Chester County has come a long way since British Quaker William Penn named the land after Chester, England in 1682. The Lenni Lenape called this land their home for centuries but were unfortunately displaced in the late 17th and 18th centuries, writes Jen Samuels for The Daily Local News  

One-third of the land is permanently preserved, and another third is privately held open space and forests. The diverse landscape comprises of estates, farms, Amish properties, open forests, and rivers.  

The Brandywine creek meanders throughout the area, which is also home to other watersheds such as White Clay – where Pennsylvania meets Maryland and Delaware.  

As the third oldest county in Pennsylvania, the county also has the highest income in the entire state. It’s home to popular tourist attractions such as Longwood Gardens, and an annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square.  

In addition to the tourist attractions, Chester County has a deep history of political activism and struggle. Full of abolitionists, there are many former sites for the Underground Railroad. It’s also home to the first historically Black colleges, Cheyney University and Lincoln University.

Read more about Chester County’s rich culture and history in The Daily Local News.  

WHYY explores the Underground Railroad in Kennett Square.