52-609: The Chester County Library System (CCLS) in Chester County, Pennsylvania is a library system in southeastern Pennsylvania that was organized in 1965. It is a federated system composed of a District Center Library in Exton, Pennsylvania and seventeen member libraries. The system provides materials and information for life, work and pleasure. The library system has its history starting in West Chester, Pennsylvania where it
104-580: 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
156-545: A Democrat carried Berks in a Presidential election occurred in 2008, with Barack Obama receiving 53.9% of the vote to John McCain 's 44.7%. The other three statewide winners ( Rob McCord for treasurer, Jack Wagner for auditor general, and Tom Corbett for attorney general) also carried it. While Republicans have controlled the commissioner majority most of the time and continue to control most county row offices, Democrats have become more competitive in Berks in recent years. In
208-464: A National Association of Counties Award for its Library Literacy Program, the first in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania handling 30,000 illiterate and 15,000 non-English speaking residents. Chester County, Pennsylvania Chester County ( Pennsylvania Dutch : Tscheschter Kaundi ), colloquially referred to as Chesco , is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . It is located in
260-544: A State Senator whose district includes northern Chester County, carried the county by a slim margin of 50 votes ) 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
312-818: 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. As of December 30, 2023 : As of December 30, 2023 : As of January 3, 2023: As of January 3, 2023: As of January 3, 2023: As of January 3, 2023: School districts include: The Chester County Library System in southeastern Pennsylvania
364-543: A fast-growing population and close proximity to the other communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 866 square miles (2,240 km ), 857 square miles (2,220 km ) of which is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km ) (1.1%) of which is water. Most of the county is drained by the Schuylkill River , but an area in the northeast is drained by the Lehigh River via
416-647: A major part of the county's economy, and the number of horse farms is increasing in the county. 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. Lanchester Landfill, located on
468-830: A population of 7,067,807. As of September 21, 2023, there were 253,186 registered voters in Berks County. Berks County leans Republican, but is still competitive, with the last Republican to carry the county by more than 10% being George H.W. Bush in 1988. As of 2023, the Republican Party maintained a total registration edge over Democrats in Berks County. At the top of the Pennsylvania ticket in November 2022, Berks County split its votes, supporting Democrat Josh Shapiro for governor and Republican Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate . The first time since 1964 that
520-544: Is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . As of the 2020 census , the county's population was 428,849. The county seat is Reading , the fourth-most populous city in the state. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state. The county borders Lehigh County to its north and its east, Schuylkill County to its north, Lebanon and Lancaster counties to its west, and Chester County to its south. The county
572-517: Is approximately 26 miles (42 km) southwest of Allentown , the state's third-largest city, and 64 miles (103 km) northwest of Philadelphia , the state's largest city. The Schuylkill River , a 135-mile-long (217 km) tributary of the Delaware River , flows through Berks County. The county is part of the Reading, PA metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which in turn is part of
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#1732781039396624-836: Is composed of four historic structures: White Horse Inn, George Douglass Mansion, Bridge keeper's House, and the Mouns Jones House, constructed in 1716, which is the oldest recorded building in the county. West Reading in home to the annual Art on the Avenue, which reached its 25th year in 2019. Berks County is home to several media outlets, including: Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities , boroughs , townships , and towns . The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Berks County: Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by
676-490: 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
728-404: The 2010 census , the county was 76.9% White non-Hispanic, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 16.4% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. Historically there is a large Pennsylvania Dutch population. It is known as part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country . More recently there is a large Puerto Rican population centered in
780-532: The Delaware Valley region, located in the southeastern part of the state. As of the 2020 census , the population was 545,823. increasing by 7.1% from 498,886 in 2010 . The county seat is West Chester . 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
832-627: 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
884-551: The Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area known as the Philadelphia -Reading- Camden , PA- NJ - DE - MD combined statistical area (CSA). Reading developed during the 1740s when inhabitants of northern Lancaster County sent several petitions requesting that a separate county be established. With the help of German immigrant Conrad Weiser , the county was formed on March 11, 1752, from parts of Chester County , Lancaster County , and Philadelphia County . It
936-636: 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
988-712: The Little Lehigh Creek and areas are drained by the Susquehanna River via the Swatara Creek in the northwest and the Conestoga River , which starts in Berks County between Morgantown and Elverson in the county's extreme south. It has a humid continental climate ( Dfa except for some Dfb on Blue Mountain at the northern boundary.) The hardiness zone is mostly 7a with 6b in some higher northern and eastern areas. [1] As of
1040-551: 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 . At the time, Chester County's borders were Philadelphia County to
1092-468: The Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) . As of the 2010 U.S. census the metropolitan area is the 10th-most populous in Pennsylvania and the 128th-most populous in the U.S. with a population of 413,491. Berks County is part of the larger Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area (CSA) , the largest in Pennsylvania and eighth-most populous in the nation with
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#17327810393961144-399: 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. 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
1196-515: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 759 square miles (1,970 km ), of which 751 square miles (1,950 km ) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km ) (1.1%) is water. 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
1248-462: 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
1300-503: 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. Berks County, Pennsylvania Berks County ( Pennsylvania Dutch : Barricks Kaundi )
1352-417: 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 of 2000, there were 433,501 people, 157,905 households, and 113,375 families residing in the county. The population density
1404-461: The 2012 Presidential election, Mitt Romney carried the county by approximately a one-percent margin, 49.6% to 48.6%, however, in 2016, Donald Trump carried Berks by a much larger margin of 52.9% to 42.7%. Chart of Voter Registration School districts include: Reading Public Museum in Reading is an art, science, and history museum. The Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps are an all-age drum corps based in Berks County. Founded in 1957,
1456-630: 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 , Westtown , and Uwchlan meeting houses . Other historic religious buildings include St. Malachi Church , southeastern Pennsylvania's oldest active Catholic mission church, and
1508-544: 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. 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. In both the 2021 and 2023 elections, Democrats followed up with another sweep of
1560-781: The Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney , by a very small margin of 0.2%, or about 500 votes. 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,
1612-423: The age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under
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1664-427: 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
1716-440: 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
1768-535: The age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males. Berks County is home to an Old Order Mennonite community consisting of about 160 families, located in the East Penn Valley near Kutztown and Fleetwood . The Old Order Mennonites first bought land in
1820-672: The area in 1949. In 2012, Old Order Mennonites bought two large farms in the Oley Valley . The Old Order Mennonites in the area belong to the Groffdale Conference Mennonite Church and use the horse and buggy as transportation. There are several farms in the area belonging to the Old Order Mennonite community and meetinghouses are located near Kutztown and Fleetwood. The Office of Management and Budget has designated Berks County as
1872-833: 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 . 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. As of
1924-448: The city of Reading. There were 411,442 people, 154,356 households, and 106,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 479 inhabitants per square mile (185/km ). There were 164,827 housing units at an average density of 191.9 per square mile (74.1/km ). According to Muninet Guide's 2010 analysis, the median household income for Berks County is $ 54,105. There were 154,356 households, out of which 33.1% had children under
1976-582: The corps is a charter member Drum Corps Associates and an 11-time DCA World Champion. Reading is home to Berks Opera Company, founded in 2007 as Berks Opera Workshop. There are two Pennsylvania state parks and one natural area in Berks County. There are two Pennsylvania Historic Sites in Berks County. The Old Morlatton Village in Douglassville is maintained by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County. The village
2028-433: The county row offices, along with retaining their majority on the Board of Commissioners. 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
2080-589: The county. Chart of Voter Registration As of November 18, 2024, there were 396,404 registered voters in Chester County. 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
2132-600: The eastern portion of the county separated and formed the new Delaware County in 1789 with the City of Chester as its county seat. 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
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2184-697: The following table is based on the 2020 census of Chester County. † county seat 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] In both 2018 and 2019, deaths from drug overdoses in Chester County declined. Of
2236-483: 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
2288-406: 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
2340-527: 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. Much of
2392-611: 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
2444-597: 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
2496-665: Was 573 inhabitants per square mile (221/km ). There were 163,773 housing units at an average density of 217 units per square mile (84/km ). 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
2548-555: Was named after the English county in which William Penn 's family home lay, Berkshire , which is often abbreviated to Berks. Berks County began much larger than it is today. The northwestern parts of the county went to the founding of Northumberland County in 1772 and Schuylkill County in 1811, when it reached its current size. In 2005, Berks County was added to the Delaware Valley Planning Area due to
2600-602: Was once housed in a new county building on West Market Street and New Street, replacing the old Chester County Prison situated in the same location only 3 years earlier in 1959. The county building was dedicated to honor Congressman Paul Dague in 1971. In 1980, the Chester County Library moved to its current location in Exton (next to the Exton Square Mall). In 1982, the library in Exton received
2652-437: 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
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#17327810393962704-413: 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,
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