Historical Markers in
Delaware County, Pennsylvania

1696 Massey House 7th Day Baptist Cemetery Abraham L. Pennock All U.S. War Veterans Memorial Alumni Hall - 1848 American Viscose Co. An Original Landscape Andrew Wyeth Studio Anna Howard Shaw Aston and Middletown World War I Memorial Aston and Middletown World War II Memorial Aston Township Veterans, Law Enforcement and Emergency Personnel Memorial Barry Hall - 1947 Bartley Hall - 1956 Bartley Hall - 2002 Bartram Bridge Battle of Brandywine Battle of Brandywine Battle of Brandywine Benjamin West Caleb Pusey Casimir Pulaski Center for Engineering Education and Research - 1997 Chemical Engineering Chester Fire Department Christian C. Sanderson Christofer Columbus Clara Harlowe Barton Collen Brook Farm Colonial Gristmill Corr Hall - 1912 Daniel Williamson House Delaware County Delaware County Courthouse Delaware County Courthouse Delaware County, Where Pennsylvania Began Dougherty Hall - 1954 Dr. Anna E. Broomall Dr. George Smith Eastern Oysters Ethel Waters Falvey Hall - 1947 Farley Hall - 2000 Finland First Friends Meeting Gallen Hall - 2000 Garey Hall - 1956 George H. Earle III Gideon Gilpin House Glen Mills Governor Printz Park Gradient (Maple Tree), 2015 Gradient (River Walk), 2015 Green-Bank Gregor Johann Mendel Harrison House Helen, 1989 Henry Albertson Subdivision Historic District Horace Lewis House In Jan, 1945 died here in heroic struggles by the German Offensive Eric Fisher Wood Capt. U.S.Army In Memory of Those Who Served Ivy Mills J. Edgar Thompson Jackson Hall - 2000 James B. ‘Mickey’ Vernon Jane Addams Johan Printz John Morton John Morton Joshua Humphrey Joshua Pusey Klekotka Hall - 1994 Korean War Memorial Lafayette’s Headquarters Lansdowne World War Monument Lazaretto Quarantine Station Leiper Railway Louisa May Alcott Lower Chichester Veterans Memorial Lower Swedish Cabin Lt. Robert T. Munday Lynnewood Park Marcus Hook Marcus Hook First Ward Veterans Memorial Marcus Hook World War I Memorial Marcus Hook World War II Veterans Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mary Gillis Troost Mary Lyon McCain Rally Mendel Science Center - 2001 Minquas' Path Miss Gratz, 1984 Morton Homestead Nathan Matlack House New Sweden Newtown Friends Meeting Old Haverford Friends Meeting Old Swedish Burial Ground Paper Mill House Paper Mill House & Museum / Mills Along Darby Creek Penn Landing Pennock Log House Pennsylvania Pratt Springhouse Preston Mansion R. B. Monument, 2004 Radnor Friends Meeting House Radnor Meeting House Rochambeau Route Rose Valley Historic District Seamen's Hotel Soldiers and Sailors of Delaware County Memorial Southeast Asian War Memorial Springfield Friends Meeting Square Inn St. David's Church St. Rita's Hall - 1912 St. Thomas Hall - 1899 St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery - 1933 St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery - Augustinian Residence Sullivan Hall - 1954 Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Sun Village War Memorial Swedish Colonists Tatiana Proskouriakoff The Battle of Llanerch Crossing The Birth of Llanerch The Caleb Pusey House The Chads Springhouse The Factory and the Village The Great Trail The Hilldale Athletic Club The Historic Village of Thornton The Llanerch Car Barn The National Arborist Association The Newlin Mill Complex The Polecat Road House The Schoolhouse Museum The Slinky Toy The Soldier and Sailor Walk Memorial The Traveling Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Thomas Garrett Thomas Massey House Thomas Moore House Tinicum Tinicum Township To Honor All Who Served in the Founding, Defense, and Preservation of Our Great Country Tolentine Hall - 1899 Township of Concord in Delaware County, PA Upper Chichester Township / McCaysville Vasey Hall - 1930 Veterans Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Villanova University World War II Memorial War Memorial Washington House Wayne Natatorium Welsch Hall - 1994 William Lewis Barn Complex William Lewis House William Penn Woodcrest
The first U.S. Navy submarine, the USS Holland, was built in Philadelphia in 1900.
Pennsylvania random facts
Delaware County, located in southeastern Pennsylvania, has a rich history that spans centuries. The area was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native American tribe, who were the first to settle in the region. European colonization began in the early 17th century when Dutch and Swedish settlers established trading posts along the Delaware River. The Dutch were the first to claim the land, followed by the Swedes, who established the New Sweden colony in present-day Delaware County.

In 1682, Delaware County, along with the rest of Pennsylvania, became a part of the English colony founded by William Penn. The county's strategic location and natural resources attracted early settlers, leading to the establishment of numerous towns and villages. The region played a significant role during the American Revolution, as several major battles were fought in Delaware County and nearby Philadelphia. Valley Forge, located in present-day Montgomery County, served as the winter encampment for George Washington's Continental Army in 1777-1778.

The Industrial Revolution brought further growth and prosperity to Delaware County in the 19th century. Industries like textile mills, ironworks, and shipbuilding thrived, fueling economic development and immigration. The county's proximity to Philadelphia, along with the expansion of railways and trolley lines, facilitated the transportation of goods and people. The population continued to grow, and suburbanization accelerated in the 20th century as more people moved out of Philadelphia and into the surrounding areas, including Delaware County.

Today, Delaware County remains a vibrant and diverse community. Its historical landmarks, such as the Pennsylvania Military Museum, Civil War Library and Museum, and Swarthmore College, continue to highlight its heritage. The county also boasts a thriving economy, with a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Despite facing challenges, such as urbanization and population growth, Delaware County continues to adapt and evolve while preserving its rich historical legacy.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

  • 1643: The Swedes establish the first European settlement in the area, known as New Sweden.
  • 1664: The English take control of New Sweden and incorporate the area into the Province of Pennsylvania.
  • 1789: Delaware County is established as one of the original three counties of Pennsylvania.
  • 1807: The borough of Chester is incorporated, becoming the county seat.
  • 1831: The first railroad, the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad, is completed in Delaware County.
  • 1864: The Battle of Chaffin's Farm takes place in Delaware County as part of the American Civil War.
  • 1870: The Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb is founded in Chester.
  • 1944: Sun Oil Company, now known as Sunoco, opens its first refinery in Marcus Hook.
  • 1995: Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack opens in Chester, becoming the first legal casino in the Philadelphia region.