Chester is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Chester is a suburb of the city of Philadelphia. The current population estimate is 30,409. The city is predominantly made up of African Americans, making up 79% of the population. Chester is known for poverty and high crime, as almost 40% of residents live below the poverty line.

Understand

History

The first European settlement in the area that became Chester was Finlandia settled by the Swedes followed by the settlement of Upland. They built Fort Mecoponacka in 1641 to defend the settlement. By 1682, Upland was the most populous town of the new Province of Pennsylvania. On October 27, the ship Welcome arrived at the town, bearing William Penn on his first visit to the province. Penn renamed the settlement for the English city of Chester.

Chester served as the county seat for Chester County, which then stretched from the Delaware River to the Susquehanna River. In 1789, the city became the county seat for the newly created Delaware County, but the county seat was moved to the borough of Media, PA in 1851.

Get in

By car

Chester is located at the junction of Interstate 476 (the Blue Route) and Interstate 95.

By public transit

SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line (Regional Rail) stops at the Chester Transportation Center

Get around

Chester is a compact city with an excellent public transport system (SEPTA buses and Regional Rail).

Do

• Philadelphia Union, One Stadium Dr, ☏ +1 610-859-3100. Philadelphia's Major League Soccer franchise, which was founded in 2008 and played its first season in 2010, plays its home games at Subaru Park in Chester. The stadium is located on the Delaware River and offers a spectacular view of the Commodore Barry Bridge. The stadium is also home to Philadelphia Union II, which plays in the second-level USL Championship as the MLS team's reserve side. 
• 1 Harrah's Philadelphia, 777 Harrah's Blvd, toll-free: +1-800-480-8020. Casino located on the Delaware River, with 2000 slot machines, table games, horse racing, and sports betting. (updated Jan 2019)

Eat

OB's Jamaican Restaurant- 1000 W 2nd St. Quality, affordable Jamaican cuisine a few blocks from Subaru Park and the Commodore Barry Bridge. A good place to stop for a pre-game meal.

Sleep

• Candlewood Suites, 351 Welsh St, ☏ +1 610-874-3473. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Kitchen in rooms, outdoor gazebo grill, and WiFi included. (updated Mar 2021)

Connect

• J Lewis Crozer Library, 620 Engle St, ☏ +1 610-494-3454, crozerlibrary@delcolibraries.org. (updated Mar 2021)

Go next

• Philadelphia
• Delaware

Routes through Chester

Philadelphia ← Ridley Park ←	N  S	→ Claymont → Baltimore
King of Prussia ← Swarthmore ←	N  S	→ END
Philadelphia ← Ridley Park ←	N  S	→ Claymont → Wilmington
Harrisburg ← Chadds Ford ←	W  E	→ Swedesboro → Atlantic City
Wilmington ← Claymont ←	SW  NE	→ Ridley Park → Philadelphia