Chester, small rural city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States
Chester is a city along the Delaware River, roughly 30 miles from Philadelphia, with roots as a port and industrial center. Today the cityscape mixes old factory buildings with newer developments like a casino and soccer stadium, alongside neighborhoods still dealing with economic hardship.
Originally named by William Penn in 1682 following its founding by Swedish and Dutch traders in the 1600s, Chester boomed after the Civil War with factory and port jobs. It peaked as a shipbuilding and industrial hub in the 1900s but lost major employers and population after World War II.
William Penn named the city Chester in 1682 and held Pennsylvania's first General Assembly there, marking it as a place of colonial importance. The city's character today reflects generations of immigrant workers from Ireland, Poland, Italy, and African-American communities who came seeking jobs and built their lives along the waterfront.
The city sits directly on the Delaware River with clear sightlines to Philadelphia and is easily reached by car or public transportation. Visitors should expect some neighborhoods still undergoing change, but public spaces like the casino and stadium are well-maintained and accessible.
During World War II, Sun Shipbuilding employed thousands of workers including many African-Americans, making it one of the largest employers of Black workers in the nation. The shipyard, which once stood where the casino now operates, symbolized the city's economic power that would fade quickly after the war ended.
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