Chester County

Chester County is a district in southeastern Pennsylvania that extends across rolling hills, fertile valleys, and numerous waterways including the Octoraro and Brandywine creeks. The area encompasses dozens of townships and boroughs connected by a network of country roads, linking both rural and suburban landscapes.

William Penn founded the district in 1682 as one of Pennsylvania's three original administrative areas, with Chester City initially serving as the seat. In 1786, authorities moved the seat to West Chester, which lay at the center of the district and offered better accessibility.

The district takes its name from the English city of Chester, which William Penn used as a model. Many settlements throughout the area still preserve their colonial architecture with stone barns and single-story farmhouses from the 18th century.

Each township has its own road network and center, with country roads linking remote farms and preserves to larger towns. Signage can be limited in rural areas, so using maps or navigation tools is helpful when exploring less traveled routes.

The southern half of the district produces more than half of all mushrooms grown in the United States. Dozens of mushroom farms operate here in long, climate-controlled sheds that provide controlled conditions year-round.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1682

Capital city: West Chester

Shares border with: Berks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, New Castle County, Cecil County, Lancaster County

Website: http://chesco.org

GPS coordinates: 39.97000,-75.75000

Latest update: December 15, 2025 00:05