Chester+County

  **//CHESTER COUNTY//**          <span style="FONT-SIZE: 160%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">Chester County, located in southeastern Pennsylvania, near the city of Philadelphia, was settled on October 27, 1682. William Penn founded it via his ship the //Welcome//. Originally, the area was known as "Finlandia". However, the Swedes began calling it "Upland". Penn renamed the settlement, then the province's most populous town, Chester, after the English city known as Cheshire. It was one of the three original counties in Pennsylvania. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">The county was formerly part of the larger Camden District, starting in 1785, but was later transferred to Pickney District from 1791 until 1800. In 1800, it became its own separate district. In later years, the counties of Lancaster, Berks, and Philadelphia were carved out of this once larger county.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">Originally, Chester County's seat was the naval shipbuilding city city of Chester. However, the city eventually became part of Delaware County. Chester city was cut out of the county on September 26, 1789. Currently, West Chester is its county seat.

Chester County is located between Philadelphia and the Susquehanna River. Many roads run through this important location. The first road to Lancaster County passed through the center of the county. This road came to be known as the Lincoln Highway, and later U.S. Route 30. It is still called Lancaster Avenue for much of its distance. The first railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, followed much the same route. The Reading Railroad extended from the Schuylkill River to Reading.



<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">This county was a key location of the American Revolution and the Civil War. The encampment of Valley Forge was in the northeatern edge of Chester County. One of the largest military hospitals in the United States, the former Valley Forge Army Hospital, which was constructed during World War II, was located in the county. Also, the Battle of Brandywine, which was victorious to the Americans, was fought at its southeastern fringe. During the Civil War, Chester County's naval shipyard provided ships for the Union. However, once World War II came around, the Philadelphia shipyard became more popular. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">



Overall, Chester County played a vital role in our nation's history.

Currently, Chester County's attorney is Joanie Winters. Winters feels that the weakening of powers in cities and counties and education funding are vital issues. Carol Aichele, Kathy Cozzone, and Terence Farell are its county comissioners.


 * By: Kyle Mahalick ~ Period 10 ~ 06/02/08*

Sources: <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">[|www.yahoo.com] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">[|www.wikipedia.com] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif">