Upper Chichester Township is a civil township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 16,842 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.30%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,842 people, 6,500 households, and 4,439 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,508.2 people per square mile (969.1/km²). There were 6,705 housing units at an average density of 998.5/sq mi (385.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.00% White, 10.36% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 6,500 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $53,962, and the median income for a family was $63,125. Males had a median income of $43,159 versus $31,349 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,412. About 4.2% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

Upper Chichester Township was originally part of the section of Chester County called Chichester. Chichester was comprised of the area now known as Upper and Lower Chichester.

Among the earliest settlers of the township was Walter Martin, the founder of St. Martin's Church, in the late 1600s. The road from Chichester to Aston traversing the township almost due north, was laid out 1688, while the Upper Chichester road was laid out on Oct. 25, 1687. At the southwestern limit of the territory was a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, which was located Sept. 5/6, 1681. The "The Twelve-Mile Circle" (the circular northern boundary line of the State of Delaware) traverses this tract.

The division of Chester into Upper and Lower Chichester was made early in 1700 to facilitate public business. In 1753, an effort was made to have the division which had been made officially recognized. The movement was, however, met by sturdy opposition from the leading citizens and land-owners of Lower Chichester, stating that the townships as they currently stood were convenient enough and did not need any separation. They further argued that recent work to mend the highways in Lower Chichester, and the need to provide for several poor in the Township were more important uses of funds than the cost of the survey.

The matter was permitted to drag along for six years, during which time the reasons for the official recognition of the separation of the two townships became apparent to all. Hence in August of 1759, a petition to formally separate the two townships was presented, bearing the signatures of almost every freeholder in Upper and Lower Chichester as well as those in Nether Providence.

In 1999, the Township was the home location of the disputed Robert Rivera murder case.

References

References: Ashmead's "History of Delaware County" Chapter XXXVII, Upper Chichester Township, pp 448-453. http://www.delcohistory.org/ashmead/ashmead_pg448.htm

External links

• Upper Chichester Township