PENNSYLVANIA - When delving into the origins of permanent European settlements in Pennsylvania, the city of Chester holds a distinguished place. While Philadelphia often comes to mind as the iconic symbol of the Quaker Commonwealth, Chester predates it as the first continuously inhabited European settlement in what would become the state of Pennsylvania. Its history is deeply intertwined with the early colonial ambitions of different European powers and the eventual establishment of William Penn's "Holy Experiment."
PENNSYLVANIA - When delving into the origins of permanent European settlements in Pennsylvania, the city of Chester holds a distinguished place. While Philadelphia often comes to mind as the iconic symbol of the Quaker Commonwealth, Chester predates it as the first continuously inhabited European settlement in what would become the state of Pennsylvania. Its history is deeply intertwined with the early colonial ambitions of different European powers and the eventual establishment of William Penn's "Holy Experiment."Chester: Pennsylvania's Enduring First Settlement
The area now known as Chester was initially inhabited by the Lenape (Delaware) Native American people. European interest in the Delaware Valley began in the early 17th century, with various nations vying for control.
The first permanent European settlement was established by Swedish colonists in 1644. They named their settlement Upland, and it served as a key outpost in the short-lived New Sweden colony. This makes Upland (later Chester) one of the earliest continuous European settlements on the East Coast of North America.
Swedish control was eventually superseded by the Dutch in 1655, who absorbed New Sweden into New Netherland. However, Dutch dominance was also brief, as the English seized New Netherland in 1664, bringing Upland under English rule.
The Arrival of William Penn and the Naming of Chester
The pivotal moment in Upland's history, and indeed for Pennsylvania, came with the arrival of William Penn in 1682. Penn, granted a charter for his new colony by King Charles II, landed at Upland. It was here, upon setting foot on American soil, that Penn is said to have renamed the settlement. According to tradition, he declared, "Providence has brought us here safe. Thou hast been the most troublesome place in the river; therefore, I name thee Chester," after the English city of Chester.
Penn held the first General Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania in Chester in December 1682, effectively establishing it as the initial capital of the new colony before Philadelphia was fully developed.
Legacy and Modern Chester
Chester served as the county seat of Chester County (which originally encompassed a much larger area) until 1789, when the seat moved to West Chester. Despite losing its capital status to Philadelphia and later its county seat, Chester remained an important port and industrial center, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, Chester stands as a city with a deep and often overlooked historical significance. Its origins as Upland under Swedish rule, its transition through Dutch and English control, and its pivotal role in William Penn's founding of Pennsylvania firmly establish it as the oldest permanent European settlement in the state. Historic sites within the city, though perhaps less grand than those in Philadelphia, offer tangible links to these foundational moments in American history.
Sources:
- Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission: Explore PA History.
- City of Chester, Pennsylvania: History of Chester.
- Nash, Gary B. Quakers and Politics: Pennsylvania, 1681-1726. Princeton University Press, 1968.
- Myers, Albert Cook. Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey and Delaware, 1630-1707. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1912.
