Cheyney, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheyney, Pennsylvania
Cheyney University, Pennsylvania
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Melrose at Cheyney University
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Location in Chester County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Chester |
| Townships | Thornbury (Chester) |
| Elevation | 259 ft (79 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 565 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
19319
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| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
Cheyney is a small community in Pennsylvania, USA. It's special because it sits right on the border of two counties: Chester and Delaware. This area is also known as Cheyney University, named after the famous university located here. In 2020, about 565 people lived in Cheyney.
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Discover Cheyney, Pennsylvania
Cheyney is an "unincorporated community." This means it's a place where people live together, but it doesn't have its own local government like a town or city. It's part of larger townships. The area is also called a "census-designated place," which is a special area defined by the government for counting people.
Home to Cheyney University
Cheyney is most famous for being home to Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. This university is very important in the area. The university got its name from George Cheyney's Farm. This farm became the university's campus in 1902. The land for George Cheyney's Farm was part of a huge land grant given to William Penn way back in 1681.
A Look at Cheyney's Past
Originally, Cheyney was located where Creek and Cheyney Roads meet today. This spot was once called "Cheyney's Shops" in the mid-1700s. It was a busy place with a general store, a hotel, a blacksmith's shop, and a wheelsmith's shop. The first Cheyney Post Office was also located here.
The Cheyney family owned a very large amount of land, almost 10,000 acres!
The Moving Post Office
William Cheyney became the first postmaster in 1835. When the railroad came through Cheyney, the post office moved to Station Road. The first station building was a brick structure, which is now a private home. The current Cheyney Post Office is in the station building today.
Some of the original "Cheyney's Shops" buildings are still standing. Cheyney University removed some old buildings in the late 1960s or early 1970s. These included a hotel, a general store, and a blacksmith's shop. However, a stone wheelwright's shop and two other related buildings from that time still exist. These buildings were bought by William Maison from the Cheyney family in 1847. The wheelwright shop worked until 1918.
Cheyney's County Borders
Cheyney sits right on the line between two townships: Thornbury Township in Chester County and Thornbury Township in Delaware County. These two townships used to be one big township. But in 1789, Delaware County separated from Chester County, splitting the township in two. Both township offices are located near the university on Cheyney Road.
Historic Places in Cheyney
Two important historical sites in Cheyney are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the John Cheyney Log Tenant House and Farm and Melrose. These places help preserve the history of the area.
