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West Chester, Pennsylvania

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Template:Geobox Borough

The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania.Template:GR

Philadelphia is 25 miles to the east and Wilmington 17 miles to the south. Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, and other historical attractions are near West Chester.

The West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located here. Greek Revival architecture along High Street earned West Chester the nickname "Athens of the West".[citation needed]

In 1900, 9,524 people lived here; in 1910, 11,767; in 1920, 11,717; and in 1940, 13,289 lived here. In 2000, the US census recorded 17,861 residents.

History

The area was originally known as Turk's Head, after the Inn of the same name located in what is now the center of the borough.

West Chester is a town that has been the seat of government in Chester County since 1786, although it wasn't incorporated until 1799. West Chester was settled in the early 18th century, principally by members of the Society of Friends. In the heart of town is its courthouse, a classical revival building designed in the 1840s by Thomas U. Walter, one of the architects for the Capitol in Washington, DC. West Chester today is part of the rapidly growing suburban complex surrounding Philadelphia.

Geography and Climate

West Chester is located at 39°57′31″N 75°36′18″W / 39.95861°N 75.60500°W / 39.95861; -75.60500Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (39.958678, -75.605052).Template:GR It is located 25 miles (40 km) west of Philadelphia and 17 miles (27 km) north of Wilmington, Delaware.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.8 km² (1.8 mi²), all land.

Annual high temperatures average between 38.1 and 85.7 °F, annual low temperatures average between 19.3 and 63.3 °F, with the record high being 105 °F, and record low being -16 °F.

Annual precipitation averages 45 inches every year, and annual snowfall averages 19.6 inches every year. [1]

Adjacent Municipalities

Demographics

File:373869116 l.jpg
Chester County Courthouse

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 17,861 people, 6,265 households, and 2,662 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,747.9/km² (9,703.3/mi²). There were 6,541 housing units at an average density of 1,372.6/km² (3,553.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 75.44% White, 17.08% African American, 8.94% Hispanic or Latino, 3.64% from other races, 1.46% Asian, 0.31% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, and 2.00% from two or more races.

There were 6,265 households out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.8% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.5% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the borough the population was spread out with 13.4% under the age of 18, 37.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 13.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $37,803, and the median income for a family was $51,018. Males had a median income of $35,540 versus $30,819 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,073. About 9.8% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable Residents

Transportation

West Chester is home to the West Chester Transportation Center, which serves as a parking garage for the soon to be opened Chester County Justice Center and a bus terminal, which is located on the lower level of the facility.

The main east-west road to West Chester is West Chester Pike, which begins in Upper Darby, Delaware County just outside of Philadelphia and is part of PA Route 3.

The main north-south road in West Chester is High Street. To the north of town, the road is known as Pottstown Pike, which parallels PA Route 100 for most of its length. To the south of town, the road is known as Wilmington Pike (US Route 202).

Corporate Headquarters

West Chester in media

  • Many of the skits on the MTV television series Jackass, and later Jackass: The Movie were filmed in and around the borough, primarily ones featuring Bam Margera and the CKY Crew. The spinoff show Viva La Bam was filmed almost entirely in the area, as was the movie Haggard and the CKY videos. Margera has become something of a one-man publicity machine for West Chester, a status that allowed him to get the city's permission to close off some of West Chester's main streets to film portions of Haggard. Many local businesses such as Fairman's skateshop, Mad Platter records, Duffer's Pub and even West Chester University have benefitted from exposure in such projects.
  • QVC broadcasts originate from studios in West Goshen Township, just east of West Chester.

Government

The borough is governed by the Borough Council form of government. Led by a Borough Manager, there are seven Council Members, representing the seven voting wards. They control all departments except the Police Department (the Mayor directs the activities of the Police Department through the Chief of Police). As well as a mayor, they are elected by the citizens. The current mayor is Richard Yoder, who will serve until 2010.

Education

West Chester is home to the West Chester Area School District, the public school system for the area. Also, West Chester University is located in West Chester.

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