Berwyn, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Berwyn, Pennsylvania
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Berwyn station
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Location of Berwyn in Chester County and of Chester County in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Chester |
| Township | Easttown |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.86 sq mi (4.83 km2) |
| • Land | 1.86 sq mi (4.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 520 ft (160 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,775 |
| • Density | 2,028.48/sq mi (783.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19312
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| Area codes | 610 and 484 |
| FIPS code | 42-05904 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1169323 |
Berwyn is a community in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's known as a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a specific area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistics. Berwyn is located within two townships: Tredyffrin and Easttown. This area is part of the Philadelphia Main Line, a group of fancy suburbs outside Philadelphia.
Contents
History of Berwyn
Berwyn got its current name in 1877. A settler from Wales suggested the name. He named it after the Berwyn range of mountains in Wales. Before 1877, this village had several other names. These included Cocheltown, Reeseville, Glassley, and Gaysville.
The Berwyn School Fight
In the 1930s, Berwyn was the site of an important fight against school segregation. In 1932, local school districts tried to separate elementary schools by race. This meant Black students would have to go to different schools than white students.
Black families in Berwyn decided to take action. They sued the school districts to stop this unfair separation. They also boycotted the segregated schools. This meant their children did not attend the schools that tried to separate them.
Their efforts paid off! In 1934, the school districts finally gave up. This was a big win for civil rights. It happened 20 years before Brown v. Board of Education (1954). That famous court case made school segregation illegal across the whole country. The Berwyn School Fight was an early and important victory for the civil rights movement.
Geography of Berwyn
Berwyn is located at 40°2′44″N 75°26′22″W / 40.04556°N 75.43944°W. The U.S. Census Bureau says Berwyn covers about 4.8 square kilometers (1.86 square miles). All of this area is land.
Berwyn has several neighboring communities. To the east is Devon. To the west is Paoli. Newtown Square is to the south. The Chesterbrook part of Wayne is to the north.
You can find two train stops in Berwyn. They are on SEPTA's Paoli-Thorndale Line. These stops are Berwyn station and Daylesford station. Both are on the north side of Pennsylvania Route 30.
People of Berwyn (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 3,775 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Berwyn was 3,775 people. The wider area, including Berwyn and nearby townships (Zip Code 19312), had 11,745 people. Most homes in this area (85%) are single-family houses. Also, 79% of households are led by married couples.
Berwyn is a diverse community. In 2022, about 81% of residents were non-Hispanic White. About 13% were Asian, and 1% were Black or African American. A small number of residents (less than 1%) were of Hispanic or Latino background. Many people in Berwyn were born outside the U.S. (17.2%). Most of these people came from Asia or Europe.
Families in Berwyn generally have high incomes. The average income for a household was $181,471. Many households (47%) earned over $200,000 per year. For families with children, the average income was even higher.
Education is also important in Berwyn. About 77% of adults over 25 years old have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Homes in Berwyn are quite valuable. In June 2024, the average home value in Berwyn's zip code was about $894,674.
In 2023, a website called Niche.com ranked Berwyn very highly. It was named the 12th-best place in the U.S. to raise a family.
Culture and Fun in Berwyn
Berwyn is home to the Footlighters Theater. This is a non-profit theater that has been putting on shows for over 80 years. It is the oldest community theatre on the Philadelphia Main Line.
There are many interesting places to visit in Berwyn. These include the Easttown Public Library, the Upper Main Line YMCA, Teegarden Park, and Glen Brook Farm.
Local Attractions
- Easttown Public Library: This library opened in 1905. It is part of the Chester County Library System. This system connects 18 public libraries in the county.
- Upper Main Line YMCA: This YMCA was started in 1962. It is built on a large piece of land, 124 acres, that used to be a summer home. This estate belonged to J. Gardner Cassatt. He was the brother of famous painter Mary Cassatt and railroad leader Alexander Cassatt.
- Teegarden Park: A local park for outdoor activities.
- Glen Brook Farm: Another area for recreation and enjoyment.
Economy of Berwyn
Several important companies have their main offices in Berwyn. These include Ametek, Hardinge, Inc., Trinseo, Triumph Group, and TE Connectivity. These companies provide many jobs and help the local economy.
Education in Berwyn
Public schools in Berwyn are part of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District. Several elementary schools serve different parts of Berwyn. These include Beaumont and Devon elementary schools in Easttown Township. Hillside Elementary School is in Tredyffrin Township.
The school district also has two middle schools. These are Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School and Valley Forge Middle School. Both are located in Tredyffrin Township. Conestoga High School, the high school for the district, is also in Tredyffrin.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia used to operate a Catholic elementary school in Berwyn called St. Monica. This school closed in 2012.
Parks in Berwyn
Berwyn has several parks for residents to enjoy.
- Frank Johnson Memorial Park: This park is run by the township government. It has a covered area with restrooms, basketball courts, and an open field. There's also a "tot lot" for younger children and volleyball courts.
- Crabby Creek Park: This park is also managed by the township. It's a large park, covering 48 acres. It's a natural open space and helps protect Crabby Creek. You can find it off Walnut Lane at Bodine Road.
Notable People from Berwyn
Many interesting people have connections to Berwyn.
- Harold Barron: An Olympic sprinter who won a silver medal.
- Jake Cohen: An American-Israeli professional basketball player. He plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Israeli national team.
- David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower: Grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and daughter of President Richard Nixon.
- Rachelle Ferrell: A talented recording artist known for her amazing six-octave vocal range.
- Brad Ingelsby: A successful screenwriter and film producer.
- Drew O'Keefe: A U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Barbara Robinson: A well-known author.
See also
In Spanish: Berwyn (Pensilvania) para niños
