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HISTORY
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History
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP
The Delaware County township which officially became
Chadds Ford on December
11, 1996, has a 300-year history as "Birmingham Township."
The land was inhabited by the Lenni Lenape or Delaware
Indian centuries before the Europeans arrived. The Indians' town sites
were located along the
waterways at major communication and trade junctions,
with paths laid out between villages and tribes. These much
traveled footpaths through the woods became the first roads.
It is believed that the early English Quaker settlers like
the Brintons and
the Gilpins used caves as their first shelters. According
to local tradition, both families were befriended by the Lenni Lenape
Indians. Another early name in the Township's histories Chadsey (later
shortened to Chads). The family's name became associated with the fording
place on the Brandywine and has been a place
name since the 1700s.
Ye Great Road to Nottingham, now Baltimore Pike/U.S. Route
1, was one of the five main routes of east-west travel from Philadelphia
in the early 18th century and was laid out from Baltimore to Chester in
1707. There was, however, only a ferry across the Brandywine. It
began operation in the 1730s and was officially sanctioned in 1736.
It continued in operation until about 1827 when work on the first
bridge was begun.
Historically, one major but brief event, the Battle of
Brandywine, affected
the development of the Township and the course of the American Revolution.
The Battle took place September 11, 1777. Although
a defeat for Washington and his struggling American troops,
it marked a turning point in the War. The grand strategy designed
by the British General, Lord Howe, to weaken the patriot cause
had failed. It was not a coincidence that there was battle action
near Chads' Ford, for it was at the fording places in the Brandywine that
the troops of both camps could cross en route to Philadelphia
to take it or defend it. During the Battle, many local
farmhouses were taken over by the English and American troops;
in the aftermath, many of them were plundered.
In 1789, Delaware County was carved out of Chester County,
and the Township known as Birmingham was divided, its northern border
following along farm
lines.
The harnessing of water power for use in mill operations
was a major
factor in the growth of the area during the 1800s. The mills not
only manufactured goods, such as gun powder and paper, they also
processed the grains and timber grown in the area.
The establishment of a railroad line through Chadds Ford
in 1858 also played a significant role in the economic growth of the
Township. Railroad spurs
were laid out to accommodate the kaolin companies
where the fine white potter's clay was mined at the turn of
the century. The railroad also contributed to the gentrification
of Chadds
Ford, enabling the city people from Wilmington
and Philadelphia
to discover the lush rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley. To
have a summer house in Chadds Ford became
the vogue.
It was about this time that Howard Pyle began his summer
art school, which attracted students from all over the country. One of
them, young N.C. Wyeth from Massachusetts, came to study under Pyle and
never left. From Pyle's studio and its students, the world famous
Brandywine School of Art developed, fostered now by succeeding generations
of Wyeths, Andrew and his son, Jamie.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the twentieth century
has seen the Township grow from 733 people in a semi-rural setting to a
burgeoning bedroom community of 3,118 in 1990. The Delaware Valley
Planning Commission's population forecast suggests that by 2025, Chadds
Ford Township will have 5,200 residents -- an increase of 66.8% from the
1990 census count.
Facts
TOWNSHIP FACTS
Area- 8.7 square miles
Population- 2,057 (1980 Census) - 3,118 (1990 Census)
Distance to center city Philadelphia is 28 miles or 55 minutes
No public transportation is available
Chadds Ford is 95% residential and 5% business
Parks in the municipality: Brandywine Battlefield State Park
160 to 480 feet above sea level
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District 347-0970
School Closing Number - Name will be used
Name Change
HOW NAME CHANGE CAME ABOUT
Birmingham
to Chadds Ford
by Cliff RAINEY, Editor
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
Resolution 96-6 requesting the
change was adopted by the supervisors on August 7, 1996.
Solicitor Donald T. Petrosa on August 8
petitioned the county courts to authorize a referendum on the upcoming
November ballot and this authorization was given by Judge Joseph F. Battle
on August 9
On General Election Day November 5,
1996, the vote was 896 in favor and 410 against the name change
Of the 1 ,632 who voted that day (
105 absentee votes included) 327 didn't respond to the name change question
with 68% of the 2,391 registered voters (1,682 R, 417 D and 291 0) casting
their ballots.
After the election, Judge Battle issued
the following order:
AND NOW, this 11thday of
December, 1996, upon consideration of the attached Return of the County
Board of Elections of Delaware County , Pennsylvania dated November 22, 1996
and the attached Certification of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of
Delaware County, Pennsylvania dated December 5, 1996, which certify the
computation and tabulation of the votes cast at the election held on
November 5, 1996, on the Question -"Shall the name of Birmingham
Township located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania be changed from Birmingham
Township to Chadds Ford Township?" and confirm that the number of votes
cast in favor of the said change of name was 896, and the number of votes
cast against the said change was 410, and that therefore a majority of the
votes cast was in favor of the change of the Township name, it is hereby
ORDERED and DECREED that, in accordance with Section 207 of the Second Class
Township Code, 53 P.S. §65207, the name of Birmingham Township, Delaware
County, Pennsylvania, be and is hereby changed to Chadds Ford Township,
effective immediately.
It is hereby further ORDERED and DECREED
that the record of the proceedings be permanently recorded
BY
THE COURT
(s)
Joseph F. Battle
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