.8 (6.6) | 33.9 (1.1) | 51.5 (10.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.7 (−6.3) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 38.4 (3.6) | 48.4 (9.1) | 57.3 (14.1) | 62.3 (16.8) | 61.3 (16.3) | 54.2 (12.3) | 43.1 (6.2) | 35.2 (1.8) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 41.6 (5.3) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.13 (80) | 2.73 (69) | 3.78 (96) | 3.79 (96) | 4.08 (104) | 4.11 (104) | 4.92 (125) | 3.64 (92) | 4.37 (111) | 4.19 (106) | 3.73 (95) | 3.66 (93) | 46.13 (1,172) |
Average relative humidity (%) | 69.9 | 67.8 | 62.1 | 62.2 | 64.5 | 72.7 | 72.6 | 73.6 | 74.7 | 72.6 | 72.4 | 72.8 | 69.8 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 21.9 (−5.6) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 36.9 (2.7) | 47.6 (8.7) | 59.0 (15.0) | 63.3 (17.4) | 62.9 (17.2) | 56.5 (13.6) | 45.0 (7.2) | 35.5 (1.9) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 42.0 (5.6) |
Source: PRISM [44] |
Climate data for Coatesville, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4 (40) | 10.2 (50.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 22.7 (72.9) | 27.4 (81.3) | 29.9 (85.8) | 28.7 (83.7) | 25.4 (77.7) | 19.1 (66.3) | 11.9 (53.4) | 5.3 (41.6) | 17.1 (62.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −6.2 (20.8) | −6.2 (20.9) | −1.4 (29.4) | 3.8 (38.8) | 9.5 (49.1) | 14.6 (58.3) | 17.3 (63.2) | 16.3 (61.3) | 12.4 (54.3) | 5.7 (42.3) | 0.4 (32.8) | −4.6 (23.8) | 5.1 (41.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 91 (3.6) | 84 (3.3) | 97 (3.8) | 94 (3.7) | 99 (3.9) | 110 (4.5) | 110 (4.4) | 110 (4.5) | 94 (3.7) | 84 (3.3) | 84 (3.3) | 97 (3.8) | 1,160 (45.8) |
Source: Weatherbase [45] |
Climate data for London Britain (Elevation: 167 ft (51 m)) 1981–2010 Averages | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.4 (4.7) | 43.4 (6.3) | 52.2 (11.2) | 64.1 (17.8) | 73.6 (23.1) | 82.5 (28.1) | 86.7 (30.4) | 85.0 (29.4) | 77.9 (25.5) | 66.6 (19.2) | 55.5 (13.1) | 44.3 (6.8) | 64.4 (18.0) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 34.5 (1.4) | 42.2 (5.7) | 52.8 (11.6) | 62.4 (16.9) | 71.7 (22.1) | 76.1 (24.5) | 74.6 (23.7) | 67.3 (19.6) | 55.8 (13.2) | 46.0 (7.8) | 36.1 (2.3) | 54.4 (12.4) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 25.6 (−3.6) | 32.2 (0.1) | 41.5 (5.3) | 51.3 (10.7) | 61.0 (16.1) | 65.6 (18.7) | 64.2 (17.9) | 56.8 (13.8) | 44.9 (7.2) | 36.4 (2.4) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 44.3 (6.8) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.30 (84) | 2.79 (71) | 4.21 (107) | 3.72 (94) | 4.18 (106) | 4.05 (103) | 4.66 (118) | 3.66 (93) | 4.48 (114) | 3.49 (89) | 3.50 (89) | 3.73 (95) | 45.77 (1,163) |
Average relative humidity (%) | 66.8 | 63.3 | 59.0 | 58.6 | 62.7 | 66.6 | 68.1 | 69.6 | 71.1 | 69.3 | 67.9 | 68.1 | 65.9 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 23.3 (−4.8) | 28.9 (−1.7) | 38.7 (3.7) | 49.5 (9.7) | 60.0 (15.6) | 64.8 (18.2) | 64.0 (17.8) | 57.6 (14.2) | 45.9 (7.7) | 36.0 (2.2) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 43.2 (6.2) |
Source: PRISM [44] |
In both 2018 and 2019, deaths from drug overdoses in Chester County declined. Of the 104 drug overdoses recorded by the coroner, an estimated 77 percent involved the presence of fentanyl. One of the reasons for the decline in overdose deaths was "the saturation across the county of Narcan, the anti-opioid nasal spray that can revive someone suffering an overdose." In 2019, any resident of Chester County could obtain a free Narcan dose at community training events across the county. [46]
Caln Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,432 at the 2020 census. The township was founded by settlers from Calne, Wiltshire in England in 1714; the relationship between Calne and Wiltshire continues in the present since the two are sister cities. Caln is a township of the First Class, and the governing body is a Board of Commissioners. The township also owns Ingleside Golf Club and over 200 acres (0.81 km2) of green space and parks.
Coatesville is a city in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,350 at the 2020 census. Coatesville is approximately 39 miles west of Philadelphia. It developed along the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike beginning in the late 18th century. It spans U.S. Route 30, the "Main Line" highway that runs west of Philadelphia.
Downingtown is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, 33 miles (53 km) west of Philadelphia. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 7,898. Downingtown was settled by European colonists in 1716 and has a number of historic buildings and structures.
East Caln Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,387 at the 2020 census. The township wraps around the eastern half of Downingtown and is mostly indistinguishable from it. East Caln Township is very developed, containing several shopping centers, including the regionally important Brandywine Square Center, several recently constructed housing developments varying from condominiums to large single family homes, and some industry in the southern fringe of the township.
Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philadelphia at the junction of French Creek and the Schuylkill River. It is in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. According to a 2022 estimate, the population was 19,354.
Schuylkill Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It contains the village of Valley Forge. The population was 8,516 at the 2010 census.
Upper Uwchlan Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,227 at the 2010 census. The township included the community of Milford Mills before it was inundated by the creation of the Marsh Creek Dam in 1972.
West Bradford Township is a township that is located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,706 at the time of the 2020 census.
West Chester is a borough and the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the borough had a population of 18,461 at the 2010 census. West Chester is the mailing address for most of its neighboring townships. When calculated by mailing address, the population as of the 2010 U.S. census was 108,696, which would make it the 10th-largest city by mailing address in Pennsylvania.
West Goshen Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 23,040 at the 2020 census. In 2013, Money magazine ranked West Goshen as the 10th-best place to live in the nation. West Goshen has also been ranked in the top 15 places to live in the U.S. from 2014 to 2017 and is also at the top of best neighborhoods to raise a family in Pennsylvania every year.
Brandywine Creek is a tributary of the Christina River in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States. The Lower Brandywine is 20.4 miles (32.8 km) long and is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River with several tributary streams. The East Branch and West Branch of the creek originate within 2 miles (3 km) of each other on the slopes of Welsh Mountain in Honey Brook Township, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of their confluence.
The Downingtown Area School District is a school district based in Downingtown, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The district operates ten elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools. As of 2018, the district educates approximately 12,000 students, making it the largest school district in Chester County.
Pennsylvania Route 82 is a 32-mile-long (51 km) north–south state highway located in Chester County in southeast Pennsylvania, USA. The southern terminus is at the Delaware state line southeast of Kennett Square, where the road continues south into that state as Delaware Route 82. The northern terminus is at PA 23 in Elverson. PA 82 heads through rural areas of Chester County along with the communities of Kennett Square, Unionville, and Coatesville. The route intersects many important roads including U.S. Route 1 near Kennett Square, PA 162 and PA 842 in Unionville, US 30 in Coatesville, and US 322 in Brandywine Manor. PA 82 is a two-lane undivided road most of its length.
Pennsylvania Route 113 is a 46.9-mile-long (75.5 km) state route in eastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 30 Business in Downingtown. Its northern terminus is at PA 611 in Tinicum Township. The route is signed as north–south although its exact alignment follows a northeast-southwest routing. The route serves Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks counties, passing through Lionville, Phoenixville, Trappe, Skippack, Harleysville, Souderton, and Silverdale along the way.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority operates or contracts operations of these routes serving points in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, with a few routes operating into the city of Philadelphia. The Suburban Transit Division is broken down into three districts: Victory, Frontier, and Contract Operations.
The Great Valley is a west-to-east valley through the center of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is also sometimes referred to as Chester Valley, and both names are in use throughout the region. The valley stretches from the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County in the east, southwesterly through Chester and Lancaster counties. The valley is most distinct in central Chester County, although traces of it can be followed almost the entire distance between the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.
U.S. Route 30 Business is a 19-mile (31 km) business route of US 30 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The route follows the former alignment of US 30 between Sadsbury Township and East Whiteland Township, passing through Coatesville, Downingtown, and Exton. US 30 follows a freeway bypass between these two points. The present alignment of US 30 Bus. was originally part of a turnpike called the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike that was completed in 1794. The state took over the turnpike at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1913, present-day US 30 Bus. was incorporated into the Lincoln Highway, an auto trail that ran from San Francisco east to New York City. The Lincoln Highway through Pennsylvania became Pennsylvania Route 1 (PA 1) in 1924. US 30 was designated concurrent with PA 1 west of Philadelphia in 1926, with the PA 1 designation removed two years later. US 30 was widened into a multilane road through Chester County in the 1930s. In the 1960s, US 30 was moved to a freeway bypass around Coatesville and Downingtown, with US 30 Bus. designated onto the former alignment of US 30. In 1995, US 30 Bus. was extended east when US 30 was extended to bypass Exton.
Pennsylvania State Senate District 44 includes parts of Berks County, Chester County, and Montgomery County. It is currently represented by Democrat Katie Muth.
The Coatesville Area School District (CASD) covers the City of Coatesville, the Boroughs of Modena and South Coatesville, and Caln Township, East Fallowfield Township, Sadsbury Township, Valley Township, West Brandywine Township and West Caln Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania. According to census data recorded between 2010 and 2019, Coatesville Area School District served a resident population of approximately 64,700. The district operates Coatesville Area Senior High School (10th-12th), Coatesville Area Intermediate High School (8th-9th), North Brandywine Middle School (7th), Scott 6th Grade Center, Caln Elementary School (K-5th), East Fallowfield Elementary School (K-5th), King's Highway Elementary School (K-5th), Rainbow Elementary School (K-5th), and Reeceville Elementary School (K-5th).
The Ches-Mont League is a high school sports league primarily located in Chester County, Pennsylvania in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Currently, the league consists of thirteen high schools, divided into two divisions. Twelve of the schools are from Chester County, with one from Delaware County.
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