Chester, Pennsylvania Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

by btobers · Published June 30, 2019 · Updated September 12, 2024

Chester, Pennsylvania is a historic city located in Delaware County, just outside of Philadelphia. It is both an independent municipality and a suburb of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area. The city has a population of 33,972 as of 2019 and covers an area of 4.2 square miles.

Chester was founded in 1682 by Swedish settlers and was the first Swedish settlement in what would later become the United States. It was originally named Upland after the province in Sweden, but was renamed Chester after Chester County in England in 1704. The area quickly became an important trading post for goods travelling up and down the Delaware River, due to its convenient location at the mouth of Chester Creek.

Today, Chester is home to a number of attractions that draw visitors from around the world each year. The most notable is Widener University’s beautiful campus, which overlooks the riverfront and offers stunning views of Philadelphia’s skyline across the water. Other attractions include Crozer Park – a public park located on the site of former steel mills – and nearby Ridley Creek State Park which offers miles of trails for hiking and biking enthusiasts alike.

One thing that sets Chester apart from other cities is its rich cultural heritage. The city hosts several annual festivals including an International Folk Festival that celebrates traditional music from around the globe as well as its own African American Heritage Festival honoring African American cultural contributions to Chester’s history. There are also two theaters – Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center and The Grand Theater – which offer year-round entertainment ranging from musicals to stand-up comedy shows.

Chester also has several historic sites including Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site which commemorates early industrialization in America; Fort Mifflin which played a pivotal role during both Revolutionary War battles; and Pennypack Park which preserves many remnants of colonial life such as mills, farms, cemeteries, roads, bridges, and more.

For those looking for some retail therapy there are numerous shopping centers scattered throughout town featuring everything from big box stores to small boutiques offering unique items you won’t find anywhere else in town. There are also plenty of restaurants offering up all kinds of delicious fare ranging from classic American favorites to international cuisines like Mexican or Indian food; or if you’re feeling adventurous you can sample some local specialties like cheesesteaks or soft pretzels made with love right here in Chester!

All things considered it’s easy to see why people flock to Chester each year: it’s rich history combined with modern amenities make it an ideal destination for anyone looking for something special during their travels! Whether you’re here for business or pleasure there’s something here for everyone making it a great place to visit time after time again.

Population: 36,854. Estimated population in July 2024: 37,058 (+0.6% change)
Males: 17,362 (47.1%), Females: 19,492 (52.9%)

Delaware County

Zip codes: 19013.

Demographics

Median resident age: 30.6 years
Median household income: $25,703
Median house value: $43,100

Population by Race

Races in Chester:

Black (75.7%)
White Non-Hispanic (17.9%)
Hispanic (5.4%)
Other race (3.0%)
Two or more races (1.5%)
American Indian (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: Irish (5.2%), Italian (3.0%), German (2.8%), Subsaharan African (2.8%), Polish (1.4%), United States (1.3%).

Elevation: 20 feet

Land area: 4.8 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Chester

High school or higher: 68.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.8%
Unemployed: 16.7%
Mean travel time to work: 26.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Chester city

Never married: 45.2%
Now married: 31.1%
Separated: 5.3%
Widowed: 9.8%
Divorced: 8.6%

2.5% Foreign born (0.8% Latin America, 0.7% Asia, 0.5% Africa, 0.4% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -5,126 (-12.2%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Chester:

CROZER CHESTER MEDICAL CENTER (ONE MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Chester:

RIDDLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 6 miles; MEDIA, PA)
DELAWARE COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 9 miles; DREXEL HILL, PA)
KINDRED HOSPITAL – DELAWARE COUNTY (about 9 miles; DARBY, PA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Chester:

PHILADELPHIA INTL (about 10 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Abbreviation: PHL)
NEW CASTLE COUNTY (about 21 miles; WILMINGTON, DE; Abbreviation: ILG)
TRENTON MERCER (about 49 miles; TRENTON, NJ; Abbreviation: TTN)

Other public-use airports nearest to Chester:

PHILADELPHIA (about 7 miles; ESSINGTON, PA; Abbreviation: 9N2)
SPITFIRE AERODROME (about 8 miles; PEDRICKTOWN, NJ; Abbreviation: 7N7)
BRANDYWINE (about 17 miles; WEST CHESTER, PA; Abbreviation: N99)

Amtrak stations near Chester:

13 miles: ARDMORE (STATION RD. & LANCASTER AVE.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, paid short-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service, public transit connection.
15 miles: WILMINGTON (M. L. KING BLVD, & FRENCH ST.). Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, car rental agency, taxi stand, intercity bus service, public transit connection.
16 miles: PHILADELPHIA (30TH & MARKET STS.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, car rental agency, taxi stand, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Chester:

WIDENER UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (Full-time enrollment: 3,646; Location: ONE UNIVERSITY PL; Private, not-for-profit; Website: www.widener.edu; Offers Doctor’s degree)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Chester:

DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 6 miles; MEDIA, PA; Full-time enrollment: 5,248)
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY (about 14 miles; VILLANOVA, PA; Full-time enrollment: 8,547)
SAINT JOSEPHS UNIVERSITY (about 14 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Full-time enrollment: 5,115)
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (about 15 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Full-time enrollment: 19,324)
DREXEL UNIVERSITY (about 15 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Full-time enrollment: 10,823)
EASTERN COLLEGE (about 15 miles; ST DAVIDS, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,456)
ART INSTITUTE OF PHILADELPHIA (about 16 miles; PHILADELPHIA, PA; Full-time enrollment: 2,138)

Schools

Public high school in Chester:

CHESTER HS (Students: 1,526; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Chester:

CHESTER COMMUNITY CS (Students: 1,016; Grades: KG – 06)
COLUMBUS EL SCH (Students: 836; Grades: KG – 05)
SHOWALTER MS (Students: 505; Grades: 06 – 08)
SMEDLEY MS (Students: 440; Grades: 06 – 08)
CHESTER CS (Students: 424; Grades: KG – 09)
PARRY MS (Students: 349; Grades: 06 – 08)
WILLIAM PENN EL SCH (Students: 300; Grades: KG – 04)
STETSER EL SCH (Students: 232; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Chester:

BLESSED KATHARINE DREXEL (Students: 338; Location: 1901 POTTER STREET; Grades: PK – 8)
FREDERICK DOUGLASS CHR SCHOOL (Students: 106; Location: 700 CENTRAL AVE; Grades: PK – 5)
EAGLES NEST ACADEMY (Students: 46; Location: 3016 24 W 3RD ST; Grades: PK – 8)
WIDENER UNIVERSITY CLD DEV CTR (Students: 36; Location: ONE UNIVERSITY PLACE; Grades: PK – KG)
FAITH TEMPLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 24; Location: 2512 W SECOND ST; Grades: 1 – 7)
THOMAS M THOMAS ELC SCHOOL (Students: 20; Location: 1408 W THIRD STREET; Grades: PK – KG)

Libraries

Library in Chester:

J LEWIS CROZER LIBRARY (Operating income: $328,333; Location: 620 ENGLE ST; 44,570 books; 245 audio materials; 3,360 video materials; 121 serial subscriptions)