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Chester County, Pennsylvania

Not to be confused with Chester, Pennsylvania.

Chester County
County
Chester County Courthouse
Chester County Courthouse
Flag of Chester County
Flag
Official seal of Chester County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Chester County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°58′N 75°45′W / 39.97°N 75.75°W / 39.97; -75.75
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedAugust 24, 1682
Named forChester, England
SeatWest Chester
Largest boroughWest Chester
Government
 • County commission
Area
 • Total759 sq mi (1,970 km2)
 • Land751 sq mi (1,950 km2)
 • Water8.7 sq mi (23 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total534,413
 • Estimate 
(2023)
546,638 Increase
 • Density712.0/sq mi (274.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts5th, 6th
Websitewww.chesco.org
DesignatedOctober 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.

History

[edit]
Map
Interactive map of Chester County, Pennsylvania
A Chester County sign

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.

Geography

[edit]

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]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

National protected area

[edit]

State protected areas

[edit]

Major roads and highways

[edit]
I-76/Pennsylvania Turnpike westbound in Chester County

Economy and environment

[edit]

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.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179027,829—
180032,09315.3%
181039,59623.4%
182044,45112.3%
183050,91014.5%
184057,51513.0%
185066,43815.5%
186074,57812.3%
187077,8054.3%
188083,4817.3%
189089,3777.1%
190095,6957.1%
1910109,21314.1%
1920115,1205.4%
1930126,62910.0%
1940135,6267.1%
1950159,14117.3%
1960210,60832.3%
1970278,31132.1%
1980316,66013.8%
1990376,39618.9%
2000433,50115.2%
2010498,88615.1%
2020534,4137.1%
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.

Religion

[edit]
Uwchlan Meetinghouse in Uwchlan Township

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. 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.

2020 census

[edit]
Chester County Racial Composition[19]
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%

Politics

[edit]

Voter registration

[edit]

Chart of Voter Registration

  Democratic (41.74%)
  Republican (39.90%)
  Independent (12.92%)
  Other Parties (5.44%)

As of March 4, 2024, there were 379,780 registered voters in Chester County.[20]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 158,518 41.74%
Republican 151,520 39.90%
Independent 49,062 12.92%
Third Parties 20,680 5.44%
Total 379,780 100%

Election results

[edit]
2020 US presidential election in Chester County
  Biden—80-90%
  Biden—70-80%
  Biden—60-70%
  Biden—50-60%
  Biden—<50%
  Trump—<50%
  Trump—50-60%
  Trump—60-70%

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]

United States presidential election results for Chester County, Pennsylvania[26][27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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%

Government

[edit]

County Commissioners

[edit]

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:[29]

Official Party Position
Josh Maxwell Democratic Chair
Marian Moskowitz Democratic Vice Chair
Eric Roe Republican

County row officers

[edit]

As of December 30, 2023:[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

United States House of Representatives

[edit]

As of January 3, 2023:

District Representative Party
5 Mary Gay Scanlon Democratic
6 Chrissy Houlahan Democratic

United States Senate

[edit]

As of January 3, 2023:

Senator Party
Bob Casey Jr. Democratic
John Fetterman Democratic

State House of Representatives

[edit]
State House districts in Chester County

As of January 3, 2023:

District Representative Party
13 John Lawrence Republican
26 Paul Friel Democratic
74 Dan Williams Democratic
155 Danielle Otten Democratic
156 Chris Pielli Democratic
157 Melissa Shusterman Democratic
158 Christina Sappey Democratic
160 Craig Williams Republican
167 Kristine Howard Democratic

State Senate

[edit]
State Senate districts in Chester County

As of January 3, 2023:

District Senator Party
9 John Kane Democratic
19 Carolyn Comitta Democratic
44 Katie Muth Democratic

Education

[edit]

Colleges and universities

[edit]
Philips Memorial Building at West Chester University

Public school districts

[edit]
Map of Chester County's public school districts

School districts include:[30]

Charter schools

[edit]
See also: Education in Pennsylvania

Independent schools

[edit]

Libraries

[edit]

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

[edit]
Map of Chester County with labels showing cities (in yellow), boroughs (in red), townships (in white), and census-designated places (in 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

[edit]

Boroughs

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

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.

Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

Historic community

[edit]

Population ranking

[edit]

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

Climate

[edit]

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. [1]

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]

Public health

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Opioid crisis

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Main article: Opioid epidemic in the United States

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]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "2020 Census Demographic Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "QuickFacts Chester County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1852–1935). Pennsylvania Archives. 9 Series, 109 Volumes. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. pp. Series 2, Volume 5: 739–744.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Futhey, John; Cope, Gilbert (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts.
  7. ^ Armstrong, Edward, ed. (1860). Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania, 1676 to 1681. Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Volume 7. p. 196.
  8. ^ Swindler, William F., ed. (1973–1979). Sources and Documents of United States Constitutions. 10 Volumes. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications. pp. Vol. 8: 243.
  9. ^ Ashmead, Henry Gordon (1884). A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. pp. 77–83. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  11. ^ Commission, Chester County Planning. "Chester County Ag Council". www.chescofarming.org. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Elevations in Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey, Information Circular 4, Fourth Series
  13. ^ Hurdle, Jon (March 8, 2016). "Chester County landfill gas used as alternative to fracking". StateImpact Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  16. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  17. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chester County, Pennsylvania".
  20. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  22. ^ "Pennsylvania Attorney General Results: Josh Shapiro Wins". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  23. ^ Chambless, J. (November 8, 2017). "Election results 2017: Democrats take the lead - Chester County Press". Chester County Press. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
  24. ^ Rellahan, Michael (November 6, 2019). "Commissioners race won by Chesco Democrats". Daily Local News. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  25. ^ "Another sweep for Chester County Democrats as courthouse remains 'blue'". Daily Local. November 8, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "Democrats maintain majority control of Chester County Board of Commissioners". WHYY. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Chester County Newly-Elected Officials, Judges Take Oath of Office". Chester County, PA. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  30. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chester County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022. - Text list
  31. ^ "Chester County Intermediate Unit / Overview". cciu.org.
  32. ^ "Private School for Children with LD & Dyslexia in Philadelphia - DVFS". dvfs.org.
  33. ^ "Fairville Friends School - Home". fairvillefriends.org/.
  34. ^ "Goshen Friends School - Home". goshenfriends.org.
  35. ^ "Kimberton Waldorf School - The Art of Education". kimberton.org.
  36. ^ "Welcome to TCS! - The Concept School". theconceptschool.org.
  37. ^ "Upland Country Day School Best Private Schools in Chester County". uplandcds.org.
  38. ^ "West-Mont Christian Academy". west-mont.org.
  39. ^ "westchesterfriends". westchesterfriends.
  40. ^ "Windsor Christian Academy – Classical Christian Education in Upper Uwchlan, PA". windsorca.org.
  41. ^ "Windsor Christian Preschool - Offering Morning or Afternoon Preschool Classes for 2-1/2, 3, 4, or 5 Year Olds". windsorcp.org.
  42. ^ "Regina Luminis Academy - Catholic Classical Education". Regina Luminis Academy - Catholic Classical Education.
  43. ^ "2020 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  44. ^ a b "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  45. ^ "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on September 2, 2019.
  46. ^ Rellahan, Michael P. (February 20, 2020). "Overdoses in Chester County decrease for second year in a row". Daily Local News. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chester County, Pennsylvania.