Chester, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester, Virginia
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Chester Station replica in downtown Chester
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Location of Chester, Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Chesterfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.3 sq mi (34.4 km2) |
| • Land | 13.2 sq mi (34.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,414 |
| • Density | 1,762.8/sq mi (680.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
23831, 23836
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| Area code(s) | 804 |
| FIPS code | 51-16096 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492754 |
Chester is a community located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. In 2020, about 23,414 people lived in Chester.
Contents
Discovering Chester's Past
Chester began as an important stop where different railroad lines met. These railroads helped connect towns and move goods. One major line, the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, crossed paths with others like the Clover Hill Railroad.
Over time, these railroads changed names and merged. Today, the path of one old railroad is now a walking and biking trail called Chester Linear Park. Chester has grown into a "bedroom community," which means many people who live here travel to nearby cities for work.
Key Moments in Chester's History
Chester has seen important events throughout history:
- In April 1781, during the American Revolution, a battle called the Action at Osborne's took place near Chester. General Benedict Arnold was involved in this event.
- During the American Civil War in May 1864, the Battle of Chester Station happened here. This was part of a larger series of battles called the Bermuda Hundred Campaign.
- More recently, in 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused damage to the area.
Chester's Location and Size
Chester is located in Virginia. It covers an area of about 34.4 square kilometers (about 13.3 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Who Lives in Chester?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 1,290 | — | |
| 1970 | 5,556 | 330.7% | |
| 1980 | 11,728 | 111.1% | |
| 1990 | 14,986 | 27.8% | |
| 2000 | 17,890 | 19.4% | |
| 2010 | 20,987 | 17.3% | |
| 2020 | 23,414 | 11.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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Chester's population has grown a lot over the years! In 1960, there were just over 1,000 people. By 2020, the population had grown to more than 23,000. This shows how much the community has expanded.
The people living in Chester come from many different backgrounds. In 2020, the community was made up of people from various racial and ethnic groups, making it a diverse place to live.
News and Information in Chester
For local news, Chester used to have its own newspaper called The Village News, but it stopped publishing in 2022. People in Chester can still get their news from the larger Richmond-Petersburg area, including the newspaper Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Learning in Chester
Chester is part of the Chesterfield County Public Schools system. This means students attend schools run by the county.
Schools in Chester
Students in Chester have many schools to choose from:
- High Schools: Thomas Dale High School, Matoaca High School, and L. C. Bird High School.
- Middle Schools: Carver Middle School and Elizabeth Davis Middle School.
- Elementary Schools: Enon Elementary, Marguerite Christian Elementary, C.E. Curtis Elementary, C.C. Wells Elementary, Ecoff Elementary, Harrowgate Elementary, and Elizabeth N. Scott Elementary.
Chester is also home to Brightpoint Community College (which used to be called John Tyler Community College). This college offers many programs for students after high school. In the 2020-2021 school year, nearly 13,000 students attended Brightpoint Community College.
See also
In Spanish: Chester (Virginia) para niños
