Chester, PA

Chester, Pennsylvania

Introduction to Chester, Pennsylvania

Chester, Pennsylvania, in Delaware county, is 12 miles NE of Wilmington, Delaware (center to center) and 12 miles SW of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located along the Delaware River in the southeastern region of the state and is part of the Greater Philadelphia Area. The majority of the population is African American. After loosing shipyard and automobile manufacturing jobs, poverty and crime significantly increased.

The waterfront area was revitalized and offers recreation. Kimberly-Clark, Synygy, PQ Corporation, Admin-Server, NAVMAR Applied Sciences, OLCR, Educational Directories Unlimited, MYI Consulting and RL Associates have facilities in Chester. The city is home to Harrah's Casino and Racetrack.

Chester History

The area was originally known as Finlandia, then later Upland. The Swedes were the initial settlers. William Penn arrived on the Province of Pennsylvania. He renamed the town Chester in tribute to Chester, England. During the Civil War, the shipyard was a prominent supplier for the Union. The Pennsylvania Shipyard & Drydock Company closed in 1990.

Nearby Attractions and Activities

The county's Ridley Creek State Park is a vast acreage and is used for hiking, paddling, picnicking, bicycle riding and fishing. The park's hiking trails traverse through an assortment of habitats. It includes the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, which offers visitors a look at life on a pre-Revolutionary farm. The John J. Tyler Arboretum is a notable location. Nearby Philadelphia, has professional sports teams and an assortment of activities and entertainment. Benjamin Rush, Marsh Creek Evansburg, Fort Washington and French Creek state parks are situated in the region.

The Philadelphia International Airport provides air travel. SEPTA offers bus service.

Chester Higher Education

The city is home to Widener University. Eastern University, Villanova University, Neumann College and Delaware County Community College are some of the colleges located in the region.

High Points

Chester strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Pennsylvania):

Category	Trophy
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 3%
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 3%

Comparative Profile of Chester, PA

Comparing Chester to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Pennsylvania (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Children Under 5 Years Old
Female Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Male Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Public Transportation Use
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People Living Alone
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Chester Almanac

Chester Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Chester Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Chester, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Chester Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Chester High Schools (2004)

CHESTER HS
610-447-3772
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 1,526 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 16.6

Chester Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Neumann College

Widener University-Main Campus

(List of All Pennsylvania Colleges)

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