Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania | |
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 Kuerner Farm in Chadds Ford Township in July 2011 | |
 Flag  Logo | |
 Location of Chadds Ford Township inDelaware County, Pennsylvania (top) and of Delaware County inPennsylvania (bottom) | |
.svg) Location of Chadds Ford Township inPennsylvania | |
| Coordinates:39°52′29″N75°33′15″W / 39.87472°N 75.55417°W /39.87472; -75.55417 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.72 sq mi (22.59 km2) |
| • Land | 8.66 sq mi (22.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.062 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,972 |
| • Density | 459/sq mi (177.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 19317 |
| Area codes | 610 and 484 |
| FIPS code | 42-045-12442 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1216378 |
| Website | www |
Chadds Ford Township (/tʃædsfɔːrd/Chadds-ford, alternatively/tʃædsfərd/Chadds-furd) is an affluenttownship inDelaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about 25 miles (40 km) southwest ofPhiladelphia. Prior to 1996, Chadds Ford Township was known asBirmingham Township; the name was changed to allow the township to correspond to both itscensus-designated place and to distinguish itself from the adjacentBirmingham Township in Chester County.[3]As of the2020 census, Chadds Ford Township had a population of 3,972,[2] up from 3,640 at the2010 census.[4]
Chadds Ford was home toN. C. Wyeth, his sonAndrew Wyeth, his daughterAnn Wyeth McCoy, and his grandsonJamie Wyeth.Brandywine Battlefield, the site of theBattle of Brandywine during theAmerican Revolutionary War, is located in the township, along withBrandywine River Museum, which houses much of the Wyeth collection.
The township's original name was Birmingham, which was given to it by William Brinton in remembrance of thetown of the same name in England.[5]
Francis Chadsey, or Chads, improperly spelled Chadd, emigrated fromWiltshire, England in 1689 and lived in Chichester Township until 1696 when his name first appeared in the Birmingham Township tax records.
On September 11, 1777, the house owned by George Gilpin was occupied byGeneral Howe of theBritish Army during the Battle of Brandywine.[6] The local significance of the battle is such that a 1940 guidebook noted that "a local barber displays a large sign: 'This is where Washington and Lafayette had a close shave.'"[7]
TheChad House,Chadds Ford Historic District,Gilpin Homestead, andWilliam Painter Farm are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
TheBattle of Brandywine took place near Chadds Ford on September 11.General George Washington had positioned his forces in Chadds Ford shortly before and during the battle before having to reposition due to the British flank.
The township is the westernmost inDelaware County and is bordered to the west byChester County, to the south by the state ofDelaware, and to the east byConcord Township. The southern border is part of theTwelve-Mile Circle border between Delaware and Pennsylvania.Brandywine Creek forms the western boundary of both the township and of Delaware County.
The village ofChadds Ford is in the northwestern part of the township, and a small piece ofDilworthtown is in the northern corner of the township.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.6 km2), of which 8.6 square miles (22.4 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.70%, is water.[1]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool to cold winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Chadds Ford Township is in a transitional zone betweenf thehumid subtropical andhumid continental climatic zones. Of these two climate zones, Chadds Ford has much more in common with the humid continental climate.[8] Thehardiness zone is 7a except near the Brandywine Creek where it is 7b. Average monthly temperatures in the village center of Chadds Ford range from 31.5 °F in January to 75.9 °F in July.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 718 | — | |
| 1940 | 805 | 12.1% | |
| 1950 | 836 | 3.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,093 | 30.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,281 | 17.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,057 | 60.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,118 | 51.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,170 | 1.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,640 | 14.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,972 | 9.1% | |
| [9] | |||
As of 2010 census, the racial makeup of the township was 89.4%White, 1.4%African American, 0.0%Native American, 7.6%Asian, 0.5% fromother races, and 1.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.9% of the population[1][dead link].
Chadds Ford Township is located in theUnionville-Chadds Ford School District and public school students attend the district's schools.[10] High school students attendUnionville High School inKennett Square.
Rachel Kohl Library serves Chadds Ford Township.[11]
_just_north_of_U.S._Route_1_(Baltimore_Pike)_on_the_border_of_Chadds_Ford_Township_and_Concord_Township_in_Delaware_County%2c_Pennsylvania.jpg)
As of 2020, there were 31.02 miles (49.92 km) of public roads in Chadds Ford Township, of which 17.67 miles (28.44 km) were maintained byPennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 13.35 miles (21.48 km) were maintained by the township.[12]
U.S. Route 1 (Baltimore Pike) runs through the northern part of the township and intersects U.S. Routes202 and322 at Painters Crossroads on the township's eastern border. US 1 leads southwest towardMaryland, while US 202 leads south toWilmington, Delaware, and US 322 leads east toChester. US 202 and 322 together lead north toWest Chester.
After many years of confusion over distinguishing its identity from Birmingham, Chester County, a number of residents of Birmingham, Delaware County, requested the board of supervisors to pass a resolution seeking a change of name from Birmingham Township to Chadds Ford Township.
Municipalities and communities ofDelaware County, Pennsylvania,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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