Chester County, Pennsylvania: Location, Cities, Administration, Judiciary

Chester County is a major residential, economic and agricultural centre in southeastern Pennsylvania. It stretches from the western suburbs of Philadelphia to the Maryland and Delaware state lines and includes business districts, historic boroughs, expanding suburbs, working farms and protected countryside.

West Chester is the county seat and the main centre of county administration and judicial operations. Coatesville is the county’s only incorporated city, while West Chester, Phoenixville, Downingtown, Kennett Square, Oxford and Malvern are among its best-known boroughs.

The county is closely connected with the Philadelphia metropolitan economy. Healthcare, education, professional services, biotechnology, manufacturing and finance provide substantial employment, while agriculture remains an important part of its economy and identity.

Quick Overview of Chester County

Chester County’s estimated population reached 557,116 in July 2025, representing growth of approximately 4.2% from the April 2020 estimates base. The county contained 217,440 housing units in 2025 and approximately 204,774 households during the 2020–2024 reporting period.

Location and Geographic Structure

Chester County is located about 40 miles west of Philadelphia and approximately 25 miles north of Wilmington, Delaware. Lancaster County lies to the west, Berks County to the northwest, Montgomery County to the northeast and Delaware County to the east. Maryland and Delaware border the county to the south.

The county includes several distinct geographic areas:

• Eastern suburban communities near Philadelphia
• The Great Valley business and residential corridor
• Brandywine Valley communities
• Agricultural areas in southern and western Chester County
• Northern communities near the Schuylkill River
• Historic boroughs and village centres
• Preserved forests, farms and stream valleys

Important natural features include the Brandywine Creek, French Creek, Octoraro Creek, White Clay Creek and the Schuylkill River. The Welsh Mountains contain the county’s highest elevation, while the lowest land lies along the Schuylkill River.

Major roads include the Pennsylvania Turnpike, U.S. Routes 1, 30, 202 and 322, and Pennsylvania Routes 3, 10, 23, 29, 41, 82, 100 and 113.

SEPTA’s Paoli–Thorndale Line serves ten stations within the county. Amtrak trains stop at Paoli, Exton, Downingtown, Coatesville and Parkesburg, providing connections towards Philadelphia, Harrisburg and other destinations.

City, Boroughs and Townships

Chester County consists of 73 municipalities: one city, 15 boroughs and 57 townships. Caln is the county’s only first-class township, while the other 56 are second-class townships.

Incorporated City

• Coatesville

Boroughs

• Atglen
• Avondale
• Downingtown
• Elverson
• Honey Brook
• Kennett Square
• Malvern
• Modena
• Oxford
• Parkesburg
• Phoenixville
• South Coatesville
• Spring City
• West Chester
• West Grove

Prominent townships include Tredyffrin, East Whiteland, West Whiteland, West Goshen, East Goshen, Uwchlan, Caln, Kennett, New Garden, London Grove, East Bradford, West Bradford and East Brandywine.

Each municipality has its own governing body. Municipal governments normally administer zoning, building permits, local roads, parks, police services and property-code enforcement.

County government manages regional responsibilities such as courts, corrections, public health, social services, emergency communications, elections, county bridges, parks and community transit. Building and zoning records are generally maintained by the municipality where the property is located.

Population and Housing

Chester County has a highly educated and increasingly diverse population. Approximately 21.1% of residents are under 18, while 19.8% are aged 65 or older. Around 10.1% of residents are foreign-born, and 13.8% of people aged five or older speak a language other than English at home.

Approximately 57.1% of residents aged 25 or older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, considerably higher than the national average.

Important housing and income figures for 2020–2024 include:

• Owner-occupied housing rate: 75.1%
• Median owner-occupied home value: $485,600
• Median gross monthly rent: $1,763
• Median monthly owner cost with a mortgage: $2,660
• Average household size: 2.60 people
• Median household income: $127,208
• Per-capita income: $64,325
• Residents below the poverty line: 6.4%
• Average journey to work: 26.9 minutes

Housing ranges from apartments and historic borough houses to suburban developments, farmhouses and large rural properties. Housing costs are generally higher in communities with convenient access to Philadelphia, major employment centres and railway stations.

Continued population growth has increased demand for housing, roads, schools, public transport and emergency services. At the same time, the county and its municipalities have sought to direct development towards established centres while preserving farmland and environmentally important land.

Economy and Employment

Chester County has one of Pennsylvania’s strongest local economies. Major employment sectors include healthcare, education, professional and technical services, finance, biotechnology, manufacturing, construction, retail and hospitality.

The county recorded 15,102 employer establishments and 262,454 jobs in 2023. Annual payroll exceeded $22.14 billion. Retail sales reached approximately $17.18 billion in 2022, while healthcare and social-assistance organisations generated about $5.72 billion in receipts or revenue.

Important economic and institutional assets include:

• Great Valley Corporate Center
• West Chester University
• Penn State Great Valley
• Lincoln University
• Immaculata University
• Chester County Hospital
• Paoli Hospital
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses
• Financial and professional-service firms
• Manufacturing and distribution facilities
• Mushroom and agricultural businesses
• S. Route 202 and Pennsylvania Turnpike business corridors

Agriculture remains a significant economic activity. The county had 1,558 farms and more than 143,000 acres classified as land in farms in the 2022 agricultural census. Chester County is nationally important for mushroom production and also contains dairy, equine, nursery, crop and speciality-farming operations.

County Administration and Government

Chester County is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners. All three commissioners are elected countywide to four-year terms. Pennsylvania law provides that no voter may vote for more than two candidates, helping ensure minority-party representation on the Board.

The current commissioners are:

• Chair: Josh Maxwell
• Vice-chair: Marian D. Moskowitz
• Commissioner: Eric M. Roe

The commissioners establish county policy, approve budgets, authorise contracts and supervise departments under their authority. They also serve on county boards dealing with elections, salaries, pensions and the correctional system and appoint members to authorities and advisory bodies.

Chester County’s approved 2026 operating budget totals approximately $666.4 million. Its capital investment programme adds approximately $112.2 million for facilities, parks, trails, open-space preservation, community revitalisation and other projects.

County Administrator and Administrative Leadership

Erik T. Walschburger serves as Chester County Administrator and Chief Clerk. The commissioners appointed him permanently to the position in March 2026 after he had served as acting county administrator and previously held deputy administrator and chief operating officer responsibilities.

The county administrator is the senior appointed official responsible for coordinating daily government operations and carrying out policies approved by the commissioners.

Major responsibilities include:

• Supervising appointed departments
• Preparing and administering the budget
• Coordinating county programmes
• Advising the commissioners
• Managing organisational performance
• Monitoring major projects and contracts
• Supporting long-term strategic planning
• Coordinating services between departments

Megan Moser and Howard Holland serve as deputy county administrators. The administrative team works with directors responsible for finance, public health, human services, planning, emergency services, parks, facilities and other county operations.

Other Important County Officials

Several countywide and court-related offices operate separately from the commissioners under authority provided by Pennsylvania law.

Current office-holders include:

• District Attorney: Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe
• Sheriff: Kevin D. Dykes
• Controller: Nick Cherubino
• Coroner: Sophia Garcia-Jackson
• Clerk of Courts: Caroline Bradley
• Prothonotary: Alex Christy
• Recorder of Deeds: Diane O’Dwyer
• Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court: Michele Vaughn
• Treasurer: Patricia Maisano

The district attorney prosecutes criminal cases and supervises the County Detectives. The sheriff provides courthouse security, transports prisoners, serves civil documents, enforces warrants and conducts sheriff sales.

The controller audits county finances and manages accounting and payroll functions. The coroner investigates qualifying deaths. The Recorder of Deeds maintains property records, while the Register of Wills manages estate filings, marriage licences and Orphans’ Court records.

Judiciary and Court System

Chester County forms Pennsylvania’s 15th Judicial District. Its main trial court is the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

Judge Ann Marie M. Wheatcraft serves as president judge. Patricia Norwood-Foden serves as court administrator and coordinates the court’s administrative operations.

The Court of Common Pleas handles:

• Felony criminal cases
• Major civil disputes
• Divorce and child custody
• Juvenile and dependency matters
• Estates and guardianships
• Protection-from-abuse cases
• Appeals from lower courts
• Certain administrative appeals

Chester County also has magisterial district courts throughout the county. These courts handle preliminary criminal proceedings, traffic offences, landlord–tenant disputes, summary cases and smaller civil claims.

Most major judicial operations are based at the Chester County Justice Center at 201 West Market Street in West Chester.

Public Safety and Emergency Services

Routine police patrol is mainly provided by municipal police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police. The Chester County Sheriff’s Office is primarily a court and civil-enforcement agency rather than a general countywide patrol department.

Fire protection and ambulance services are delivered by municipal departments, regional organisations and volunteer companies. Chester County Emergency Services coordinates 911 communications, emergency management, hazardous-material response, training and regional public-safety support for more than 500,000 residents across all 73 municipalities.

Flooding, severe thunderstorms, winter weather, extreme heat and hazardous-material incidents are among the risks addressed through county emergency planning.

Infrastructure, Parks and Public Services

Chester County provides services involving public health, human services, community development, elections, planning, transport, parks and environmental preservation.

Major county responsibilities include:

• Public-health programmes
• Children, youth and family services
• Mental-health and addiction services
• Senior and veterans’ assistance
• Community development
• Emergency communications
• Elections and voter registration
• County bridges
• Parks and regional trails
• Agricultural and open-space preservation
• Community transit
• Workforce-development programmes

The county owns and maintains 91 bridges, including five covered bridges. Municipalities and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation remain responsible for many other roads and bridges.

The park system includes seven regional parks and three major regional trails. It encompasses more than 4,500 acres and over 35 miles of county-managed trails. Since 1989, county-supported programmes have helped preserve more than 65,000 acres of farmland, parks and natural land.

Chesco Connect provides shared-ride transport for the public, with reduced fares available to eligible senior citizens, people with disabilities and Medical Assistance recipients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the county seat of Chester County?

A: West Chester is the county seat. The main Chester County administration offices are located at 313 West Market Street, while the Justice Center is at 201 West Market Street.

Q2. Is West Chester an incorporated city?

A: No. West Chester is an incorporated borough. Coatesville is the only incorporated city in Chester County.

Q3. Who issues building permits in Chester County?

A: Building and zoning permits are normally issued by the city, borough or township where the property is located. Applicants should confirm the municipality before submitting plans.

Q4. Which court handles major cases in Chester County?

A: The Chester County Court of Common Pleas handles felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, family matters, juvenile proceedings and estate-related cases. Magisterial district courts handle many lower-level matters.

Q5. Who provides police services in Chester County?

A: Most populated municipalities operate their own police departments. Pennsylvania State Police serve communities without municipal police coverage. The Sheriff’s Office mainly performs court-security, warrant and civil-enforcement duties.