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Chester (City and port of entry)

city and port of entry of Delaware co., Pa.; on the Delaware river, and the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore and Ohio, the Philadelphia and Reading and the Southern Traction Co. railroads, 15 miles S. of Philadelphia. The favorable location and excellent shipping facilities of the city have given it a diversity of industries.

Chester is the local trade center of a very prosperous agricultural and manufacturing district. It is the site of the Roach ship yards, where several vessels of the United States navy have been built. According to the Federal census CHESTERFIELD and machine-shop work, and the manufacture of cotton, locomotives, paper, cigars, silk, woolen and worsted goods, In 1919 there were 4 National banks.

Chester is connected with Media, Darby, and other surrounding towns by electric railways. It is the seat of the Pennsylvania Military College and Crozier Theological Seminary, and Swarthmore College is near by. The notable buildings are the United States Government Building, including the postoffice; the City Hall, erected in 1724, of great historic interest; Chester and Homœopathic Hospitals, and the Public Library. Chester was settled by the Swedes in 1643, under the name of Upland, and is the oldest town in the State. It was incorporated in 1866. Pop. (1910) 38,537 (1920) 58,030.