1904 Map of West Chester

About this map

West Chester serves as the focal point of this regional study, showing a grid of developed streets at a time when the surrounding Chester County landscape remained largely agricultural. The confluence of the East Branch Brandywine Creek and its western counterpart creates a winding valley that dictated the placement of early infrastructure, including the Dutton Mill and various railroad corridors. The map records a complex transportation network, from the heavy rail of the Pennsylvania RR to the Philadelphia and West Chester Electric RR, which connected outlying settlements like Goshenville and Milltown to the county seat.