Editing Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
| official_name = 
| native_name = 
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| other_name = 
| settlement_type = [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Boroughs|Borough]]
| image_skyline = Kennett Square.JPG
| imagesize = 
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| image_caption = State Street in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, May 2007
| image_flag = 
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| seal_size = 
| etymology = 
| nickname = "Kennett"
| motto = 
| anthem = 
| image_map = Chester County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Kennett Square highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 260px
| map_caption = Location in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] and the U.S. state of [[Pennsylvania]].
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| pushpin_map            = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label          = Kennett Square
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Pennsylvania##Location in the United States
| coordinates = {{coord|39|50|39|N|75|42|38|W|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester]]
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| established_title = Settled 
| established_date = 1682<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Kennett Square |url=http://historickennettsquare.com/about-hks/history/ |publisher=Historic Kennett Square |access-date=July 14, 2017}}</ref>
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| leader_title = Mayor
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| 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 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 2.78
| area_total_sq_mi = 1.07
| area_land_km2 = 2.76
| area_land_sq_mi = 1.06
| area_water_km2 = 0.02
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
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| elevation_ft = 328
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
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| population_total = 5936
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| population_density_km2 = 2151.38
| population_density_sq_mi = 5573.71
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| timezone1 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1 = −5
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| utc_offset1_DST = −4
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| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 19348
| postal2_code_type = 
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| area_code_type = 
| area_codes = [[Area codes 610 and 484|610 and 484]]
| geocode = 
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| blank_info = 42-39352
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
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| website = {{URL|https://www.kennettsq.org/|Borough website}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Kennett Square''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], Kennett Square had a population of 5,943.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 11, 2022}}</ref>

Kennett Square is located in the [[Delaware Valley]] and considered a suburb of both [[Philadelphia]], the nation's sixth largest city as of 2020, and [[Wilmington, Delaware]]. The local high school is [[Kennett High School (Pennsylvania)|Kennett High School]]. The corporate headquarters of [[Genesis HealthCare]], which administers [[elderly care]] facilities, is based in Kennett Square.

The borough is sometimes referred to as the "Mushroom Capital of the World" because [[Fungiculture|mushroom farming]] in the region produces over 500 million pounds of mushrooms a year, representing half of the nation's mushroom crop production.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/this-small-pennsylvania-region-produces-half-the-mushroom-crop-in-the-u-s |title=This small Pennsylvania region produces half the mushroom crop in the U.S. |website=[[PBS]] |date=November 11, 2017}}</ref> To celebrate this heritage, Kennett Square holds an annual [[Mushroom Festival]], where the town and its businesses hold a parade, mushroom farm tours, and sells food and other goods.

==History==
The area that became known as Kennett Square was originally inhabited by the [[Lenape|Lenape Native American tribe]]. Once colonized, the town was named Kennet Square, a reference to [[Kennet District|Kennett, Wiltshire]], England, with "Square" referring to the original land grant from [[William Penn]], which was one square mile. In 1777, during the [[American Revolutionary War]], [[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe|Sir William Howe]], a [[British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British Army]] general, led troops through Kennett Square on their way to the [[Battle of Brandywine]].

In the 19th century, the borough played an instrumental role in the [[Underground Railroad]], which helped slaves escape the South for freedom. In 1853, a group asked for Kennett Square to be incorporated, and by 1855 it held elections.

Kennett Square's founder is credited with introducing mushroom growing to the area. He grew [[Dianthus caryophyllus|carnations]], a popular local commodity beginning in 1885 and wanted to make use of the wasted space under the elevated beds. He imported spawn from Europe and started experimenting with mushroom cultivation.

===In culture===
Kennett Square is the subject and setting of ''The Story of Kennett'', an 1866 novel by [[Bayard Taylor]], who was born in Kennett Square.

==Geography==
Kennett Square is located at {{Coord|39|50|39|N|75|42|38|W|type:city}} (39.844104, −75.710654).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1860= 606
|1870= 884
|1880= 1021
|1890= 1326
|1900= 1516
|1910= 2049
|1920= 2308
|1930= 3091
|1940= 3375
|1950= 3699
|1960= 4355
|1970= 4876
|1980= 4715
|1990= 5218
|2000= 5273
|2010= 6072
|2020= 5943
|estyear=2021
|estimate=5925
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web |title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html |work=Population Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html |archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kennettsquareboroughpennsylvania/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=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 42.8% non-Hispanic White, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, and 3.3% were two or more races. 48.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA |title=Census 2010: Pennsylvania |publisher=Usatoday.Com |access-date=August 19, 2014}}</ref>

As of the census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 6,072<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=U.S. Census website |website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref> people, 1,868 households, and 1,242 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|4,679.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,967 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,745.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 73.58% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.63% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 12.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.95% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 27.88% of the population.

There were 1,868 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. Of all households 28.2% were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,523, and the median income for a family was $54,948. Males had a median income of $35,978 versus $27,246 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $22,292. About 7.5% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
{{stack|[[File:2022-09-06 15 59 49 View north along Pennsylvania State Route 82 (South Union Street) just north of South Street in Kennett Square, Chester County, Pennsylvania.jpg|right|thumb|PA 82 northbound in Kennett Square]]}}
As of 2010, there were {{convert|18.83|mi}} of public roads in Kennett Square, of which {{convert|1.33|mi}} were maintained by [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|17.50|mi}} were maintained by the borough.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web |url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/15406.pdf |title=Kennett Square Borough map |publisher=PennDOT |access-date=March 12, 2023}}</ref>

[[Pennsylvania Route 82]] is the only numbered highway directly serving the borough. It follows a southeast-to-northwest alignment through the central portion of the borough via South Street and Union Street. [[U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 1]] bypasses the borough to the north.

==Government==
[[File:KennettSqClockTower.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Clock Tower on State Street]]
The borough is governed by the council–manager form of government. There are seven council members and a mayor, and all are elected by borough residents. The borough manager is an employee of the borough, hired by the council.

==Events==
[[File:The Mushroom Festival, Kennett Square, PA.gif|thumb|upright=1.1|The 2011 Mushroom Festival]]
The Kennett Mushroom Festival is held annually in early September. The festival has been highlighted on Food TV.<ref name="FoodTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_fe/episode/0,,FOOD_9961_31006,00.html |title=FoodTV Episode |access-date=November 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009005801/http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_fe/episode/0,,FOOD_9961_31006,00.html |archive-date=October 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Annual parades are held on Memorial Day, Halloween, and before the Christmas holidays. Kennett Square celebrates Cinco de Mayo, which is organized by Casa Guanajuato, and other local companies. A free summer concert series is held on Wednesday evenings at the beautiful (over 100 acre) Anson B Nixon park. In mid-May, the famous Kennett Run occurs that ends at the Park pavilion. The Kennett Brewfest is held each Fall, featuring unlimited tastings of select brewers pouring different, rare, exclusive, limited, or [[seasonal beer]]s. The local art galleries, studios, and independent boutiques participate in First Friday Art Strolls each month, presented by Historic Kennett Square. During temperate months there is an outdoor farmers market at the Genesis Walkway on State St. every Friday afternoon. These are but a few of the events for families and visitors throughout the year.

==Education==
Kennett Square schools are all part of the [[Kennett Consolidated School District]]. This grouping of districts was the first consolidation of schools in the history of Pennsylvania. Students enrolled in kindergarten attend the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center. Grades 1 through 5 attend either Greenwood Elementary, Bancroft Elementary or New Garden Elementary. For grades 6 through 8, all students attend Kennett Middle School. For grades 9 through 12, students then attend [[Kennett High School (Pennsylvania)|Kennett High School]].

[[U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 1]] bypasses Kennett Square just to its north and the area is assigned to the [[Unionville-Chadds Ford School District]]. [[Unionville High School (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania)|Unionville High School]], the only one in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, is located on Unionville Road (Pennsylvania State Route 82), approximately 2 miles north of the Borough of Kennett Square.

==Media==
Kennett Square has three local newspapers: ''The Chester County Press'', ''The Kennett Paper'', and ''[[Daily Local News|The Daily Local News]]''. There are also two print magazines, ''Fig Kennett'' and ''Kennett Square Today''.

==Points of interest==
* [[East Penn Railroad]]
* [[Kennett Meetinghouse]]
* [[Longwood Gardens]]
* [[Talula's Table]]

==Notable people==
*[[Marino Auriti]] (1891–1980), artist and mechanic, creator of ''[[The Encyclopedic Palace of the World]]''
*[[Justin Best]] (born 1997), Olympic rower
*[[Pat Ciarrocchi]] (born 1953), broadcast journalist
*[[Hannah M. Darlington]] (1808–1890), organizer of the [[Pennsylvania Woman's Convention at West Chester in 1852]]
*[[Bartholomew Fussell]] (1794–1871), physician and abolitionist active in the [[Underground Railroad]]
*[[Mike Grady (baseball)|Mike Grady]] (1869–1943), professional baseball player
*[[Doris Grumbach]] (1918–2022), novelist and biographer
*[[John Honnold]] (1915–2011), professor, [[University of Pennsylvania Law School]]
*[[Dugald C. Jackson]] (1865–1951), electrical engineer and professor at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
*[[Bruce Johnston (criminal)|Bruce Johnston]] (1939–2002), head of notorious Johnston Gang
*[[Herb Pennock]] (1894–1948), Hall of Fame baseball pitcher<ref>{{cite web |last=Carey |first=Art |title=Kennett Square barber immortalizes local baseball stars |publisher=Philadelphia Inquire |date=March 28, 2008 |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080328_Kennett_Square_barber_immortalizes_local_baseball_stars.html |access-date=July 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624061539/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080328_Kennett_Square_barber_immortalizes_local_baseball_stars.html |archive-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[James M. Phillips]] (1822–1891), member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=7577 |title=James M. Phillips |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=December 26, 2023}}</ref>
*[[Jessica Savitch]] (1947–1983), former broadcast journalist
*[[William Marshall Swayne]] (1828–1918), sculptor
*[[Charles Frederick Taylor]] (1840–1863), U.S. army colonel killed at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]]
*[[Bayard Taylor]] (1825–1878), poet and travel writer
*Collin Walsh, musician with [[Grayscale (band)|Grayscale]], a pop punk band
*[[Harry Whitney]] (1873–1936), Arctic hunter, author, and adventurer

==See also==
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Kennett Square}}
* [https://www.kennettsq.org/ The Borough of Kennett Square official website]
* [http://www.historickennettsquare.com Historic Kennett Square official website]

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

[[Category:Kennett Square, Pennsylvania| ]]
[[Category:1686 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Chester County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1686]]