East Goshen Township is a township in Chester County

Chester County, Pennsylvania

-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The population was 18,026 at the 2010 census.

History

The ten square miles of land that is now the township of East Goshen was part of a larger tract purchased from William Penn

William Penn

William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...

 in Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

 in September 1681. Settlers, finding the land beautiful and productive, named the area Goshenville, or "the Land of Goshen."

The blacksmith

Blacksmith

A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...

 shop located on North Chester Road was built in 1699. It was here in the early years that wagon wheels were rerimmed, farm implements repaired, and horses shod. As part of East Goshen's tricentennial in 1982, the blacksmith shop was renovated and restored.

East Goshen Township was incorporated in 1817 when Goshen was divided, forming East and West Goshen townships.

Resources

East Goshen Township owns a 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) park located on Paoli Pike. Facilities at the park include the Hicks Pavilion with a brick barbecue.

There are areas in the park for sports such as baseball, softball, and soccer fields, four sand volleyball courts, six tennis courts with wind screens and hitting backboard, two full-size basketball courts with additional baskets for shooting around, a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) equipped fitness trail, a children's activity area, a putting green, and a gazebo.

The park has many passive areas for sunbathing, reading, frisbee throwing, etc. The park is also a popular place for walkers and joggers. It has restroom facilities and water fountains. Parking space has been enhanced and all facilities are planned and installed with the idea of maintaining a harmony with nature. The park closes at dusk and drinking alcohol is prohibited.

The park was named "The Best Family Park" by Best of the Main Line, a magazine that rates the best places and food in the Philadelphia Main Line area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau

United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the township has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.4 km²), of which 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.30%, is water. The township is within the Brandywine Creek watershed. The township's border with its neighbor West Goshen is Airport Road, next to the Brandywine Airport.

Adjacent townships

• West Whiteland Township (northwest)
• East Whiteland Township (north)
• Willistown Township (east)
• Westtown Township (south)
• West Goshen Township (west)

Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 16,824 people, 7,165 households, and 4,607 families residing in the township. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 1,660.5 people per square mile (641.2/km²). There were 7,496 housing units at an average density of 739.8/sq mi (285.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.39% White, 2.69% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 7,165 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the township, 22.2% of the population is under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $64,777, and the median income for a family was $86,720. Males had a median income of $61,048 versus $36,814 for females. The per capita income

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the township was $37,775. About 2.4% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

East Goshen is home to East Goshen Elementary School, located in the West Chester Area School District

West Chester Area School District

The West Chester Area School District covers a basis, for the area of West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough of West Chester is the center of the district...

.

External links

• East Goshen Township