Editing Exton, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{For|other places of the same name|Exton (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Exton
| native_name              = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->| image_skyline            = CCLS-Exton3.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Chester County Library at Exton
| image_flag               = 
| image_shield             = 
| motto                    = 
| nickname                 = 
| etymology                = <!-- location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_name1        = Pennsylvania
| subdivision_type2        = County
| subdivision_name2        = [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester]]
| subdivision_type3        = Township
| subdivision_name3        = [[West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania|West Whiteland]]
<!-- maps and coordinates -->| image_map                = Chester County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Exton highlighted.svg
| map_caption              = Location in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] and the state of [[Pennsylvania]].
| pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label            = Exton
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location of Exton in Pennsylvania
| pushpin_relief           = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|40|01|59|N|75|37|40|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = <!-- established -->
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- area -->
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| dunam_link               = 
| area_total_km2           = 8.17
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.15
| area_land_sq_mi          = 3.13
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03
<!-- elevation -->| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 312
<!-- population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total         = 5622
| population_density_km2   = 694.21
| population_density_sq_mi = 1797.89
| population_demonym       = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1                = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1              = −5
| timezone1_DST            = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = −4
| timezone2                = 
| utc_offset2              = 
| timezone2_DST            = 
| utc_offset2_DST          = <!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 19341, 19353
| area_code_type           = 
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 610 and 484|610 and 484]]
| geocode                  = 
| iso_code                 = <!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 42-24440
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_land_km2            = 8.10
| area_water_km2           = 0.07
}}
'''Exton''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania|West Whiteland Township]] in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania]], United States. Its population was 5,622 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. The [[Exton Square Mall]] and Main Street at Exton are both located within Exton along with several other shopping centers, making Exton the major shopping district in Chester County.

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2025}}
Exton lies at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 30]] (formerly the Lancaster Road, and later the [[Lincoln Highway]]) and [[Pennsylvania Route 100]] (Pottstown Pike). Beginning in the late 18th century, the [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]] Road became a major transportation route between [[Philadelphia]] and the west, while what is now Route 100 was a regional north–south route to [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania|Pottstown]]. A theory exists that Exton was named as the "X" on the map, denoting this intersection, though more likely the village was named after one of the several [[Exton (disambiguation)|Exton]]s in the [[United Kingdom]].

In the late 1940s, Exton became home to the [[Newcomen Society of the United States]]. The campus of the [[learned society]] was built overlooking farmland on Newcomen Road, and featured offices, a printing shop, library and museum, guest houses, a chapel and a [[belltower]] with a [[carillon]]. The Newcomen Society (since dissolved) sold the property in the late 1990s, but its campus remains an Exton landmark serving as the headquarters of another business.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|3.2|sqmi}}, all  land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Exton has a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=110055&cityname=Coatesville,+Pennsylvania,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Coatesville, Pennsylvania Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref>
<div style="width:65%;">
{{Weather box
| location = Exton, Pennsylvania
| single line = Yes
| metric first = Yes
| Jan high F = 39
| Feb high F = 42
| Mar high F = 51
| Apr high F = 63
| May high F = 73
| Jun high F = 82
| Jul high F = 87
| Aug high F = 85
| Sep high F = 78
| Oct high F = 66
| Nov high F = 55
| Dec high F = 44
| year high F = 71
| Jan low F = 48
| Feb low F = 48
| Mar low F = 38
| Apr low F = 39
| May low F = 49
| Jun low F = 68
| Jul low F = 63
| Aug low F = 61
| Sep low F = 54
| Oct low F = 42
| Nov low F = 33
| Dec low F = 24
| year low F = 51
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.6
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.3
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.8
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.7
| May precipitation inch = 3.9
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.5
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.4
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.5
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.7
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.3
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.3
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.8
| year precipitation inch = 45.8
| source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=716072&cityname=St-Andrews-New-Brunswick
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on October 24, 2013.
</ref> 
| date = October 2013
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 4267
|2010= 4842
|2020= 5622
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/extoncdppennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}

As of the 2020 U.S. census, the racial makeup of the CDP was 62.5% White non-Hispanic, 3.8% Black of African American, 31.5% Asian, 0.9% two or more races, and 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 Racial Makeup |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/extoncdppennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,267 people, 2,053 households, and 1,096 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|1,341.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,128 housing units at an average density of {{convert|669.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.07% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 6.05% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.54% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.12% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.87% of the population.

There were 2,053 households, out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% were non-families. Of all households 37.5% were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the CDP, the age distribution was: 17.9% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 43.3% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $68,240, and the median income for a family was $81,499. Males had a median income of $65,789 versus $42,778 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $38,589. About 1.5% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:Exton Square Mall food court entrance.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Exton Square Mall]]]]
Exton currently has an unemployment rate of 3.80% with a job growth rate of 1.44%. The future job growth is predicted to be 39.10% over the next ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/pennsylvania/exton|title=Exton, Pennsylvania}}</ref> The opening of the [[Exton Square Mall]] led to rapid growth in West Whiteland Township, with the population increasing from 7,900 in 1973 to over 16,000 by 2000. Since the opening, many shopping centers and office parks have been built in the township. Following the opening of the mall, the West Whiteland Township Police Department was created to patrol the township as the demand from the mall would be too much for the [[Pennsylvania State Police]] to handle.<ref name=wwpd>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwhiteland.org/emergency/Police%20and%20Emergency%20Pages/Department%20History.aspx|title=The West Whiteland Township Police Department History|publisher=West Whiteland Township|access-date=March 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216061543/http://www.wwhiteland.org/emergency/Police%20and%20Emergency%20Pages/Department%20History.aspx|archive-date=December 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> When the Exton Square Mall first opened, several stores in downtown West Chester closed.<ref name=city>{{cite book |last=Whyte|first=William H. and Paco Underhill|title=City: Rediscovering the Center|publisher=[[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]|date=1988 |access-date=March 12, 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OH6y2QdcUqkC&q=exton+mall+west+chester&pg=PA337|page=337|isbn=9780812220742}}</ref> In 2011, the Exton Square Mall saw [[Sales per unit area|sales per square foot]] of $332.<ref name=preit4>{{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/120229/PENNSYLVANIA-REAL-ESTATE-INVESTMENT-TRUST_8-K/d306741dex991.htm|title=Supplemental Financial and Operating Information|date=December 31, 2011|publisher=[[PREIT]]|access-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref>

[[West Pharmaceutical Services]], a designer and manufacturer of injectable pharmaceutical packaging and delivery systems is based in Exton.

==Arts and culture==
The main location of the [[Chester County Library System]] is accessible from the mall. The building was dedicated to honor Congressman [[Paul B. Dague]] in 1971.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fHHFWFG0oGgC&q=chester+county+library&pg=PA37|title=Chester County - Page 37|year=2004|isbn=9780738536613}}</ref> In 1982, the library in Exton received a [[National Association of Counties]] Award for its Library Literacy Program, the first in [[Pennsylvania]] to handle 30,000 illiterate and 15,000 non-English speaking residents.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q05ekZS7TYIC&q=chester+county+library+exton&pg=PA88|title=Public Libraries and Nontraditional Clienteles: The Politics of ... - Page 88|isbn=9780313238192|last1=Nauratil|first1=Marcia J.|year=1985}}</ref>

==Education==
===Primary and secondary schools===
All residents of the Exton census-designated place, entirely in West Whiteland Township, reside in the [[West Chester Area School District]].<ref name=Extonmap>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4224440_exton/DC10BLK_P4224440_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Exton CDP, PA]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on October 9, 2018. "[https://www.westgoshen.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2016/10/WCACOG-Map.pdf West Chester Area Council of Governments Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926122620/https://www.westgoshen.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2016/10/WCACOG-Map.pdf |date=2018-09-26 }}." On the website of West Goshen Township. Retrieved on September 26, 2018. This shows the boundaries of West Whiteland Township.</ref>

Half of Exton is zoned to Exton Elementary, located in Exton, while the other half is zoned to Mary C. Howse Elementary School.<ref>"[https://www.wcasd.net/cms/lib/PA02203541/Centricity/Domain/1056/Elementary_Boundaries_SK8C.pdf School Boundary Adjustment Draft SK8C - Current Boundaries with Zones of Change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926111353/https://www.wcasd.net/cms/lib/PA02203541/Centricity/Domain/1056/Elementary_Boundaries_SK8C.pdf |date=2018-09-26 }}" (Elementary). [[West Chester Area School District]]. Retrieved on September 26, 2018.</ref> Half of the CDP is zoned to Fugett Middle School and [[West Chester East High School]], while the other half is zoned to Peirce Middle School and [[West Chester Henderson High School]].<ref>"[https://www.wcasd.net/cms/lib/PA02203541/Centricity/Domain/1056/Secondary_Boundaries_SK8C.pdf School Boundary Adjustment Draft SK8C - Current Boundaries with Zones of Change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926111019/https://www.wcasd.net/cms/lib/PA02203541/Centricity/Domain/1056/Secondary_Boundaries_SK8C.pdf |date=2018-09-26 }}" (Secondary). [[West Chester Area School District]]. Retrieved on September 26, 2018.</ref>

[[Downingtown Area School District]] serves some areas with Exton postal addresses, and [[Downingtown High School|Downingtown High School East Campus]] and [[Lionville Middle School]] have Exton addresses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dasd.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=4864|title=Transportation / Which School Will My Child Attend|website=www.dasd.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-03}}</ref>

Other schools in the Exton area are the Catholic parish school Saints Philip and James of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://school.sspj.net/|title=Home|publisher=Saints Philip and James School|access-date=2020-05-03|quote=721 E. Lincoln Highway Exton, PA 19341}} - Compare the address to the Exton CDP map for confirmation.</ref> and the [[Church Farm School]], which are near but not in the CDP.

===Colleges and universities===
[[Troy University]] has a learning site in Exton. Exton is home to the offices of [http://www.21cccs.org/ 21st Century Cyber Charter School], a statewide cyber school that is known for being the only cyber school to make Pennsylvania's AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) benchmark 5 years in a row.<ref>[http://www.21stcenturycyber.org/component/content/article/31.html 21st Century Cyber School | PSSA Scores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724204041/http://www.21stcenturycyber.org/component/content/article/31.html |date=2011-07-24 }} Retrieved 2010-04-22.</ref>

Both [[Widener University]] and the [[Delaware County Community College]] operate in Exton in the Whiteland Business Park.

===Public libraries===
Chester County Library and District Center, the main library of the [[Chester County Library System]], is in Exton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chescolibraries.org/|title=Home|publisher=Chester County Library & District Center|accessdate=2022-10-19|quote=450 Exton Square Parkway Exton, PA 19341}}</ref>

==Infrastructure ==
[[File:Exton SEPTA and Amtrak station from outbound platform November 2018.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Exton station (Pennsylvania)|Exton station]], which serves [[SEPTA]] and [[Amtrak]] trains]]

===Transportation===
Exton is generally served by a network of highways, including [[U.S. Route 202 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 202]], [[U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 30]], and [[Pennsylvania Route 100|PA 100]], which connect with [[Philadelphia]], [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], and [[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]].

===Transit===
Exton is served by the [[SEPTA Regional Rail]] at the [[Whitford (SEPTA station)|Whitford]] and [[Exton (SEPTA station)|Exton]] train stations and the [[Exton Transportation Center]] located inside the Exton Square Mall complex.

The Exton Transportation Center is a [[SEPTA]] bus terminal located on the eastern side of the [[Exton Square Mall]]. The station serves as a hub for transfers between SEPTA Routes [[SEPTA Route 135|135]] and [[SEPTA Route 204|204]] with service to [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]], [[Coatesville, Pennsylvania|Coatesville]], [[Paoli, Pennsylvania|Paoli]] and [[Eagleview, Pennsylvania|Eagleview]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chesco.org/documentcenter/view/27043|title=Rail Stations and Transportation Centers}}</ref>

Rail service at Exton station is provided by [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Keystone Service]]'' and ''[[Pennsylvanian (train)|Pennsylvanian]]'' lines, as well as [[SEPTA]]'s [[Paoli/Thorndale Line]]. The station is located close to the former Whiteland station served by the former Pennsylvania Railroad.

==Notable people==
* [[Kyle Lauletta]], [[New Jersey Generals (2022)|New Jersey Generals]] quarterback
* [[Matt Ryan (American football)|Matt Ryan]], retired [[National Football League|NFL]] quarterback
* [[Kerr Smith]], actor

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:ExtonCarnival2014.jpg|[[Powers Great American Midways|Exton Carnival]] 2014 at the Exton Square Mall
File:PA 100 NB past US 30.jpeg|Northbound PA 100 past the interchange with [[U.S. Route 30]]
File:ExtonBusStation.jpg|[[Exton Transportation Center]] located beneath the garage near the library
</gallery>

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|size=tiny|Philadelphia}}
* {{Portal-inline|size=tiny|Pennsylvania}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Exton}}
* [http://www.westwhiteland.org// West Whiteland Township, PA]

{{Geographic Location
| Centre = Exton
| North = [[File:PA-100.svg|25px]] [[Chester Springs, Pennsylvania|Chester Springs]], [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania|Pottstown]]
| Northeast = 
| East = [[File:US 30.svg|20px]] [[File:US 202.svg|25px]] [[King of Prussia, Pennsylvania|King of Prussia]], [[Philadelphia]]
| Southeast = 
| South = [[File:PA-100.svg|25px]] [[File:US 202.svg|25px]] [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]]
| Southwest = 
| West = [[File:US 30.svg|20px]] [[Downingtown, Pennsylvania|Downingtown]], [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]]
| Northwest = 
}}
{{West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{Chester County, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Chester County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Pennsylvania]]