Editing Easttown Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Easttown Township
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| settlement_type = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
| image_skyline = Waterloo Mills.JPG
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| image_caption = [[Waterloo Mills Historic District|Cabbage Town, Waterloo Mills]]
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| image_map = Chester County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Easttown highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 260px
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| map_caption = Location of Easttown Township in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] and of Chester County in [[Pennsylvania]]
| image_map1 = Pennsylvania in United States (US48).svg
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| subdivision_name2 = [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester]]
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| established_title = Founded
| established_date = Incorporated c. 1704
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| area_total_km2 = 21.41
| area_total_sq_mi = 8.27
| area_land_km2 = 21.30
| area_land_sq_mi = 8.22
| area_water_km2 = 0.11
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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| population_total = 10984
| pop_est_as_of = 2016
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>
| population_est = 10594
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| timezone1 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
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| area_code = [[Area codes 610, 484, and 835|610]]
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| blank_info = 42-029-21928
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
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| website = {{URL|http://www.easttown.org}}
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}}

'''Easttown Township''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 10,984 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The township, which lies in the western half of Philadelphia's [[Philadelphia Main Line|Main Line]] suburbs, comprises predominantly parts of two unincorporated areas: [[Devon, Pennsylvania|Devon]] and [[Berwyn, Pennsylvania|Berwyn]]. A small portion of the township has a [[Paoli, Pennsylvania|Paoli]] address.

==History==
The land that eventually became Easttown Township was once part of the [[Welsh Tract]], a large expanse of land promised by [[William Penn]] to a group of [[Welsh people|Welsh]] [[Quaker]] settlers in which they would be able to speak and conduct business in the [[Welsh language]]. Whilst the autonomous entity envisaged by some was never formed, it left its mark in the many Welsh place names that still exist, such as the [[census-designated place]] (CDP) [[Berwyn, Pennsylvania|Berwyn]] in Easttown and adjacent [[Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania|Tredyffrin Township]]. The township is believed to have been incorporated in 1704 since that is the earliest date it has been found to be referred to in official records. However, a delineated community of that name appears in [[Thomas Holme]]'s c. 1687 map.<ref>Holme, Thomas, ''A Mapp of Ye Improved Part of Pensilvania in America, Divided Into Countyes, Townships and Lotts'' (c. 1687).</ref>

Whilst the originators of the Welsh Tract were Quakers, the earliest settlers in the portion that became Easttown Township were mostly [[Anglicans]]. [[St. David's Episcopal Church (Radnor, Pennsylvania)|St. David's Episcopal Church]], just past the eastern edge of the township, was constructed in 1715 by Welsh Anglicans when the original church sent them a minister.

Revolutionary War leader [[Anthony Wayne]] was born and lived in [[Waynesborough]] house, in the western part of the township. He—or at least part of him—is buried at St. David's.<ref>Hugh T. Harrington and Lisa A. Ennis. "Mad" Anthony Wayne: His Body Did Not Rest in Peace. http://www.americanrevolution.org/wayne.html, citing ''History of Erie County, Pennsylvania'', vol. 1. pp. 211–212. Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago. 1884.</ref>

A [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] skirmish that occurred along a ridge in the center of the township was the only engagement of that war in the township. The name of the British commander, [[Banastre Tarleton]], was later given to a nearby mansion: Tarleton.<ref name="KenInq">{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2002-03-31/news/25340951_1_henry-lee-signal-hill-british-presence|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140117023521/http://articles.philly.com/2002-03-31/news/25340951_1_henry-lee-signal-hill-british-presence|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2014|title=Battle in Chesco pitted notable foes Capt. Henry Lee of the Continental Army and British Maj. Banastre Tarleton faced off in 1778. Local History|work=philly-archives}}</ref>

Two sites in the township are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: [[Waynesborough]] and [[Roughwood (Easttown Township, Pennsylvania)|Roughwood]]. The cluster of buildings that forms the village of Leopard, identified as a 'Significant Historic Cluster' in the Chester County Historic Sites Survey (1979–1982), is eligible for listing as well. In addition, the [[Waterloo Mills Historic District]] has been designated. Although [[St. David's Episcopal Church (Radnor, Pennsylvania)|St. David's Church]] is just over the line in Newtown Township, the church building and its graveyard (most of which is in Easttown) are listed together in the National Register.

Easttown, along with neighboring [[Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania|Tredyffrin Township]], was the site of the [[Berwyn School Fight]], a boycott and legal campaign by local Black families to resist attempts to segregate public schools by race.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Thorne |first=Roger D. |date=Winter 2005 |title=Segregation on the Upper Main Line: The "School Fight" of 1932–34 |url=https://www.tehistory.org/hqda/html/v42/v42n1p003.html |url-status=live |journal=History Quarterly |publisher=Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=3–20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531015322/https://www.tehistory.org/hqda/html/v42/v42n1p003.html |archive-date=2024-05-31}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Canton |first=David |date=2008 |title=A Dress Rehearsal for the Modern Civil Rights Movement: Raymond Pace Alexander and the Berwyn, Pennsylvania, School Desegregation Case, 1932–1935 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27778832 |jstor=27778832|journal=[[Pennsylvania History (journal)|Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies]] |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=260–284 |issn=0031-4528 }}</ref>

Easttown Township is said to have the most-litigated zoning law in Pennsylvania, largely as a result of its efforts to avoid being swallowed up by the expansion of the suburbs of [[Philadelphia]]. At least two major cases about minimum lot size were handed down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court: ''Bilbar Construction''<ref>''Bilbar Construction Co. v. Easttown Twp.'', 393 Pa. 62, 141 A.2d 851 (1958).</ref> upheld the township's minimum lot sizes, while ''National Land and Investment Co.''<ref>''National Land and Investment Co. v. Easttown Twp. Bd. of Adjustment'', 419 Pa. 504, 215 A.2d 597 (1965).</ref> struck them down as 'exclusionary' seven years later. ''National Land'' further held that a municipality may utilize zoning measures that are substantially related to the protection and preservation of the municipality's proper interest in providing for the general welfare of its residents, but Easttown's zoning did not pass the test. Ironically, despite the developer-litigants' claimed interest in allowing poor people to live in Easttown, they built only houses that sold at well over the average value in Pennsylvania.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] has a total area of {{convert|8.2|sqmi}}, of which 0.12% is water.

The township is bordered by Radnor township (to the east), Tredyffrin township (to the north), Willistown township (to the west) and Newtown township (to the south).

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1930= 2570
|1940= 2552
|1950= 3811
|1960= 6907
|1970= 9565
|1980= 9064
|1990= 9570
|2000= 10270
|2010= 10477
|2020= 10984
|footnote=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |title=DVRPC > Site Search |access-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409042424/https://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/easttowntownshipchestercountypennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>
}}
According to the 2022 American Community Survey's five-year population estimates, the township was 80% non-Hispanic White, 1% Black or African American, 0% Native American and 12% Asian. 3% of residents reported two or more races and 4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://censusreporter.org/profiles/06000US4202921928-easttown-township-chester-county-pa/| title = US Census| website = [[US Census]]}}</ref> 12.3% of residents were foreign-born.

There were 11,051 people and 3,995 households residing in the township. The [[population density]] was 1,334 people per square mile. 90% of units were single-family homes and 78% of households were headed by a married couple. The average household size was 2.7.

The median income for a household in the township was $213,507. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $100,345. The median family income was $233,911. Among families with children, the median household income was higher than $250,000. The average income for a family was $316,306.

80.5% of residents over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree and 44% have earned a graduate degree.

The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $801,700, placing the township fourth among more than 2,500 municipalities in the state of Pennsylvania and second among 436 municipalities in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-09-04 17 00 15 View east along U.S. Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) just east of Midland Avenue in Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.jpg|right|thumb|US 30 eastbound in Easttown Township]]}}
As of 2018, there were {{convert|66.66|mi}} of public roads in Easttown Township, of which {{convert|18.66|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|48.00|mi}} were maintained by the township.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/15215.pdf|title=Easttown Township map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 30]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 252]] are the numbered highways serving Easttown Township. US 30 follows Lancaster Avenue along an east–west alignment through the northern part of the township, while PA 252 follows Darby-Paoli Road and Leopard Road along a northwest–southeast alignment through the western and southern portions of the township.

== Government ==
The township is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The present board consists of:
* Erik Unger
* Michael Wacey
* Sean Axel
* Alex Bosco
* Susan Leboutillier

==Education==
[[File:Conestoga High School.jpg|right|thumb|[[Conestoga High School]]]]
Easttown Township lies within the [[Tredyffrin/Easttown School District]].<ref>"[https://www.easttown.org/DocumentCenter/View/167/Easttown-Township-Map?bidId= Map]." Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved on October 9, 2018. [http://www.easttown.org/DocumentCenter/View/559/Easttown-Township-Zoning-Map?bidId= Alternate URL]</ref> Students residing within township boundaries attend [[Conestoga High School]] for grades 9-12. Hillside Elementary School, Beaumont Elementary School and Devon Elementary school serve students in grades K-4.<ref>"[https://www.tesd.net/cms/lib/PA01001259/Centricity/Domain/1414/TESDmap2015.pdf TESDmap2015.pdf]." [[Tredyffrin/Easttown School District]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref> Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School and Valley Forge Middle School serve students in grades 5–8.

[[Tarleton School]], a private elementary school, is located on Waterloo Avenue.

The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]] manages area Catholic schools. St. Norbert School is in the township,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.easttown.org/DocumentCenter/View/559/Easttown-Township-Zoning-Map?bidId=|title=Zoning Map|publisher=Easttown Township|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> and is outside of the [[Paoli, Pennsylvania|Paoli CDP]],<ref name="PaoliCDPMap">"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4257816_paoli/DC10BLK_P4257816_001.pdf 2010 Census - Census Block Map  Paoli CDP, PA]."<!--Old URL: http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US4257816&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on--> [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref> but has a Paoli mailing address. It was established in 1956, with the school building built the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://school.stnorbert.org/about-our-school/history/|title=History|date=November 6, 2017|publisher=St. Norbert School|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> In 2012 the Catholic grade school St. Monica in [[Berwyn, Pennsylvania|Berwyn]] closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catholicphilly.com/2012/07/uncategorized/school-closing-list/|title=2012 Catholic grade school consolidations/closings|work=Catholicphilly.com|date=July 15, 2012|access-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref>

Easttown Township has its own public library.<ref>[http://www.easttownlibrary.org/ Home]. Easttown Library & Information Center. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref>

==Parks==
The township has two parks, Hilltop Park and Frank Johnson Memorial Park.<ref>"[http://www.easttown.org/219/Township-Parks Parks]." Easttown Township. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref> Hilltop, with a Devon address but outside of the Devon CDP, has a pavilion with toilets, a picnic area, two soccer fields, a "tot lot", and trails for walking purposes.<ref>"[http://www.easttown.org/351/Hilltop-Park Hilltop Park]." Easttown Township. Retrieved on October 9, 2018. "The Park is located at 580 Beaumont Road in Devon." - See: "[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4219040_devon/DC10BLK_P4219040_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Devon CDP, PA]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref> Johnson, in the Berwyn CDP, has a pavilion with toilets, basketball courts, an open field, a "tot lot", and volleyball courts.<ref>"[http://www.easttown.org/352/Johnson-Park Johnson Park]." Easttown Township. Retrieved on October 9, 2018. "The park is located at 122 Bridge Avenue in Berwyn." - See: "[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4205904_berwyn/DC10BLK_P4205904_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Berwyn CDP, PA]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Isaac Van Leer]] (1772–1821), ironmaster
* [[Anthony Wayne]] (1745–1796), [[United States Army]] officer, statesman, member of the [[United States House of Representatives]]
* [[Isaac Wayne]] (1772–1852), U.S. Congressman
* [[Isaac Wayne (1699–1774)]], Member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, Captain for the Pennsylvania Provincial Forces during the French and Indian War

==Media==
The [[HBO]] miniseries ''[[Mare of Easttown]]'', which premiered on April 18, 2021, is set in a fictionalized version of Easttown Township, although it moves the location to neighboring [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]]. The series was filmed in surrounding communities in southeastern Pennsylvania but not within Easttown Township itself. Series creator [[Brad Ingelsby]] was born and raised in Berwyn, which is partially located in Easttown Township.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.easttown.org Easttown Township]

{{Chester County, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1704 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Main Line]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1704]]
[[Category:Townships in Chester County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Townships in Pennsylvania]]