West Grove, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Grove, Pennsylvania
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House in West Grove
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| Nickname(s):
Home of the Roses
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Location in Chester County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
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 West Grove, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
West Grove, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Chester |
| Incorporated | November 29, 1893 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.65 sq mi (1.69 km2) |
| • Land | 0.65 sq mi (1.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 430 ft (130 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,775  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,767 |
| • Density | 4,360.98/sq mi (1,684.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19390
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| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| FIPS code | 42-83104 |
West Grove is a small town, also called a borough, located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 2,775 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering West Grove's Past
The name "West Grove" comes from a special building called the Friends Meeting House. This building was built in 1787 on Harmony Road. It was located a few miles west of another Friends Meeting House in a village called London Grove.
Becoming a Borough
West Grove used to be part of London Grove Township. It officially became its own borough on November 29, 1893. This change happened after West Grove grew a lot. The growth started when the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad arrived in 1860.
In 1885, a local newspaper called the Daily Local News said West Grove was "one of the most flourishing villages." It had flour mills, a large rose nursery, and a casket factory. Many new homes were also being built.
Joseph Pyle: The "Father of West Grove"
Joseph Pyle is known as the "Father of West Grove." He was born in Penn Township in 1836. In 1860, he opened a general store. This store was in what is believed to be the oldest brick building in the town center.
Joseph Pyle helped build many important buildings. These included the Roselyn Theater Building (built in 1867, but torn down in 1980) and the National Bank of West Grove building (built in 1883). He also became the postmaster in 1864 and served for 22 years. Pyle also started brick making, set up the first public water system, and was mayor from 1900 to 1903.
First Elections and Leaders
The first election for borough officials happened on February 20, 1894. John P. Cheyney was elected the first mayor, also called a burgess. The first town council meeting was held on March 6, 1894. Today, Stephen B. Black is the mayor of West Grove. He has been in office since August 2000.
West Grove: Home of the Roses
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In 1868, Charles Dingee and Alfred Fellenberg Conard started the Dingee & Conard Nursery. This company grew and sold fruit trees, roses, and other plants. By the late 1880s, the West Grove Post Office was very busy. This was mostly because of all the plants shipped by Dingee & Conard.
Near West Grove is the Red Rose Inn, which started in 1740. The story says that William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, gave the land for the inn. The only payment needed was one red rose each year. The inn was later named to remember this special agreement.
West Grove's Location and Climate
West Grove is located at 39°49′18″N 75°49′36″W / 39.82167°N 75.82667°W. The borough covers about 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the borough.
The climate in West Grove is a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. The area is suitable for a wide range of plants.
Getting Around West Grove
_just_south_of_Evergreen_Street_in_West_Grove,_Chester_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg)
As of 2010, West Grove had about 8.97 miles (14.44 km) of public roads. Most of these roads are taken care of by the borough itself. A smaller part is maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Pennsylvania Route 841 is the main highway that goes through West Grove. It runs north to south through the eastern part of the town. U.S. Route 1 is a larger highway that goes around the north side of the borough. This route stretches all the way from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine.
People of West Grove
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 269 | — | |
| 1900 | 929 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,261 | 35.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,152 | −8.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,375 | 19.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,357 | −1.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,521 | 12.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,607 | 5.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,870 | 16.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,820 | −2.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,128 | 16.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,652 | 24.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,854 | 7.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,775 | −2.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,767 | −3.0% | |
In 2010, the people living in West Grove were from many different backgrounds. About 56.7% were non-Hispanic White. About 6.0% were Black or African American. A small number were Native American (0.8%) or Asian (0.8%). About 2.5% of the people were from two or more races. A significant part of the population, 35.2%, had Hispanic or Latino family roots.
In 2000, there were 2,652 people living in West Grove. There were 864 households, which are groups of people living together. Many households (45.3%) included children under 18. Most households (59.4%) were married couples.
The average age of people in West Grove in 2000 was 32 years old. About 31.1% of the residents were under 18. About 8.1% were 65 years old or older.
Images for kids
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West Grove Post Office
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Methodist Church in West Grove
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Catholic Church in West Grove
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Presbyterian Church in West Grove
See also
In Spanish: West Grove para niños
