West Chester History
Chester County was one of the three original counties created by William Penn in 1682. Its namesake is Chesire, England, from which many of its early settlers came.
In 1779, the state assembly authorized the creation of Delaware County from the eastern portion of Chester County. Chester became the county seat of Delaware County, from which West Chester (now the county seat of Chester County) derived its name.
The Borough of West Chester, originally called Turk's Head, was incorporated on March 28, 1799. The roots of West Chester run deep through American history. Birmingham Township was the site of the Battle of the Brandywine in September 1777, a key battle in the Revolutionary War. Wounded soldiers were brought to the Turk's Head Tavern.
West Chester has been referred to as the "Athens of the East" due to its abundance of Greek revival architecture designed by Thomas U. Walters, designer of the dome and 1851 wings of the U.S. Capitol.
Existing buildings reflective of this style include the West Chester First Presbyterian Church, First Bank of Chester County (now Wachovia), Chester County Court House and Horticultural Hall. Key community members in West Chester's history include Dr. William Darlington (a leading forefather of the community), painters George Cope and Horace Pippin, and composer Samuel Barber.
Those interested in learning more about West Chester's vibrant history may visit the Chester County Historical Society, where you can learn the stories of the region's past by perusing its extensive collection of letters, diaries and other historical documents. The Historical Society is home to six galleries that have permanent and changing exhibits that showcase life in Chester County from 1680 to the present.
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