Malvern, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Malvern, Pennsylvania
Borough
Battle of Paoli monument site
Location of Malvern in Chester County, Pennsylvania (left) and of Chester County in Pennsylvania (right)
Malvern, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Malvern, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Chester
Incorporated	1889
Area
• Total	1.27 sq mi (3.28 km2)
• Land	1.26 sq mi (3.26 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	551 ft (168 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,419
• Density	2,713.49/sq mi (1,047.33/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	19355
Area codes	610 and 484
FIPS code	42-46792

Malvern is a small town, also known as a borough, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is about 19.4 miles (31.2 km) west of Philadelphia. In 2020, about 3,419 people lived there.

History of Malvern

Malvern First Presbyterian Church before 1923

The Malvern area was first settled in the 1600s by Welsh immigrants. They bought land from William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania.

The Battle of Paoli

A very important event happened near Malvern during the American Revolutionary War. On September 20, 1777, a surprise attack took place, known as the Battle of Paoli. British soldiers, led by General Charles Grey, attacked American soldiers.

General Grey had learned about the American plans. He ordered his troops to remove the flint from their guns. This meant they could only use bayonets (knives attached to rifles) or swords. They wanted to attack quietly in the dark. A person who supported the British helped them find the American camp.

The British surprised the American soldiers, who were led by General Anthony Wayne. Many American soldiers were killed or hurt. General Wayne's reputation was damaged, but a special court later cleared his name. The place where this battle happened is now part of Malvern.

Today, you can visit a monument and the preserved battlefield in Malvern. These sites honor the people who fought in the Paoli Massacre.

How Malvern Got Its Name

Malvern was once known as West Chester Intersection. This was because it was where two important railroads met: the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad and the West Chester Railroad.

In 1873, the name changed to Malvern. This happened when the Pennsylvania Railroad, which took over the Philadelphia and Columbia line, straightened its tracks through the village. Over time, churches like the Malvern Friends Meeting were built.

In 1889, Malvern officially became a borough. This meant it became its own town, separate from Willistown Township. In 2008, Malvern changed its government to a "home rule" form, giving it more local control.

Geography and Location

Malvern is a small town, covering about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers) of land.

It is surrounded by other towns and areas. To the south is Paoli Pike, and to the west is Sugartown Road. Willistown Township is to the east, and East Whiteland Township is to the north.

The Malvern ZIP code (19355) covers Malvern and parts of several nearby townships. Malvern Borough is located between Paoli to the east and Immaculata University and Exton to the west.

Population and People

In 2020, Malvern had a population of 3,419 people.

According to the 2010 census, most people in Malvern were White (87.8%). There were also Black or African American (2.9%), Asian (4.2%), and Native American (0.3%) residents. About 1.9% of the population identified as two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 3.7% of the population.

Economy and Businesses

Malvern has a group called the Malvern Business and Professional Association. This group helps local businesses and promotes the town's unique feel.

Many companies have offices or headquarters in Malvern. Some well-known ones include Siemens Healthcare, Ricoh Americas Corporation, The Vanguard Group, and Vishay Intertechnology. Other companies like CertainTeed, Endo International, and AmericanMuscle are also based here.

There have been plans to redevelop areas where older businesses like Fisher Feed and Amerigas used to be. A local newspaper, the Malvern Patch, reported that Kimberton Whole Foods planned to open a store in the East King Street area.

Arts and Culture

U.S. President Ronald Reagan visiting Malvern in May 1985

Malvern has several interesting places and events:

• The Battle of Paoli site: This historic battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Annual Memorial Day Parade: Malvern's parade started in 1869. It is one of the longest-running Memorial Day parades in the country.
• Victorian Christmas: This special event takes place on the first Friday evening and Saturday of December.

Parks and Recreation

Malvern has several parks where you can relax and play:

• Samuel & M. Elizabeth Burke Park: This park has a pavilion, picnic tables, benches, and a playground. You can find it at 15 South Warren Avenue.
• Theodore S.A. Rubino Memorial Park: Located at East Broad Street and Old Lincoln Highway, this park has a small pavilion and a playground.
• Horace J. Quann Memorial Park: This park is at First Avenue and Warren Avenue. It features a baseball/softball field, basketball courts, and trails near Massacre Run and Paoli Battlefield.
• John and Marion Herzak Park: This is a public basketball court at Bridge Street and Old Lincoln Highway.
• Paoli Memorial Grounds Assoc. park: This large open space is used for many events and youth sports. It has two full-size baseball fields, a smaller baseball field, a playground, and tennis courts. There are also plaques and stone monuments honoring American soldiers.
• Paoli Battlefield Site: This area borders Horace J. Quann Memorial Park and the Paoli Memorial Grounds. It has historic sites and a wooded area with trails, including Massacre Run.
• Randolph Woods: This is a hiking area on the east side of Malvern. The Duffryn Trail goes through it, connecting Malvern to Willistown Township. There are also other trails, including one that follows Ruth Run.

Education in Malvern

Public Schools

Great Valley School District provides public education for students living in Malvern.

Private Schools

Malvern Preparatory School, a Catholic school in Malvern

Malvern is home to several private schools:

• Malvern Preparatory School: This is an independent Catholic school for boys in grades 6 through 12. It was founded in 1842 and moved to its current location in 1920.
• Willistown Country Day School (Montessori): This school is for students from Kindergarten to 6th grade.
• St. Patrick School: This is a Catholic elementary school for grades K-8. In 2012, the community worked hard to keep it from merging with another school.

Other private schools nearby include Villa Maria Academy (an all-girls Catholic high school), Episcopal Academy, Devon Preparatory School, and The Phelps School.

For higher education, Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies and Immaculata University are both located within the Malvern ZIP code area.

Media

People in Malvern can read two main newspapers: The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Daily Local News. The Philadelphia Inquirer covers news for the larger Philadelphia area.

Transportation and Roads

Malvern station

Train and Bus Services

Malvern has a train station, Malvern station. You can take a SEPTA Regional Rail train from here to Center City Philadelphia on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.

There is also an intercity bus service called OurBus that goes from Malvern to New York City. The bus stop is at a park and ride lot on Matthews Road.

SEPTA's 92 Bus also serves the borough, traveling along King Street.

Roads

As of 2012, Malvern had about 10.50 miles (16.90 km) of public roads. All of these roads are maintained by the borough. The main roads that go through Malvern are King Street and Warren Avenue.

Notable People

Some well-known people have connections to Malvern:

• Mikal Bridges: A professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets.
• Phil Gosselin: A former professional baseball player.
• Harry Hiestand: A former football coach for Notre Dame and the Chicago Bears.
• Adam McKay: A director, producer, and writer, known for Saturday Night Live.
• Eric S. Raymond: A computer programmer and writer who supports the open source movement.
• Frank Spellman: An Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting (1922–2017).

See also

In Spanish: Malvern (Pensilvania) para niños