Coatesville, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coatesville, Pennsylvania
City
Lincoln Highway in Coatesville
Flag Symbol
Location in Chester County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Coatesville, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Coatesville, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Chester
Incorporated	1915
Area
• Total	1.83 sq mi (4.73 km2)
• Land	1.81 sq mi (4.68 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	331 ft (101 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,350
• Density	7,383.85/sq mi (2,850.18/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	19320
Area code(s)	610 and 484
FIPS code	42-14712

Coatesville is a city located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. About 13,350 people lived there in 2020. Coatesville is about 39 miles west of Philadelphia. It grew along the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike starting in the late 1700s. The city is also on U.S. Route 30, a major highway west of Philadelphia.

In the early 1900s, Coatesville grew a lot because of the Lukens Steel Company and other factories. Many people moved there for jobs. Over time, the steel industry changed, and fewer jobs were available. Lukens Steel was bought by Bethlehem Steel in 1997. Later, it became part of ArcelorMittal and then Cleveland-Cliffs.

History of Coatesville

Early Beginnings

Different groups of Native Americans lived in this area for a long time. The first known settlement was a Lenape village. It was built along the West Branch of the Brandywine River. This village was a trading post where people exchanged furs with early American settlers. The Brandywine River has always been important to Coatesville's history.

William Fleming, who came from Scotland, was one of the first landowners here. He built a log cabin and owned about 207 acres (0.84 km²) of land near the Brandywine River.

Moses Coates, a successful farmer, bought the cabin in 1787. Coatesville is named after him. After the United States became independent, Moses Coates' son-in-law, Jesse Kersey, had an idea. He wanted to sell land along the new Lancaster Turnpike. This road went right through their property. The Lancaster Turnpike was the first toll road in the U.S., finished in 1795. A tollgate was even located in Coatesville. Since Coatesville was about halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster, it became a popular stop for travelers.

Pierre Bizallion, a French fur trader, also settled here in the early 1700s. He was known for helping William Penn talk with Native American groups. Today, a large part of the land he once owned is where the Veterans Administration Hospital is located.

Growth in the 1800s

Before it became a city, Coatesville was called Bridge-Town. This was because of the two bridges over the Brandywine River. In 1834, a village called "Midway" formed on the west side of the Brandywine. It was named Midway because it was a station on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, halfway between Philadelphia and Lancaster. In 1867, Bridge-Town and Midway joined together to form the borough of Coatesville. Coatesville officially became a city in 1915. It is the only city in Chester County.

Coatesville used the power of the Brandywine River for its industries. In 1810, Jesse Kersey teamed up with ironmaster Isaac Pennock. They bought over 110 acres (0.45 km²) of Moses Coates' farm along the river. They started the Brandywine Iron Works and Nail Factory. This company later became Lukens Steel.

In 1813, Charles Lukens married Isaac Pennock's daughter, Rebecca. After Charles died in 1825, Rebecca Lukens took over the mill. She bought it from her mother and managed it through tough times. Rebecca made the mill very successful. She was one of the first women to lead a major company in the United States.

The 1900s and Beyond

As Lukens Steel grew, so did Coatesville. It became known as the "Pittsburgh of the East" because of its many factories. By the early 1900s, the population reached 6,000. People from Eastern and Southern Europe came for industrial jobs. Many Black and white people from the rural South also moved there.

After World War II, the steel industry started to slow down. However, in the 1960s, Lukens Steel was still the biggest employer in Chester County. It had over 10,000 workers. Eventually, the company had to change. It was sold several times, and the number of workers decreased.

Coatesville Today

The Episcopal Church of the Trinity, a historic building.

Since the year 2000, Coatesville has been working to rebuild and improve the city. They have encouraged new housing projects. A new Marriott Courtyard hotel opened in 2012. The city has many chances to grow and improve.

Coatesville has several important historic places. These include the Coatesville Historic District, Clement Atkinson Memorial Hospital, High Bridge, and Lukens Historic District. These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1969, Lukens Steel made steel beams for the World Trade Center in New York City. Some of these beams, called "trees," were still standing after the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. Ten of these beams were brought to Coatesville in 2010. They are planned to be part of the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum.

Geography and Climate

Coatesville covers about 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²). A very small part of this area is water.

Weather in Coatesville

Coatesville has a typical Northeast climate. This means it has cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers.

Population Facts

People in Coatesville (2020)

The 2020 census showed that 13,350 people lived in Coatesville.

• About 23.5% of people were White (not Hispanic).
• About 43.9% were Black or African American (not Hispanic).
• About 25.1% were Hispanic or Latino (who can be of any race).
• Other groups made up smaller percentages.

More About the Population

In 2010, there were 13,100 people living in Coatesville.

• About 30.4% of the people were under 18 years old.
• The average age was 31 years.
• The population was slightly more female (50.6%) than male (49.4%).

Education

The schools in Coatesville are part of the Coatesville Area School District.

Getting Around Coatesville

US 30 westbound in Coatesville

Coatesville has about 31 miles (50 km) of public roads. Some are kept up by the state, and others by the city.

The main road going east and west is US 30. It goes around the city and connects to Lancaster in the west and Philadelphia in the east. US 30 Business goes through the center of the city. PA 82 is the main road going north and south.

Coatesville Amtrak station

For air travel, the Chester County G. O. Carlson Airport is nearby for private planes. The closest major airport for commercial flights is Philadelphia International Airport.

Coatesville has an Amtrak train station. It serves Keystone Service trains. There are also plans to bring back SEPTA train service to Coatesville in the future.

Two bus services help people get around. The Coatesville Link bus connects Coatesville with nearby towns. SEPTA Suburban Bus Route 135 connects Coatesville to places like Downingtown and West Chester.

Famous People from Coatesville

Many notable people have connections to Coatesville:

• Whittier C. Atkinson, who started the Clement Atkinson Memorial Hospital.
• Vince Belnome, a baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Walt Downing, an NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Calvin Grove, a professional boxer who won a world title.
• Richard Hamilton, an NBA All-Star basketball player.
• Billy Joe, an NFL football player who won a Super Bowl.
• Ray Keech, a race car driver who won the 1929 Indianapolis 500.
• Rebecca Lukens, a pioneering woman in business who ran Lukens Steel Company.
• Charles Moore, an Olympic champion in track and field.
• Derrick Morgan, an NFL football player.
• Rod Perry, an actor known for the TV show S.W.A.T..
• Susan Richardson, an actress from the TV show Eight Is Enough.
• Zack Steffen, a professional soccer player.
• Johnny Weir, a famous figure skater and TV personality.

Images for kids

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  Lincoln Highway in Coatesville

• 

  Flag of Coatesville

• 

  Seal of Coatesville

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  Location in Chester County, Pennsylvania

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  Episcopal Church of the Trinity, 323 East Lincoln Highway

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  US 30 westbound in Coatesville

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  Coatesville Amtrak station

		Elverson
	Lancaster		Exton, Philadelphia
		Coatesville
		Kennett Square

See also

In Spanish: Coatesville (Pensilvania) para niños